The Rockhurst game is one that members of the Hutchinson community certainly circle on the schedule each year.
Each year, the game pits one of the best football programs in Kansas against one of the best in Missouri.
Hutchinson has won seven state championships since 2000, while Rockhurst has won the Missouri crown four times in the same time period.
"One of the first questions we get after the season is where is the Rockhurst game this year," said Randy Dreiling, who is in his 17th year as Hutchinson's head coach. "The community is interested in it. There are a lot of people from Hutchinson living in the Kansas City area. We'll totally pack our side at their stadium with guys from that area."
The 2-0 Salthawks will travel to face the Rockhurst Hawklets on Friday in a game that will be televised on Kansas Cox 22.
"Every year, we've played a game down to the wire," Dreiling said. "It gives us a lot of confidence that we can play with anybody. I think when we're done with this game we get a really good understanding of who can get the job done. It's great competition, so we're going to have to cover all facets of the game."
Rockhurst leads the series between the two teams 4-1. The Hawklets have won the last three games by scores of 35-31, 35-20 and 29-28. Hutchinson won 55-27 in 2009, and Rockhurst won the first meeting 28-21 in 2008.
The Hawklets have gotten the best of Hutchinson over the years, but Rockhurst coach Tony Severino said he doesn't have any master plan of how to beat the Salthawks.
"Sometimes we win the game, but we lose a lot of battles," Rockhurst said. "We've been very lucky to be honest with you. There is absolutely no secret. I think it was in (2009) -- that may have been the best football team we've ever played, and we've played some of the best football teams from coast to coast over the years."
Rockhurst enters this year's game 0-3, but its record may be somewhat misleading. The Hawklets' first three games have been against high-quality opponents in East St. Louis, Bentonville (Ark.) and Blue Springs. The losses have been close, falling 19-14, 24-21 and 22-7, respectively.
"We got to eliminate the big mistake, and we got to eliminate the big play," said Severino, who is in his 31st season as head coach at Rockhurst. "We've given up more big plays over 60 yards in these three games than we normally give up in a year."
Rockhurst quarterback T.J. Green, who is the son of former NFL quarterback Trent Green, has passed for 407 yards and three touchdowns in the first three games. Mitch Koeppen has been one of Green's main targets with seven catches for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Hutchinson opened the season with wins over Salina Central and Haysville Campus. The Salthawks have rushed for 570 and 441 yards in their first two games. Three Salthawks -- Jacob Hardenburger, Austin Garcia and Turner Wintz -- each eclipsed the 100-yard mark in last week's 48-0 win over Campus. Hardenburger ran for 260 yards in the season-opening 42-31 win over Salina Central.
Wintz leads the team under center, and Colby Turner leads the Hutchinson defense at linebacker.
"What they do, they do well," Severino said. "They don't give you a lot of stuff, but what they do they do so well. You have to be so disciplined. If you make a mistake, it's usually a big one."
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