It’s Homecoming.
And one of the two high school football teams will be coming away with their first victory of the season.
Great Bend High School hosts Wichita North tonight at Memorial Stadium.
Still, Great Bend head coach Tony Crough said he has his team focused on one thing: themselves.
“Things feel like we’re getting better every day,” Crough said. “Obviously, we look at what Wichita North has and we prepare for that, but we’re trying to keep the team focused on improving and getting better at executing every play.”
North has faced Wichita South, Wichita West and Wichita Northwest in its three losses.
They were 42-14, 66-0 and 53-7, respectively. All three of those opponents are 2-1 this season.
Great Bend is coming off its best game of the season, a 28-21 setback against Western Athletic Conference foe Garden City.
Now, the Panthers are taking a break from the conference season for homecoming.
“There hasn’t been a lot of discussion of homecoming events,” Crough said. “Homecoming comes with a lot of distractions. We’re trying to keep the kids focused on the game, which is what a lot of people come home to watch during homecoming.”
Great Bend’s offense has improved every game this season, culminating in last week’s multiple-touchdown game.
The Panthers opened up their offense by having options.
The passing game opened things up for Great Bend, allowing for more room in the running game.
While it was a 73-yard, first-drive rushing touchdown that gave Great Bend a positive springboard for the rest of the game, it was quarterback Shade Wondra who helped open things up by completing 7 of 16 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown.
Wondra’s completion percentage this season is 39.6 percent (19-for-48). He has five interceptions.
Bryce Lytle is the No. 1 target. He has 76 yards and one touchdown.
“We’re looking OK at receiver,” Crough said. “Lytle has turned out to be a big playmaker for us. We have a number of targets, though.
“Still, we’re going to want to run the ball first. That’s where our strength is.”
The passing game may be even more important with the absence of starting running back Trent Uselton.
Uselton, who has 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, is one of three players out due to a concussion this week.
“We’re going to give it to (Adrian) Falk, first of all,” Crough said. “We’re going to see what he can do with it. He’s a bit of a wild card, but we’re going to give him a try.
“We also have Thomas Bobbitt and Ramses Lopez.”
Another big hole left by concussion is linebacker Christian Rivas, who has been in the running for tackles leader. Rivas has 21 tackles, trailing on Ty Yager, who has 22.