LARNED — Great Bend High School football this year is getting about as much respect as the Titanic gave to icebergs.
We all know how that turned out, and this 2014 season could be a repeat.
Like an iceberg, there’s a lot more underneath than just the tip that shows. The Panthers will surprise some folks!
Leavenworth is a long way to go to play a football game, but the ride home would be a lot shorter following a victory.
Can it happen?  
Yes, though  the Pioneers will be favored.
Leavenworth was 3-7 last year in the tough Sunflower League, following a 4-5 slate the year before so their path has been similar to Great Bend’s.
A victory for either ball club could be a springboard to a winning season.
This is a big one for new Panthers head coach Tony Crough. ... Great Bend 20, Leavenworth 14.
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Hoisington at Larned.
Season maker?
Season breaker?  
Obviously, it could be both.
Predicting a winner is a lot like trying to milk a bull!
The winner of this game will probably win the Central Kansas League West Division.
Last year, Larned took an undefeated team to Hoisington and got dominated on the line of scrimmage in a 27-9 loss. However, that was a 13-9 game into the fourth quarter.  
For the Cardinals to win on the road, quarterback Taylor Richter, just a sophomore, will have to have a steady game as he did last year. The big guy in the middle, Seth Owen, 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, will have to be dealt with if the Indians hope to run the football.
Running the football will be the strength of this Larned team as they return all of their backs from a year ago.
New quarterback Trey Kraisinger is an accurate passer, and once again, coach A.B. Stokes will look for big plays in the passing game.
This game will be won in the trenches.
Keys to the game are the offensive and defensive lines. Usually the first game of the season doesn’t carry this much importance, but this is a BIG one for both ball clubs, two of the heavyweights in the Central Kansas League this year.
Last year Hoisington surprised Larned. The Indians turn the tables this year. Larned 26, Hoisington 22.
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CHALK TALK — It’s official! The Big 12 football champion is North Dakota State! In successive years they’ve beaten Colorado (In the league at that time), Kansas, Kansas State and now Iowa State. Just maybe those aren’t “upsets” by the Bison ... The Ellinwood Eagles should find their drop into Eight-Man football more palatable than 11-man as they kick off the season with a win on the road at St. John ... Don’t let that loss to North Dakota State fool you. Iowa State WILL prove to be a big task for Kansas State in Ames. The Wildcats pass defense wasn’t all that good against Stephen F. Austin. By the way that middle initial, “F” stands for Fuller in case it ever comes up in a trivia contest! K-State 33, Iowa State 24 ... The Kansas Jayhawks kick off their season Saturday evening in Lawrence, hosting Southeast Missouri State, about the only athletic event that you Missourians are going to find the Jayhawks playing against a team from Mizzou. HEY! You are the ones that bolted for the SEC. Anyway, the Jayhawks are at the bottom of the pile, looking up, in big-time football. The only way out is to beat some people, like this game and next week against Duke. Kansas 44, SE Missouri State 13 ... So you think there’s too much emphasis on athletics in college? Not enough emphasis on academics? Coaching legend Paul Bear Bryant of Alabama had this to say about that, “It’s kind of hard to rally around a math class.”

Charles Tabler is a contributing writer from Larned.