Class 8-Man, Division I
8M-I EAST
Madison (10-0) at Caldwell (7-3) – Madison
Caldwell looks to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 1993, while Madison looks to return from a seven-year hiatus. Madison has used an explosive offense and stingy defense all season that has resulted in the Bulldogs scoring 60.3 points per game and only allowing 10.3 points per contest. Nahun Wasson and Ryan Wolgram have combined for 1,271 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Madison offense. Wolgram, the quarterback, has thrown for 500 yards on the season and nine touchdowns. The Bulldogs average 340 yards of offense a game, most tallied in games that have ended at halftime. Caldwell has two quality wins on the year over Cedar Vale-Dexter. The Bluejays have had quality help from Caleb Noyes and Jude Stow. Stow has accounted for five 100-yard games and 15 touchdowns, but he has been out with injury and his status is unknown for Friday. The Blue Jays three losses have come to Argonia-Attica, quarterfinalist South Central, and Udall.
South Central (10-0) at Canton-Galva (10-0) – Canton-Galva
Canton-Galva looks to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year, while South Central is looking for their first appearance in the final four in school history. This will be a battle of statistically two strong defenses, as South Central allows 4 points per game, and Canton-Galva gives up 3.9 points per contest. The two teams have combined for 12 shutouts on the year. This is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal, which Canton-Galva won 54-52 in overtime. Chayde Snyder has led the Timberwolves with 893 passing yards and 529 rushing yards, and has a total of 28 touchdowns. Jonny Robles and Gage Girk have split time at running back this season; with Girk having seven touchdowns and 381 yards on 39 carries, while Robles has seven touchdowns and 322 yards on 40 carries. Girk is also a kicker for South Central, and has turned heads with long field goals in his career. Canton-Galva quarterback Landon Everett hasn’t thrown an interception this season, as the senior has completed 57 of 97 attempts for 964 yards and 24 Touchdowns. Tyson Struber has been his favorite target with 12 of those receiving scores and 448 yards on 22 catches. Canton-Galva’s defense allows only 76.4 yards per game.
8M-I WEST
Little River (9-1) at Leoti-Wichita Co. (9-1) – Wichita County
Both one-loss schools meet in Leoti for the first meeting between the schools. The 187-mile trip for Little River is the longest trip the Redskins have made all season. This trip also is the second without junior quarterback/running back Graham Stephens. Stephens injured his knee last Tuesday and did not play in Little River’s 44-42 victory over Ness City. Stephens’ junior campaign produced 1,111 yards and 26 touchdowns. Little River will have to rely on the services of Jayden Garrison and Braxton Lafferty. Garrison has 24 touchdowns and 1,007 yards on 112 carries; and Lafferty has three touchdowns and 218 yards in his freshman season. Kayde Reitzke has had an explosive season for Wichita County. The Indian quarterback has 1,565 passing yards and 1,457 yards rushing with 51 touchdowns. Jesse Gardner is 90 yards away from producing 1,000 total yards this season. The Junior has 661 rushing yards and 249 receiving yards. With a win, Wichita County could face St. Francis in a district championship rematch. St. Francis blanked Wichita County 46-0 back in Week 6.
St. Francis (10-0) at Hodgeman County (9-1) – St. Francis
In a quarterfinal matchup from last year, Hodgeman County will host St. Francis on their home field. Last year, Hodgeman fell to the Indians, 30-20 at St. Francis in a game played on Saturday. This is the third time the two teams have ever met. St. Francis defeated Hodgeman County, 70-24, in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. St. Francis features the “Mean Green” defense that has registered seven shutouts on the season, including one over quarterfinalist Leoti-Wichita County. The Indians have allowed less than 5 points per game and feature two of the classification’s leading sacks leaders. Adam Krien leads the state with 14.5 sacks and teammate Jesse Baxter isn’t too far behind him with 13.5 sacks on the season. Brady Dinkel was able to score in all three facets of the game last week in the Indians’ 52-0 shutout of Hill City. Dinkel had two rushing scores, a pick-six, and a punt return for a TD. Dinkel and Junior Shadryon Blanka have combined for 2,621 yards and 45 touchdowns on 224 carries. Hodgeman has had the duo of Isaac and Eli Salmans. Isaac, the junior quarterback, has 17 touchdowns and 1,100 yards on 56 completions. Eli, the senior running back, has 24 touchdowns and 1,610 yards on 206 carries. Isaac also has 495 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing.
Class 8-Man, Division II
8M-II EAST
Hanover (9-1) at St. Paul (10-0) – Hanover
Last year St. Paul and Hanover met in Hanover to decide which team would advance to the semifinals. The Wildcats came away with a decisive 46-0 halftime victory over the Indians. Two weeks later, Hanover had its third straight undefeated season and state championship. While Hanover won’t have the chance to grab a fourth undefeated season, the Wildcats have a shot on winning their fourth consecutive state title. This year, Hanover is led by Jacob Jueneman, who has 1,132 passing yards and 18 touchdowns in ten games. Taegan Schwartz has added 765 yards and 15 touchdowns; while Jacob Klipp leads the team in tackles with 114. St. Paul has Adam Albertini, who is one of the most explosive players in the state. If Hanover wins, they could set up a rematch with Axtell. Axtell gave Hanover its lone loss of the season, 28-26, back in Week 6.
Centre-Lost Springs (8-2) at Axtell (9-1) – Axtell
Axtell shook up the classification by ending Hanover’s 43-game win streak by defeating the Wildcats, 28-26, back in Week 6. Even more impressive was Axtell accomplishing this with freshman Isaac Detwiler at quarterback after senior all-stater Quinn Buessing went out with an injury in the first quarter. Axtell then fell to Frankfort the next week after defeating Hanover, and finished second in the district. Buessing has since returned and the Eagles have rolled to three consecutive victories. The Centre Cougars have shown a stout defense, with six shutouts this season. Jensen Riffel has shredded opposing defenses this fall, with 1,078 yards and 24 touchdowns on just 90 carries. Riffel is also just on the cusp of 100 tackles this season, as he sits at 99. If Centre wins, the Cougars would be in the semifinals for the first time since 1995, while Axtell could force a rematch of last year’s semifinal with Hanover if both advance.
8M-II WEST
Osborne (10-0) at South Barber (9-1) – Osborne
When Osborne makes the 189-mile trip to South Barber, they will play their first game without standout senior running back Darrien Holloway. Holloway is out for the season due to a foot injury sustained in the first quarter of Osborne’s 40-6 victory over Sylvan-Lucas. Holloway was 30 yards short of having back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons before sustaining the injury. He finished the season with 970 yards and 19 touchdowns on 95 carries. Osborne will now have to rely on quarterback Steele Wolters and running back Mason Schurr. Wolters has 707 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Schurr has 506 yards and eight scores. Schurr is also the team’s leading receiver, with 184 yards and three touchdowns. South Barber has been led by senior Trevor Rooks. Rooks has accounted for 2,125 yards and 42 touchdowns, 22 on the ground and 20 through the air. Five of Rooks’ touchdowns have gone to Emilio Perez, the leading receiver with 245 yards on 16 catches. Excluding their season opening loss to Cherokee (Okla.) and their forfeit win over Burrton, the Chieftains have outscored their opponents by an average of 46 points per game. The potential for district rematches could occur in the state semifinals, as South Barber could meet up with Hutchinson Central Christian or Osborne could again play Thunder Ridge.
Thunder Ridge (9-1) at Hutchinson Central Christian (9-1) – Thunder Ridge
Thunder Ridge will travel to Hutchinson to take on the Central Christian Cougars for the first-ever matchup between these programs. Thunder Ridge is led by Reece Struckoff, a senior transfer from Stockton, who has accounted for 2,464 of the team’s 3,690 total yards. Struckoff also has 51 touchdowns for the Longhorns this fall, with 42 on the ground and nine through the air. The Longhorn defense has only permitted 13.4 points per game. For Central Christian, it has been Caleb Lambert leading the way. In the Cougars’ 64-18 victory versus Minneola, Lambert was near perfect, going 11 of 12 passing for 233 yards and four touchdowns. Lambert also added two rushing scores as well. Central Christian also boasts an impressive defense, allowing only 10.6 points per contest. Both teams could possibly get a rematch from the regular season in the state semifinals. Central Christian fell 34-20 to district opponent South Barber earlier this year, while Thunder Ridge’s only loss came in district play to Osborne, 40-34.
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