Playoff primer: South Shelby heads to Mid-Buchanan for state quarterfinals

SHELBINA, Mo. — The South Shelby football team has reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2015 and is looking for its first state semifinal appearance since 2011 when it travels to Mid-Buchanan on Saturday.

Here’s a closer look at what you need to know about the matchup:

What: Class 2 state quarterfinal

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Mid-Buchanan High School, Faucett, Mo.

Records: South Shelby — 10-1 (5-1, first in Clarence Cannon Conference). Mid-Buchanan — 12-0 (6-0, first in KCI Conference).

Radio/livestream: MSHSAA.tv

Scouting the Cardinals: This will be the Cardinals’ longest road trip of the season, but not an unfamiliar one. South Shelby takes part in a full-contact summer camp in Lafayette County, which is near Kansas City and similar distance to Faucett.

“We’re going to load up, stop halfway to stretch, get there, get suited up and go play,” South Shelby coach Adam Gunterman said.

That’s when the Cardinals plan to put an arsenal of offensive weapons and a stingy defense on display. South Shelby has scored 42 or more points eight times this season, while averaging 41.1 points per game. Junior quarterback Chase Moellering is the catalyst, having thrown for more than 900 yards and 10 touchdowns with more than 500 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Senior running back Preston Elsen rushed for 792 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season, earning first-team All-CCC honors. Gabe Bowen, Owen Stueve and Pryce Eagan all will get carries or targets.

Defensively, the Cardinals have shut out four opponents and allowed 12.7 points per game. Outside linebacker Cooper Elsen racked up 87 tackles and 18 tackles for loss during the regular season and was one of four Cardinals to earn All-CCC first-team honors on defense.

Scouting the Dragons: Mid-Buchanan has built a football powerhouse with five 10-win seasons in the last six years, including a state runner-up finish in 2020. That came on the heels of enjoying one 5-5 season and no other winning seasons from 2011-2017.

Junior quarterback Raife Smith also is the point guard for the basketball team and is receiving college recruiting interest in both sports. He runs a spread offense that likes to take advantage of opportunities off the edge.

“It’s like looking in a mirror,” Gunterman said. “They run similar stuff to what we run. They spread the ball around a bunch. They have a lot of athletic kids. Defensively, they run the same stuff.”

The community support and sustained success will make this a tough place to play.

“That’s a school that has won a lot of football games,” Gunterman said.