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Pewitt stands in way of Pats' perfect season

By Van Hilburn

Published November 06, 2009

PATTONVILLE — The Prairiland Patriots are one victory away from accomplishing a goal that they set for themselves during two-a-days.

They are also one win away from a perfect season, which would be the first for the school.

The only thing standing in their way is the same team that kept it from happening last year — the Paul Pewitt Brahmas of Omaha.

Pewitt (7-2, 6-0) hosts Prairiland (9-0, 6-0) tonight for the District 12-2A title and right to be the Division II top seed for the playoffs. Hooks (4-5, 4-2) has already clinched the other playoff spot and will be the Division 1 representative from District 12-2A.

“From Day 1 in August, our first goal was to be district champs. After that our goal was to get to playoffs and win as many games as possible,” Prairiland coach Glen Schuelke said.

For the second straight year, the Patriot enter the final game of the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record. Last year, Paul Pewitt escaped Pattonville with a 29-22 win and the district title in the regular season finale.

Winning nine straight isn’t good enough, not for the Patriots. Not this season.

“This group of kids had an understanding at the start that we are going to win. There’s nobody in the locker room that is surprised that we are 9-0. We expected that,” Schuelke said. “I mean when you have eight starters coming back on both sides, you Should expect to be good. The only problem we had this year were some injuries, but we still managed to be 9-0.”

Patriot quarterback Payne Schuelke missed two-plus games with an injury, but he has still managed to give Prairiland a passing attack that they had been missing in previous years. The Patriot senior has completed 55 of 104 attempts for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing only three interceptions.

His main target is senior Tanner Connot, who has 26 catches for 421 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Zach McLamore has 12 catches for 223 yards and the four touchdowns.

While the Patriots are capable of passing, they haven’t strayed away from their bread-and-butter, which is the run. Senior running back Randal Sessums leads the team’s ground attack with 1,400 yards on 182 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns.