Andale vs. Perry-Lecompton (Saturday 1:00) - WATCH HERE
Last season, Andale and Perry-Lecompton met in the Class 3A state title game. Andale won 35-7. This year, Andale and Perry-Lecompton will play again for the championship. It’s just the fourth time in state annals Class 3A has had the same squads in back-to-back titles – and first since Silver Lake and Conway Springs in ’10-11, according to KSHSAA archives.
Andale, ranked No. 1 all season, is 13-0. Perry-Lecompton, No. 2 in the preseason, has set a school record for victories at 11-1. Start time is 1 p.m. from Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
Andale is 4-1 all-time in state games with titles in ’06, ’07, ’14 and ’19. All four are undefeated seasons. Perry-Lecompton is 0-2 all-time in state games. The Kaws went 10-4 and finished runner-up in ’08. Perry-Lecompton produced a 10-1 record in ’80 for the program’s two double-digit winning seasons. The Kaws finished 9-4 last fall.
However, Andale and the Kaws have taken very different paths compared to 2019. Andale has little difference. The Indians have its metronomically consistent, depth-laden unit that has rolled over its schedule. In ’19, Andale had an average score of 51-7. This year, the Indians, paced by its backfield of Eli Rowland and Noah Meyer and standout lineman Cayden Winter, have an average score of 54-7.
Perry-Lecompton graduated just four seniors and had an extremely experienced group. Last year, the Kaws averaged 31 points a game and permitted 18. This fall, Perry-Lecompton is at 40 points a contest and 9.5 points allowed.
In one of the season’s top stories, returning first team all-state quarterback Billy Welch went down with a season-ending injury and played in just three games. He threw for 27 scores as a junior and six touchdowns this season. However, running back Thad Metcalfe has moved to quarterback. Perry-Lecompton has passed on 29.8 percent of snaps, compared to 40.6 percent last fall.
Metcalfe has completed 79 of 123 passes for 1,251 yards with 11 scores against five interceptions. He has 194 carries for 1,213 yards and 24 TDs. Junior Reichen Rush has emerged with 103 rushes for 933 yards and 11 scores. Defensively, seniors Ryley Besler and Hayden Robb pace with 135 and 125 tackles. Robb has joined the rare 500 career tackle club.
“Thad has done an outstanding job of making the switch to QB,” Perry-Lecompton coach Mike Paramore said. “There is no doubt losing William was a blow to our team, but it has made our guys value the importance of playing this game and that it could be taken away from them at any time.
“Football is a great team game and when there is a need, guys need to step in and fill that role and our team has a bunch of unselfish guys that are willing to do what is best for the team and they have circled the wagons and done a great job of staying focused on their goals,” he added.
The Kaws placed a rare third in their district this year. Topeka Hayden and Baldwin both went undefeated in district play. Because of COVID-19 issues, Baldwin was just 2-0 in district play, Hayden 3-0. Perry-Lecompton was 3-1 with a loss to Hayden. Baldwin avoided Hayden and the Kaws and took second in districts.
In districts, Hayden defeated Perry-Lecompton, 10-0. However, the Kaws beat Hayden, 20-7, in a Round of 16 matchup. Last year, Perry-Lecompton defeated Hayden in the state semifinals.
“I have been extremely proud of how our guys have responded by making sure they are following health protocols and doing everything they can to keep it from having an impact on our team,” Paramore said. “I appreciate how they are establishing a "new normal" and keeping in mind the end goal is to continue to play the game they love.”
Andale also had to deal with losing an opponent to COVID related concerns. Wichita Trinity cancelled their week six contest versus the Indians due to virus concerns. Andale elected not to schedule a game in its place, however.
Even with the cancellation, Andale has been stellar. The Indians have a state-best 24 straight victories. Andale’s closest game was a 40-21 district win versus Clearwater. Then, the Indians defeated Clearwater, 53-0, in the playoffs. Andale has three straight shutouts and has a collective playoff margin of 218-7.
Rowland and Meyer have been exceptional throughout the playoffs. Rowland has 656 yards and 15 scores, while Meyer has 517 yards with eight touchdowns.
Last year, Andale started off with a score on the first play of the game with a 72-yard run from Eli Rowland, and Andale led 14-0 at halftime. Andale added 21 points in the second half to seal the victory for Andale’s fourth state title.
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