Class 8-Man, Division I
8M-I EAST
Caldwell (6-3) at Medicine Lodge (5-4) – Caldwell (Nicholl)
This is a rematch from two weeks ago when Caldwell defeated Medicine Lodge, 48-34. Caldwell has bounced back from a 1-3 stretch with two straight wins. Caldwell features quarterback Caleb Noyes, along with key offensive threats Jude Stow and Dru Volavka. Caldwell outgained Medicine Lodge, 372-337. Medicine Lodge committed five turnovers, three more than the Bluejays. Caldwell led 20-2 midway through the second quarter. Noyes passed for 64 yards, and Stow rushed for 173 yards in the contest. Junior quarterback Jace Bowman leads Medicine Lodge. He passed for 232 yards and rushed for 69 in the Caldwell loss. Overall, he has completed 115 of 208 passes for 1,499 yards with a 23/11 TD/INT ratio. Bowman has 162 carries for 583 yards and 11 TDs.
Maranatha Academy (7-2) at Madison (9-0) – Madison (Gilmore)
Maranatha Academy will travel to No. 4 Madison for the second time this season in a rematch of one of the top eight-man games of the year. In the first meeting, Madison rallied from down 16 points late in the third quarter Maranatha, 68-58. The game featured wild swings in which Maranatha led 16-0, then Madison led 32-16 at halftime. Maranatha rallied in the third quarter to pull within 32-30 before Madison’s Colton Fife returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. The Eagles would then score three consecutive touchdowns to lead Madison, 52-38. Madison responded with a run of its own – scoring the next 22 points to lead 60-52. Maranatha scored a touchdown, but the Eagles two-point attempt to tie the game was fumbled. Madison features a tough, run game with Fife, Nasun Wasson, Hunter Engle, and quarterback Ryan Wolgram. While Maranatha has relied on the explosive arial attach of Nate Burdette and Brock West. In the first meeting, Burdette passed for 434 yards and seven touchdowns with 269 yards and four scores going to West. Burdette has passed for 1,485 yards and 27 touchdowns, but has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. In Burdette’s absence, West has transitioned behind center and passed for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 390 yards and seven scores. If Burdette is able go play, expect another wild shootout with a lot of points. If he doesn’t play, Maranatha will have to have a receiver step up and be the threat that West has been with around 900 receiving yards and 16 scores.
Argonia-Attica (5-4) at South Central (9-0) – South Central (Nicholl)
This is a rematch in Week 8 when South Central held off Argonia-Attica, 17-0. Last week, Argonia-Attica won at Sedan in Week 9 for the second straight year. The Titans earned a 28-8 victory in ’18 and 38-32 this year. Senior running back Mason Miller has rushed for 836 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Xavier Newberry has 788 passing yards with 11 TDs. A&A’s Blake Goodman and Adam Blanchat lead eight-man football in tackles with 156 and 146, respectively. South Central has seven straight winning seasons and has captured nine wins in each of the last four years. Senior Chayde Snyder has completed 42 of 67 passes for 864 yards with a 17/3 TD/INT ratio, though he did not play in Week 9. Snyder leads the team with 65 carries for 399 yards and eight scores. Sophomore Owen Herd has 70 tackles with 14.5 TFLs. The Timberwolves have permitted just 34 points.
Lebo (7-2) at Canton-Galva (9-0) – Canton-Galva (Gilmore)
Lebo has the tall task of trying to unseat top-ranked Canton-Galva. The Eagles have rolled to an undefeated season thus far in averaging nearly 57 points per game while allowing only 31 total points all season. The Eagles’ scoring defense is the best in Eight-Man, Division I. Quarterback Landon Everett leads a talented team, while sophomore Tyson Struber continues to be a big-play threat. The Eagle defense may get a challenge in the passing ability of Lebo quarterback Devan McEwen. McEwen has passed for 1,627 yards and 25 touchdowns against only five interceptions. He’s also added 522 rushing yards and 13 scores. Kyle Reese has 32 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns. As a team the Wolves have put up nearly 48 points per game, while allowing 25 per contest. Last week in a 58-8 win over Goessel, McEwen threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores. Lebo may snap Canton-Galva’s streak of five consecutive shutouts, but the Wolves will have to play extremely well to get past the top-ranked Eagles.
8M-I WEST
Ness City (8-1) at Little River (8-1) – Little River (Hammeke)
The last time Ness City took the 107-mile drive to Little River; the Eagles upended the Redskins 40-28 back in 2014. Little River would go 7-4 on the year in 2014, meanwhile Ness City would go 9-3. This year Little River and Ness City come in with identical 8-1 records. Little River lost to state ranked No. 1 Canton-Galva in the season-opener, meanwhile Ness City fell to Hodgeman County in the regular season finale. Both teams defeated Central Plains and South Gray. Ness City beat Central Plains in the final minutes to win the season-opener 36-30; meanwhile Little River would shut out the injury-riddled Oilers, something the Redskin defense has accomplished six times this season. The Redskins have relied on the running services of Jayden Garrison and Graham Stephens. The duo has combined for 1,467 yards and 40 touchdowns. For Ness City, Hector Rodriguez has been the main threat, with 1,236 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Leoti-Wichita Co. (8-1) at Clifton-Clyde (9-0) – Wichita County (Nicholl)
Wichita County makes the 283-mile trip east to Clifton-Clyde for one of the better Round of 16 games in the entire state. Last week, Wichita County delivered a big second half comeback with an 88-66 victory versus Victoria. In district play, Clifton-Clyde beat the Knights, 28-14. Both teams have prolific quarterbacks. Clifton-Clyde features single-wing quarterback Aiden Rudolph. He rushed 27 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the Victoria win. Wichita County has quarterback Kayde Rietzke, who averages 151 passing and 239 passing yards a game as a team. Rietzke completed 107 of 155 passes for 1,344 yards with a 24/3 TD/INT ratio. He has delivered 167 carries for 1,295 yards and 20 scores. Rietzke accounted for nine touchdowns in the Victoria victory. Wichita County is in the Round of 16 for the first time since ’01.
Spearville (5-4) at Hodgeman County (8-1) – Hodgeman County (Nicholl)
The two rivals from adjoining counties continue its longtime series. Spearville had won four in a row from ’14-17, though Hodgeman County has won three straight with 54-8, 76-48 and 46-28 victories. The last one came in Week 7 this year. Spearville has won back-to-back road playoff games in Week 9 in ’18-19 against Little River and Pratt-Skyline. The Lancers have produced 292 rushing yards a contest in the single wing. Senior Carson Rich has 154 carries for 1,018 yards and 14 TDs. Junior Trace Tasset has 71 carries for 829 yards and 16 scores. For Hodgeman County, senior Eli Salmans has 190 rushes for 1,515 yards and 24 scores. His brother, junior Isaac Salmans, has completed 47 of 82 passes for 948 yards with a 16/2 TD/INT ratio.
Hill City (6-3) at St. Francis (9-0) – St. Francis (Nicholl)
Hill City’s three losses have come against undefeated Clifton-Clyde and Osborne and one-loss Thunder Ridge. St. Francis has allowed just 42 points. The Indians reached the sub-state semifinal last year. Hill City has played past Week 10 just once in school history, a state runner-up finish in ’10. St. Francis features its great line, along with senior Brady Dinkel, a four-year starter at defensive back and three seasons at quarterback. Hill City has rushed for 269 yards a contest. Senior Dalen Journigan has 174 carries for 1,485 yards and 28 rushing scores.
Class 8-Man, Division II
8M-II EAST
Waverly (6-3) at St. Paul (9-0) – St. Paul (Gilmore)
Waverly and St. Paul will battle for the first time since 2015. The Indians are undefeated and ranked No. 5 in Eight-Man, Division II, while Wavery is 6-3 under first-year coach Nick Fraenza. Fraenza replaced the legendary Mike Hevel who won 192 games and two state titles in his 35 seas as coach of the Bulldogs. This year’s Waverly team has won four straight games since a 46-0, district loss to Centre-Lost Springs back in Week 5. That loss dropped the Bulldogs’ record to 2-3 after losses to Lyon County League rivals Lebo (46-14) and Madison (57-0) to open the season. Meanwhile, St. Paul has only played into the second half one time this season. The Indians have blitzed opponents by an average score of 61 to 8. Indian senior Adam Albertini is putting up another monster season with 1,401 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. After scoring 60 total touchdowns a season ago, Albertini has accounted for 53 scores this season. In addition to his 34 rushing scores, Adam has thrown five touchdown passes, caught a touchdown pass, returned seven punts for touchdowns, three kickoffs, and two interceptions and a fumble all for scores.
Frankfort (8-1) at Hanover (8-1) – Hanover (Gilmore)
This one may be the top game in the state at the eight-man level. Maybe all class. Frankfort will take on Hanover for a second time in three weeks for a chance to advance to the state quarterfinals. Make no mistake, these two teams are among the five best in Eight-Man, Division II. Third-ranked Hanover defeated No. 4 Frankfort 52-34 two weeks ago behind a 30-6 second-half. In the first meeting, Frankfort couldn’t overcome three turnovers. Hanover’s Jacob Jueneman passed for 130 yards and three scores in the win and Teagan Schwartz rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns. Frankfort’s Gavin Corneilson passed for 125 yards and a touchdown, but the Wildcats got 110 rushing yards and four touchdowns from standout Garret Dalinghaus. For the season, Dalinghaus has rushed for 1,112 yards and 25 scores, while Corneilson has rushed for 745 yards and 11 scores. Corneilson has passed for 738 yards and 12 touchdowns – primarily to Branden Bussmann who has 357 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns to go along with his 484 rush yards and 10 scores.
Colony-Crest (6-3) at Centre-Lost Springs (7-2) – Centre (Nicholl)
Centre-Lost Springs finished 7-3 last season, though lost 80-50 to St. Paul in Week 10. This year, the Cougars won District 2 with an undefeated record. Centre fell at Peabody-Burns, 26-24, on the road in Week 1, a squad that finished just 2-7. In Week 3, the Cougars dropped a 48-0 decision at Canton-Galva, ranked first in Eight-Man, Division I all year. Since then, Centre has allowed just six total points. Senior Jensen Riffel has put together a complete season with 78 carries for 941 rushing yards and 20 scores. He also leads the squad with 92 tackles, 39 more than any teammate. Crest entered this year with an 11-game losing season and started 1-3, but has pulled off five straight victories. A victory would be a big milestone for either squad. Centre has not made the quarterfinals since ’10, and Crest not since ’12.
Axtell (8-1) at Beloit St. John’s-Tipton (7-2) – Axtell (Nicholl)
This is a rematch of a Week 1 game that Axtell won at home 58-12. The Eagles also defeated St. John’s-Tipton 58-12 in the 2018 season-opener. Axtell has had a unique schedule with two home games Axtell, then four straight road contests and had three consecutive home games. In Week 6, Axtell won at Hanover, 28-26, and ended the Wildcats’ 43-game winning streak, the longest in the eight-man KSHSAA era. The following week, Axtell lost, 24-20, to Frankfort at home on the game’s final play. Senior quarterback Quinn Buessing, a four-year starter and one of the best eight-man signal callers in state history, recently returned after missing the Eagles’ games against district rivals Hanover and Frankfort. BSJT junior Brayden Perez leads the team with 110 carries for 794 yards and 25 scores.
8M-II WEST
Sylvan-Lucas Unified (6-3) at Osborne (9-0) – Osborne (Nicholl)
This is a rematch from Week 4 that Osborne won 48-0. Osborne has not thrown an interception against 11 touchdowns. The Bulldogs have not permitted a touchdown pass en route to a significantly improved statistical defense. Osborne, the defending Eight-Man, Division II state runner-up, is led by coach Steve Tiernan in the first year of his second stint with the school. Senior quarterback Steele Wolters has passed for 410 yards with an 11/0 TD/INT ratio. He has rushed 77 times for 539 yards and 10 scores. Senior Darrien Holloway has delivered 93 carries for 945 yards and 19 TDs. Senior Evan Garman leads with 95 tackles after he didn’t play last year.
Norwich (6-3) at South Barber (8-1) – South Barber (Nicholl)
South Barber won at Norwich, 54-8, in Week 5. The Chieftains have won exactly nine games in each of the last four years and fell in the quarterfinals the last three falls. Norwich is in at least the Round of 16 for the first time since 2008. The Eagles picked up their first playoff win in 11 years with an impressive 22-6 road-win at Otis-Bison. Quarterback Blake Allender produced more than 150 yards of total offense, including a 76-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles ahead two scores in the playoff win. South Barber senior quarterback Trevor Rooks has enjoyed another great season with 56 of 97 passes for 884 yards with a 17/2 TD/INT ratio. He has 104 rushes for 826 yards and 19 scores. The Chieftains have three players with between 13 and 20 catches – sophomore Gatlin Jewell, junior Emilio Perez and senior Gage Cantrell.
Thunder Ridge (8-1) at Wheatland-Grinnell (8-1) – Thunder Ridge (Nicholl)
Thunder Ridge won at Northern Valley, 62-12, in Week 4. Wheatland-Grinnell held off Northern Valley, 28-18, in Week 3. Wheatland-Grinnell then beat Northern Valley, 44-30, last week. Wheatland-Grinnell, a six-man team two seasons ago, has flipped its record from a 1-8 mark last year and has enjoyed the best season since Grainfield and Grinnell first started playing together in the mid-2000s. The schools eventually consolidated and have surpassed a 7-2 mark in ’06 and a 6-3 record in ’11 as the best in school annals. Two weeks ago, Thunder Ridge standout running back Reece Struckhoff missed the second half of a 40-34 district loss to undefeated Osborne. Struckhoff returned last week in a big win over Quinter. He has rushed 108 times for 1,717 yards and 39 rushing scores, and 124 stops. Wheatland-Grinnell freshman Jett Vincent leads the state with 12 interceptions. The Thunderhawks have forced 29 turnovers and stand plus-19 in turnover margin.
Hutchinson Central Christian (8-1) at Minneola (8-1) – Central Christian (Nicholl)
Minneola has rushed for 375 yards a game behind a huge season from back Tuck Lang. He has rushed 210 times for 1,912 yards and 33 scores. Minneola fell to Kiowa County, 34-18 in the season-opener, and then has won every game since by at least 26 points. That included a 58-14 road win versus Ingalls in Week 7. Last week, Central Christian defeated Ingalls, 54-6 in a game that ended at halftime. In the Ingalls’ victory, Garrett Burns has seven carries for 88 yards and four touchdowns. Caleb Lambert has nine rushes for 56 yards and a score. Roberto Ibarra picked off two passes. Deonis Coon had an interception. He also picked off an option pitch and returned it for a score. Lambert, in his second straight big season with the Cougars, has completed 71 of 120 passes for 850 yards with a 17/5 TD/INT ratio. He has 55 carries for 456 yards and 10 scores.
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