EHS hopes to repeat last year’s success against Heights
It’s strange, but Emporia High sophomore Mark Kolmer feels like he’s been here before.
Since losing the season opener to Blue Valley West, the EHS football team has reeled off three straight victories, got a 35-0 shutout in one of those wins and now face a scary Shawnee Heights in a Homecoming game.
Sound familiar? All one has to do is look back to last season to see almost a mirror image of the situation.
A year ago, Emporia lost to Blue Valley West to open the season before getting victories against Topeka High — a 35-0 victory — Washburn Rural and Topeka West to move to 3-1. Then, in Week Five, the Spartans faced Shawnee Heights on Homecoming night for the T-Birds.
This season, EHS lost to Blue Valley West before peeling off victories over Topeka High, Washburn Rural — a 35-0 win — and Topeka West to move to 3-1. Now, in Week Five, the Spartans face Shawnee Heights on Homecoming night, only this time, it’s the Spartans’ turn to play host to the game.
“We are in the exact same situation,” Kolmer said, “except that this year, the game’s at home.”
But the comparisons don’t stop there for Emporia High.
Just like last season’s game, the matchup with Shawnee Heights brings about a profound importance for the Spartans, not only from a win-loss standpoint, but also as a validation game of sorts.
Shawnee Heights is a decided step up in competition from Emporia’s opponents the past three weeks. Topeka High, Washburn Rural and Topeka West are a combined 1-11 this season, just one game better than last year (0-12). Shawnee Heights enters Friday’s game with a 3-1 record, just like last year.
The Spartans (3-1, 3-0 Centennial League) know how much a win Friday night against the Thunderbirds (3-1, 3-1) would mean. After all, the Spartans’ came away with a 17-15 road victory a season ago, a victory that perhaps validated Emporia’s lofty record.
“The win last year felt real good,” senior Troy Pierce said. “It helped make us stronger, and we grew up mentally. It was a big boost to our confidence.”
Added Kolmer: “It was one of those games where after the game, we all were like, ‘Dang, we did it.’ It was a great feeling.”
The Spartans are hoping the similarities to last year don’t end any time soon, either. Just like last year, EHS hopes it comes away with a Homecoming victory over Shawnee Heights.
“It seems like the same thing we faced last year,” EHS coach Bill Lowe said. “We really don’t know how good we are yet because the teams we’ve beaten don’t have very good records. This is a chance to play somebody who has a good record and who is a good team in our league.
“It’ll be a real challenge, but I think our guys are ready for it.”
Potentially the biggest challenge Shawnee Heights poses comes in the form of 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back Austin Flohrshutz. The junior has rushed for 710 yards and six touchdowns this season on 95 carries, and twice he has gone over 200 yards in a game.
“Flohrshutz will probably be one of the best backs we see all year,” Lowe said. “We’ve got to stop Flohrshutz for sure. That’s the first thing we’ve got to do.”
While stopping Flohrschutz obviously is Emporia’s No. 1 concern on defense, Lowe cautioned that the T-Birds still are potent through the air despite the graduation of quarterback Tyler Herl and wide receiver Roger Luedke. Junior Sam Vossen has thrown for six touchdowns this season, but also has thrown an interception in every game, including five against Seaman.
“They run the ball a lot, but they can still throw it, and they’ll spread you out,” Lowe said.
Emporia managed to keep the Heights offense from breaking out in last season’s game, thanks in part to bottling up Flohrshutz to the tune of 99 yards.
At home this Friday, the Spartans hope they get a sense of déjà vu with another Homecoming victory over the T-Birds.
“We’re just going to come out ready to play our hardest,” Pierce said. “We’re all focused on what we need to do this week.”