South Haven News

By Claire Minor

On Oct. 23, 2025, there was a high school football game that had the South Sumner Outlaws up against the Conway Springs Cardinals. It’s sad to say that, once again, the Outlaws got stuck with the loss. The halftime score was 21-21 and the final score was 48-35, Cardinals taking the win.

Cole Spencer (#5) is a Junior at South Haven Schools. Spencer’s position is a wide receiver on offense and a cornerback on defense; however, for this game, he was specifically made a safety on defense for the Outlaws. Spencer thought that the Outlaws stepped onto the field ready to play but “kind of fell off” in the second half, saying that if they got rid of some mistakes, there would be a very different outcome. In Spencer’s opinion, the Outlaws’ offensive plays went well but their defense could use some work, saying that the Outlaws couldn’t stop the Cardinals on defense. 

Spencer thought that he didn’t play up to his full potential by procrastinating what to do after he caught the ball rather than focusing on catching the ball first due to being nervous to play, scared that it was their last game. Spencer thought that the Outlaws played as a team but had some flaws such as not everyone going to the ball, bickering, and blocking mistakes. Spencer thought that the team was prepared but was just on edge by trying so hard to pull off a win for seniors, Coal VanZant (#44) and Ashton Mason (#50). 

Spencer thought that the biggest challenge during the game was tackling, flying to the ball, and trying to stop quarterback, free safety, and senior for the Cardinals, Logan Osner (#10). When asked what was one thing he would change about the game if he could, Spencer said their physicality, specifically saying “I don’t care how the score turns out. As long as we’re physical and having fun, that’s all that matters.”. 

Spencer described the Cardinals as having grit, knew how to execute perfect plays, worked together as brothers, hyped each other up, and didn’t know how to give up. Even with the game being a dog fight the entire time and all of the positive things that he said about the Cardinals, Spencer still thought that the Outlaws could have and should have won. But with all of the jitters and uncertainty of playing a team that won the Football State Championship for the past two years, it wasn’t accomplished. 

Regardless of the final score, the Outlaws showed out for their last 11-man game of the season and that is what matters.

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