NESS CITY — Central Plains football coach Chris Steiner and Ness City coach Chris Bamberger were side-by-side talking about the weather at the Central Prairie League meeting this week.
Central Prairie League rivals Central Plains (11-0) and Ness City (9-2) will meet at 7 p.m. Friday in the Eight-Man I playoff semifinals. Friday’s forecast high is 33 degrees with a south wind up to 16 mph, but the Oilers are well prepared to execute their high-powered passing game.
Layne Bieberle led the Oilers with two touchdown receptions, two interceptions and a recovery of an onside kickoff to preserve a 42-40 victory over Spearville last week. Bierberle has gained 1,587 all-purpose yards, including 23 touchdowns and 964 yards receiving.
The Oilers outscore foes by an average score of 51-9. Junior quarterback Braedan Crites has thrown 35 touchdowns with five interceptions. Michael Lamatsch caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Crites.
“We’re not going to change our game plan at all, but we’ll try to have a fairly balanced offense,” Steiner said. “Every eight-man team in the state would love to be playing in cold weather because they would still have a chance at a state football title.”
Crites and Bieberle have developed a perfect quarterback-to-receiver relationship.
“Braedan and Layne have developed a great connection,” Steiner said. “Layne has a knack of going and catching the football and Braedan loves throwing the football and has a good passing touch.”   
Steiner said his team has prepared well for Friday’s frigid weather, well aware that the football is slicker and harder to throw and catch.
“You don’t have that touch when it’s colder. The wind is always the biggest factor, and we work with, and against the wind,” Steiner said. “Our biggest emphasis is stressing for the receivers to come back and catch the football.”
The Oilers have simulated halftime by taking a break inside and returning outside to 20-degree temperatures.    
Starting defensively for the Oilers are safety Layne Bieberle, cornerbacks Braedan Crites and Hunter Ingham, linebackers Jacob Warnken and Cody Price, ends Michael Ryan and Michael Lamatsch and nose guard Trustin Kreft.  
Ryan has a team-leading 14 tackles for losses and Kreft anchors the line for Eight-Man’s top defense that yields 9 ppg.
The Oilers lost to state runner-up Hodgeman County 44-36 last year and lost to state runner-up South Gray two years ago. The consolidated school district has won six state football championships. Claflin won five state football titles and Quivira Heights won the 1983 Eight-Man championship.
The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak after losing to Victoria and Spearville. Ness City captured the 2012 Eight-Man I state championship by beating Minneola, Pretty Prairie, Solomon and Rock Hills.
“Ness City has a football team that is refusing to lose,” Steiner said. “I expect a tough, competitive football game. Ness City has made big plays.”
Ness City averages 47 points per game and permits 20 ppg. Quarterback Tanner McMillan joins Jacob Hoss, Pedro Flores and Dylan Hamilton in the backfield.
Hoss rushed for 101 yards and scored on a 79-yard run in a 40-28 victory over Little River. McMillan rushed for 131 yards and passed for 148 passing yards with a rushing and passing touchdown.


CENTRAL PLAINS (11-0) — Victoria 42-24; Kinsley 62-0; Macksville 74-0; St. John 58-0; Canton-Galva 62-12; Little River 22-6; Ellinwood 50-0; Solomon 58-0; Goessel 60-6; South Central 50-14; Spearville 42-40.

NESS CITY (9-2) —  Kinsley 44-6;. Macksville 62-0; Otis-Bison 72-22;. Victoria 22-26; Spearville 38-50; South Gray 56-0;  Dighton-Healy 52-0; WaKeeney-Trego 52-8; Hodgeman County 50-48, OT;  Oberlin-Decatur County 36-32;  Little River 40-28