Class 2A
2A EAST
Humboldt (10-0) at Nemaha Central (8-2) – Nemaha Central
Last year, Humboldt went 11-1 and advanced to the sub-state championship game, the best finish in school annals. This year, Humboldt is first in 2A offense with 529 points and Conor Haviland has 124 carries for 2,238 yards and 38 touchdowns. He has completed 21 of 40 passes for 351 yards with five scores and an interception. Humboldt has rushed for 338 yards a game with 57 rushing scores. Nemaha Central has played a significantly more difficult schedule in the Big Seven League and has a three-win improvement off last fall. The Thunder are more balanced than Humboldt. Dylan Schultejans has thrown for 1,419 yards with a 20/7 TD/INT ratio. Four players have between 16 and 28 catches. Senior Gavin Duryea has 115 carries for 547 yards and six scores, and junior Gage Palic has 55 carries for 338 yards and eight TDs. Both have missed time, though are back now. Palic was released last Friday from a bruised kidney and should see some offensive snaps. Coach Warren Seitz said Palic is more of a straight-ahead runner, while Duryea has shown more vision, speed and ability to make people miss. Nemaha Central passes for 148 and rushes for 155 yards a game. The Thunder has quality wins in Week 8 against Maur Hill-Mount Academy (26-20) and Week 10 over Rossville (29-21 in overtime).
Silver Lake (10-0) at Riley County (8-2) – Silver Lake
Last year, Silver Lake defeated Riley County during the regular season in Mid-East League play. In the quarterfinal rematch, the Falcons made an incredible comeback and beat the Eagles, 40-34, in overtime. Riley County ended a 22-season losing streak versus Silver Lake with that victory. The Falcons eventually finished as state runners-up to Phillipsburg. Silver Lake had a more experienced defense than offense this year. The Eagles are first in 2A in scoring defense with just 62 points allowed. Silver Lake won at Riley County, 25-0, in Week 3. Cody Hay leads the Eagles with 1,806 passing yards, and Nathan Boyden has 406 receiving yards. Garrett Harmison, a school record holder in several passing categories, has thrown for 1,312 yards. Deon Barnes has rushed for 1,009 yards, and Avery Brokenicky has fashioned a complete season with 532 receiving yards. In the 25-0 victory, Silver Lake scored six or seven points in every quarter. Silver Lake’s defense limited Riley County to just 107 total yards. Hay threw for 117, and the Eagles rushed for 191 yards.
2A WEST
Conway Springs (8-2) at Norton (7-3) – Norton
Conway Springs makes the 271-mile trip north to Norton. Conway Springs has enjoyed another big rushing year behind quarterback Collin Koester and running backs Peyton Winter and Heath Hilger. Koester missed a little time this year, though has passed for 634 and rushed for 1,099 yards. He has accounted for 20 TDs. Hilger has delivered 542 rushing yards and 10 scores. Winter has seen limited time this year because of injury, though did return for 204 rushing yards in a loss to rival Garden Plain. Last season, Koester and Winter exceeded 2,000 combined rushing yards. Conway Springs coach Matt Biehler went over 100 career wins this season. Conway Springs has averaged 8.1 yards per play. Last year, the Cardinals fell 25-24 in the quarterfinals to Phillipsburg.
Norton’s three losses have come against teams with a combined one defeat. The Bluejays had significant returners from a rare 4-5 fall. Norton returned nine starters on both sides of the ball. The Bluejays have another big season with senior dual threat quarterback Kade Melvin. He has completed 105 of 184 passes for 1,535 yards with a 12/5 TD/INT ratio. He has 156 carries for 946 yards with 14 rushing scores. Senior Luke Wahlmeier has 144 carries for 875 yards and seven scores. Junior Jonah Ruder has battled injury in the past, though has 33 receptions with 538 yards – both team-highs – and three TDs. Senior Carter Jones scored two receiving TDs and returned a fumble for a score in last Friday’s shutout win versus Cimarron.
Norton has a significantly talented and sizeable line with senior Judson Wiltfong (6-5, 220), junior Christien Hawks (6-5, 255) and senior Dante Smith (6-2, 295). Junior Gavin Sproul (6-1, 200) has 15 TFLs, second-best behind Wiltfong’s 20. Conway Springs has just three players that are more than 190 pounds. Norton has averaged 6.5 yards per play. Norton’s size advantage, home field and the depth at receiver tilts the game slightly in the Bluejays’ favor.
Garden Plain (10-0) at Hoisington (10-0) – Hoisington
This is the third meeting between the teams in the last 12 years. Garden Plain defeated Hoisington, 55-7, on Nov. 9, 2007. Much more recently, Hoisington beat Garden Plain, 49-8, in the ’16 playoffs. Hoisington has been ranked No. 1 virtually all year and could tie the furthest advancement in school history with a win Friday. Wyatt Pedigo, a North Dakota commit, has his second straight 2,000-yard rushing season with 134 carries for 2,008 yards and 31 scores. Hoisington, though, has seen a much more prolific passing game with junior Mason Haxton. He was hurt the majority of last season but has returned to post a 14/3 TD/INT ratio. Pedigo is also the top receiver with 13 catches for 325 yards and seven scores. Senior Avery Brewer has enjoyed his best season with nine grabs for 76 yards and four TDs. Hoisington has committed 11 turnovers and is plus-16 in turnover margin. Hoisington has averaged 9.6 yards per play. Pedigo is 69 yards away from surpassing Hunter Hanzlick’s school mark of 4,895 rushing yards, according to Cardinal broadcaster Cole Reif.
Garden Plain has enjoyed a big year from senior quarterback Matt Pauly, an all-state all-purpose player in ’18. He is under center for the first time and has completed 36 of 69 passes for 898 yards and a 23/2 TD/INT ratio. Pauly leads with 854 rushing yards, while Brock Long has 819 rushing yards and is first in carries (86) and TDs (13). Garden Plain has committed just seven turnovers and features statistically the state’s most explosive receiver in senior Trey Smith (16 TDs on 24 catches). The Owls have forced 30 turnovers and are plus-23 in turnover margin. Garden Plain averages 9.2 yards per play. Hoisington is the slight favorite playing at home and with Pedigo, likely a Top 11 all classes pick. But Garden Plain has been excellent in the passing game, has a better turnover margin and more depth. This one should be close.
Class 1A
1A EAST
St. Mary’s Colgan (7-3) at Jackson Heights (8-2) – Jackson Heights
This is a rematch of last season’s quarterfinal game won by Colgan, 34-7. In that game, the Panthers used a strong defensive performance in limiting Jackson Heights’ Cooper Williams to 39 yards rushing on 15 carries. The win proved costly for Colgan, however, as quarterback Cade Simmons was injured late in the game and lost for the season. After losing a big class to graduation, this year’s Panthers started the season 1-3 will losses to playoff teams in Columbus (3A), Frontenac (3A), and Centralia (1A). Since, Colgan has won six straight games including last week’s 29-21 victory over Hillsboro to advance. Colgan rushed for nearly 300 yards in the win with two touchdowns each from Dominic Bevilacqua and Jalen VanBecelaere. Jackson Heights advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 6-0, overtime victory over Valley Heights. After four quarters, the game remained scoreless. Valley Heights got the ball first, but fumbled their overtime possession. Jackson Heights then won the game when Jason Bosley broke free for a 10-yard scoring run. The Cobras rushed for 221 yards in the game and did not complete a pass. Williams, a returning all-stater after 1,500 yards last season, led the way with 107 yards on the ground, while Bosley added 72 and the game’s only score. Jackson Heights’ strength is their big, experienced offensive line led by senior Carson Williams.
Centralia (9-1) at Olpe (10-0) – Olpe
Centralia and Olpe will meet in a rematch of a classic quarterfinal game from last season won by the Eagles, 20-18. In that game, Olpe broke a 6-6 halftime tie on a short TD run by Colby Hoelting after Centralia fumbled the second-half kickoff. The Eagle defense then intercepted a Panther pass on the ensuing possession and eventually scored on a touchdown pass from Hoelting to Dawson McCarthy to take a 20-6 lead. Centralia scored twice late on a Kamble Haverkamp TD run and a TD pass, but Olpe stuffed the potential game-knotting two-point attempt. Last week, Hoelting passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Eagles routed Uniontown for the second time this season. The Olpe defense has been stout this season in giving up 62 total points, or less than 7 per game, with four shutouts. Centralia, on the other hand, has won nine straight since a season-opening loss at Rossville. The Panthers defeated Northern Heights for a second time this season to advance to this round. Kamble Haverkamp rushed for 126 yards and a score as Centralia built a 46-0 lead. Devon Feldkamp scored two touchdowns and Ian Haverkamp added three scores for the Panthers.
1A WEST
Smith Center (10-0) at Sedgwick (9-0) – Smith Center
Smith Center won this matchup, 61-27, last season. The Redmen have won back-to-back state championships. Sedgwick is 9-0 in games played and earned a first-round bye for the second straight year. Smith Center also defeated Sedgwick, 48-21, in the ’15 playoffs.
Smith Center has rushed for 363 yards a game behind its great experienced line with Brell Spiess, Joel Montgomery and Charlie Timmons. Four players have at least 500 rushing yards. Senior Jaden Atwood leads with 150 rushes for 1,459 yards and 14 scores. Senior quarterback Trenton Colby and junior Griffin Kugler have enjoyed a big pass-catching tandem. Smith Center has permitted 7.2 points per contest.
Sedgwick has enjoyed its best scoring defense since before ’04 with 6.6 points per game. The Cardinals have enjoyed a huge year from sophomore quarterback Lance Hoffsommer. He has 2,493 passing yards, third-most in the state. Kale Schroeder has rushed for 1,200 yards and has cleared 2,000 rushing and 2,000 receiving yards in his career. Qayden Shepherd has 769 receiving yards. Gannon Resnik has paced the Cardinals with 128 tackles. Last year, Smith Center led 21-14 after the first quarter and 41-14 at halftime. The Redmen rushed for 525 yards and had at least two rushes of 42 yards. The big key will come up front. Smith Center’s hallmark is its offensive line, which has often trumped over opponents. As well, Smith Center will break games open with big runs. Sedgwick’s tackling in the second level will be another area to watch. Sedgwick has put together an impressive season, though Smith Center is the favorite.
Plainville (9-1) at Inman (6-4) – Plainville
Plainville is in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year after state runner-up in ‘16 and semifinals each of the last two falls. Last week, Plainville beat Ell-Saline in a game that had a running clock just a few minutes into the third quarter. Plainville has again had big seasons from its 1-2 combination of senior quarterback Jordan Finnesy and senior running back Jared Casey. Finnesy has thrown for 931 yards with an 11/5 TD/INT ratio. He has rushed for 825 yards and 14 scores. Casey missed some time in midseason with a hand injury and still plays with a big brace. However, he has cleared 1,200 rushing yards. Plainville’s supporting cast of Kyle Werner, Cody Crawford and Ben Hansen has combined for 46 catches and nine scores. Inman has its best postseason finish in 25 years. The Teutons went 0-9 in ’17 and 12-8 in the last two falls. Inman has rushed for 223 yards per game. Kolby Blank has rushed 104 times for 1,153 yards and 13 scores. Connor Brown leads with 104 tackles, and Justin Schroeder has 81 stops. Jace Doerksen has 54 of 96 passing for 680 yards with a 9/7 TD/INT ratio.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
