Crest High’s brutal regular season schedule, which pitted the Lancers against eight-man powers Marmaton Valley, Waverly and St. Paul early on, paid off for Brent Smith’s squad late in the 2012 campaign.
“We’re a better team because of those games,” Smith said, all of which were undecided until the games’ final moments.
The Lancers responded, winning five straight since then, including a come-from-behind 66-50 win over South Barber High Tuesday to open the Kansas Eight Man, Division II playoffs.
The road gets even tougher for the 7-3 Lancers, who hit the road this weekend to take on another perennial powerhouse in 8-2 Hanover High.
Kickoff is at 3 p.m. Saturday in Hanover, more than 200 miles from Crest’s home field in Colony. The game marks the second straight playoff contest in which Crest must travel more than 200 miles to play.
When they arrive at Hanover — about 75 miles north of Manhattan, or a stone’s throw from the Nebraska border — Crest will find itself up against a team accustomed to success.
The Wildcats were two-time state champions, winning it all in 2008 and 2009.
Hanover’s path to the playoffs is similar to the Lancers’. The Wildcats started the season at 2-2, falling to Baileyville B&B and Rock Hills-Mankato — both of which are still alive in the playoffs and have a combined 19-1 record.
Leading the way for Hanover is senior standout Mark Zarybnicky, a 5-10, 160-pound running back and receiver who has keyed an offense that has scored more than 40 points in eight straight games.
MUCH OF Crest’s fate may rest on the little finger of senior Kyle Hammond, who exited the Lancers’ win against Hanover with a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand.
Hammond returned to practice Wednesday with his finger heavily bandaged.
“It’ll be all right,” Hammond said. “I’ll probably tape it up for the game.”
While Hammond has been Crest’s focal point most of the season, his absence keyed a pivotal stretch in the second half Tuesday in which several others stepped up.
Seniors Jordan Morton and Dylan Sedlak propelled the offense with ?? touchdowns.
“We’re going to have to lock down on defense to be successful,” Hammond said. “On offense, we’re going to have to hold our blocks and run hard.”
Crest hits road again
