Class 6A
6A East
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #1 Olathe North (7-1)
#8 Olathe Northwest 42, #9 Shawnee Mission West 0 – The Ravens evened their record at 3-3 with a 42-0 blanking of Shawnee Mission West on Thursday night. Olathe Northwest scored 21 points in the first quarter to take control. The Ravens defeated the Vikings 48-6 earlier this season.
#4 Blue Valley Northwest 42, #13 Shawnee Mission East 14 – The Huskies won their first playoff game since 2009 with a 42-14 win over Shawnee Mission East. Blue Valley Northwest led 21-0 at halftime and scored three more times in the third quarter to pull away. Grant Stubblefield started the scoring with this fifth rushing touchdown of the season. Northwest quarterback Mikey Pauley added a pair of touchdown passes to push his season total to 15.
#4 Blue Valley 38, #12 Blue Valley West 7 – Blue Valley built a 31-0 halftime lead in cruising past the Jaguars for the second time this season. Michael Soloman rushed for a team-high 146 yards and two touchdowns – 1 yard more than quarterback Greyson Holbert who contributed 145 rushing yards and two scores. Blue Valley advances to take on Blue Valley Northwest in a rematch of the two team’s season-opener back in Week 3. Northwest won that earlier meeting, 24-7.
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #2 Shawnee Mission Northwest (5-1)
#7 Olathe West 21, #10 Olathe South 11 – Anthony Favrow rushed for all three touchdowns as the Owls topped Olathe South, 21-11. Favrow entered Thursday’s game with 865 yards and eight touchdowns, but added three more to push his season total to 11 scores. Olathe West led 21-3 until the Falcons scored in the final 2:30 to pull within 10 points.
#14 Shawnee Mission South (0-6) at #3 Olathe East (5-1) – Olathe East
Olathe East has put together a strong season under first-year coach Courtney Porter. The Hawks won their first four games before losing to 5A power Mill Valley, 34-10. Olathe East rebounded with a 14-10 win over Olathe South last week. The Hawks have a talented back in Ma’rrell Fountain and have balance with Austin Berggren at quarterback. Shawnee Mission South has dropped three of its six losses by ten points or less – including a pair of 1-point losses to Shawnee Mission West and Lincoln Prep (Mo.).
#11 Shawnee Mission North (1-4) at #6 Blue Valley North (3-2) – Blue Valley North
Shawnee Mission North’s lone victory came in the Indians’ season-opener against KC Turner, 48-0. Since then, SM North has scored 20 total points and been shut out twice. Meanwhile, Blue Valley North has alternated wins and losses during 2020. The Mustangs have defeated Blue Valley Southwest twice – 42-21 in the opener and 19-7 last week.
6A – WEST
#16 Wichita North (0-6) at #1 Lawrence (7-0) – Lawrence
Lawrence, the No. 1 ranked team in 6A the majority of the year, features Devin Neal, the state’s top recruit and is heavily favored. The Lions are second in offense with 297 points in 6A.
#9 Dodge City (3-5) at #8 Topeka High (2-3) – Dodge City
Topeka had its first three games cancelled. The Trojans had huge graduation losses after their state semifinal showing last fall. Dodge City also graduated a big group after a 9-1 season. The Red Demons have been outscored by an average of two points a game. Its offense has tallied 257 points and the defense has permitted 268 yards per game, both second-best in the WAC entering Week 9. Alden Knedler, with multiple collegiate offers, took over at quarterback and has passed for 685 yards and six touchdowns versus four interceptions.
#13 Wichita Southeast (1-5) at #4 Derby (4-2) – Derby
Derby has reached straight five state titles and won the last two 6A titles. The Panthers will be heavily favored. This will be Derby’s second home game after its first one last week. QB Lem Wash announced his commitment to Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
#12 Wichita South (2-4) at #5 Gardner-Edgerton (4-2) – Gardner-Edgerton
Gardner-Edgerton owns a victory versus Mill Valley, ranked No. 2 in 5A, although Mill Valley played without standout starting quarterback Cooper Marsh. Austin Weiner, listed by 6-foot-7, 242 pounds, has committed to Kansas State. Coach Ryan Cornelsen has posted a winning season in all 18 years as a head coach, the last three with the Trailblazers.
#15 Lawrence Free State (0-5) at #2 Junction City (6-1) – Junction City
Junction City paces 6A with 311 points. Andrew Khoury is fifth in Kansas with 1,912 passing yards. Marcello Bussey and Russell Wilkey have 880 and 774 receiving yards, respectively. Free State has taken a highly rare down season and dealt with COVID-19 issues. Free State was 10-1, 10-1, 8-2 the last three years. Free State has not posted a losing record since a 4-6 mark in ’05. As well, former Firebird running back Tyler Bowden transferred to Tonganoxie just before the season started and has cleared 2,000 rushing yards.
#10 Washburn Rural (3-5) at #7 Wichita West (3-3) – Washburn Rural
Rural had 15 total points in the first two weeks at Lawrence and Topeka Seaman, teams a combined 14-1. Since then, the Junior Blues have averaged 28.5 points a contest. Wichita West has played just a City League only schedule and lost 17-7 to Wichita Heights and 22-8 to East.
#14 Haysville-Campus (1-5) at #3 Wichita East (5-1) – Wichita East
A contest that will likely be much closer than a normal 3/14 game. East, with its bevy of Division I prospects including wide receiver Dalyn Jones, played a City League-only schedule. East went 2-1 in games decided by 15 points or fewer. Standout freshman quarterback Daeonte Mitchell was hurt two weeks against Wichita Northwest. Campus has had two games cancelled, and its only win was at Salina Central, 37-32, in Week 1. Last year, Campus led undefeated Dodge City at halftime in a Week 9 game.
#11 Garden City (3-5) at #6 Manhattan (5-3) – Manhattan
This is a rematch from the season opener won by Manhattan, 21-7. Garden City averages 115 passing and 120 passing yards a contest, and has tallied 137 points. Josh Janas leads the conference with 706 rushing yards, and Caleb Wiese leads the conference with 766 passing yards. Manhattan is third with 271 points and has taken the most losses since ’15.
Class 5A
5A – East
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #1 Topeka Seaman (7-1)
#9 Blue Valley Southwest (1-4) at #8 Emporia (2-6) – Blue Valley Southwest
Blue Valley Southwest has dropped a pair of games to Blue Valley North in addition to their losses to Blue Valley Northwest (5-1) and Blue Valley (5-1). The Timberwolves can be dangerous because they are capable of putting up big numbers through the air with senior quarterback Tanner Curry. Curry has passed for 1,158 yards and nine touchdowns after throwing for nearly 1,900 yards last season. For his career, Curry has passed for more than 3,600 yards and 32 scores. Tristen Everard is one of the top receivers in the EKL and has 37 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Emporia enters having dropped four straight games and having dismissed coach Corby Milleson due to allegations of abusive conduct.
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #4 St. Thomas Aquinas (4-3)
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #5 Pittsburg (4-4)
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #2 De Soto (7-1)
#10 Topeka West (1-4) at #7 Leavenworth (3-3) – Leavenworth
After having the first three weeks cancelled, Topeka West returned to the field with a pair of lopsided losses to Topeka Seaman and Junction City. The Chargers then scored late to cap a furious comeback in a 59-58 win over Highland Park. Topeka West may have their hands full with a Leavenworth team that pushed 2-seed De Soto in a 35-28 loss just two weeks ago.
FIRST-ROUND BYE: #3 Mill Valley (5-2)
#11 Shawnee Heights (1-5) at #6 Spring Hill (3-3) – Spring Hill
Spring Hill will look to capture a first-round playoff win for a second consecutive season. The Broncos will get Shawnee Heights at home on Friday. The Thunderbirds have struggled with just a 29-22 overtime win over Bonner Springs on their resume. Meanwhile, Spring Hill defeated Bonner Springs 41-0 back in Week 4.
5A – West
#16 Salina Central (1-7) at #1 Wichita Northwest (6-0) – Wichita Northwest
Northwest, the City League champions and back-to-back 5A state runner-up, is heavily favored. On defense, Zac Daher has committed to Army West Point, and defensive back Wetu Kalomo has committed to Northern Illinois. Northwest leads 5A in offense and defense with a 354-30 margin.
#8 Wichita Heights 28, #9 Andover 22 – Wichita Heights rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to top Andover, 28-22. The Falcons scored three straight touchdowns in the second half to take a 21-14 lead. Andover regained the lead in the fourth quarter on a short touchdown run by Ashton Ngo. But the Falcons immediately answered as John Randle returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for what would be the game-winning score.
#13 Salina South (2-5) at #4 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (6-1) – Kapaun
KMC has enjoyed a big turnaround from 2-7 to 6-1 with new coach Weston Schartz. He has coached for several decades in the City League, most recently against Wichita West. The Crusaders were the No. 16 seed just last year. The Crusaders’ balanced effort has yielded 239 rushing yards a game. Senior Doug Bates has played on both sides and leads with eight rushing touchdowns.
#12 Goddard-Eisenhower (3-5) at #5 Goddard (6-2) – Goddard
The Goddard School District rivalry matches up for the second time this season. In Week 5, Goddard beat Eisenhower, 31-10. Goddard has lost to Andover Central and Andover Central, only by a combined 15 points. Goddard’s Kyler Semrad is second in Kansas with 2,253 passing yards, and Jake Shope leads with 1,095 receiving yards.
#15 Newton (2-6) at #2 Hutchinson (7-1) – Hutchinson
In Week 4, Hutchinson beat Newton, 54-42, at home in an AVCTL Division I matchup. This has the potential to be much closer than a normal 2/15 game. No. 5-ranked Hutchinson went 2-7 each of the last two years. The Salthawks have won games by eight, one, one, 12, 14 and four points and has a seven-point loss. Newton is 1-4 in games decided by 12 points or fewer. Newton quarterback Ben Schmidt leads Kansas with 2,287 yards. Hutchinson running back Alec McCuan is fifth with 1,436 rushing yards. The Salthawks won the conference.
#7 Bishop Carroll 1, #10 Valley Center 0 – Bishop Carroll has advanced via forfeit given the COVID situation at Valley Center.
#14 Liberal (2-5) at #3 Maize (7-1) – Maize
Second consecutive season these two schools meet in the first round. Maize won last year’s meeting, 49-14. Maize will be heavily favored against a Liberal team that had to forfeit a game this year. Maize took its first loss, 32-28, to Hutchinson in the final seconds last week. The Eagles have also won games by 14, seven, four and one point. Sanders has 152 carries for 1,208 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has also returned three kicks for scores. Quarterback Avery Johnson completed 90 of 156 passes for 1,234 yards with nine touchdowns against one interception.
#11 Maize South 33, #6 Hays 12 – Maize South won 33-12 on Thursday night at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. The Mavericks led by 30 mid-way through the third quarter, and did not allow Hays to cross midfield until the second half. Maize South beat the Indians, 21-20, two weeks ago. Maize South improved to 5-3, and Hays finished 5-3 after a 5-0 start and Western Athletic Conference title.
Class 4A
4A East
#1 Paola 1, #16 Ottawa 0 – Paola has advanced via forfeit given the COVID situation at Ottawa.
#9 St. James Academy (3-4) at #8 Louisburg (4-4) – St. James Academy
Both teams enter the playoffs fresh off a loss. The St. James Academy Thunder fell 38-28 at Blue Valley and the Louisburg Wildcats were defeated 49-7 by top-ranked Paola. St. James relies on its passing game with senior Dakota Burritt at quarterback. Burritt has completed 110 of 193 passes for 1,583 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions through seven games. Junior Tyler Claiborne has been his top target with 48 catches for 595 yards. KC Piper transfer La’James White gives the Thunder balance as he’s rushed for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Louisburg is a run-first team, gaining 201 of its 212 total yards on the ground during the loss to Paola.
#13 Atchison (2-6) at #4 Basehor-Linwood (5-3) – Basehor-Linwood
Atchison and Basehor-Linwood will meet for the second time this month with the Bobcats winning the first matchup 42-26 on Oct. 9. In that game, Atchison held a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and trailed only 22-20 at halftime. But the Bobcats pulled away by outscoring the Redmen 20-0 in the third quarter. Basehor-Linwood quarterback Isaac Stanton passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Atchison’s Xavier Cushinberry and Jesse Greenly each posted 100 yards rushing in the loss.
#5 KC Piper (5-3) at #12 Eudora (2-6) – KC Piper
The KC Piper Pirates enter on a two-game winning streak and the Eudora Cardinals open the playoffs coming off a two-game losing skid. The Pirates beat Bonner Springs 60-7 last week and Spring Hill 14-7 two weeks ago. After beating Ottawa 29-3 on Oct. 9, the Cardinals followed with a 31-26 loss to top-ranked Paola and a 20-16 loss at Spring Hill. Junior Brayden Beerbower leads the Eudora offense with 843 rushing yards and seven TDs on the season. Piper will travel to Eudora despite being the higher seed due to the restrictions placed on competition in Wyandotte County. The Pirates have played on the road each game this season.
#15 Bonner Springs (1-5) at #2 Fort Scott (6-0) – Fort Scott
The Fort Scott Tigers have an undefeated record, but it hasn’t been easy. The Tigers have won four games by six points or fewer. The Bonner Springs Braves, meanwhile, are coming off a 60-7 loss to KC Piper after ending a five-game winning streak by beating Ottawa on Oct. 2. Quarterback Malachi Vann has led the Tigers attack, helping the team bounce back from last year’s 1-8 record. Bonner Springs junior quarterback Jayce Smith has passed for 526 yards and rushed for 357.
#10 Bishop Miege (2-4) at #7 Chanute (3-3) – Bishop Miege
It would be difficult to find a better team with a 2-4 record than the Bishop Miege Stags. Despite the losing record, the Stags remain ranked third in the state and have won a state championship in each of the past six seasons. All of Miege’s losses have come to bigger schools (St. Thomas Aquinas 41-35, Rockhurst, Mo. 49-28, Bishop Carroll 56-35, and Shawnee Mission Northwest 27-24). Miege quarterback Timothy Dorsey completed 16 of 26 passes for 237 yards during last week’s loss to Shawnee Mission Northwest. Chanute is coming off a 14-6 win over Labette County.
#14 Labette County (2-6) at #3 Tonganoxie (7-1) – Tonganoxie
The No. 2 ranked Tonganoxie Chieftains boast one of the best running backs in the state with senior Tyler Bowden. He has rushed for 2,020 yards and 29 touchdowns on 236 carries, helping Tonganoxie to five straight wins. The Chieftains’ only loss this season came 35-28 to current No. 1 ranked Paola. Tonganoxie senior quarterback Blake Poje has added 1,160 yards passing. Labette County has won two of its past three games after opening the season with five straight losses.
#11 Coffeyville (2-5) at #6 Lansing (4-3) – Lansing
This first-round matchup will feature two of the state’s top recruits for 2021. Coffeyville’s Darell Jones has already committed to K-State and is listed as the No. 4 recruit in Kansas by 247Sports. Lansing’s Malik Benson is ranked No. 13 in the state. Through seven games, Jones has 42 tackles with two interceptions and one sack. He’s also caught 12 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Benson has 23 catches for 588 yards and nine TDs.
4A East
#1 McPherson 78, #16 Abilene 14 – McPherson scored 36 points in the first quarter in rolling to a 78-14 win over Abilene. The Bullpup lead grew to 70-0 at halftime. Sky Schriner rushed for three touchdowns and Jaytin Gumm added two more for McPherson. Freshman Jayce Schriner also added three scores.
#9 Ulysses (3-5) at #8 Augusta (3-5) – Augusta
Despite losing last week, the Augusta Orioles could enter this week’s matchup with a little momentum. Augusta trailed 4A’s fourth-ranked McPherson only 12-7 after three quarters before falling 32-14. Augusta quarterback Jett Hand passed for two touchdowns in the loss. Ulysses enters the playoffs fresh off two straight losses to a pair of 6A schools in Garden City and Dodge City.
#13 Mulvane (1-6) at #4 Rose Hill (5-3) – Rose Hill
It’s been quite a turnaround for coach Lee Weber’s Rose Hill Rockets. After opening the season with three straight losses, the Rockets have won their past five games and earned their first winning record since 2011. Rose Hill has already beat Mulvane once this season, winning 46-6 on Oct. 9. Rockets senior lineman Noah Bolticoff (6-5, 265) is listed as the No. 2 recruit in the state by 247Sports and has committed to play at TCU.
#12 Towanda-Circle (1-5) at #5 Buhler (4-3) – Buhler
The Buhler Crusaders and the Towanda-Circle Thunderbirds will meet for the second straight week. In the first meeting, the Crusaders cruised to a 42-6 victory. Buhler’s Sam Elliott ran for 214 yards and scored six touchdowns in the win. It was Elliott’s second six-TD game of the season, which matches a school record.
#15 Great Bend (0-6) at #2 Andover Central (6-1) – Andover Central
The Andover Central Jaguars possess a balanced offense as it averages 182.9 yards rushing and 175.7 yards passing. Senior quarterback Chase White has passed for 1,230 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Ashton Bardull and senior Jacob Rees lead the rushing attack with 610 and 595 yards, respectively. Great Bend is on a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Panthers have been held to 14 points or fewer in every game this year.
#10 Arkansas City (2-6) at #7 Wellington (3-5) – Ark City
After starting the season 0-3, the Wellington Crusaders have won three of their past five games. That includes a 27-13 win over fifth-seeded Buhler on Oct. 16. Wellington rallied to score three touchdowns in the game’s final eight minutes to earn that win. Wellington’s Dustyn Schettler ran for 147 yards in the win. Sophomore quarterback Gabe Welch leads the Arkansas City offense with about 1,600 yards passing.
#14 Winfield (1-7) at #3 El Dorado (4-2) – El Dorado
The El Dorado Wildcats will attempt to beat the Vikings for the second week in a row after winning 32-14 at Winfield. The Wildcats led only 8-7 after three quarters but outscored Winfield 24-7 in the fourth. El Dorado senior running back Zach Wittenberg led the way with 278 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries. Winfield enters on a six-game losing streak.
#11 Independence (1-3) at #6 Wamego (4-4) -- Wamego
The Wamego Red Raiders and the Independence Bulldogs have one like opponent this season in the undefeated Fort Scott Tigers. Fort Scott defeated Wamego 22-18 on Oct. 16, and the Tigers topped Independence 49-6 back in Week 2. The Bulldogs’ season has never really had a chance to get on track. After finishing the first two weeks with a 1-1 record, Independence has played only two games over the past six weeks.
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