Kpreps Friday First Look provides our initial reaction to some of the most notable games and performances in the state from Week 7:
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Four teams complete significant comebacks
Before getting into some of the feature games and results by classification, we wanted to highlight a handful of teams that completed large comebacks on Friday to post district wins.
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Independence lead Towanda-Circle 34-12 at halftime before Circle scored four times in the second half to win, 40-34.
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Southeast of Saline trailed Class 2A No. 5 Riley County 21-0 at halftime, but the Trojans rallied in the second half to upset the Falcons, 23-21.
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Abilene led Augusta 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter before the Orioles rallied to score 20 points in the final quarter to win 34-27.
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Pratt-Skyline led Macksville 30-0 at halftime, but the Mustangs got rolling in the second half and outscored Skyline 50-6 to win, 50-36.
Class 6A
Free State gets pushed, but holds off SM East
Second-ranked Lawrence Free State passed its biggest test of the 2018 season to date and remained unbeaten with a 36-30 win over No. 5 Shawnee Mission East.
The Firebirds trailed for the first time early on as Shawnee Mission East built a 10-0 first-quarter lead on a field goal by Parker Willis and a Tony Friends 17-yard touchdown run.
That’s when Free State quarterback Malik Berry and receiver Keenan Garber went to work.
Berry connected with Garber on a 48-yard touchdown pass to get the Firebirds on the board. Then after a Lancer safety and a touchdown pass from East quarterback Andy Maddox to Ryan Hess made the score 19-6, Berry connected with Garber again to pull the Firebirds within 19-13.
Free State took its first lead of the game on the final play of the first half as Berry heaved a 32-yard Hail Mary into the end zone where Garber miraculously came down with it amongst a host of Lancer defenders. The PAT put Free State up 20-19 at the break.
Berry and Garber hooked up again in the third quarter – this time from 26 yards out for a 27-19 Free State lead.
But Shawnee Mission East would respond almost immediately as Friends broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run and Maddox’s two-point conversion pass tied the game at 27.
Jax Dineen put the Firebirds back on top for good with a short touchdown run late in the third quarter to make it 33-27. Dineen finished with 110 yards rushing on the night.
Willis knocked through another field goal to pull the Lancers within 33-30, but Free State would add a late field goal with 30 seconds remaining to provide the final margin.
Berry passed for 250 yards and four touchdowns - all to Garber, who caught seven passes for 200 yards.
Friends led Shawnee Mission East with 165 yards rushing and two scores.
In the Kpreps Pick List feature on Thursday, we highlighted Garber’s incredible 13 touchdowns on 24 offensive touches this season. That statistic improved to 17 total touchdowns on 31 touches after Friday night.
With Free State beating the Lancers by six points, Derby takes over the lead in the 6A west standings by virtue of the points margin tie-breaker. Should both teams win next week, Derby would likely be the No. 1 seed on the west side and earn the right to host throughout the playoffs.
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Late FG lifts Topeka High to win at Emporia
Topeka High kicker Gregorio Leonardo drilled a game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Trojans to a 27-26 victory at Emporia.
Leodardo also connected on a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Trojans’ a 17-14 lead.
Emporia’s Jace Stewart scored on a short touchdown run mid-way through the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a 20-17 lead after the Trojans blocked the PAT.
Less than 20 seconds later, Topeka High regained the lead on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Da’Vonshai Harden to Jacqez Barksdale to lead 24-20.
Emporia took a 26-24 lead on a short touchdown run by Beau Baumgardner with less than 2:20 remaining in the game, but the PAT was again blocked.
The dramatic win keeps Topeka High in the running for a top four seed on the west side of Class 6A. Meanwhile, Emporia (3-4) closes out the regular season at Junction City. The Spartans’ record will likely put them in the middle of the pack in terms of seeding on the west side of Class 5A. The Spartans will be a dangerous team come playoff time as Emporia has lost three games by a combined eight points.
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Dodge City wins the Hatchet, 27-7
Dodge City won back the Hatchet for the first time since 2015 with a 27-7 win over rival Garden City on Friday night.
The Red Demons used two Beau Foster touchdown runs and a 30-yard Jaiel Johnson sprint to build a 20-0 halftime lead.
Tye Davis scored in the third quarter to provide the only points of a turnover-filled night for Garden City.
Unofficially, Jaiel Johnson led Dodge City with 227 rushing yards and a touchdown.
With the win, the Red Demons improve to 4-3 on the season and currently sit ninth in the standings on the western half of Class 6A.
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Gardner-Edgerton clinches top seed in 6A East
Congratulations to coach Ryan Cornelsen and the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers for securing the top seed on the eastern half of Class 6A with their 49-27 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest on Thursday night.
It’s an almost unbelievable feat when you consider that Gardner-Egerton had lost 10 consecutive games coming into the 2018 season.
The Blazers led 21-13 at halftime on the strength of a short Jacob Hunsperger touchdown run, a long Luke Jennings touchdown run, and a pick-6 by Gage Gulley. Jennings scored twice more in the third quarter, sandwiched around an Anthony Rodriguez touchdown from midfield to make it 42-13.
Hunsperger would add another score in the final quarter to complete the scoring for the Blazers.
Class 5A
Aquinas runs past Bishop Miege, 41-21
On Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas accomplished what no other Kansas team has been able to do since the 2016 season-opener – beat Bishop Miege.
The Saints overcame a slow start to blitz the Stags, 41-21, behind a dominant rushing attack that churned out 499 yards.
Sophomore standout Tyron “Tank” Young carried 44 times for 312 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Aquinas to victory. Young performance allowed him to break the Aquinas school record of 1,414 rushing yards in a season set by Cameron Jackson last fall.
Things didn’t go necessarily as planned for the Saints in the first quarter. TyQuez Agnew-Whitten scored a pair of rushing touchdowns as Bishop Miege built a 14-0 lead.
The Stags then had Aquinas pinned at their own 1-yard line when the Saints drove 99 yards to get on the board.
Young scored twice in the second quarter, sandwiched around a Jackson touchdown run, to give Aquinas a 21-14 lead at halftime.
The lead grew to two scores in the third quarter when Tate Raboin hit Joe O’Leary on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Jackson then broke a long touchdown run from midfield to give Aquinas a 34-14 lead.
Miege quarterback Sam Pedrotti pulled the Stags within 34-21 with a touchdown to Phillippe Wesley, but Young added his third score mid-way through the fourth quarter to give the Saints the 20-point advantage.
Pedrotti passed for 185 yards for the Stags, but the Saint defense played well and limited Miege to 144 rushing yards on the night.
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No. 3 Maize outscores No. 5 Salina Central, 48-26
Third-ranked Maize used a big night from senior quarterback Caleb Grill to knock off No. 5 Salina Central, 48-26.
Grill passed for 290 yards and threw five touchdown passes in the win. None was bigger than a 60-yard strike to Camden Jurgensen just before half to answer a Mustang score and put the Eagles up 17-6.
Jurgensen and Deriq Doty each caught two touchdown passes, while K.J. Hampton caught the other.
Maize running back Caden Cox rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown to help balance out the Eagle offense.
The Eagle defense was strong again in limiting Salina Central running back Taylon Peters – the state’s leading rushing coming in – to just 50 yards on 18 carries.
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Mill Valley slows down Blue Valley
Mill Valley turned in a strong defensive performance in beating Blue Valley, 18-7.
The Jaguars led the Tigers 6-0 for much of the night until tacking on a touchdown late in the third quarter for a 12-0 lead. Jordan Preston later hit Jayce Zukowski on a 56-yard touchdown pass mid-way through the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 18-0.
Mill Valley held the Tigers out of the end zone until the closing seconds when Blue Valley scored.
The Jaguars have now won two straight games against quality teams and sit a 4-3 – tied for the fifth seed heading into the final week of the regular season.
Class 4A
Maize South upsets Goddard in double overtime
The Maize South Mavericks picked up their fourth consecutive win with a 23-22, double-overtime victory over No. 4 Goddard.
Maize South led 16-0 after a long Cory Minks touchdown. But a pair of Goddard touchdowns pulled the Lions within 16-13.
Then Goddard kicker Gentry Cole drilled a 40-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
Neither the Mavericks or Lions could score on their first overtime possession. But Goddard took the lead in the second overtime on a Kyler Semrad touchdown pass to Blake Mitchell. The Lions’ PAT was blocked leaving the lead at 22-16.
Two plays later, Minks scored on a short pass from Colin Shields on the Mavericks’ possession to tie the game at 22, then kicker Ethan Wiens added the PAT for the 23-22 win.
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Paola, Louisburg stay unbeaten to set up next week’s showdown
Frontier League rivals Paola and Louisburg each improved to 7-0 on Friday night, setting up next week’s showdown to decide the league championship.
Both the Panthers and Wildcats also hold the top two spots on the eastern side of Class 4A with next week’s winning claiming the No. 1 seed and hosting throughout the playoffs.
On Friday, Seth Richmond rushed for two scores and threw a touchdown pass as Paola beat Eudora, 35-0. It was the fifth shutout of the season for Paola. The Panthers have allowed only 25 total points this season.
Meanwhile, Louisburg cruised to a 25-0 shutout of Ottawa. The Wildcats have also been stingy on the defensive side, recording their second shutout, while allowing only seven points three other times.
Class 3A
Scott City beats Colby in battle of unbeatens
Scott City claimed the District 8 championship on Friday night with a 35-12 win over previously-unbeaten Colby.
Wyatt Hayes rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries to lead the Beavers. Hayes also intercepted a pass on defense that set up his second touchdown run a play later.
Colby capped a long drive with a short Jordan Schippers touchdown run before half to cut the Beavers’ lead to 14-6. Hayes opened the third quarter with his third touchdown, and added the two-point conversion to push the lead to 22-6.
Colby took advantage of good field position by scoring on a short run from Hagan Booi to pull within 22-12.
Scott City would maintain control and extent its lead in the fourth quarter as quarterback Parker Gooden tossed touchdown passes to Hunter Yager and Marshall Faurot for the final margin.
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Topeka Hayden shuts out No. 5 Perry-Lecompton
Topeka Hayden clinched the Class 3A, District 3 title with a 20-0 shutout of No. 5 ranked Perry-Lecompton.
Quarterback Brady Bohannon’s short touchdown run late in the first half gave Hayden a 6-0 lead and turns out to be the only points necessary on a night where the Wildcat defense dominated.
Hayden held the Kaws to less than 90 yards of total offense. The Wildcat defense slowed Perry-Lecompton standout back Dalton Kellum to just 35 rush yards on 22 attempts.
Desmond Purnell scored twice in the fourth quarter to provide separation for Hayden. Purnell caught a short touchdown pass from Bohannon, then scored on a short touchdown run with a little more than two minutes remaining.
The victory ensures Hayden will host at least the first two bracket games. In two weeks, the Wildcats will host the loser of next week’s game between Holton and Wamego.
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Class 2A
Conway Springs dominates Chaparral
Third-ranked Conway Springs turned its Central Plains League showdown with No. 4 Chaparral into a rout. The Cardinals scored twice late in the second quarter to take a 33-17 lead into halftime, then blitzed the Roadrunners in the second half for a 53-23 victory.
Collin Koester rushed for three touchdowns and the Cardinals got two touchdowns a piece from Zach Mercer and Peyton Winter in running past the Runners.
The win gives Conway Springs the Class 2A, District 6 championship ahead of their showdown with rival Garden Plain next week.
Chaparral will travel to Hutchinson Trinity next week with the winner finishing as the District 6 runner-up, and the loser claiming third place in the district.
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Hunnacutt sets state scoring record as Phillipsburg rolls past Hoisington
Phillipsburg dominated Hoisington, 51-21, to claim the District 8 championship.
Senior kicker Jonathan Hunnacutt set the state record for career kick points with his 38-yard field goal in the second half. Hunnacutt now has 217 career points surpassing the old mark of 214 set by Olathe North’s Joe Garcia.
The Panthers raced out to a 27-0 first-quarter lead and scored twice in the second quarter to lead 41-0 at the half. Treylan Gross carried six times for 167 yards and three scores in the first half, and finished with 212 yards and four touchdowns on the night.
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Class 1A
Colgan hands Pleasanton first loss
St. Mary’s Colgan celebrated homecoming by handling previously-unbeaten Pleasanton, 46-0.
The Panthers took advantage of early Blu-jay turnovers to build a 20-0 lead after the first quarter. Junior defensive back Andrew Lomshek recovered two fumbles, recorded a tackle for loss, and made an acrobatic interception on a ball that first bounced off of the Pleasanton receivers’ helmet.
WATCH Andrew Lomshek’s diving INT (courtesy @GeorgeBalekji @KODEGameNight)
Lomshek’s older brother Matthew, scored all three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter as part of his 73-yard night. Eight Panther backs combined for 317 yards and five scores in the game led by Kash Marietta’s 100 yards on six carries.
Luke Orender also connected on two field goals for the Panthers.
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Eight-Man, Division I
Madison holds out Burlingame in the Kpreps Game of the Week
Madison claimed the Lyon County League and District 3 title by holding off Burlingame, 26-24, in a battle of unbeaten teams.
Burlingame led 24-20 until late in the third quarter when a Bearcat fumble was returned 12 yards for a score by Madison’s Hunter Engle.
With time running out and the Bulldogs clinging to a 26-24 lead, Burlingame faced a fourth-and-3 from the Madison 6-yard line.
The Bearcats converted but were stopped just short of the goal line with 17 seconds left. On the next play, Madison brought pressure and forced and recovered a Burlingame fumble to preserve the win.
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Hodgeman County beats Spearville, 54-8
Hodgeman County stopped a four-game losing streak to Spearville with a 54-8 decision on Friday night. The Longhorns scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 32-8 halftime lead, then added three scores after halftime to win 54-8.
Sophomore Isaac Salmans completed all four of his passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns – one each to classmate Dalton Lee and senior Spencer Bowman.
Salmans also rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns, while his brother Eli added 96 yards and a score on the ground.
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Eight-Man, Division II
Axtell rolls previously-unbeaten Frankfort
Axtell rebounded from its loss to Hanover with a 76-28 win over previously-unbeaten Frankfort.
The Eagles led 24-6 after one quarter and 56-22 at halftime.
Quinn Buessing completed 24 of 34 passes for 336 yards and five touchdowns. Buessing also rushed for 79 yards and two scores.
Hunter Koch caught six passes for 85 yards and a score, while J.J. Hart had 96 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
George Volle rushed for two touchdowns and caught a scoring pass from Buessing.
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Minneola outscores Ingalls, 92-80
Yes, you read that score right. Minneola won a wild shootout with Ingalls, 92-80.
Ingalls led 28-24 after the first quarter before the Wildcats exploded for 42 points in the second quarter to lead 66-40 at halftime.
Minneola extended its lead to 80-64 after three quarters.
Minneola’s Jeremy Pfaff rushed 55 times for 502 yards and nine touchdowns in the game.
The two teams combined for 172 points in the game – just 10 points shy of the state record set in Onaga’s 114-68 win over Valley Falls back in 2016.
Ingalls 80 points in a losing effort is just two points shy of the record of 82 points scored by Logan in their 84-82 loss to Natoma in 2007.
The eight-man state record for rushing yards in a game is 613 by Chase’s Jake Kizzar in 2009.
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