By Tory Duncan

BULL

Getting back to school coverage, on top of may other things that go on throughout the year, can be a challenge. There aren’t many free nights, and when there are, one can always find something to attend or do.

After the first couple of weeks, my biggest and most challenging sport to shoot is, and always has been, volleyball; that challenge continues, at least for me.

After a full year away from it (basically) each year it’s almost like I have to go through spring training sessions again to get the “trigger finger” limbered up. I have to think of all the settings to get just right to shot inside with no flash, so after the first couple of week, I think I’ve found my settings for each of Clay County’s three gymnasiums....I think!

Wednesday, Sept. 11, is a day thousands of people will never forget. For youth who were too young or not born yet, 9/11 is a day to remember everyone who was lost, hurt, or responded to the call that day. Sandy Creek paid tribute to Patriot Day by retiring flags in a proper burning ceremony and giving speeches. Here, scout members, from left: Wesley Biltoft, Christian Shaw, and Joshua Spray salute the flag prior to the ceremony beginning.

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South Central Unified School District #5’s tax payers will see a slight increase on their property taxes to go toward Sandy Creek and Lawrence-Nelson Public Schools during the current school year.

This year’s increase, at 77 cents per $100 of property valuation, over 2018-19 amounts to just 84 cents.

“Not even a penny,” Julie Otero, SCUD superintendent, said during the school board’s regular meeting on Sept. 16 at Lawrence-Nelson High School in Nelson.

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BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Faith. Family. Tractors.

These are three common ingredients of what makes up the VonSpreckelsen family of Clay Center.

Focusing on John Deere was their year to showcase the family’s 12 JD tractors—and one Allis Chalmers—during the 37th annual Old Trusty Show. The oldest of the bunch, a 1947 B, was the last tractor to be refurbished by Robert VonSpreckelsen before his passing.

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BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

Clay Center’s Auxiliary celebrated 100 years Sunday, Sept. 15, with entertainment, speakers, and a meal.

Prior to the meal being served, Mari Hamburger of Harvard sang some songs from the 1950s-60s era, such as “It’s a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong, and finishing with “God Bless America.”

Kathy Gosser, Auxiliary member, then presented certificates to present Auxiliary members for their many years of continuous membership, including Lou Bedlan, 65 years; Nancy Godtel, 60 years; and Judy Kalvoda, 50 years.

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Garrett Clark, left, a 2016 graduate of Sutton High School and Brett Simonsen, above, (21), a 2019 graduate of Sutton, are two of the Hastings College Bronco’s starting offensive players this season. Saturday, the Broncos held off the visiting Jamestown Jimmies, 38-21, to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Simonsen, the true freshman starting running back, gained a team high 90 yards on 22 carries and scored the opening touchdown on a three-yard plunge, while Clark, the Broncos starting center and his front line teammates helped to produce 25 first downs and gain 350 yards of total offense, including 149 rushing yards and 201 passing yards.

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BY TORY DUNCAN

Week three of the 2019 football season proved to be a breakout week for the Sutton Mustangs, as Sutton’s offense exploded for 28 first quarter points and led the Mustangs to an eventual 64-0 shutout win over the Freeman Falcons on the road.

As Sutton improved to 3-0 on the year, the Mustang offense racked up 307 total yards, while defensively, Sutton was equally impressive, holding the Falcons to a mere 48 yards of total offense.

Sutton held the Freeman rushing attack to a negative 38 yards rushing, while giving up 86 passing yards.

In contrast, the Mustangs traditional pound the ball down the field kind of offense would yield 290 rushing yards, while adding 17 passing yards to account for the 307 total yards in the big win. 

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BY ASHLEY D. SWANSON

The term “it’s anyone’s ballgame” was the definition of Friday’s football game between Sandy Creek and Fillmore Central, where the Panthers narrowly took an 18-13 win in the final minute of the game.

Sandy Creek’s defense was on high guard, making it difficult for FC to get anywhere near the end zone; however, the Panthers weren’t making it any easier for the Cougars.

The first quarter breezed by without either team scoring a touchdown. Going into the second quarter, it looked as if the first half would end in a scoreless tie, before FC secured six points at the 4:42 mark on an 11-yard touchdown run, claiming a 6-0 lead after Sandy Creek blocked the extra point kick.

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BY TORY DUNCAN

It was a big opening night of action for head coach Shelli Mohnike and her Sutton Fillies as the Sutton girls opened the season earning a four set, 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15 win over tradition rich Exeter-Milligan on the road.

E-M, who is just two season’s removed from the Class D-2 state championship, and a D-2 state qualifier a season ago couldn’t keep pace with some stellar individual and team action put up by the Fillies.

The Timberwolves, who were preseason ranked sixth in the D-2 field would watch on as Sutton pounded out 34 kills, led by Lydia Rogers with a career high 12 kills. Kylie Baumert added eight and Kate Griess, seven. Sutton, as a team, was 103-126 on the attack (81.7%).

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BY TORY DUNCAN

It took some time for the Sandy Creek football program to feel what a win on the field feels like, but a two hour trip west gave the Cougar program the shot in the arm that the Sandy Creek coaching staff, players and fan base needed to kickoff the 2019 season.

A 22-15 win didn’t come without some tense moments, as Southern Valley, behind a five-yard touchdown pass at the 7:48 mark of the fourth quarter and an added two-point conversion, led Sandy Creek 15-14, leaving fingers crossed in the stands and hearts pumping on the sidelines. However, a steady dose of the Cougars running game would give senior running Hunter Steinbach the momentum to plow into the end zone with just 29 seconds left in the game to produce a 22-15 win, after quarterback Connor Crumbliss added a two-point conversion.

The win marks the first time since Oct. 14, 2016 that the Cougars had earned a win on the field, beating Wood River 31-10.