Back to Kpreps this fall, our contributors will hand out helmet stickers to a team or individual that delivered the most important performance of the week in their opinion. Check back each Sunday to see that week’s helmet stickers, and follow @Kpreps on Twitter and Facebook to watch as the Kpreps helmet fills up with stickers as the season goes on.
Helmet sticker: Kapaun Mt. Carmel (Chet Kuplen -- Sports in Kansas)
While the scores haven’t been impressive over the first two weeks for the Kapaun Mount Carmel offensive unit, the exact opposite can be said for the Crusader defense. After beating Wichita Southeast 26-3 in week one, the Crusaders knocked off Wichita West 6-0 on Friday. The Crusaders held West to just two yards of total offense. In week one, Kapaun held Southeast to 24 yards of total offense, meaning the Crusaders have allowed just 26 yards of total offense. They have a shot to continue that same success this next week against Wichita East. The schedule will get much more difficult the last five games of the season for the Crusaders as they will take on Andover, Wichita Northwest, Bishop Carroll, St. James Academy and Wichita Heights.
Helmet sticker: A.J. Oste of Russell (John Baetz – Kansas Pregame)
Russell senior A.J. Oste is a big reason the Broncos are 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2004. The undersized running back, slot receiver and linebacker stands just 5-foot-7, 155-pounds, but played big for the Broncos in Friday's 50-12 win over La Crosse. Oste caught touchdown passes of 36 and 78 yards and returned a kick 77 yards for another score. Oste also added a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Broncos week one win over Ellsworth to give him scores in all three phases just two weeks into the season. Oste will need another big game this week as unbeaten league foe Southeast of Saline comes to town.
Helmet sticker: South Central (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
South Central defeated Spearville, 24-8, in a battle of strong Eight-Man, Division I teams and moved into the top-five in a close classification this week. The win gave Spearville its first regular season loss since a 38-14 defeat against Hodgeman County in Week 5 of the 2013 season.
Since then, the Lancers had captured 41 straight regular season wins, won the 2015 state championship and played in the sub-state title game the last two years. Spearville, with new coach Travis Callaway, opened the year with a 52-6 win against Satanta, a top-10 preseason team in Division II.
It marked the fewest points the Lancers had scored in any game since a 44-0 defeat against Hodgeman County in 2012. Besides Hodgeman County – which is Spearville’s biggest rival and a team it plays every year – the last opponent to hold the Lancers to single figures came in a 46-0 loss to South Gray in Week 4 of 2011.
Overall, the victory continued to show the Timberwolves’ elite defense and consistent play. From ’15-17, South Central collectively allowed 16.1 points per contest, seventh-best in all of eight-man football, trailing only St. Francis, Central Plains, Spearville, Hanover, Hoxie and Burlingame. Last season, South Central permitted just 9.3 points a contest, third-best in eight-man, and a drop from 23.8 points allowed in ’16.
South Central went 9-2 the last two falls but had a more dominant ’17 with two losses by a combined eight points to teams that played for a state title.
In the playoffs, the T-Wolves led Hoxie, 19-6, on the road before the Indians rallied for a 30-25 victory, its closest game en route to the Division I crown. In the regular season, the T-Wolves fell, 30-27, versus Hodgeman County, the eventual Division II runner-up. The teams meet up this Friday in Jetmore.
On Friday, third-year quarterback Chayde Snyder accounted for all four scores (three rushing) and helped the T-Wolves scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to pull away. Snyder, a junior, leads the team with 199 rushing yards and 13 tackles. South Central, with standout junior kicker Gage Girk, has plenty of depth. The T-Wolves had 24 TFLs and four turnovers created in two games.
Helmet sticker: Washburn Rural (Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
My sticker goes to Washburn Rural for their 34-24 come-from-behind victory over Junction City. The Junior Blues snapped a six-game losing streak to the Blue Jays with the win.
Rural scored 27 points in the second half and 14 in the fourth quarter to overtake the Blue Jays. Jaylen Carter’s 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter tied the game at 21, but Junction City regained the lead 24-21 on a Jaden Kell field goal.
In the fourth quarter, Carter gave Rural a 28-24 lead with a 35-yard run, then Jordan White rushed for a 14-yard score to make it 34-24. Carter led the ground game with 143 yards and two touchdowns, while White added 106 yards rushing and two scores.
It’s the second consecutive week Washburn Rural has rallied late for a Centennial League victory. The Junior Blues scored on a touchdown pass from White to Carter with 90 seconds remaining to win at Emporia, 28-24, in Week 1. White rushed for 137 yards in the victory over the Spartans.
Washburn Rural’s good start adds another strong competitor to an already crowded Centennial League race. After battling injuries a season ago, most notably to White, Rural finished 4-5 with a competitive 7-0 loss to 6-seed Garden City in the bracket round.
Expectations are high this season with White’s return along with three starters up front. Carter and wideout Preston Williams provide plenty of offensive firepower. The defense benefits from nine returning starters, powered by a linebacking core that includes Tyler Ladson, JC Crowl, and Nathan Gentine.
Rural’s schedule leaves very little breathing room. After wins over Emporia and Junction City, Washburn Rural visits Topeka Hayden this week followed by a home game with Manhattan. The Junior Blues still have a trip to Topeka High and a game against Seaman to close out the regular season.
Helmet Stickers (2018 Season)
Week 1 – Chapman, Salina Central, St. James Academy, Southeast-Cherokee, Wichita North
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