The stage is set for a Southeast Kansas League showdown.
The undefeated Coffeyville Golden Tornado (5-0, 4-0 SEK) will travel to face the undefeated Pittsburg Purple Dragons (5-0, 5-0 SEK) with the conference championship on the line. Featured on Friday Night Live, the 7 p.m. Friday matchup will be televised statewide on Kansas Cox 22.
If Pittsburg wins, it will take the SEK title outright. If Coffeyville wins, it will earn at least a share of the crown with one more league game remaining.
For the Golden Tornado, a victory would mean their first win against the Dragons since 1993. Coffeyville also hasn’t won a league title since 1993.
“It’s probably the biggest game Coffeyville has had in 20 years,” Coffeyville coach Murray Zogg said. “Our kids want to be the first class in 20 years to be able to beat Pittsburg.”
Both teams have been dominant through the first five games. Led by a strong option running attack, Pittsburg is beating opponents by an average of 33.8 points. Coffeyville, meanwhile, is defeating opponents by 34.0 points per game. Coffeyville has done so with a more balanced attack, rushing for 281.0 and passing for 204.6 yards per game.
The ‘Nado boast one of the fastest teams in the state. All six runners who competed on Coffeyville’s Class 4A state championship 4x100-meter relay team last year are on the football team. James Newton, Darron Deffebaugh, Elijah Jones and Destin Downing made up the championship relay team, while LaDarrius Johnson and Justus Towery also competed on the team through the course of the season.
Coffeyville has used that speed to score 50.8 points per game.
“This is by far the fastest team I’ve coached or that I’ve ever really seen,” Zogg said. “A lot of teams have that one really fast kid, but they don’t have four or five really fast kids like we have.”
Coffeyville quarterback Nathan Finley has passed for 927 yards and eight touchdowns. His top receiving targets have been Deffebaugh and Newton with 389 and 380 yards receiving, respectively. Johnson has rushed for 698 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Dowing has 351 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 36 carries.
Newton is a threat in several ways for Coffeyville. In addition to averaging 21.1 yards per catch as a wide receiver, he is used as the quarterback in the Wildcat formation and averages almost 30 yards per kick return.
“He has the ability to run, throw and catch,” Pittsburg coach Tom Nickelson said. “He can do it all. He’s as good of an athlete as we’ll see … His main concern to me is on special teams. He is one heck of a kick and punt returner … He’s a touchdown waiting to happen in the return game.”
Coffeyville will be focused on slowing down Pittsburg running back Alex Barnes. The 6-1, 205-pound junior who has been clocked with a 4.48 40-yard dash has already scored 17 touchdowns this season.
Zogg said gang tackling will be the priority against Pittsburg’s talented running back.
“The thing about Alex Barnes is he’s a great big, physical, strong kid, but he doesn’t run like that,” Zogg said. “He runs like a little scatback. You watch him on film, and he’s making people miss. He’s got an incredible jump-cut. He has a little hesitation and then is very explosive. Very rarely does he just run over people, but he has that capability and everyone knows that.”
The Dragons are averaging 43.8 points per outing. Starting quarterback Riley Cunningham and the offensive line have played a big role in the success.
“It begins and ends with Riley,” Nickelson said. “We’re a double and triple option team, and that’s all predicated on your quarterback being smart … His decision making has been great. He doesn’t care one bit about his stats. He just wants the team to be successful.
“Offensive line was a major concern in the offseason, and these young men have really started playing good ball. They’re moving people … They play with a lot of effort and a lot of heart.”
A year ago, Pittsburg held off Coffeyville in an epic 67-53 shootout.
But neither coach expects the scoreboard to light up that much this season. Pittsburg and Coffeyville are holding opponents to 9.4 and 16.8 points per game, respectively.
“If we got to score that many points again – if we can beat them 65-64 – we’ll sure take any type of victory,” Nickelson said. “But I don’t expect the game to be a track meet like last year.”
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