Class 1A
1A EAST
D1-#3 Uniontown (6-4) at D1-#1 Olpe (9-0) – Olpe
*** Uniontown announced on Wednesday they were forfeiting the game to Olpe given the COVID-19 situation at UHS.
Uniontown will take on Olpe for the second time this season. The two sets of Eagles were each members of District 1 with Olpe claiming a 48-2 victory back in Week 4.
Olpe has been a consistent contender in small class football for some time under Coach Chris Schmidt. The Eagles won their first state football title in 2014 and since have reached the state semifinal round two more times and finished as the Class 1A runner-up to Smith Center in 2018. Last season, the Eagles fell 22-20 to eventual-champion Centralia in the state quarterfinals. The Eagles reached the state title game in 2018 having – 59-0 loss to Smith Center.
The Eagles have won their nine games by an average margin of more than 47 points a game. The last opponent to light up the scoreboard at all against Olpe was Uniontown back on September 25th. Uniontown registered an early safety in that meeting before Olpe scored the game’s next 48 points. Since then, Olpe has posted five consecutive shutouts.
Olpe quarterback Damon Redeker rushed for a pair of rushing touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the first meeting. Running back Kynden Robert has been a key fixture in the Olpe backfield for the past four seasons. Robert rushed for three touchdowns in the first win over Uniontown.
Last week Olpe defeated Jackson Heights 53-0 after beating the Cobras 35-0 during the regular season. Olpe led only 3-0 after the first quarter, but exploded for 35 points in the second to lead 38-0 by intermission. Jordan Barnard scored four times in the second quarter on a pair of touchdowns receptions from Redeker and two interception returns for touchdowns. Redeker also scored on a 1-yard run before halftime and added another score in the third quarter. Robert also rushed for a touchdown for the Eagles.
Uniontown has enjoyed solid success under Coach Johnathan Stark. Uniontown features a consistent run game with seniors Drew Perry and Hunter Schaaf and sophomore Treden Buckman. Perry leads Uniontown with 1,036 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, while Buckman has added 828 rushing yards and eight scores. In the past two weeks, both playoff wins, Perry has rushed for 340 yards and seven touchdowns and Buckman has added 338 yards and four scores.
D1-#2 Lyndon (8-2) at D2-#1 Centralia (8-1) – Centralia
Lyndon and defending-champion Centralia will meet for a second time this season with the winner advancing to the state semifinals.
The Tigers and Panthers met back in Week 7 in a non-district game with Centralia pulling away in the second half for a 48-17 victory. Centralia led 22-17 at halftime before outscoring the Tigers 26-0 in the second half. Devon Feldkamp rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while Ian Haverkamp and Raef Osterhaus each added a pair of touchdowns.
Feldkamp has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, while Haverkamp has added 997 yards and 17 scores. Both backs benefit from a talented offensive line that as a unit makes Centralia a strong contender to repeat a state champions this fall. Last week that line paved the way for more than 350 rush yards as the Panthers defeated Wabaunsee for the second time in three weeks.
Lyndon’s only two losses this season have come to top-ranked Olpe and No. 2 Centralia. The Tigers also have a solid 22-15 victory over Class 2A quarterfinalist Osage City.
Lyndon averages nearly 44 points per game behind an offense led by junior quarterback Darian Massey. Massey has passed for 1,004 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and added three rushing scores. Senior Luke Detwiler leads the Lyndon ground game with 784 yards and 12 scores. Detwiler also has 216 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Five different Tigers have at least 100 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns on the season.
The Lyndon defense is led by senior Dustin Tobler who has a team-high 91 tackles. Defensive end Miles Kitselman (6-5, 240) has registered 69 tackles, including nine for loss and six sacks. Kitselman announced his commitment to Emporia State this week.
Detwiler is a talented all-around player that has also intercepted four passes and tallied three kick/punt return touchdowns this fall. One of those came against Centralia in the first meeting.
Look for Centralia’s line and playoff experience to be the difference in this rematch.
1A WEST
D3-#3 Oakley (8-2) at D3-#1 Smith Center (8-1) – Smith Center
The Mid-Continent League foes match up for the second time this year. Smith Center won 42-14 in Week 5 in a district and league contest. Smith Center advanced to the semifinals in ’15-16, won titles in ’17 and ’18 and finished as state runner-up last fall. The Redmen have won eight straight games since a season-opening loss to Norton.
Oakley has delivered a huge turnaround with coach Jeff Hennick. The Plainsmen had won eight total games in the last four years. Oakley won, 27-24, at Sedgwick last Friday. Senior Ethan Abell is among the state’s leading rushers with 192 carries for 1,619 yards and 23 touchdowns. Senior Eric Cain has started for three seasons and has thrown for 608 yards.
Oakley, though, has delivered a sterling defensive effort with 37 TFLs and 16 forced turnovers. The Plainsmen are plus-10 in turnover margin. Senior Jonathan Temaat leads with 59 tackles. Last year, Oakley had only 20 TFLs, forced just seven turnovers and was minus-4 in turnover margin.
Oakley has allowed just 14.7 points per game, and Smith Center has 10.6 points permitted a contest. Last year, Oakley allowed 29.6 points per game, while Smith Center was No. 3 in 1A with 9.7 points allowed a game.
Oakley actually has delivered more yards per play than Smith Center: 6.8 to 6.2. However, in the first matchup, Smith Center outrushed Oakley, 259-99. Abell rushed for 89 yards. Smith Center has its balanced offense with sophomore running back Jake Sasse, seniors Nate Hendrich and Chase Maxwell, and senior receiver Griffin Kugler – the school’s single season and all-time leader in receiving scores. Sasse leads with 152 carries for 811 yards, and Kuhler has a team-high 824 all-purpose yards. Sophomore Bentley Montgomery and Sasse lead with 70 and 67 tackles, respectively.
Oakley and Smith Center met up twice in ’18 and ’15. Smith Center also beat Oakley in the ’05, ’07 and ’09 playoffs in the semifinals, quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. Since ’03, Smith Center is 13-0 against Oakley, according to the Kansas Football History database.
D3-#2 Inman (8-2) at D4-#1 Conway Springs (8-1) – Conway Springs
Fourth-ranked Conway Springs is the favorite against No. 5 Inman but this should be a very close game. Inman has back-to-back quarterfinal showings. Before then, Inman had not reached the quarterfinals in 25 years. Inman has its most wins since the early ‘90s. A win moves Conway Springs into its first semifinal since a title in ’11.
Last week, Conway Springs held off Plainville, 14-7, with a touchdown inside the final minute. Inman had beaten Plainville, 35-7, at home earlier in the year. Conway Springs, long known for its rushing offense, has back-to-back one-score games after a 41-35 district-clinching win versus Sedgwick in Week 8.
Conway Springs did not have a passing yard in either victory. Conway Springs outgained Sedgwick, 531-395, behind 295 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Jonathan Wright. Overall, he has 858 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores – both team-highs. Senior Heath Hilger has 729 rushing yards and 10 TDs. He has passed for 565 yards with a 10/2 TD/INT ratio.
The Plainville game featured four turnovers, two by each side. Conway Springs, which never trailed, had a three-yard game-winning run by Cole Schulte. Conway Springs outgained Plainville, 324-237. Overall, Conway Springs has rushed for 302 yards a game and has 9.1 yards per play. Conway Springs has just eight turnovers and is +12 in turnover margin. Inman has 7.8 yards per play with a more balanced attack – 201 rushing and 151 rushing yards a game. The Teutons are +four in turnover margin.
Even on key spots, the teams are very similar. Conway Springs has converted 46 percent of third downs, Inman 49. Both teams have converted 50 percent of fourth downs. Inman’s defense has allowed 31 percent success on third down, 33 percent on fourth down. Conway Springs’ defense is at 31 percent on third down and 42 percent (11 of 26) on fourth.
Inman’s Jace Doerksen has set the school’s single season passing record with 84 of 125 passing for 1,457 yards with 18 scores against three interceptions. Inman has allowed just four sacks. Kendyn Blank has 67 carries for 537 yards and eight TDs. Kyler Konrade has a team-high 110 tackles.
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