Humboldt football to play at Pittsburg State in week two

HUMBOLDT — High school football is just around the corner. School hasn’t started yet, but practices for all fall sports will begin Aug. 18.
Glancing at Humboldt High School’s schedule, fans will notice they play against Quapaw, Okla., at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Pittsburg State University.
“We were at the scheduling meeting in Salina last fall,” Humboldt head football coach K.B. Criss said. “We had went and district assignments had come out, the league schedule got finalized and we had a hole in our schedule.”
Criss said he searched all of Kansas for a team to play, but didn’t have any luck. So, he had to get creative and look elsewhere.
“So, we went and searched around the borders and Quapaw had an open week in week two,” Criss said. “We didn’t want to drive all the way to Quapaw and they didn’t want to drive to Humboldt, so we thought we’d meet in the middle.”
The teams will play each other at Pitt State for the next two seasons. Quapaw went 1-9 last season under first-year head coach Charles Preaus.
Humboldt has finished 8-3 the past two seasons, advancing to the second round of the Class 3A State Tournament. Both seasons were coached under Criss.
“I think it’s a good trade-off,” Criss said. “The kids will be excited to get to play in the Jungle at Pitt State for two years back-to-back. Also, we do lose a home game, but our fans don’t have to travel the two-hour drive to Quapaw, and meet in the middle instead. I think that balances out rather nicely.”
The game won’t have any playoff implications because its a nonconference game.
Humboldt’s first game of the season is at home Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. against Cherryvale.
It’s good that the team will have a game under its belt because that could just add to the nerves.
“I think it will be enjoyable for them,” Criss said. “A lot of our kids go down there (Pittsburg) and watch a number of games there throughout the year. So, I think it will be very exciting for not only the kids from Humboldt, but the kids from Quapaw as well.”
Humboldt had a busy offseason adding Zach Rampy as offensive coordinator and Nate Dreiling as defensive coordinator. Rampy was a quarterback at Emporia State University and graduate assistant at Pitt State. Dreiling was a four-time All-American linebacker for the Gorilla defense.