Team in Focus CHS FOOTBALL This season the Bluejay football team made it farther than many people expected. This was one of the youngest teams in recent memory to take to the field for CHS. The Bluejays were led by 4 seniors and only 1 junior. The rest of the team were underclassmen, loaded with a bunch of sophomores and freshman. The year started with a loss to Holcomb, a team that was ranked in Class 4A and one that went deep into the playoffs. The ‘Jays trailed only 0-‐8 at the half and were marching down field to tie the game when a fumble return for a TD gave Holcomb some breathing room. Cimarron went on to lose the game, but they way they played against a very good team gave the fans something to hope for – a playoff birth. Bouncing back and soundly defeating Stanton County and Sublette on the road gave the Bluejays momentum heading into the Meade game. After playing an outstanding game, the ‘Jays were stopped inside the 5 and the game ended with a tough loss. However, the team bounced back and dominated both TMP and Elkhart at home, once again gaining momentum that would continue into the district playoffs. District opened with a road game at Lakin. The game went back and forth and when the dust settled, Cimarron came out on top and was now 1-‐0 in district play. However, the young Cimarron team suffered key injuries during the contest. Next up the Bluejays hosted the SWH Mustangs. Cimarron won the game easily 22-‐0 and were ready to travel to Scott City for the district championship. The game at Scott City was a tough one as the tradition rich team of Scott City, led by upperclassmen, proved too much for the Bluejays. However, finishing 2nd in the district gained the ‘Jays a spot in the playoffs. The first round game saw Cimarron travel to Hoisington. After a 3 and out and a blocked punt, the Bluejays scored and led 6-‐0. However, that would be the lone highlight for Cimarron as Hoisington took control of the game and the lack of depth for Cimarron, along with the power running game of Hoisington, proved too much to overcome. Although CHS played step-‐for-‐step with Hoisington in the 2nd half, the 1st half proved to be the difference and the season came to an end. The future is very bright for the Bluejay football team, but the senior leadership will be greatly missed next season. Caleb, AJ, Javier and Vidal had very good senior years and we would like to wish them the best of luck once they graduate from CHS. This year Cimarron was under the direction of a new Head Coach, Mr. Randall Rath. Coach Rath spent the previous 24 years building Oakley into a state power in Class 2A. He has been named Coach of the Year several times and has been selected to coach at the Kansas Shrine Bowl. He has been a clinician speaker several times and his teams hold numerous school records in Oakley. He has also coached track and girls basketball. During his coaching career he has won 27 league championships at Oakley. Coach Rath brings a wealth of experience to our football team and his teams have always been known to play tough, physical football. That is something we saw this year already. His assistants this season were Dave Losey, Chuck Dirks, Ashley Seabolt and Nick Fawcett. Coaches Losey, Dirks and Seabolt were on the staff last season and were instrumental in the team’s success this year. Nick Fawcett joined the staff this year as he was student-‐teaching here in Cimarron to finish his degree. Coach Rath said that all of these men were very helpful and professional and were a huge key in developing the kids as both players and young men.