The Suburban Blue Conference has long been one of the more underrated leagues in the Metro. In the last 10 seasons teams from the conference have routinely played deep into postseason winning a state title in 2015 when Kearney took home the crowd.
This should again be another competitive year and each week of the season there is an interesting game on the schedule. Let’s highlight some of these games during the 2019 season.
Week 1 – North Kansas City at Grandview
There are some good out of conference games in week one as the season gets underway. One to keep an eye on is Grandview hosting North Kansas City. The Hornets are coming off one of their best seasons in decades and will travel to Grandview to open their season. Grandview is coming off a 5-6 season that included a first-round playoff win over Grain Valley. This was a 30-23 win for North Kansas City last year and this could be another great game.
Week 2 – Winnetonka at Raytown South
Both teams are coming off tough 1-9 seasons and early momentum could be key to turning things around. South isn’t used to struggles like it saw in 2018 and will be highly motivated to start the season. The Griffins are starting the second year under Head Coach Benny Palmer so they could start to take some steps forward this year.
Week 3 – Kearney at Platte County
For the last few years this game has decided the conference title. With Smithville moving in last year that added another north of the river team to the mix. Platte County has a hard time taking down the Bulldogs in the regular season as the losing streak goes back to 2013. Both teams suffered some graduation losses but that hasn’t stopped them in past years from just reloading.
Week 4 – Grain Valley at Platte County
The Eagles joined the league last year going a respectable 5-5 with a 3-3 mark in conference. Grain Valley is a team on the rise and a year’s experience in a tougher league could pay some big dividends this season. Platte County will be coming off its biggest rivalry game of the year so it will be a test of focus when Grain Valley comes to town.
Week 5 – Sedalia Smith-Cotton at Smithville
Smithville steps out of conference with a game against the Class 4 Tigers. The Warriors are coming off a run to the Class 4 semifinals which was their best season in decades. Smith-Cotton is a solid program that will test Smithville as it prepares for a week 6 game with Platte County. This is a great game for both teams to test themselves and find out where they are at the middle point of the season.
Week 6 – Van Horn at Winnetonka
The Griffins only got the 1 win last year but this is a good shot for them to increase that total. The Falcons are a solid program but play in a weaker Crossroads conference. Winnetonka has a chance to show signs of progress and avenge a 47-20 loss from last season.
Week 7 – Raytown South at Grandview
This is one of the least known rivalries in the Metro. Whenever the Bulldogs and Cardinals play in any sport the energy is high. Grandview is on a modest two-game winning streak after the Cardinals had dominated this matchup for the first part of the decade. As South looks to rebound from a tough 2018 a win over Grandview would be a huge step forward.
Week 8 – Grain Valley at Ruskin
The battle of the Eagles could be a key game for Grain Valley in the next to last week of the season. Ruskin is a Class 5 school so a win could give Grain Valley some bonus points heading into district play. Ruskin struggled last year but it was a young squad that could take a step forward this year. Grain Valley will be coming off back to back tough games with Raytown and Kearny so Grain Valley can’t let their focus drop.
Week 9 – Kearney at Smithville
A huge game to end the regular season that could decide the conference title and affect district seeding. Throw in the fact that these two schools don’t like each other very much and it should be a great way to wrap up the regular season.
Below are all the schedules for the Suburban Blue Conference teams.
Grain Valley
8/30 Savannah
9/6 @ Grandview
9/13 Smithville
9/20 @ Platte County
9/27 Winnetonka
10/4 @ Raytown
10/11 Kearney
10/18 @ Ruskin
10/25 @ Raytown South
Grandview
8/30 North Kansas City
9/6 Grain Valley
9/13 @ Winnetonka
9/20 Pleasant Hill
9/27 @ Kearney
10/4 @ Oak Park
10/11 Raytown South
10/18 @ Smithville
10/25 Platte County
Kearney
8/30 Harrisonville
9/6 Staley
9/13 @ Platte County
9/20 Winnetonka
9/27 Grandview
10/4 @ Belton
10/11 @ Grain Valley
10/18 Raytown South
10/25 @ Smithville
Platte County
8/30 Oak Park
9/6 @ Park Hill South
9/13 Kearney
9/20 Grain Valley
9/27 @ Raytown South
10/4 Smithville
10/11 @ Raymore-Peculiar
10/18 Winnetonka
10/25 @ Grandview
Raytown South
8/30 Fort Osage
9/6 Winnetonka
9/13 @ Raytown
9/20 @ Smithville
9/27 Platte County
10/4 Ruskin
10/11 @ Grandview
10/18 @ Kearney
10/25 Grain Valley
Smithville
8/30 @ St. Joseph Central
9/6 Ruskin
9/13 @ Grain Valley
9/20 Raytown South
9/27 Sedalia Smith-Cotton
10/4 @ Platte County
10/11 @ Winnetonka
10/18 Grandview
10/25 Kearney
Winnetonka
8/30 St. Joseph Benton
9/6 @ Raytown South
9/13 Grandview
9/20 @ Kearney
9/27 @ Grain Valley
10/4 Van Horn
10/11 Smithville
10/18 @ Platte County
10/25 St. Joseph Central
