The state of Topeka West football under new coach Chris Perry is similar to the one the nation’s new president is likely to face next year with respect to the economy: It’s going to be awhile before things get appreciably better.
The Chargers, Emporia High’s first opponent in district play beginning Friday, do have one win under Perry this year after putting up a goose egg in Warren Seitz’s final year in 2007. But other markers of progress are modest. T-West has been shut out four times already in six games — they were shut out three times last year — and have scored 24 points, putting them on pace to score 36 for the year, short of last year’s 53.
To put it charitably, this is as winnable a game as Emporia can face to start district.
Scouting Emporia
The Spartans’ passing game is nonexistent these days — and that’s a great thing for EHS, because it’s a byproduct of an offense that’s doing exactly what it’s designed to do.
As the Spartans’ O-line, and by extension its running game, have reached a level of utter dominance during Emporia’s three-game winning streak, the Spartans have had almost no need to throw the ball. Quarterback Taylor Euler didn’t throw a second-half pass in the comeback win at Washburn Rural three weeks ago. The following week, he threw just three passes in the win over Seaman. Last week, he passed twice, completing both, in the 28-14 victory at Manhattan.
Unless Emporia is winning big and coach Bill Lowe decides to pull the starters early, there’s no reason not to expect Mark Kolmer to have another huge game. Kolmer has carried 78 times for 406 yards in the past two weeks combined. Corey Bacon could also get more chances to run free. Bacon’s 146 yards and two scores last week came on just 12 carries.
“That comes from the line opening up holes once again, and Mark also running hard,” Bacon said. “Then that makes them bite down on him, and it kind of leaves an open gap for the rest of us.”
Bacon’s first touchdown, which came on Emporia’s second drive, provided the best example of that. Manhattan had already seen Kolmer carry on four of the first five plays of the drive, and when Euler faked a dive handoff to Kolmer, Manhattan’s entire defense fell for the fake. Bacon then had a wide-open right side of the field to run 44 yards untouched for the score.
So with West having less talent than Manhattan on both sides of the ball, keying on Kolmer might not be the worst thing the Chargers could do, but it’s not likely to help all that much.
Scouting Topeka West
Perry, an assistant on Topeka West for 10 years and the defensive coordinator before being named head coach in January, made it his first priority to improve the number of kids coming out for football. He did that successfully, with West beginning the preseason with about 90 players in all four grades.
The Chargers do appear to have made some progress on defense this year. After allowing 386 points last season, they’ve allowed “only” 167 so far this year, or 27.8 points per game. Their victory, which came over fellow Centennial League doormat Highland Park, was an 18-0 shutout. Among Topeka teams, their defense ranks third in yardage, surrendering 250 yards per game. Junior defensive lineman Andrew Smith was an honorable mention for All-Centennial League last season.
Sophomore running back Aaron Plump has shown some promise, with 429 yards rushing and a 4.4-per-carry average. Tyrell Brown, the 6-foot-4 quarterback who played at wide receiver last season, has run for 354 yards. Marc Nash, a 5-foot-9 senior, has 313 yards on the ground.
West’s passing game has been a nonfactor, to say the least. Even with the number of times they’ve been blown out, the Chargers are averaging just 14 passing yards per game. Their 208 yards per game of total offense ranks only ahead of Highland Park among Topeka teams.
In short, if Emporia is even challenged on Friday at Welch Stadium, that will be enough of an upset that Topeka West can walk away feeling good about itself.