Sometimes losing isn’t always a bad thing.
Of course, the Meade Buffaloes (8-1) would have loved to beat the Canadian (Texas) Wildcats (10-0) in the season opener, but the knowledge gained probably was more important.
Because you’re likely to learn something when you play Texas‘ top-ranked Class 1A team, which has won two state championships in the past three years and has two players who are being heavily recruited to play Division I football.
“Texas football is at the top of the mountain as far as high schools go,” said Scott Moshier, who is in his 19th season as a head coach and his fifth at Meade. “They were the best high school team I’ve coached against. They were phenomenal.”
Since that 36-6 loss in Texas, 2-1A’s second-ranked Buffaloes have mowed down their competition by an average score of 57-7 and enter Friday’s first-round playoff game against Atwood-Rawlins Co. (5-4) with a lot of momentum.
“We had six or seven kids getting their first varsity start in the opener,” Moshier said. “They had to be, ‘Oh, my gosh is that the speed the game is played at.’ But as a positive, they learned that if you can play with these guys, you can play with anyone. We were disappointed in the loss, but we knew there was a lot of season left to be played.”
Other than a forfeit win against Satanta, Meade has scored at least 46 points in its games since the opener and has allowed no more than 14.
Using the single wing offense, the Buffaloes have averaged more than 400 yards rushing in their last seven games played.
Senior Jaden Friesen has been the team’s go-to back with 764 yards and 13 touchdowns on 89 carries.
“We were looking it up the other day, and we saw that Jaden has 33 or 34 career touchdowns at the varsity level,” Moshier said. “That’s a lot of scores. He knows how to find the end zone. He’s not a real flashy kid, but he really gets after it.”
Kellan Hernandez has led the Buffaloes at quarterback after previously playing running back and wide receiver. He is second on the team in rushing with 725 yards and 14 touchdowns on 83 carries.
“Kellan is a tremendous leader,” Moshier said. “He has a quiet demeanor, but he’s a little bit of a cut up. We have a fun group, but when it gets time they get serious. They show emotion.”
Hernandez hasn’t thrown the ball a lot, but he has been effective when he has. The senior has completed 21 of 39 passes for 283 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Moshier said the team’s lack of passing isn’t because of a lack of ability.
“We really are a very good passing team, but we’ve been very fortunate with our run game and quick scores this season,” he said. “We have some things we’d like to work on, but then we look up at the scoreboard and don’t feel like we can throw the ball.
“We’ve worked on our spread and no huddle a lot in practice, but we haven’t had a lot of time under the lights. But when we need to use it, we can be pretty good.”
Meade will likely need to use their passing game more to get through a 2A’s west side of the bracket that no longer includes Smith Center, which reached the title game the past six seasons.
“There are some really good teams out there,” Moshier said. “The west is definitely wide open with Smith Center being gone.”
But before they get any ideas of reaching the state title game, the Buffaloes know they must first get past Atwood-Rawlins on Friday.
“Atwood is a typical northwest Kansas team,” Moshier said. “They’re going to try and punch you in the mouth. They’re hard-nosed, and they don’t make mistakes.”
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