Reader Lee Smith of Atchison contacted me today and gave me an extra tidbit concerning the use of drop kicks in the area.

Don Cash hears the talk every year.
But this time around, the longtime Troy, Kan., educator believes the idea of consolidating the Elwood, Kan., Wathena, Kan., and Troy districts into one is serious.

The identity of small midwestern towns often coincides with their high schools.
In eastern Doniphan County, that mind set has always prevailed.
The Trojans reside in Troy, the Wildcats in Wathena and the Panthers in Elwood, but the rekindling of consolidation talks threatens that existence. A hypothetical “Doniphan East High School” would forge a new identity.
It’s a problem that hasn’t cropped up yet but eventually will rear itself, as three school boards toy with a monumental proposal.
“There’s a real concern that if you lose your school, you lose your town,” said Troy principal Don Cash, who has been in the district for more than 30 years.

Football coaches often bemoan the distractions that come with playing on homecoming.
Lafayette coach Paul Woolard is starting to enjoy the festivities surrounding the annual fall celebration.
The Fighting Irish secured a second straight dramatic homecoming victory last week against Cameron by recording a sack on the opposition’s final play. Lafayette scored a huge upset of Smithville the previous year when Josh Davis dragged down Smithville quarterback Brent Hastings on the homecoming game’s final play.

Maryville coach Chris Holt and Savannah Mark Cole’s longstanding friendship helped bring a new twist into an old rivalry, starting with tonight’s MEC clash at Savage Field.
The two started pondering the idea for a traveling trophy to award in the annual rivalry game between Savannah and Maryville. With Savannah’s fast start, the two converged a couple of weeks ago to make it a reality.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Chillicothe’s biggest weapon during the second half Friday night against Marvyille wasn’t running back Bryce Young’s big-play ability or a turnover-forcing defense.
The difference for the Hornets was the right leg of running back/defensive end/punter Clint Dysart.
In a matchup of Midland Empire Conference powers, Dysart made the difference by pinning Maryville inside its 20-yard line four times in the final 24 minutes. The last punt put Maryville at its own 4 with only 1 minute, 31 seconds left.

GRANT CITY, Mo. — Zach Harmening occasionally creates doubt in Kyler Hiatt’s mind.
Hiatt, one of the best runners in Missouri 8-man history, has confronted that uncertainty in practice numerous times during the past two-plus years. Coming around the corner, the 6-foot-2, 200-plus pound Hiatt will often see Harmening as the Worth County scout-team cornerback.
At 5-foot-6, 114 pounds, Harmening is a quandary for the bruising runner.

Maryville and Chillicothe have established themselves as teams competing for a state title. Only one will have the chance to pursue undefeated championship aspirations.
Ranked No. 2 in their respective classes, Maryville and Chillicothe meet tonight at “The Hound Pound” in possibly the marquee high school game in the state of Missouri. Maryville enters as undefeated defending Midland Empire Conference champions, and this matchup could determine the Spoofhounds ability to repeat.

DeKalb coach Vernon Pike waited for his quarterback to reach the sideline, ready to send in the play.
Instead, Jimmy Derry asked his coach if rather than a 2-point conversion try, the Tigers could go for an extra point. Not just any extra point — a drop kick.

You win some, you lose some in the world of high school pick 'em.
Last week, Andy and I won eight each and lost two, which for me is good enough to retain my healthy five-game lead on my co-worker. This could be a week with some shuffle to it. There are many intriguing matchups out there, and by my count, six of this week's 10 games are nothing more than a coin flip.