Photo by Adam Vogler
Emporia High's Corey Bacon tries to get around Washburn Rural's Alex Shields during EHS's comeback win last Friday. The Spartans face Seaman during the homecoming game Friday night.
It had been eight-plus quarters — dating back to Emporia High’s early-second-quarter lead against Hayden in the second week of the season — since the Spartans had much to cheer about.
Then the second half against Washburn Rural happened, and what an incredible second half it was. After Emporia ripped off 35 post-intermission points and finished an astonishing 35-24 comeback win at Rural, quarterback Taylor Euler proclaimed, “I think we’re off and running from here.”
He may be right. The Spartans’ second-half explosion — done, remarkably, without a single pass — is the kind of swing that can turn seasons around.
This week’s opponent, Seaman, was a Class 5A state playoff participant last year but comes to Welch Stadium on a three-game losing streak. The Vikings, like Emporia High before last week, are coming off losses to two of the Centennial League’s best squads. They suffered a 28-7 loss to Manhattan two weeks ago and a 47-6 defeat last week to Hayden.
Scouting Emporia
When you look at what Emporia did against Rural on the ground in the second half — 222 yards — compared to 66 in the first half, you might think there had to have been some magical X’s and O’s adjustments at halftime that allowed the Spartans’ O-line to spring the holes for Euler, Corey Bacon and Mark Kolmer. Coach Bill Lowe insisted that wasn’t really the case — it was a matter of attitude and mentality.
“The kids decided that they had that in ’em, and (found) a way to reach down and find that,” Lowe said. “It comes down to a matter of pride, and if you want your season to be over, or if you want to keep playing. They found a way to keep playing. But really, it was attitude and mental adjustments more than anything.”
Kolmer posted Emporia’s first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, putting up 102 in 22 carries and scoring twice. Euler added 92 yards in 14 carries, and Bacon had 67, including an 11-yard score. When the Spartans’ offensive line allows Emporia’s running game to chew up yards, minutes and seconds, Emporia is likely to win.
“Second half, they played really well, and they moved some big guys off the ball,” Lowe said. “Washburn Rural’s very big up front, so that was a big challenge for ’em.”
Lowe said his familiarity with Seaman — he coached there for 13 years before coming to Emporia — helps EHS prepare somewhat. Seaman coach Blake Pierce was a Lowe assistant, and the Vikings run an option offense similar to Emporia’s.
“But it’s been four years removed (since I was there), so they’re doing some other things (offensively),” Lowe said. “They’ll spread us out a little more, just some things like that.”
The Spartan defense, even while showing its youth at times, has had a knack for coming up with big turnovers, and it did so again against Rural. Cody Lindquist pounced on a fumble by Blues quarterback Trent Annan in the third quarter, setting up Bacon’s TD run, and Justin Krause picked off an Annan pass and returned it 45 yards for a score to seal the game in the closing minutes. In this week’s game, the Spartans have a clear edge in talent, and Seaman likely won’t be able to afford any such mistakes.
“I think we’ve just gotta come out with the mentality that we faced the second half with,” Lowe said. “We’ve gotta start the game like we’ve been finishing it; we’ve had a tough time starting games.”
Scouting Seaman
The biggest reason for the Vikings’ fall from a 7-3 playoff team to a struggling 1-3 squad is the loss of just about all of its key personnel. The Vikes lost starters at 20 positions off last year’s team, including four first team all-league performers, one second-teamer and one honorable mention.
Of course, playing an improved Washburn Rural, a resurgent Manhattan and one of the state’s best in Hayden has accelerated the fall.
“It’s difficult for a lot of other teams, too,” Pierce said, “but our schedule, this run of four or five games that we have, is just as tough as any that I’ve ever seen.”
Only one school in Topeka, Topeka West, has put up fewer points per game than the Vikes’ 12. Quarterback Robbie Rea has been easily Seaman’s biggest offensive threat in its option attack. Rea has 449 total yards of offense, including 265 rushing — but 130 of those came in the easy week-one win over Topeka West. Through the air, Rea has completed an ugly 14 of 52 passes, with just one scoring throw. He’s joined in the backfield by Justin Benoit at fullback, Spencer Vanderbogart at left slotback and Kyle Dunham at right slotback.
“We really run the same formation, look a lot like what Bill does there in Emporia,” Pierce said. “Except they’re doing a little better than we are right now.”
On the defensive side, Seaman usually deploys five down linemen and two linebackers, with variations on that front. Rea, at free safety, is the only returning starter from last season. But it’s the other safety, Vanderbogart, who Pierce says has been the heart of the Vikes’ defense.
“He’s a hitter,” Pierce said. “He has a nose for the football. He’s just all over the field for us.”
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