Dragons' independence shouldn't change the rivalry

The game should feel the same. When Fort Scott steps onto the FieldTurf at Pittsburg's Hutchinson Field tonight, the Tigers shouldn't fell any different about this game than they have than any other game they've played against the Purple Dragons. And Pittsburg should feel the same way as well,

But Pittsburg, a Class 5A school, had to withdraw from Southeast Kansas League football in order to play a schedule that would better prepare it for the playoffs at that level. Now every team in 5A and 6A plays a first-round game in Week Nine, while teams all the other classes play their final district games.

So outside of pride, this game counts for nothing. League standings won't change. Pittsburg doesn't even get tie-breaker points in the Class 5A playoff seeding system because it's playing a team in a lower class.

The only thing on the line is pride. And that will be enough when the teams meet for the 114th time.

Pittsburg comes into this game with a 1-2 record but the Dragons' losses came in their season opener at Harrisonville, Mo., and last week versus Webb City, Mo., both ranked teams in Missouri. And on top of that, play begins two weeks earlier in the Show-Me State, so Harrisonville had games under its belt already when it played Pittsburg.

The Purple Dragons also have one of Kansas' top high-school players in senior tight end/defensive end Trevor Kent (6' 5", 250), who has already committed to play for Northwestern University of the Big 10 Conference.

Fort Scott comes into this game with a 2-1 record. This will be the first non-league game for the Tigers, ironically enough. Both teams have played Chanute, which failed to score on either one. Pittsburg won at Chanute, 44-0, on Sept. 9.

Kickoff at Hutchinson Field will take place at 7 p.m.