It’s almost as if the Louisburg Wildcats have had to prepare for two different teams this week. As Class 4A’s third-ranked Louisburg get set to play Class 3A’s top-ranked Silver Lake Eagles tonight in Silver Lake, the question looms whether the Eagles All-State quarterback Keenan Kruger (6-1, 175) will take the field. Kruger has missed Silver Lake’s first three games with a hand injury, but he started practicing in full pads this week and was expected to be a game time decision tonight. The decision will have a big impact on Louisburg’s defensive game plan. “I think a lot depends on whether the Kruger kid can play this week,” Louisburg head coach Gary Griffin said. “They’re going to play a lot differently depending on if they have him or if they don’t have him. With him, they’ll probably be 50-50 between their run and pass. Without him, they’ll probably be 80 percent run and 20 percent pass.” Passing for 2,114 yards last season, Kruger would give the Eagles another dimension. A healthy Kruger also would mean they could keep senior Brit Dewey (5-10, 170) at wide receiver instead of placing him under center. Dewey was Kruger’s favorite target last season with 746 receiving yards. “It’s been a little frustrating on the offensive side, because we‘re more limited on what we can do,” Silver Lake head coach C.J. Hamilton said. “Dewey’s thrown only four passes in his games, so we’re kind of tipping our hand a little bit. However, Brit is starting to get a little more comfortable with the passing game.” And when Dewey has been called on to pass, he’s been successful. In games against St. Marys and Atchison, Dewey was 4-for-4 passing for 122 yards and one touchdown. He also had 28 carries for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Even without Kruger, Silver Lake has stormed out to a 3-0 start by beating Wabaunsee, St. Marys and Atchison by a combined score of 111-28. Either way, Louisburg knows a game against the traditional 3A powerhouse will be a tough test. “They’re very well coached, and they’re very big up front,” Griffin said. “They’re a team that will give us a good indication of where we’re at.” Likewise, Louisburg will be a big test for Silver Lake. The Class 4A Wildcats have cruised through their first three games against Eudora, Ottawa and St. James Academy with a combined score 117-13. Louisburg’s offensive attack is led by senior quarterback Kody Cook (6-2, 175) and junior running back Garrett Griffin (6-4, 210). Cook passed for 130 yards last week against St. James, while Griffin ran for 105 yards on only 10 carries. Hamilton was complimentary of both players. “He’s their guy,” Hamilton said of Griffin. “He’s a strong runner and has good feet. He looks impressive on film. “Cook brings the same things to the table Keenan does. They have Griffin and their fullback to carry the load, but Cook makes it to where you can’t gang up on the line.” The line may be where the game is decided. Louisburg boasts a line led by seniors Tyler Ewy (6-3, 260) and Ross Dvorak (6-0, 230), and Luke Yoder (6-2, 270) and Ethan Trammel (5-11, 255) lead a huge line for Silver Lake. “It’s a big test that’s for sure,” Hamilton said. “We’re still trying to figure ourselves out a little. We’ve seen film of Louisburg, and they’re a good football team. It will be good preparation for both teams.”
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