Playoffs ‘starting a week early’ for Lancer football squad

If there’s a silver lining in the Lancers’ loss to SM West in district play last week, it’s that Friday’s regular season ending matchup against SM South has taken on a new layer of interest.

“The playoffs have come for us, they’re just starting a week early,” said SM East head coach Chip Sherman. “We win, we’re in. We lose, our season is over.”

And while South’s 2-6 record may not inspire much dread, Sherman says they’re a tough team that’s just hitting its stride. South beat Blue Valley North in the first week of district play, and bring a 1-1 district record into Friday’s game, just like the Lancers. Their featured running back, Gabe Guild, leads the Sunflower League with 1,535 yards.

“They’re a dangerous team,” Sherman said. “They’ve played everybody close, but couldn’t figure out how to walk away with the win early in the season.”
 
Sherman confirmed that quarterback Dakota Collins would start for the Lancers, though he hasn’t regained full mobility in the ankle he injured in the second game of the season.