District play begins this week
Sports reporter
It's not that the first six games of the season don't count, but it's the final three that determine if you go to the playoffs, or if you start preparing for basketball season.
In 11-man football in Kansas, the district season is actually a part of the regular-season schedule.
The final three games are a round-robin tournament, with the two highest finishers advancing to the state playoffs.
This year Marion High School has 6-0 Hesston, 6-0 Remington, and 3-3 Hillsboro in its district.
"We've got three very tough opponents," MHS head coach Grant Thierolf said. "That's just one of those things where you know if you come through our district you are a state quality team."
It can be a brutal process, but it is what it is.
Take for instance 2004 and 2005 where Marion High School was 6-3 and 7-2, but four of the five losses were during district play, keeping them home both seasons.
In 2005 Marion had Southeast of Saline in its district, a team that eventually claimed the 3A state title.
There also are some weaker districts that allow teams with sometimes losing records to advance.
During SE of Saline's championship run, Ellinwood, a team MHS beat that year by more than 30 points and stood at 2-7, advanced due to timely victories and a weak district.
However, coaches and players can't worry about any of that. Instead, they have to play by the rules, and just take care of business.
"You don't coach any different," Thierolf said. "You just hope all the work that you've done up to this point carries over."
The district season begins Friday for MHS when the Warriors play host to county rival Hillsboro.
The Trojans got off to a slow start at 1-2, but their offense has helped them win two of their last three games.
"Everyone's pumped about that game," Warrior running back Austin Hager said.
The final two district games will be at Remington and home against Hesston.
Even though it will be tough to get out of the district, it used to be even harder in the past with only one team advancing out of each district.
"We've got caught in that situation a number of years," Thierolf said. "It's nice that there's two that get to go."
A loss won't end the season for MHS, but two certainly will.
If three teams finish district play at 2-1, a tie-breaker will be used to determine which two will advance.
The first six weeks are now thrown out the window, and the "real" season begins.
"You hope that your kids rise up to that level of competitiveness that they've got to rise up to," Thierolf said, "because it's the fun time of year."
Kickoff for Friday's game is 7 p.m. at Warrior Stadium.
