BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
CLAFLIN — The Central Plains Oiler defense is a well-oiled machine heading to Friday’s 8-man football quarterfinal at defending state champion Hoxie (9-1).
The No. 1 ranked Oilers enjoyed an “average game” last week, a 50-0 shutout over Ness City, which lost 30-14 in the team’s first meeting.
The Oilers have outscored foes 408-0 the past eight weeks — an average score of 51-0. The Oilers last yielded a touchdown Sept. 7 in a 32-8 victory over Victoria.
“We came out focused and things went our right early,” said Central Plains coach Chris Steiner. “We were on the whole time. We didn’t play very good that first game.”
Defensive ends Brett Liebl and leading tackler Grant Heldstab anchor the defense.
“Grant Heldstab has stepped up and turned it on during the season,” Steiner said. “He’s made a ton of plays. He’s super athletic.”
The Oilers share the defensive wealth with each player doing their job.
‘They communicate really well and everyone is position sound,” Steiner said. “They work really well together and do their jobs. They are unselfish with their play.”
The Oilers own modest stats. Quarterback Myles Menges has completed 70 percent of his passes with 21 of 61 completions going for touchdowns. Leading rusher Alex Hickel has gained 563 yards with 12 scores. Lawson Oeser has gained 384 yards with 11 touchdowns.
“We like to be balanced offensively. Teams have to prepare for everybody. You really want to be able to run and pass and be versatile,” Steiner said. “Our offensive line does a good job. It’s nice to have that balance on offense.”
Hoxie survived 22-20 last week over Clifton-Clyde keyed by the defensive front three of nose guard Taye Washington (6-5, 325) and ends Colton Heskett and Jarrod Dible.
The run-oriented Indians often feature tight ends. Tailback Wylie Weems has gained 1,205 yards and quarterback Jared Kennedy has passed for 15 scores.
“They’re the defending state champs,” Steiner said. “They’ve got big guys and speed and skill players behind them. They’re a well-rounded football team.”
A low-scoring affair is likely with the high temperature Friday at 36 degrees. The Hoxie game will be aired live (openspacessports.com) starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Hoxie has lost in back-to-back years to St. Francis, a possible semifinal opponent.
BY THE NUMBERS
HOXIE (9-1)—W—Greeley Co. 44-18; W—Osborne 52-20; W—Quinter 54-0; W—Wichita Co. 36-20; L—St. Francis 30-64; W—Rawlins Co. 54-0; W—Oberlin-Decatur 52-6; W—WaKeeney-Trego 74-28; W—Hill City 46-46; W—Clifton-Clyde 22-20
CENTRAL PLAINS (10-0)—W—Ness City 30-14; W—Victoria 32-8; W—Kinsley 72-0; W—Little River 46-0; W—St. John 46-0; W—Skyline 56-0; W—Moundridge 52-0; W—Macksville 46-0; W—South Gray 50-0; W—Ness City 50-0
OILER OFFENSE—FB—2 Jerred Bieberle; QB—4 Myles Menges; TB—5 Alex Hickel; TE-WR—7 Devin Ryan; TE/WR—10 Grant Heldstab; LG—42 Mason Doll; RG—44 Brett Liebl; C—56 Kealy Burris
OILER DEFENSE—LB—2 Bieberle; S—4 Menges; LB—5 Hickel; CB—7 Ryan; RE—10 Heldstab; 21—CB Lawson Oeser; NG—42 Doll; LE—44 Liebl
HOXIE OFFENSE—TB—10 Dylan Weimer; QB—13 Jared Kennedy; FB-WB—12 Wylie Weems; WR—20 Ben Aumiller; LG—42 Sam Bretz; C—77 Taye Washington; RG—88 Colton Heskett; TE—89 Jarrod Dible
HOXIE DEFENSE—CB—2 Logan Wimmer; OLB—10 Weimer; OLB—12 Weems; OLB—20 Aumiller; MLB—42 Bretz; NG—77 Washington; LE—88 Heskett; RE—89 Dible
RUSHING—CP—Hickel 62-624, 13 TDs; Oeser 51-384, 11 TDs; Bieberle 41-234, 1 TD; Menges 42-240, 7 TDs; H—Weems 195-1,205, 8 TDs; Weimer 99-714, 13 TDs; Kennedy 76-536, 15 TDs
PASSING—CP—Menges, 61-87-3, 1,016 yards, 21 TDs; H—Kennedy 53-93-8, 902; 10 TDs
RECEIVING—CP—Bieberle 20-309, 7 TDs; Liebl 9-200, 6 TDs; Heldstab, 9-165, 5 TDs; Oeser 8-114, 2 TDs; Ryan 10-145, 1 TD; H—Dible 17-361, 4 TDs; Weimer 14-198, 2 TDs; Weems 10-145
TACKLES—CP—Helstab 11 tpg, 16 for loss; Doll 8.3, 13 for loss; Liebl 7.7; Hickel 7; Bieberle 7; Oeser 6; Ryan 6; Menges 5; Weems 10.5 tpg; Dible 8, 27.5 for loss; Weimer 7.7; Washington 77.4, 11.5 for loss
CENTRAL PLAINS PLAYOFF HISTORY (11-5)
2018—8MAN1—Central Plains 56, South Gray 0; Central Plains 50, Ness City 0; Central Plains at Hoxie
2017—8MAN1—Central Plains 58, Macksville 12; Spearville 32, Central Plains 28
2016—8MAN1—Central Plains 60, Argonia-Attica 20; Spearville 58, Central Plains 26
2015—8MAN1—Central Plains 46, Kiowa County 0; Spearville 58, Central Plains 28
2014—8MAN1—Central Plains 50, South Central 14; Central Plains 42, Spearville 40; Central Plains 32, Ness City 0; FINALS—Central Plains 42, Hanover 30
2013—8MAN1—Central Plains 36, South Central 14; Hodgeman County 44, Central Plains 36
2011—8MAN1—Central Plains 50, Quinter 22; South Gray 52, Central Plains 6
CLAFLIN PLAYOFF HISTORY (56-18)
2008—8MAN1—Claflin 54, Udall 8; Baileyville 46, Claflin 22
2007—8MAN1—Claflin 38, Norwich 6; Macksville 40, Claflin 14
2006—8MAN1—Claflin 36, Pretty Prairie 34; Jetmore 42, Claflin 22
2005—2A—Claflin 41, Bennington 26; Hoxie 16, Claflin 6
2004—2A—Claflin 24, Sacred Heart 14; Claflin 31, Hoxie 14; Claflin 21, Oakley 12; Smith Center 30, Claflin 8
2003—2A—Claflin 41, Ell-Saline 0; Claflin 37, Sterling 14; Claflin 34, St. Francis 14; Garden Plain 36, Claflin 20
2002—2A—Claflin 12, Ell-Saline 7; Claflin 47, Inman 0; Claflin 34, Atwood 14; Claflin 21, Sacred Heart 20; FINALS—Pittsburg Colgan 29, Claflin 8
2001—2A—Claflin 76, Stockton 0; Claflin 48, Sterling 0; Claflin 42, St. Francis 26; FINALS—Pittsburg Colgan 23, Claflin 20
2000—2A—Claflin 28, Stockton 21; Claflin 18, Sacred Heart 13; Claflin 26, St. Francis 13; FINALS—Pittsburg Colgan 33, Claflin 12
1999—2A—Claflin 54, Garden Plain 0; Claflin 34, Sacred Heart 13; Claflin 40, Atwood 14; FINALS—Claflin 52, Pittsburg Colgan 34
1998—2A—Claflin 73, Moundridge 0; Claflin 20, Stockton 18, OT; Claflin 36, Stanton County 12; FINALS—Claflin 30, Frankfort 16
1997—2A—Claflin 43, Lincoln 16; Claflin 22, Ell-Saline 7; Claflin 28, St. Francis 19; FINALS—Claflin 22, Centralia 12
1996—2A—Stockton 26, Claflin 6
1994—8MAN1—Claflin 52, Pretty Prairie 32; Coldwater 44, Claflin 28
1993—8MAN2—Claflin 50, Pawnee Heights 0; Claflin 58, Rolla 8; Kensington 38, Claflin 12
1992—8MAN2—Claflin 34, Lewis 8; Claflin 46, Rolla 0; Claflin 38, Kensington 6; FINALS—Claflin 44, Midway-Denton 0
1991—8MAN2—Claflin 48, Lewis 28; Claflin 50, Rolla 0; Claflin 50, Northern Valley 0; FINALS—Claflin 48, St. Paul 0
1990—8MAN2—Claflin 58, Central Christian 12; Claflin 56, Downs 22; Claflin 52, Dexter 6; FINALS—Hanston 60, Claflin 14
1989—8MAN2—Claflin 66, Central Christian 6; Claflin 58, Jewell 8; Claflin 46, Hamilton 0; FINALS—Hanston 70, Claflin 24
1985—2A—Claflin 8, Moundridge 6; Caldwell 14, Claflin 7, OT
1984—2A—Claflin 21, Moundridge 7; Claflin 41, Oxford 14; Claflin 7, Atwood 6; FINALS—Pittsburg Colgan 21, Claflin 14
1981—2A—Claflin 14, Moundridge 7; Claflin 16, Garden Plain 6; Victoria 26, Claflin 0
1980—2A—Claflin 8, Cimarron 6; Clifton-Clyde 24, Claflin 0
QUIVIRA HEIGHTS PLAYOFF HISTORY (9-5)
2010—8MAN2—Baileyville 50, Quivira Heights 0
2009—8MAN2—Quivira Heights 46, Haviland 0; Quivira Heights 42, Otis-Bison 6; Quivira Heights 42, Victoria 20; FINALS—Hanover 66, Quivira Heights 36
2008—8MAN2—Quivira Heights 60, South Central 12; Victoria 56, Quivira Heights 50
2007—8MAN2—Quivira Heights 42, Ashland 2; Quivira Heights 28, Victoria 10; Sharon Springs 26, Quivira Heights 22
2008—8MAN2—Quivira Heights 60, South Central 12; Victoria 56, Quivira Heights 50
2004—8MAN1—Jetmore 46, Quivira Heights 20
2001—8MAN1—Jetmore 54, Quivira Heights 8
2000—8MAN1—Jetmore 48, Quivira Heights 20
1993—8MAN1—Quivira Heights 48, Ell-Saline 45; Quivira Heights 39, Skyline 12; Quivira Heights 24, Coldwater 18; FINALS—Pretty Prairie 36, Quivira Heights 20
1990—8MAN1—Centre 38, Quivira Heights 36
1984—8MANA—Quivira Heights 8, Central Christian 0; Quivira Heights 14, Grinnell 8, 2 OT; FINALS—Midway-Denton 54, Quivira Heights 34
1983—8MAN1—Quivira Heights 21, Canton-Galva 12; Quivira Heights 33, Jetmore 12; FINALS—Quivira Heights 37, Logan 12
1977—8MAN1—Pretty Prairie 6, Quivira Heights 0
FRIDAY'S 8-MAN 1 QUARTERFINALS
Central Plains 10-0 at Hoxie 9-1
Hodgeman Co.9-1 at St. Francis 10-0
Solomon 9-1 at Attica-Argonia 7-3
Canton-Galva 9-1 at South Central 9-1
SECOND ROUND
Central Plains 50, Ness City 0
Hoxie 22, Clifton-Clyde 20
Hodgeman Co. 76, Spearville 48
St. Francis 30, Victoria 12
Attica-Argonia 42, Udall 36
Solomon 30, Madison 26
South Central 48, Central Burden 0
Canton-Galva 74, Burlingame 26
FIRST ROUND
Central Plains 50, South Gray 0
Ness City 44, Macksville 20
Clifton-Clyde 60, WaKeeney Treo 14
Hoxie 46, Hill City 30
Hodgeman Co. 38, Moundridge 20
Spearville 54, Little River 24
St. Francis 46, Stockton 0
Victoria 34, Leoti Wichita Co. 28
Attica-Argonia 28, Sedan 8
Udall 62, Oswego 26
Madison 46, Peabody 0
Solomon 52, Shawnee Maranatha 0
South Central 50, Cedar Vale 0
Central Burden 32, Caldwell 12
Canton-Galva 54, Lebo 6
Burlingame 70, Bennington 36
