Kpreps Game Day feature is designed to provide you with a program for things to watch out for each week in Kansas High School Football. This week, we focus on the important role of the kicking game for teams at all levels, as well two key eight-man games and South Barber’s long non-losing streak versus Kansas schools in the regular season.
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Kickers having big impact
Cimarron coach Mike Schartz has served three years on the Bluejay staff. He was the defensive coordinator the last two falls and took over as head coach this summer after Greg Koenig left for Colorado Springs. Entering last Friday’s home matchup versus rival Lakin, Cimarron was 20-5 with Schartz on staff.
Cimarron had never made a field goal or an extra point kick in those 25 games.
However, with just under two minutes to play, sophomore Emanuel Aguilar kicked a game-winning 32-yard field goal for a 17-14 victory. Lakin narrowly missed a game-tying 37-yard field goal on the final play of the contest.
Cimarron improved to 6-0, 3-0 in Class 2A, District 7 and won the Hi-Plains League. Lakin is 5-1, 2-1. Cimarron can solidify the district championship with a road game versus Lyons on Friday.
Aguilar is one of many kickers that has taken center stage this season, including several key finishes last week.
“He has been working for this ever since last year,” Cimarron junior fullback Hunter Renick said of Aguilar. “He didn’t play football last year. Couldn’t because of his concussion, and he decided that ‘I am going to try to support the team, and then the next year, I am going to come and I am going to play.’ Couldn’t thank him enough. We have players on both sides of the ball making plays.”
Coach Schartz’s brother, Joe, is the veteran Manhattan coach. Manhattan defeated Junction City, 31-28, to win the Silver Trophy in another one of the state’s biggest rivalries. Sophomore kicker Grant Snowden delivered a 38-yard field goal on the contest’s last play for the win. Snowden’s kick has created a logjam at top of the Centennial League with Junction City, Manhattan, Topeka and Emporia all 4-1 in league.
This week, Topeka High plays Emporia in a key matchup. Last year, Topeka won at Emporia, 27-26, on a last-second 39-yard field goal from Gregorio Leonardo.
In Ellsworth, the Bearcats pulled a surprising 14-13 victory versus Phillipsburg in Class 2A, District 8. Ellsworth captured just two wins in ’18, including three losses by a combined 14 points. Ellsworth stands at 5-1, 2-1 in district. Hoisington (6-0, 3-0) and Norton (4-2, 3-0) lead the district. Ellsworth is home against Norton this week.
The Bearcats have three victories by a total of 17 points. In the team’s latest statistical release, junior kicker Alberto Soccorro De La Fuente, an exchange student, has 15 kicking points for Ellsworth. The 5-foot-6, 135-pounder is 12 of 13 on extra points and has made his only field goal from 29 yards.
Moscow is 6-0 and has the second-best scoring defense in the six-man ranks with just 21 points permitted. Simon Gogniat is a foreign exchange student from Argentina. He has helped the Wildcats win the field position game with his touchbacks. Moscow (6-0) has a key home game versus Pawnee Heights (4-2) that will likely decide the 6-man South Division Title.
Other top kickers include Mill Valley junior Chris Tennant. He leads the state with 39 kicking points, according to MaxPreps. De Soto senior Eli Gratz has 38 kicking points. Wichita Heights sophomore Kaden Claassen and Wichita Northwest junior Carson Arndt have 36 kicking points. Tennant has seven field goals, four more than any other player.
Mill Valley stands at 3-3 but remains a dangerous team just outside the top-5 in the Class 5A state rankings. MV owns quality wins at Blue Valley North (38-7) and Pittsburg (31-0) in the last two weeks. Mill Valley’s three losses are all by seven points to Blue Valley West, Bishop Miege and St. Thomas Aquinas. Miege is ranked first in 4A, Aquinas is first in 5A, and BVW is 4-2.
Mill Valley has scored 173 points, a significant improvement after 120 points through six games last year. The Jaguars had just 42 kicking points all of ’18. Tennant made all four of his kicks, two field goals and two extra points. Senior Jack Matchette graduated after he was 31 of 32 on extra points and 1 of 4 on field goals.
In ’19, the 6-4, 195-pound Tennant is seven of nine on field goals and has made all 18 extra points, including a 45-yarder. Mill Valley is at Blue Valley (4-2) on Friday in another big Eastern Kansas League matchup. Blue Valley has bounced in and out of the 6A rankings this year.
Additionally, St. James, like Mill Valley, is also 3-3 in the EKL, the state’s best conference. SJA has two losses by a combined 10 points and also has a 28-27 victory versus Miege. St. James is at Kapaun Mt. Carmel in a rare out of conference matchup.
St. James has featured unique kicking with senior J.J. Tylicki, and juniors Dakota Burritt and Joshua Kirby all sharing time. The trio is 18 of 19 on extra points, including 4 of 4 in the one-point upset versus Miege. SJ went 11 of 12 on extra points last year. St. James scored 187 points in a 2-8 season in ’18. This year, the Thunder has tallied 132 points.
Hill City (3-3, 2-1) vs. Victoria (5-1, 2-1) – a reprise of last year?
This is a key game that is very likely for the runner-up spot – and a first round home playoff game – in District 7. Victoria won 42-41 in this matchup last year and could have a similar close matchup this season.
Victoria has outscored teams, 280-80, and HC has a total margin of 205-208. Hill City has played the No. 4 hardest schedule in Eight-Man, Division I, while Victoria has faced No. 24, according to Prep Power Index.
Hill City has struggled on defense, though all three of its losses (Osborne, Thunder Ridge, Clifton-Clyde) have come against teams with perfect records. Hill City has moved the ball well, especially with senior all-purpose threat Dalen Journigan. He has 91 carries for 738 yards and 12 rushing scores. Overall, he has 888 all-purpose yards. Hill City has committed 15 turnovers and is minus-2 in turnover margin.
Victoria counters with running back Jayvon Pruitt and quarterback Grant Schoenrock. Last Friday, Schoenrock rushed for three touchdowns. Pruitt had a pair of rushing scores and delivered a 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 48-8 win versus Washington County.
In this matchup last season, Pruitt rushed for 172 yards. Victoria led 42-27 before HC scored a pair of late touchdowns.
District 1 with more big games
Eight-Man, Division I, District 1 has had intrigue. Cedar Vale-Dexter leads at 5-1, 3-0 in district play. Sedan stands at 4-1, 2-1, while Central Burden is 2-4, 2-1. Last week, Central Burden defeated Oswego, 36-20. Oswego is 4-2, 1-2.
This week, CV-D plays host to Oswego. Last year, Oswego defeated the Spartans, 22-16. Sedan is at home versus Central Burden this week.
Oswego senior Jace Wilson has delivered another big season with 87 carries for 845 yard and 16 rushing scores in coach Matt Fowler’s single wing offense. He has also passed for four touchdowns, caught a receiving score and has a TD on a punt and kickoff.
Oswego has committed nine turnovers after 14 last season.
Both offenses are similar at moving the ball. Oswego has increased its offense from 6.5 yards per play in ’18 to 8.1 this year. CV-D is at 8.3 yards per play.
CV-D counters with its duo of quarterback Clayton Henderson and running back Brogan Myers. A win gives CV-D its most victories since a 6-4 season in ’14.
South Barber continues streak
Hanover had its eight-man state record 43-game winning streak end last week with a 28-26 loss to Axtell. However, Kiowa-South Barber, just outside the state rankings, has some current impressive streaks.
In Eight-Man, Division II, District 7, South Barber is 5-1, 4-0. South Barber will be heavily favored at Burrton this week and can continue several streaks. SB has won 20 straight district contests and 18 in a row in Heart of the Plains League play.
Additionally, South Barber is 18-0-1 in its last 19 games in Weeks 1-9 against Kansas schools. Last week, SB defeated Otis-Bison, 48-0, after a 36-36 tie with O-B in ’18. Senior Trevor Rooks has continued with another nice season. He has completed 44 of 76 passes for 716 yards with 15 scores against one interception.
Keep an eye on the state’s current longest streaks (by classification):
Current Longest Winning Streaks:
Class 6A
Derby – 19
Class 5A
St. Thomas Aquinas - 18
Class 4A
Multiple tied – 6
(McPherson, Paola, Tonganoxie)
Class 3A
Several tied – 6
(Andale, Colby, Columbus, Frontenac, Halstead, Marysville, Prairie View, Topeka Hayden)
Class 2A
Several tied – 6
(Belle Plaine, Cimarron, Garden Plain, Hoisington, Humboldt, Silver Lake, Southeast-Cherokee)
Class 1A
Smith Center – 16
Class 8M-I
Several tied – 6
(Canton-Galva, Clifton-Clyde, Madison, Ness City, St. Francis, South Central)
Class 8M-II
Several tied - 6
(Axtell, Frankfort, Osborne, St. Paul, Thunder Ridge)
6-Man
Cheylin, Moscow – 6
Current Longest Losing Streaks:
Class 6A
Wichita North – 14 games (includes Week 7 Thursday night game)
Class 5A
Topeka Highland Park – 49 games
Class 4A
Baldwin – 11 games
Class 3A
Bishop Ward – 53 games
Class 2A
Horton – 17 games
Wichita Independent –16 games
Class 1A
Republic County – 25 games
Class 8-Man, Division I
St. John – 19 games
Class 8-Man, Division II
Burrton – 23 games
Tescott – 15 games
6-Man
Western Plains – 25 games
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