Print edition: 
Top 10 teams aren't supposed to lose to unranked teams in their season openers.
But that's what the Friends football team did, falling to then-unranked McPherson 60-38 on Sept. 12.
For the three-time defending KCAC champion, the loss was more than just stunning. It altered the team's perception of itself.
"Before that, I don't think we had the identity we needed to have," Friends coach Monty Lewis said. "Bottom line, it gave it to us; and we've been playing with a chip on our shoulder ever since."
The Falcons, who have reeled off eight straight wins since the loss in the opener, will put that new identity to its toughest test today when No. 6 Ottawa (9-0, 8-0 KCAC) visits Wichita with a share of the league title — and more — on the line.
"We didn't expect that opening loss, but coach Lew is always telling us we can learn from anything," said Friends quarterback Tim Rozzell. "We've tried to focus on that, learning and growing."
The Braves, already having clinched a share of the title, can win the crown outright along with clinching the league's automatic bid to the 16-team NAIA playoffs.
If Friends wins, the title is split three ways between Ottawa, McPherson and Friends. Because of league tiebreaker rules, Friends must win by 41 or more points to clinch the automatic bid. Anything less than that and the bid would go to McPherson, which had its only loss in overtime to Ottawa.
"All we're thinking is, 'Win and we're in,' because the other scenario is kind of ridiculous," Lewis said of an at-large bid. "I don't think there's any way we beat No. 6 in the country and don't get in, but with two losses there's not a chance."
And while either team winning by 41 points might be ridiculous, each team scoring around 41 points isn't.
The Braves average 45.9 points, led by quarterback Ethan Haller, an All-American candidate who leads the nation in passing with 3,664 yards, along with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His top two targets are Kansas State transfer Corey Schultz, who leads the league in receiving with 1,158 yards, and Wichita Southeast product Clarence Anderson, who has 1,124 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Rozzell, a sophomore from Andover, has been steady in his first year as a starter, passing for 2,106 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"For us to win, Tim knows he needs to play within himself," Lewis said. "He doesn't feel like he needs to do anything spectacular, just get the ball to our playmakers. When he makes mistakes, I don't have to yell at him because he's always been completely accountable."
Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. There will be a live, free video stream of today's game online at www.kofo.com/index.php? PAGE_ID=26.
