Class 1A
1A EAST
FIRST-ROUND BYE: D1-#1 Olpe (8-0)
D1-#5 Central Heights (4-4) at D2-#4 Jackson Heights (3-4) – Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights has struggled down the stretch having lost three straight games, albeit to quality competition in No. 1 Olpe, No. 5 Valley Heights, and Jefferson Co. North (6-2). The Cobras will also be without head coach Caleb Wick who is in quarantine. Still the Cobras should have enough to get by Central Heights. The Vikings have been a nice story this season producing a 4-4 record and their most wins in a season since 2013. Tony Detweiler has been their catalyst with nearly 1,000 rushing yards and more than 730 passing yards.
D1-#7 Northeast-Arma (0-5) at D2-#2 Valley Heights (7-1) – Valley Heights
Valley Heights jumped back in the rankings this week after a fourth straight blowout victory. The Mustangs average nearly 51 points per game including a 28-0 shutout loss to Centralia. Three Mustangs have double-digit rushing touchdowns lead by Trenton L’Ecuyer (15), Jake Yungeberg (12), and Cameron Beardsley (10). Valley Height should have little trouble with winless Northeast.
D2-#6 Troy (2-6) at D1-#3 Uniontown (4-4) – Uniontown
This has the potential to be a solid first-round matchup. One of Troy’s two victories came 30-20 over Pleasanton, while Uniontown topped the Blu-jays 14-6 a week earlier. Uniontown has shown improvement under Coach Jonathan Stark. The Eagles are led by senior Drew Perry and sophomore Treden Buckman on the ground. Hunter Schaaf has also been a primary ball carrier. Troy picked up its second victory last week in shutting out Horton, 38-0.
FIRST-ROUND BYE: D2-#1 Centralia (7-1)
D2-#5 Wabaunsee (3-5) at D1-#4 Pleasanton (3-5) – Wabaunsee
Wabaunsee will be the lower see and the road team in this matchup, but the Chargers are probably still the favorite. Quarterback Cade Oliver is a big reason why. The junior has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes for 1,795 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior Tyler Lohmeyer has 713 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while senior Dawson Schultz has 600 yards and eight scores. Pleasanton has won three consecutive games since an 0-5 start, but those opponents are a combined 5-16.
D2-#7 Horton (0-7) at D1-#2 Lyndon (6-2) – Lyndon
Lyndon will host Horton in a game that the Tigers will be heavily favored. Lyndon is led by senior Luke Detwiler who has rushed for 784 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Darian Massey has added 906 passing yards and 16 scores.
D1-#6 Northern Heights (1-7) at D2-#3 Jefferson Co. North (6-2) – Jeff Co. North
Jefferson Co. North enters the playoffs having won three consecutive games over Wabaunsee, Troy and Jackson Heights. The Chargers will be heavily favored against a Northern Heights team that surrenders nearly 50 points per contest. Landon Gutschenritter leads the Charger offense with 910 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
1A WEST
FIRST-ROUND BYE: D3-#1 Smith Center (7-1)
D3-#5 Ell-Saline (3-5) at D4-#4 Elkhart (2-6) – Ell-Saline
Ell-Saline finally stopped the bleeding of a five-game losing streak with last week’s 65-0 shutout of Ellinwood. The Cardinals were certainly challenged during that five-game stretch that included losses to Oakley, Plainville, Sedgwick, Inman, and Smith Center. Now Joe Roche’s group will travel to Elkhart to take on a Wildcat team that has managed just two wins against struggling programs in Sublette and Stanton County. Elkhart has six players with more than 100 yards rushing on the season led by senior Lance Addington’s 743 yards and six touchdowns.
D3-#7 Ellinwood (0-8) at D4-#2 Sedgwick (7-1) – Sedgwick
This could be another of several first-round games that gets out of hand early. Sedgwick will be hungry to rebound from their first loss of the season and their first regular-season loss in several years. Cardinal quarterback Lance Hoffsommer will likely go over 2,000 passing yards for a second-consecutive season. He currently sits at 1,915 yards and 21 touchdowns.
D4-#6 Wichita Independent (1-5) at D3-#3 Oakley (6-2) – Oakley
Oakley has been a nice story this season having posted at least six wins in a season for the first time since 2015. Senior Ethan Abell leads the Plainsmen with 1,340 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Independent has struggled with numbers and staying healthy. The Panthers have only physically played five games and haven’t played since October 9th.
FIRST-ROUND BYE: D4-#1 Conway Springs (7-1)
D4-#5 Sublette (1-4) at D3-#4 Plainville (4-4) – Plainville
Sublette’s lone win of the season came against winless Stanton County. Sophomore Miguel Hernandez leads the team with 593 rushing yards and 541 passing yards with six combined touchdowns. The Larks will have a tall task ahead of them with this trip to Plainville. Plainville sophomore Kyle Werner has rushed for 723 yards and eight touchdowns, while junior quarterback Ethan Hamilton has produced more than 1,000 yards of total offense in his first year as a starter.
D4-#7 Stanton County (0-7) at D3-#2 Inman (6-2) – Inman
Inman trailed Smith Center 15-0 heading into the fourth quarter of last week’s district championship showdown. The Teutons then rallied, but fell short in a 29-22 loss. Still, the Teutons are a team that can make some noise in the playoffs. They should have little trouble with winless Stanton County.
D3-#6 Sacred Heart (2-6) at D4-#3 Whitewater-Remington (3-5) – Remington
Remington will host Sacred Heart with a chance for the Broncos to get their first playoff win since 2005. Remington has averaged nearly 27 points per game this season, while Sacred Heart has struggled to score averaging only 8 points per game. The Knights have been shutout three times this season.
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