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 week to see the most recent 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: Argonia-Attica (Conor Nicholl -- Kpreps)
Last season, eight-man home teams finished 28-4 in Week 9 games. The only road victories came from Argonia-Attica, Spearville, Frankfort and Sylvan. In the second round, A-A won on the road again with a 42-36 victory versus Udall. The Titans finished 7-4 and eventually lost in the state quarterfinals.
This year, road squads finished 26-6 in Week 9. For the second straight year, A&A defeated Sedan on the road. Other road teams that won were Caldwell, Maranatha Academy, Spearville, Frankfort and Sylvan-Lucas.
Last year, the Titans beat Sedan, 28-8. This season, A&A won 38-32 to move to 5-4 and end a two-game losing streak.
Of the six road victors, the Titans and Spearville (5-4) have the fewest victories. A&A has had a challenging season but is now assured of another non-losing year.
The Titans, under longtime co-coaches Luke Greenwood and Lance Vandeveer, have not posted a losing record since the schools formed a co-operative agreement starting in ’13. Since then, A&A is 5-4, 12-1, 12-1, 7-3, 6-3, 7-4 and 5-4.
Sedan led 8-6 after the first quarter, but A&A took a 26-16 advantage at halftime. Senior running back Mason Miller and sophomore Xavier Newberry have led the offense. Newberry completed five of 12 passes for 80 yards and two scores. He has 15 carries for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Miller recorded 24 rushes for 151 yards and a pair of TDs.
As well, junior Blake Goodman had another huge game with 15 tackles, and 136-pound sophomore Adam Blanchat led with 16 stops.
For the season, Newberry has 53 of 102 passing for 788 yards with an 11/2 TD/INT ratio. Miller has 118 carries for 836 yards and 15 touchdowns. Newberry has delivered 96 carries for 474 yards and eight scores.
Goodman leads with 156 tackles, and Blanchat has 146 stops.
Helmet sticker: Blue Valley Southwest (Alex Hammeke & Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
On paper the 14-seed Blue Valley Southwest’s victory over 3-seed KC Washington may look like a major upset, but despite their 1-7 record the Timberwolves were well prepared by their Eastern Kansas League schedule. Blue Valley Southwest defeated Washington, 31-6, taking advantage of Wildcat miscues to build a big halftime lead.
The Timberwolves scored after a muffed punt and an interception in the first half to lead 28-0. Southwest’s defense had a big night in registering 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, and recovering two fumbles. Blue Valley Southwest held Washington to less than 240 yards of total offense.
Blue Valley Southwest’s offense has been heavily reliant on the arm of junior quarterback Tanner Curry this season. Curry has passed for more than 1,600 yards and ten touchdowns during the regular season while the T-Wolves have struggled to run the football. Through the eight-game regular season, Blue Valley Southwest as a team had rushed for total of 76 net yards on 154 attempts - all season. Much of those number likely have to due with Curry being sacked as he had just 4 net rushing yards on 90 attempts this season.
On Friday against Washington, Drew Jennings rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns. Jennings also caught one of two Curry touchdown passes. The Timberwolves (2-7) should be favored again this week when they take on KC Schlagle. Schlagle lost to KC Washington, 42-6, back in Week 7.
Helmet sticker: Caldwell (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
In Week 3, Caldwell defeated Cedar Vale-Dexter, 56-28, in a non-district South Central Border League contest. Cedar Vale-Dexter eventually finished 7-1 and delivered the Eight-Man, Division I district championship. Caldwell took fourth in District 2.
After the Cedar Vale-Dexter win, the Bluejays had a 1-3 stretch with a 30-0 road loss to Argonia-Attica and a 58-30 road victory versus Oxford. Then, Caldwell lost 52-6 to South Central and fell, 31-16, at Udall. Argonia-Attica is a 5-4 squad, and Udall finished the year at 4-5.
However, Caldwell bounced back with a 48-34 win versus Medicine Lodge, and then won at Cedar Vale-Dexter, 46-30. Caldwell gets a rematch versus Medicine Lodge this week.
Caldwell coach Sean Blosser has continued to produce winning seasons and playoff victories for the Bluejays. Since 2012, Caldwell has played past Week 9 in every year from ’12-17. The Bluejays have posted four straight winning seasons with 8-2, 9-2, 6-3 and 6-3 records.
Caleb Noyes has continued a long line of successful Bluejay quarterbacks. Caldwell trailed 16-8 after the first quarter and 24-22 at halftime.
However, the Bluejays outscored Cedar Vale-Dexter, 24-6, in the third quarter. Overall, Caldwell ran an astounding 92 plays for 426 yards. The Spartans finished with 48 plays for 268 yards. Noyes completed eight of 22 passes for 103 yards and a score, and rushed 22 times for 97 yards and a TD.
Additionally, the 5-foot-11, 130-pound Jude Stow has enjoyed a breakout season with 28 attempts for 186 yards and a pair of TDs. Two weeks ago against Medicine Lodge, Stow rushed 25 times for 173 yards and four scores. Noyes recorded 64 rushing and passing yards. Additionally, Caldwell has forced nine turnovers and is plus-five in turnover margin in the back-to-back victories.
In the first matchup versus Cedar Vale-Dexter, Noyes passed for 253 with five touchdowns and Stow rushed for 84. Dru Volavka recorded six catches for 109 yards and a TD, and Trey Strnad had five grabs for 93 yards and three scores. Caldwell was plus-four in turnover margin in the first win.
Helmet sticker: Republic County (Alex Hammeke – Kpreps)
Republic County broke a 26-game losing streak in the last week of the regular season with a 62-14 victory over Sacred Heart. The following week, the Buffaloes shocked many as they defeated Ellis 54-16, for their second straight victory.
The Buffaloes held Ellis to 169 total yards of offence in the contest and forced four Railroader turnovers. Republic County running back Jared Baxa ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, while Kaleb Talkington added 100 yards on 19 carries. Baxa pushed his season rushing total to 1,163 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Talkington has 484 yards and six scores.
Despite the Buffaloes losing their first seven games and extending their long losing streak, Republic County played a difficult schedule and was competitive in most games. The Buffaloes lost four games by 12 points or less with three losses by a touchdown or less. Those close losses came to Ellsworth (5-4), La Crosse (5-4), Plainville (8-1), and Ell-Saline (7-2).
Republic County’s largest loss of the season came to top-ranked Smith Center, 41-12, in Week 7. Now, the Buffaloes will take on the Redmen again this week with a trip to the state quarterfinals on the line.
Helmet Stickers (2019 Season)
Week 1 – Great Bend, Hutchinson Central Christian, KC Harmon, Larned, Ottawa
Week 2 – Blue Valley Northwest, Cheney, Deerfield, La Crosse, Northeast-Arma, Shawnee Mission West
Week 3 – Belle Plaine, Clearwater, Lawrence, South Barber
Week 4 – Chase County, Eureka, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Wheatland-Grinnell
Week 5 – Cedar Vale-Dexter, Lyons, Southeast-Cherokee, Winfield
Week 6 – Dodge City, Hutchinson Trinity, KC Washington, Saint Francis
Week 7 – Concordia, Hill City, Hugoton, Wichita East
Week 8 – Beloit St. John’s-Tipton, Chanute, Osborne, Riverside
Week 9 – Argonia-Attica, Blue Valley Southwest, Caldwell, Republic County
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