A big day for Hutchinson Saturday as the high school football team attempted to make history. The Salthawks traveled to Emporia to take on the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers in the 5-A state football championship game.

"It's a great thing for the community," said Isabel Schmedemann. "A great thing for the high school."

Hundreds of people filled the stands in Emporia Saturday, even though most don't even have kids in high school anymore.

"A lot of them have no emotional tie to any one player, Schmedemann said. "They come out to support the team. They do it all year long whether we're on the road or home. It's incredible."

Of course, it always helps to have a winning team and a winning coach. The Salthawks have been defending state champs for five straight years... four in 6A and one in 5A. They're trying to be the first-ever Kansas team to win six in a row, but a humble coach says it's not about the streak.

"It's not on our mind, said Hutch Coach Randy Dreiling. "We're just trying to win one straight this year. Then after that you can come over to the house and we'll sit down and talk about it."

So what's the key to Dreiling's success?

"The kids gotta play hard," he said. "That's the number one criteria we have... that the kids play hard. Then I consider it a successful team."

The fans filling the stadium. The water boys having a blast down by the field. It's all about community, say these loyal fans.