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Marshall: Force vs. Object

Published 11/6/2009 in Sports

You've heard of the unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

It can cover a wide range of events.

It was left to 20th Century science fiction author and professor Isaac Asimov to provide some insight into this dilemma of force meeting object.

Asimov argued, historians say, that a universe in which there exists such a thing as an irresistible force is, by defintion, a universe which cannot also contain an immovable object. And a universe which contains an immovable object cannot, by definition, also contain an irresistible force.

So, the question is essentially meaningless: either the force is irresistible or the object is immovable, but not both.

Perhaps the better question is "What would happen if an immovable object were confronted with an unstoppable force?"

Asimov's assumption was the unstoppable force would have an infinite energy and the unstoppable force would be able to absorb infinite energy. There would be an endless transfer of energy. Appearing to be resting, there is actually a transfer of infinite energy from one to the other. The question is, "Which One?"

Saturday night in Buhler there will be prep football's version of this conflict.

Hugoton at Buhler. Unstoppable force versus immovable object.

Both have had virtually unstoppable offenses this season. The Class 4A regional championship game seemingly pits two teams so similar it will be the adage of "something's gotta give." The only question remaining is which team will it be.

Will it be the Crusaders? The powerhouse program just on the northeast side of Hutchinson. They are big. They are fast. They run an offense that has steamrolled nine opponents, falling only to 4A's No. 1-ranked team — Andale. They have one of the state's top running backs in Jorden Oden, who averages 12.6 yards per carry with over 2,200 yards.

Buhler quarterback, Jake Reffner, has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes and for every four passes he completes, one of them goes for a touchdown. That's how you average 53.2 points per game. Their defense has two shutouts.

Will it be the Eagles? The team that has progressed each of the four seasons under coach Clint Merritt. This group of achieving seniors won just one game when they started as freshmen. Had just one win as sophomores before moving up to the next level with a 6-3 record as juniors. All that hard work, dedication, sweat and sometimes tears, has evolved into a 10-0 record.

The Eagles have their feet firmly on the ground. As in a rushing game. This is the team that averages just under 400 yards rushing. They have put up an average of 44.9 points per game, scored more than 60 points in four games. Hugoton has an outstanding running back in senior Caleb Gifford, who has put up record-breaking marks — 1,575 yards, 24 touchdowns and an average of 7.3 yards every time he carries the ball.

Hugoton has a defense that limits its opponents to less than a touchdown each game and has recorded three shutouts.

Which one is the force? Which one is the object?

That will be decided Saturday night in Buhler. Asimov would be intrigued.

Sports Editor Brett Marshall can be reached at bmarshall@gctelegram.com.

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