Posted: Nov 10, 2016
Moge's Musings - November 10, 2016
Musings
Football is just a weekend away from being over.
Though the Swedes haven't had the success we had hoped for, there have been some bright moments and several "almost" moments.
Last Saturday, however, was one of shear misery watching Tabor dismantle Bethany in the final outing for our 11 seniors. Well, 10 since Darius Squire was injured in the KW game and was already finished.
What I saw last week was Evan Spillsberry feast on the Swedes every time he came off the ball.
He was conference defensive player of the week after last Saturday. It's an honor he well deserved.
This weekend, at McPherson, both teams will close out the season. Both are tied with Southwestern for 8th place at 1-7. Since the Builders played one less game, but lost to both Bethany and Mac, I'm not sure where that would place them on the final conference ladder.
What miffs me about this game is starting it at 12 noon. What's with that? I asked Paul Hubbard and he didn't know. He only knew it was a noon kickoff.
What the Swedes and Dogs are playing for will be bragging rights in McPherson County, a higher finish in the conference race, but also a probable rematch with Hastings to open the 2017 season.
That's because the GPAC-KCAC Challenge has been set for two more years. Going into this Saturday, Hastings would finish 8th in the GPAC, Briar Cliff 9th and where the bye would fall, the KCAC has arranged with Texas Wesleyan out of Ft. Worth, to play the 10th place teams.
The Rams are getting football started after 75 years off and the KCAC game will be their first in their new era.
On paper, Bethany should win this game, Ed Crouch notwithstanding.
Crouch is a poor man's Cedric Price, Sterling's quarterback who IS the best player in the KCAC—maybe the NAIA.
Price will have to carry the load to give Mac a chance while the Swedes will counter with Nate Ocran and his quest to crack 1000 yards rushing in 10 games.
Bethany also has a pretty good passing attack with Darius 'Boom' Handcox and Isaiah Salazar taking turns.
Before that game though, the Smoky Valley Vikings will make a 110 mile journey to Pratt to face the Greenbacks in Sectional play.
So after a matchup of Great Man protégé's: Tim Lambert and Mike Vernon last week, Lambert will match up with Jamie Cruce, another former Swede, and a defensive coordinator for Bethany as well as a Swede Head Coach.
TIDBIT
The Swede basketball teams will both be in action this weekend and the conference season will open November 19 in McPherson. For the men, it marks the first time this season that Cody Harris and Joey Habtemariam will be on the floor for Bethany.
Both will be out of the doghouse and back in good graces to play.
Cheri Lindsay got her team to the post-season tournament for the first time since 2011. I told her 'small steps'. She's bringing the team along nicely.
The Wrestling team opens with a Saturday morning dual with KW in Hahn Gym. Makes me kind of mad, that football game at Mac had to be moved up to 12 noon.