Rewind to 2005 and it’s a much different story for the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers and the McPherson Bullpups. That year, both teams finished 2-7 overall and 0-3 in their respective districts.
Following the season, both schools brought in new head coaches in Marvin Diener and Tom Young, respectively.
Five years later, Class 5A’s second-ranked Trailblazers and third-ranked Bullpups collide in what is arguably the state's biggest game of the week.
“Both programs were struggling,” Diener said. “We’re really proud of the progress we’ve made here in this amount of time. Before we got here, Gardner-Edgerton had never won a playoff game.”
It was evident Diener knew the recipe for success. He had already accumulated 180 wins and had built one of the state’s most dominant programs in Salina Central.
Soon, he got the Gardner-Edgerton program on track. Diener has directed the Trailblazers to a 39-11 record since 2006 and an appearance in the Class 5A state championship game last season.
Now, he has the Trailblazers sporting a 5-0 record as they prepare to face a fellow 5-0 McPherson team with a very similar story.
After McPherson posted a 1-8 record in 2004 and a 2-7 record in 2005, Young guided the Bullpups to a 6-4 record in 2006. Young has led McPherson to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, including a trip to the 5A state semifinals in 2008.
The good fortune shouldn’t come as a surprise. With 309 wins to his credit, Young is one of the most successful coaches in state history. He is the state’s only coach to win state championships with three different schools -- Hanover (1979), Wellington (1982) and Derby (1994).
Diener said he has great respect for Young.
“I’ve known Tom for many, many years,” Diener said. “We coached together in the 1990 Shrine Bowl, so we’ve both been around for a long time. If we win Friday, this will be my 220th victory. I don’t go against many coaches who have almost 100 more wins than I do.
“It will be the first time for us to coach against each other. It will be fun.”
The coaches will be battling for the first time because they both wanted a big game on the schedule before the beginning of district competition, which starts next week for both teams.
Gardner-Edgerton may be in the most competitive district in the state with the four teams -- Blue Valley - Stlwell, Gardner-Edgerton, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pittsburg -- combining for a 19-1 record. McPherson appears to have an easier road with 3-2 Emporia as the only other team in its district with a winning record.
“To have this kind of big game in the middle of the season really prepares a team,” Diener said. “That’s why Tom and I wanted to schedule this game.”
The contest includes some of the state’s best athletes in Gardner-Edgerton’s Bubba Starling (QB, 6-4, 193), Lucas Powell, (OL, 6-4, 264) and Brett Jensen (RB, 6-0, 225) and McPherson’s Christian Ulsaker (WR, 6-5, 175), Kevin O’Connor (RB, 5-9, 178) and Tyler Mathews (QB, 6-3, 190).
Starling is the top-rated player in the state, rushing for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns and passing for 411 yards and four touchdowns. Jensen gives the Trailblazers another running option as he’s rushed for 532 yards and eight touchdowns.
The passing game has been a big part of McPherson’s success as Mathews has completed 76-of-96 passes for 1,258 yards, 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Mathews has quality targets to throw to as Ulsaker has 37 catches for 567 yards and four touchdowns and Nick Gawanda has 16 receptions for 314 yards and six scores.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Mathews and how he’s completing almost 80 percent of his passes,” Diener said. “But you got to have kids who can catch it. His receivers aren’t dropping any. Their receivers are about as good as I’ve ever seen. The only way to stop it is to get some pressure on the quarterback.”
That may end up being the key in a game that matches up two teams who have beaten opponents by at least two touchdowns in every game this season.
“I think this kind of game -- win or lose -- helps you,” Diener said. “That investment in practice never leaves you. If you can win a big game like this before districts, you really have a lot of momentum. Obviously, you want to get out of it healthy.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, a district foe of Gardner-Edgerton, has taken a similar approach to preparing for a difficult district.
The 5-0 and fourth-ranked Saints host the undefeated Webb City, Mo., Cardinals, who enter with a 6-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in Missouri’s Class 4.
“We’re going to find out exactly how good we are,” St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Mike Thomas said. “This is a great test to see where we’re at. A game like this will help us out tremendously.”
Maddy Johnson leads the Cardinals rushing attack with 908 yards and 14 touchdowns. Scott Roderique directs the Webb City option offense, throwing for more than 400 yards and passing for almost 300.
“Webb City has a lot of tradition,” Thomas said. “They have a lot of very good players. Their backfield is very good and they have a good line and a senior dominated team.”
Aquinas is led by quarterback Richard Davila, who has completed 58-of-86 passes for 1,142 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Dagan Reed makes the running game go with 358 yards and seven touchdowns on only 30 carries.
“Dagan is a special player,” Thomas said. “We know anytime he touches the ball, he could make a big play. To be successful, we need to make sure we get him the ball enough times.”
However, limiting Webb City’s rushing attack may be the key for the Saints.
With so many spread offenses these days, Aquinas isn’t used to facing the option.
“It’s different now,” Thomas said. “When we were exchanging film, Coach (John) Roderique asked to see film where we face a tight end. It’s a little different to see a team like this.
“What makes their passing game different than most is that it comes mostly off play-action. If we can stop the run that will be key. We want them to throw the ball. They’re good at it, but it’s not their bread and butter. They want to run the ball.”
This will be the first meeting for the two teams since Webb City beat Aquinas 7-6 in 2000.
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