Each Thursday throughout the regular season, The Pick List will feature a few of the best match-ups across the state, and make our predictions on a handful of other games.
Feature Games of the Week:
6A No. 3 Blue Valley North (3-1) at 6A No. 4 Blue Valley (3-1)
Third-ranked Blue Valley North will visit No. 4 Blue Valley in a huge showdown in the Eastern Kansas League with major implications on the eastern half of Class 6A. The Mustangs and the Tigers are both among seven teams tied with a 3-1 mark in the eastern half of 6A.
Blue Valley enters this contest having won three consecutive games since a season-opening 35-21 loss to Blue Valley Northwest. The Tigers handled St. James Academy (42-13), Lee’s Summit (Mo.) (67-36), and last week won in overtime at St. Thomas Aquinas, 36-35.
The game with Aquinas was close throughout and went into overtime knotted at 28 after Blue Valley missed a 47-yard field goal on the final play of regulation. In overtime, Aquinas got the ball first in overtime and scored on a touchdown pass to led 35-28. The Tigers answered in one play as quarterback Greyson Holbert connected with Gatlin Samuel on a 10-yards touchdown pass.
The Tigers elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win and Holbert took the snap, dropped back under pressure to the 15-yard line, stepped up and escaped to his right to the end zone to give the Tigers the dramatic one-point win.
Holbert has played well at quarterback after being thrust into a starting role when the incumbent transferred prior to the 2020 season. He responded by producing more than 1,650 yards of total offense and 18 total touchdowns last season. This fall, Holbert has passed for 594 yards and seven touchdowns and continued to make plays with his feet as he did on the final play last week. Holbert has rushed for a team high 445 yards and six touchdowns.
The Tigers average 256 yards per game on the ground with senior Michael Solomon complimenting Holbert with 377 yards and eight scores.
Holbert has capable receiving targets as well headline by Sterling Lockett, although junior Andre Davis has emerged this season with a team high 14 receptions for 279 yards and a score. Lockett has 160 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
The Tigers have surrendered nearly 30 points per game this season against good competition. Michael Allen and Clayton Kavlick lead the Blue Valley defense with 49 and 40 tackles, respectively. The Tiger secondary has been tested and has intercepted five passes in four games.
Blue Valley North on the other hand is coming off its first loss of the season – a 28-27 overtime decision to unbeaten Lee’s Summit North (Mo.). The Mustangs and Broncos went into overtime tied at 21 and Lee’s Summit North scored first to lead 28-21.
Blue Valley North scored on a touchdown pass from quarterback Henry Martin to Mekhi Miller. Like Blue Valley, Blue Valley North first-year head coach Adam Pummill elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win, but Martin’s pass in the end zone sailed just out of reach of his intended receiver.
Martin has continued his brilliant career and is approaching multiple state passing records. His 287 yards and three touchdowns against Lee’s Summit North pushed his season total to 1,442 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in just four games.
The Mustangs features a complete receiving group with Mekhi Miller (381 yards), Jaxon Goldberg (370 yards), Cole Stratton (322 yards) and Lucas Bullock (266 yards) out of the backfield.
Blue Valley North has been extremely explosive on offense in scoring 40 points per game. For the Mustangs to win at Blue Valley, they’ll have to be equally explosive and efficient with their scoring opportunities.
For Blue Valley to be successful, they’ll have to slow down Martin, potentially force some turnovers, and try and control the game on the ground and keep Martin on the sidelines.
Our Pick: Blue Valley North 35, Blue Valley 28 (Gilmore)
De Soto (2-1) at Spring Hill (4-0)
The Spring Hill Broncos take an unblemished record into the fifth week of the season, but they will likely be facing their toughest challenge of the season thus far.
Spring Hill’s first four opponents were all Class 4A schools, and they have a combined record of 5-9.
The De Soto Wildcats, who enter with a 2-1 record, will be Spring Hill’s first 5A opponent of the year.
In addition, Spring Hill will be vying for its first win over De Soto since the Broncos earned a 37-36 overtime victory in 2014.
The Broncos’ offense is balanced with 772 yards on the ground and 647 through the air. Senior quarterback Fletcher Pankey has completed 65% of his passes for 633 yards with 11 touchdowns and only one interception.
Junior Draven Papkin leads the running game with 316 yards and five TDs on 55 carries.
De Soto’s only loss came 34-20 to Blue Valley Southwest in Week 2. The Wildcats also have lopsided wins over KC Turner, and Lansing. Their Week 3 game scheduled at Basehor-Linwood was canceled.
In last week’s 41-14 win over Lansing, De Soto quarterback Tyler Schultze ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns while passing for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Ethan Schultze was a threat as a rusher and a receiver, running for 80 yards and a TD, while catching six passes for 102 yards and another score.
Our Pick: De Soto 30, Spring Hill 28 (Schremmer)
3A No. 3 Cheney (4-0) at Pratt (4-0)
This is one of the most anticipated regular season games thus far in 2021. Cheney is ranked third in Class 3A behind Andale and Wichita Collegiate. Pratt is among the state’s top breakout stories and offenses with its new single wing look.
Cheney is 13-1 since the start of 2020 with no regular season losses. Cheney has outscored teams, 183-28. The Cardinals have possibly 3A’s best quarterback – and one of the best in Kansas – with Harrison Voth, a three-sport all-conference player. Last year, Voth rushed for 665 yards and passed for 2,376 yards with 36 touchdowns. Luke Grace is again the top receiver after 58 catches, 14 for scores in ’20.
This year, Voth has passed for 975 yards, sixth-best in Kansas. Luke Grace has 322 receiving yards and Dayton Higgs has 282 receiving yards. Jack Voth has 230 receiving yards.
Pratt is run-heavy behind sophomore Max Younie and senior Enoch Walton, a powerlifting state champion last spring with NAIA offers from Bethel and Tabor. Younie has rushed for 31 times for 415 yards and eight touchdowns. Walton has 40 carries for 308 yards and six scores.
Pratt has an experienced line, including senior Trevor Stimatze, who is back from injury. Other key linemen include 6-3 senior tight end Grant Younie, senior Hunter Teasley, senior Liam Primrose, and sophomore Brock Bourgeios at inside tackle. Junior Drake Van Scoyoc, who was an all-league player last year, is at outside tackle. Van Scoyoc put on 30 to 35 pounds this offseason.
Pratt has outscored opponents, 225-74.
Both teams especially had a quality Week 1 victory. The Greenbacks beat Hoisington, 68-18, at home. Hoisington has won three straight games since. Pratt’s win is still Hoisington’s only regular season loss since Week 7 of the ’18 season.
On a rainy, weather-delayed game, Cheney came back to beat Kingman, 34-14, in Week 1. In Week 3, Cheney defeated Garden Plain, 34-7, at home. Kingman and Garden Plain are 6-0 when not playing Cheney.
The Cardinals contained Garden Plain’s run heavy offense. Garden Plain rushed 34 times for 104 yards (3.1 yards per carry). The Owls were 4 of 10 passing for 99 yards, though one play went for 68 yards.
This game could go either way. Cheney won this contest, 42-0, last year. Pratt had 90 rushing yards and finished with 47 plays for 154 yards. This year it should be much closer. A big key is Pratt’s defensive backs on the edge against Cheney’s wide receivers and Voth’s pinpoint passing.
Our Pick: Cheney 34, Pratt 28 (Nicholl)
8M-I No. 1 Canton-Galva (4-0) at 8M-I No. 3 Little River (4-0)
Both teams have been ranked No. 1 in Eight-Man, Division I, which is likely Kansas’ deepest classification. Like last season, this should decide Eight-Man, Division I, District 4 and could be the first of two meetings between the two schools.
Last season, Little River lost 56-38 at Canton-Galva in Week 5 and dropped to 3-2. Despite the loss, Little River ran 22 more plays and outgained Canton-Galva by 56 yards.
Since then, Little River has not lost. The Redskins won eight straight games and captured the Division I state title and then collected four straight wins to start this year.
Canton-Galva is 27-1 since the start of the 2019 season, including the ’19 state title. Canton-Galva is 4-0 this year, though has an injury-plagued start.
The Eagles’ last regular season loss came against Little River in the 2018 opener. The Redskins have arguably eight-man’s best offensive line with seniors Kaden Shafer, Carter Holloway and Kyle Bruce. Shafer has started at center.
The Redskins have used multiple quarterbacks and relied heavily on the running game. Little River, which expects to pass more as the season progresses, has ran on 79 percent of plays. Junior Braxton Lafferty has 40 carries for 386 yards with five scores. Junior Braden Young has 22 carries for 231 yards with five TDs.
Junior Rylan Konen has 33 carries for 303 yards and seven scores for coach Kevin Ayers (182-43 in his career, 24-4 with Little River). Ayers is the only eight-man coach in state history to win state titles at three different schools.
Canton-Galva won its first three games, all by at least 48 points. The Eagles permitted a combined 14 points in the first three games. Last week, they beat Bennington, 60-42, on the road. Junior quarterback Garrett Maltbie, a second-year starter, has been out with injury and is week-to-week.
Last year, Maltbie passed for 149 yards and three scores versus Little River. Jayden Ediger has stepped in the last two weeks and passed for 446 yards with eight touchdowns against one interception.
Senior Tyson Struber, a Kansas State commit, moves closer to various state career eight-man records. Struber has tallied 18 offensive TDs this year. He fills multiple roles, including rushing, receiving and returner, along with multiple defensive positions. Ayers calls Struber one of the top three to four players he has ever seen in the WR/DB/LB role.
Canton-Galva had six starters out last Friday and has multiple linemen banged up.
Much of Friday’s game hinges on the Eagles’ health, especially up front, and Little River’s ability to contain Struber. This one could tilt either way, but Little River has slight edges with overall health, line play and running game.
Our Pick: Little River 42, Canton-Galva 36 (Nicholl)
The Pick List:
Blue Valley Southwest (2-2) at 6A No. 2 Blue Valley Northwest (4-0) – BVNW
6A No. 1 Derby (3-0) at Hutchinson (2-2) – Derby
Lawrence (3-1) at Shawnee Mission Northwest (2-2) – Lawrence
5A No. 1 Mill Valley (4-0) at Lawrence Free State (3-1) – Mill Valley
Olathe South (3-1) at Olathe North (3-1) – Olathe North
Topeka Seaman (3-1) at 6A No. 5 Manhattan (4-0) – Manhattan
Wichita Heights (3-1) at Andover (3-1) – Andover
Augusta (3-1) at 4A No. 5 Buhler (3-1) – Buhler
Independence (3-1) at Chanute (3-1) – Chanute
Caney Valley (4-0) at Galena (3-1) – Galena
Chapman (3-1) at Riley County (4-0) – Riley County
Clay Center (2-2) at Concordia (4-0) – Concordia
Colby (2-2) at Southeast of Saline (4-0) – SE Saline
2A No. 5 Garden Plain (3-1) at Chaparral (4-0) – Garden Plain
Maur Hill-Mount Academy (2-2) at Atchison County (3-1) – Atchison County
1A No. 5 Centralia (3-1) at Jefferson Co. North (3-1) – Centralia
1A No. 3 Inman (4-0) at Plainville (3-1) – Inman
Argonia-Attica (3-1) at Pretty Prairie (3-1) – Argonia-Attica
Bennington (3-1) at Solomon (3-1) – Bennington
Clifton-Clyde (2-1) at Valley Falls (3-1) – Clifton-Clyde
Marmaton Valley (3-1) at West Elk (3-1) – West Elk
Oberlin-Decatur Co. (3-1) at Hoxie (2-2) – Hoxie
South Gray (3-0) at Meade (4-0) – Meade
Central Plains (3-1) at 8M-II No. 3 Victoria (3-1) – Victoria
8M-II No. 5 Frankfort (4-0) at 8M-II No. 1 Axtell (4-0) – Axtell
8M-II No. 2 Hanover (3-1) at Osborne (3-1) – Hanover
Peabody-Burns (3-1) at South Barber (3-1) – South Barber
South Central (1-3) at Minneola (2-1) – South Central
6M No. 1 Ashland (4-0) at 6M No. 3 Cunningham (4-0) – Ashland
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.
