With the Southern Coffey County Titans falling to Peabody-Burns 54-0 Tuesday, the Maramaton Valley Wildcats are the only area football team active in the postseason.
The MVHS Wildcats face the Frankfort Wildcats, 5-4, Friday in Moran in the regional playoffs.
“This team is capable of great things, and we’ve shown a lot of promise,” said Marmaton Valley coach Max Mickunas, following Friday’s 48-0 victory over Hartford.
“Obviously, we’ve had a great season, but I don’t think anybody is satisfied, and I don’t think anybody is complacent.”
Marmaton Valley has every right to be confident heading into Friday’s contest. Their only loss came by way of the Reno County Homeschool Sabras, who transitioned to 11-man football weeks later. Reno County later defeated 11-man Tri-Valley League runner-up Eureka 56-20.
Aside from the Sabras loss, Marmaton Valley demolished their other eight opponents by exponential margins of victory. Over their eight wins, the Wildcats have a margin of victory of 444-61.
And then there’s the 5-4 Frankfort Wildcats.
Although the Frankfort team is the second-worst in their four-team regional bracket, Marmaton Valley may be in for a trap game.
Of the Wildcats’ four losses, only 6-3 Clifton-Clyde had more than one loss coming into the contest. Their next loss came to undefeated 8-0 Lyndon, then 9-0 Hanover and then 8-1 Axtell, who recently ended a 58-game win streak with a loss to Hanover Oct. 17.
However, of their five wins, none of their victories came from a team with a winning record by the end of the regular season.
Regardless of who comes to Moran Friday, Coach Mickunas remains confident in his program.
“Every time we step on the field we’re trying to prove we’re the best team out here,” said Mickunas, following their regular season finale against St. Paul. “We’re the best team on the field any given night and we’re the best team in Southeast Kansas. We’ve played the whole regular season now and if we haven’t made that statement, I don’t know what will.”
If Marmaton Valley advances Friday, then the Wildcats face either Rural Vista of White City (8-1), who opened the postseason with a 51-0 victory over Crest, or the Axtell Eagles.
Kickoff for Friday’s contest is at 7 p.m.
