Kpreps Friday First Look provides our initial reaction to some of the most notable games and performances in the state from Week 6:
Class 6A
Manhattan takes back the Silver Trophy, 31-28
Sophomore kicker Grant Snowden connected on a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Manhattan a 31-28 victory over rival Junction City. Manhattan scored the game’s first 14 points and the final ten points in winning back the Silver Trophy after last year’s surprising 9-7 win by Junction City.
B.J. Young rushed for a pair of touchdowns to put the Indians up 14-0 early in the second quarter. But Junction City would respond in a flurry as Andrew Khoury hit Russell Wilkey on a 28-yard touchdown pass to pull the Blue Jays within 14-6.
Wilkey scored on the ground shortly after and the two-point conversion tied the game at 14. Junction City threatened to scores again before halftime, but a Blue Jay fumble was recovered by Manhattan at the 1-yard line.
Junction City took its first lead in the third quarter as Khoury tossed a lateral to Wilkey who then launched a 70-yard touchdown pass to Qua’vez Humphreys for a 20-14 lead.
Manhattan regained a 21-20 lead with a touchdown run by Dayne Aschenbrenner late in the third quarter, but the lead was short-lived as Khoury hit Marcello Bussey on a 45-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion put Junction City up 28-21.
But again, Manhattan had the answer as Aschenbrenner scored from 1-yard out to tie the game at 28-28 with 9:41 remaining.
Prior to Snowden’s game-winning field goal, Junction City appeared to be on its way to taking the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Manhattan defense stuffed the Blue Jays on fourth-and-1 at the Indian 7-yard line.
This series has been incredibly close as ten of the last eleven meetings between the Indians and Blue Jays have been decided by single digits.
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Thomas sets mark as Topeka High runs past Washburn Rural
Topeka High built a two-score lead at halftime and then held off Washburn Rural in the second half for a 42-28 victory.
Trojan running back Ky Thomas became the Centennial League’s career rushing leader with another huge performance. Thomas carried 32 times for 271 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Da’Vonshai Harden.
Thomas, who has verbally committed to Minnesota, has now rushed for 6,082 yards in his high school career and is guaranteed at least three more games.
The Kansas state record for career rushing yards is 8,472 held by De’Angelo Evans of Wichita Collegiate from 1992-95.
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Dodge City outlasts Hays to remain unbeaten
Dodge City improved to 6-0 on the season with a 40-21 victory over Hays in Western Athletic Conference action.
The Red Demons got a huge game from quarterback Beau Foster who rushed 30 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns. Foster also passed for 190 yards and a score that went to Matt Friess. Friess had five catches for 140 yards.
Alden Knedler added 112 yards on the ground and a touchdown on 18 attempts.
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Olathe North wins shootout over Shawnee Mission East
Olathe North outscored Shawnee Mission East 35-7 in the second half to claim a 77-49 win in a wild Sunflower League contest on Friday night.
The Eagles and Lancers traded blows in the first half that saw the game tied at 42.
In the second half, Olathe North took control on the strength of a huge performance from junior running back Arland Bruce, IV.
Bruce rushed for 318 yards and six touchdowns on the night to push his season total to 1,234 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The victory served as a bit of revenge for the Eagles which lost to Shawnee Mission East, 35-28, last season.
Olathe North (5-1) remains unbeaten in the Sunflower League and atop the standing with Lawrence. The Eagles host Lawrence (6-0) in a huge showdown next week.
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Lawrence rallies to top Shawnee Mission South
After a sluggish first half, No. 3 Lawrence outscored Shawnee Mission South 26-0 in the second half to remain unbeaten with a 40-21 win.
The Lions fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter as South’s Erik Smith scored on a short touchdown run and Will Huggins returned a blocked punt for a score.
Lawrence quickly tied the game on a Devin Neal 50-yard touchdown run followed by a long touchdown pass from Jackson Dooley to Tre Jackson.
South would grab a 21-14 lead at halftime as Huggins hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Raider quarterback Max Close.
The second half was all Lawrence.
Neal’s short touchdown run still left Lawrence chasing a missed PAT with South leading 21-20. But later in the third, Dooley hit Chris McGee on a long touchdown to give the Lions their first lead at 26-21.
McGee caught another touchdown in the fourth to put Lawrence up 33-21, and Neal added his third touchdown for the final margin.
Neal rushed for 185 yards in the game, while Dooley passed for nearly 350 yards. McGee caught had 200 receiving yards and those two touchdowns.
Class 5A
Aquinas avoids upset-minded St. James, 28-21
Top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas held off St. James Academy 28-21 to remain unbeaten and atop the Eastern Kansas League standings.
Tyron “Tank” Young rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 24 attempts to lead the Saints.
Aquinas led 21-7 at halftime as Blake Anderson complimented a Young rushing score with a pair of touchdown passes. Anderson threw touchdown passes to Finn Barnett and Isaiah Gavin.
Michael Tujague pulled the Thunder within 21-14 in the second half with a short touchdown run, but Young put the Saints back up two scores with a 69-yard sprint.
Tujague finished with 130 yards and two scores on the ground for St. James. The Thunder again played without quarterback Jack Moellers. Brady Feldman filled in and passed for 177 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Claiborn. Claiborn caught three passes for 108 yards.
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Maize South shuts out Eisenhower
Maize South clinched at least a share of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail – II championship with a 10-0 shutout of Goddard-Eisenhower.
The Maverick defense forced multiple turnovers to stop Eisenhower scoring opportunities and halt the Tigers’ three-game winning streak.
Ethan Wiens kicked a first-quarter field goal to give the Mavericks all the points they would need. Later, quarterback Colin Shields tossed a short touchdown pass to Mason Edwards to extend the Mavericks lead to 10-0 at halftime. The Maverick defense would hold on from there to improve to 6-0.
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Carroll avoids upset; extends its streak over Kapaun
Bishop Carroll continued its streak in the Holy War with a 23-13 win over rival Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The Golden Eagles have now defeated Kapaun 21 consecutive times dating back to 1999.
George Walden connected on three field goals in the game for Bishop Carroll. The Golden Eagles led 13-6 at halftime and 16-6 after three quarters. Kapaun (1-5) pulled to within 16-13 in the fourth, but Bishop Carroll quarterback Aiden Niedens scored on a touchdown run with under four minutes remaining in the game to give the Eagles a 23-13 lead.
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Second quarter helps De Soto top Basehor-Linwood
De Soto used a big second quarter to capture a 28-16 road victory at Basehor-Linwood.
The Wildcats fell behind 9-0 in the first quarter as Basehor-Linwood kicked a field goal and added a Chase Torkelson touchdown pass to Ethan Huber.
The second quarter belonged to De Soto, however, as the Wildcats scored three times to take a 21-9 lead into halftime. The Wildcat defense got things started as Caleb VanBooven picked off a Torkelson pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Jackson Miller then tossed a touchdown pass to Cameron Jackson to give the Wildcats the lead for good at 14-9. Jackson later added two more touchdowns on the ground as De Soto led by as much as 28-9 in early in the fourth quarter.
Miller passed for 62 yards and a score, while Russell Coy led the Wildcat ground game with 103 yards on 17 attempts.
Torkelson passed for 268 yards and two scores for the Bobcats in a losing effort.
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Class 4A
Miege tops Blue Valley behind Cobbins’ huge night
Brison Cobbins missed the Blue Valley game a year ago due to injury. On Friday night, he made sure he made his presence felt.
Cobbins rushed for 118 yards and five touchdowns as the top-ranked Stags (Class 4A) pulled away for a 41-23 victory over No. 5 Blue Valley (Class 6A).
Blue Valley scored the game’s first points on a touchdown pass from Jake Wolff to Dorian Stephens, but the Cobbins rushed for five consecutive touchdowns – none longer than 5 yards – to give Miege a 34-7 lead after three quarters. The Stags lead was just 14-7 at halftime.
The lead stretched to 41-7 in the fourth quarter as Tim Dorsey tossed a touchdown pass to Daniel Jackson. Jackson caught seven passes for 131 yards, while Dorsey threw for 216 yards.
Blue Valley added a couple of late touchdowns as Chase Jans broke a 65-yard run as part of his 155-yard night on the ground.
Miege moves to 4-1 in the Eastern Kansas League standings and will host unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas next week.
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Class 3A
Beloit goes on the road and upsets No. 5 Scott City
Beloit traveled to Scott City and came away with a hard-fought, 28-13 victory against fifth-ranked Beavers.
The Trojans forced the first of three first-half turnovers early in the first quarter when Kyle Vahle forced a Beaver fumble and returned it 32 yards to the house for the first score of the night.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Trojans took four minutes off the clock and add to their lead on a Grant Arasmith three-yard run.
Scott City would drive to the 10-yard line before Beloit would force another fumble. The Beavers would eventually score off a Cale Goodman 2-yard run.
Beloit would go three and out on the next possession, but Arasmith would pick off Scott City quarterback Harrison King to end another Beaver scoring opportunity. Beloit led 14-6 at the half.
The Beavers and Trojans would trade scoreless possessions in the third quarter. In the first drive of the fourth quarter, Beloit’s Hudson Gray would take a quarterback keeper to the house for a 20-6 lead.
Parker Gooden tried to flip the momentum back to the Beavers with an 89-yard kickoff return for a score, but Beloit would drain seven minutes and fifty-six seconds on the ensuing drive. Carson Cox’s touchdown run with 3:37 left in the game put the game away for the Trojans. Beloit would go three-of-three on fourth-down conversions in that drive alone.
“Our defense just played fantastic football. We knew coming into the game that we could be in and we could win and our guys really believed in (that)” Beloit Head Coach Brad Gober said on his defense’s ability to turn the ball over.
Beloit had 355 yards of offense to Scott City’s 365, according to Adam Kadavy of Mix 94. The Trojan victory also snapped Scott City’s 35-game district winning streak.
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Jefferson West escapes with low-scoring win
Jefferson West rebounded from last week’s close loss to Topeka Hayden by edging Perry-Lecompton, 8-3, on Friday night.
Perry-Lecompton grabbed a 3-0 lead early on a field goal by Ticiano Gonzalez. But Jeff West would lead 8-3 at halftime. Tiger defensive back Joe Anderson picked off a Perry-Lecompton pass and returned 40-yards for a touchdown for Jeff West’s only points of the game.
The victory evens Jeff West’s district record with Perry-Lecompton’s at 2-1, although the Kaws still have Topeka Hayden remaining on their schedule. Jeff West has remaining games at Wellsville and home against Santa Fe Trial.
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Andale turns over Collegiate
Top-ranked Andale rolled to a 47-7 victory over Wichita Collegiate in Class 3A, District 6.
The Indian defense got things going early turning four Collegiate turnovers in the first quarter into a 26-0 lead.
Cole Landers picked off a Collegiate pass and returned if for a touchdown on the Spartan’s first offensive play. Shortly after, Caden Parthemer scooped up a Collegiate fumble and returned it for a score and a 14-0 lead.
After interception a pass on defense, Ethan Rowland then scored on a short touchdown run to give the Indians a 20-0 lead. Rowland then caught a touchdown pass from Noah Meyer after another Andale interception.
Andale forced six Spartan turnovers in the first half in building a 40-0 lead. Collegiate didn’t get on the board until the final minutes of the game.
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Class 2A
Cimarron slips by Lakin with late field goal
In District 7, Cimarron won a classic, 17-14, at home versus rival Lakin. The Bluejays moved to 6-0, 3-0 in districts, and Lakin is 5-1, 2-1. Cimarron is in strong position to win the district title and also captured the Hi-Plains League crown. Cimarron won 18-14 in the ’18 matchup, a game that was also decided in the final minute. Cimarron threw a 46-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left.
This time, the Bluejays kicked a 32-yard field goal from sophomore Emanuel Aguilar with 1:51 left. Aguilar has battled injuries throughout his career and has kicked well in practice. Friday was his first field goal attempt.
Then, Lakin drove down and had third down at the 20-yard line. Junior Hunter Davis nearly made a diving catch near the end zone, but the officials called pass incomplete. With three seconds left, the Broncs tried a 37-yard field goal from sophomore Caique Gallo. The kick had the distance but was just wide as time expired.
Cimarron never trailed in the contest. The game was tied at eight after the first quarter. Cimarron went 11 plays for 71 yards on the game’s opening drive and sophomore Braxton Harrison threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to junior Charles Salyer. Lakin then moved 12 plays for 59 yards and tied the game at eight on a two-yard run on fourth down from sophomore Servando Gonzalez.
In the third quarter, Cimarron went for it on 4th-and-1 from its own 29-yard line, and junior fullback Hunter Renick gained the first down. Later in the drive, senior Payton Marshall caught a 38-yard touchdown pass. Marshall had 10 offensive touches for 135 yards.
Later in the quarter, he delivered a hallmark hustle play. Lakin senior running back Kayden Christiansen went for a 74-yard run, but Marshall ran him down and tackled him just short of the goal line. Lakin committed three straight turnovers and then didn’t score. Christiansen finished with 16 carries for 134 yards. He tied the game with 7:36 left on a one-yard run.
Cimarron followed with its 10-play drive that ended with the field goal. Marshall had a 16-yard reception and a 21-yard rush on the drive.
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Class 1A
Centralia blasts Northern Heights
In a district battle of 4-1 teams, Centralia made quick work of Northern Heights, 58-19.
The Panthers scored 44 points in the first half and led by as much as 58-6 in the third quarter.
Kamble Haverkamp rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the game, while Devon Feldkamp added 127 yards and a pair of scores. Feldkamp also caught a touchdown pass from Haverkamp.
Centralia (5-1) will travel to Wabaunsee next week before closing out the regular season at Valley Heights.
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Plainville hands La Crosse first defeat of season
Plainville improved to 5-1 with a 40-6 victory over previously-unbeaten La Crosse. The Cardinals led 21-6 at halftime and outscored the Leopards 19-0 in the second half.
Jared Casey returned for the Cardinals and rushed for 139 yards and four touchdowns in the game. Jordan Finnesy added 67 yards on the ground and two scores.
The Cardinal defense held La Crosse to 54 rushing yards on 31 attempts and forced two turnovers.
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Eight-Man, Division I
St. Francis dominates Wichita County
Second-ranked St. Francis took firm control of District 8 by dominating previously-unbeaten Leoti-Wichita County, 46-0, on Friday night. The game was voted as the Kpreps’ Fan’s Choice Game of the Week.
Shadryon Blanka started the scoring with a physical touchdown run that set the tone early for the host Indians.
On the next possession, Wichita County line up for a fourth-and-1 play. Quarterback Kayde Rietzke was bottled up in the backfield and stripped of the ball. Saint Francis’ Jesse Baxter quickly scooped up the ball and raced for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead.
Saint Francis then used a bit of fortune to add to their lead. The ball was jarred loose from Blanka on a run up the middle, but it popped in the air right in to the hands of Brady Dinkel in-stride. Dinkel raced all alone for the touchdown to give St. Francis the 24-0 lead.
While St. Francis seemed to get all the fortunate bounces in the game, Wichita County never matched Sainty’s physical play.
Dinkel added another touchdown run in the second quarter to push the lead to 32-0, then hit Jayce Nider on a touchdown pass late just prior to halftime for a 40-0 advantage.
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Kiowa County slips by South Gray, 30-26
Cooper Zenger scored on a two-yard touchdown run with :50 seconds remaining to lift Kiowa County to a 30-26 victory over South Gray.
The Mavericks led for much of the night including holding an 11-point lead on two occasions in the second half. Zenger’s touchdown pass to Brandon Boyles put Kiowa County up 24-13 early in the fourth quarter.
But the Rebels would respond. South Gray’s Aaron Skidmore scored from six yards out to pull the Rebels to within 24-19. South Gray then took a 26-24 lead on a long touchdown pass 5:39 left.
But in the end, Zenger’s second rushing touchdown of the game proved to be the winning points. On the night, Zenger rushed for 141 yards with those two scores, but also passed for 73 yards and another touchdown.
Skidmore led the Rebels with 85 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
The victory may have given Kiowa County the fourth playoff spot out of District 6. There’s still more to be determined, but the Mavericks (3-3; 1-2) have a game lead on South Gray for the fourth playoffs spot. Both teams have Kinsley (1-5; 0-3) remaining on the schedule. South Gray also plays Spearville (4-2; 2-1), while Kiowa County plays undefeated Ness City (6-0; 3-0).
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Ness City holds off Spearville
Ness City remained unbeaten and picked up a key win in District 6 by defeating Spearville, 32-26.
The Eagles led 18-14 at halftime and extended that lead to double digits twice in the second half before having to hold off a late Spearville scoring attempt.
The victory allows Ness City to keep pace with Hodgeman County in the District 6 standings at 3-0, while Spearville falls to 2-1. Ness City will travel to Hodgeman County in the final week of the regular season.
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Central Burden upsets Oswego
Central Burden entered Friday night’s game against Oswego with a 1-4 record. Meanwhile Oswego was 4-1. At the end of the night, the Raiders had completed a 36-20 win over the Indians and may have jeopardized Oswego’s playoff chances.
Zarek Wilson rushed for a pair of touchdowns as the Raiders built a 14-0 lead. After Oswego pulled to within 14-6 at halftime, Central Burden pushed the lead to two scores after halftime and led 22-12 after three quarters.
A Tony Brogan touchdown run put the Raiders up 28-12 in the fourth, but Oswego would respond to pull within 28-20 with under four minutes left.
Central Burden would add a touchdown for the final margin.
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Eight-Man, Division II
Axtell scores late to end Hanover’s state-record win streak
In the face of adversity, No. 2 Axtell rose to the occasion and toughed-out a 28-26 victory over No. 1 Hanover to snap the Wildcats’ win streak at a Kansas eight-man state record 43 games.
Facing a fourth-and-10 from just inside the 11-yard line, Axtell freshman quarterback Isaac Detweiler tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to George Volle to tie the game at 26 with :48 seconds remaining.
Axtell took the lead on a two-point conversion that saw Detweiler pitch the ball to Mitchell Buessing who then passed to Clark Werner in the end zone for the lead.
Hanover drove deep into Axtell territory, but Detweiler intercepted Wildcat quarterback Jacob Jueneman near the goal line to effectively end the game. The Axtell defense picked off Jueneman three times on the night.
Things looked bleak early for Axtell, which only suited up 13 players in the game. Hanover jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown runs from Taegan Schwartz and Colin Jueneman.
Then Axtell all-state quarterback Quinn Buessing left the game in the first quarter after a hard hit and did not return.
The Eagles inserted freshman Isaac Detweiler at quarterback. Detweiler connected with Mitchell Buessing early in the second quarter to pull Axtell within 14-6.
Hanover would answer as Jacob Jueneman hit Colin Jueneman on a 24-yard touchdown pass for a 20-6 lead.
On the final play before halftime, facing a fourth-&-goal from the 1-yard line, found Clark Werner on a short touchdown pass to pull Axtell within 20-14.
The teams went scoreless in the third quarter, but Axtell tied the game in the fourth on Mitchell Buessing’s 6-yard run with 8:06 remaining.
Hanover immediately regained the lead two plays later as Colin Jueneman scored from 5-yards out following a long kickoff return to put the Wildcats up 26-20.
Detweiler’s late-game heroics then allowed Axtell to beat Hanover for the first time since 2005. The freshman rushed for 58 yards and passed for 69 yards – throwing touchdown passes to Mitchell Buessing, Werner, and Volle.
Mitchell Buessing added 76 yards and a score on the ground for Axtell. In his short time in the game, Quinn Buessing completed 7 of 8 passes for 54 yards.
Hanover was led by Colin Jueneman’s 62 rush yards with two scores. He also caught eight passes for 152 yards and a score.
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Marais des Cygnes Valley outlasts Hartford, 52-50
Ryan Baker scored on a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and Cole Lacey added the two-point conversion as Marais des Cygnes Valley edged Hartford, 52-50. The Trojans move to 2-1 in District 2 with the victory, while Hartford falls to 1-2.
Hartford led 28-22 at halftime before MdCV outscored the Jaguars 30-22 in the second half.
Baker rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans, while Lacey had a huge night accounting for 272 yards of total offense. Lacey passed for 187 yards and two scores and added 85 yards rushing and two more touchdowns.
Hartford’s Shayden Sull rushed for 147 yards and four scores and caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Ali Smith.
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Wheatland-Grinnell defeats Quinter for the first time ever
In District 6, Wheatland-Grinnell continued its fine play with a 36-18 home victory versus Gove County rival Quinter. Wheatland-Grinnell is 5-1, 3-0 in district play. The Thunderhawks defeated Quinter for the first time in school history, having gone 0-5 against Quinter with losses in ’08-11, and a 54-20 loss last year. Wheatland-Grinnell won just one game last year.
Wheatland-Grinnell has clinched its first winning season since a 5-4 mark in 2012. Next week, the Thunderhawks travel to Triplains-Brewster (4-2, 3-0) in what is expected to be for the district title.
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