Kpreps 2021 playoff coverage is presented by BTI – “Proud Supporter of Kansas High School Athletics”
Class 8-Man, Division I
VIEW: 8M-I Bracket
8M-I EAST
Highlighted Games:
D1-#3 Yates Center (6-2) at D2-#2 Chase County (7-1) – Chase County
Yates Center’s veteran team took a huge hit a few weeks ago when standout quarterback Sean Hurst was injured in a loss to Sedan. Hurst had produced 1,090 yards of total offense and 22 touchdowns through six games – many of which had ended at halftime. After his injury, senior Carter Burton has stepped up and rushed for 302 yards and four touchdowns in an 88-52 win over Marmaton Valley. However, Burton didn’t play in last week’s 54-6 loss to West Elk. On the other side, Mitch Budke has been on of the classification’s top players all season. Budke has rushed for more than 1,400 yards this season to lead a Bulldog offense that averages 55 points per contest.
D2-#3 Central Burden (5-3) at D1-#2 West Elk (7-1) – West Elk
These two South Central Border League rivals will meet in the first round after not playing during the regular season. West Elk has won four straight since their lone loss, 72-22, to unbeaten Sedan. The Patriots are led by senior Garrett Toon and freshman Creyo Koop. Toon has passed for 392 yards and 10 touchdowns and added five rushing scores. Meanwhile, Koop has had a tremendous start to his high school career having rushed for 1,100 yards and 21 touchdowns on only 104 carries. Central Burden will counter with junior Braden Balman and sophomore Jace Wunderlich. Balman leads the Raiders with 659 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while Wunderlich has produced nearly 1,250 total yards and 25 combined touchdowns. He has passed for 707 yards and 16 scores, while rushing for 542 yards and nine touchdowns.
Other first-round games:
D2-#4 Flinthills (3-5) at D1-#1 Sedan (8-0) – Sedan
D4-#4 Solomon (5-3) at D3-#1 Clifton-Clyde (6-1) – Clifton-Clyde
D3-#3 Doniphan West (3-5) at D4-#2 Canton-Galva (6-1) – Canton-Galva
D1-#4 Marmaton Valley (4-4) at D2-#1 Madison (8-0) – Madison
D3-#4 Valley Falls (4-4) at D4-#1 Little River (8-0) – Little River
D4-#3 Bennington (6-2) at D3-#2 Burlingame (5-2) – Burlingame
8M-I WEST
Highlighted Games:
D5-#3 Medicine Lodge (6-2) at D6-#2 Macksville (4-4) – Macksville
Macksville has won three in a row, and Medicine Lodge has dropped two straight. Medicine Lodge won the first matchup 54-14 this year in Week 3. However, the yards were much closer than the final score. In the contest, Macksville ran 50 plays for 211 yards. Medicine Lodge has 52 plays for 285 yards. The Mustangs had two turnovers. Macksville quarterback Ryan Kuckelman has delivered a highly impressive season with 36 of 67 passing for 460 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. He has 181 carries for 1,165 yards and 18 rushing scores. Macksville has averaged 6.9 yards per play. Macksville took a Week 1 loss to Ness City, before the Eagles suffered numerous injuries this year. Macksville junior Lance Lickiss, who is tied for the team lead in receptions, also did not play in the first Medicine Lodge game. Overall, Macksville has 6.9 yards per play, ML 6.6 this season. ML senior quarterback Chance Winter has thrown for 1,261 yards with 17 scores versus five interceptions. He has 95 carries for 397 yards and 10 scores. Junior Cauy Scripsick has 65 tackles. Every year there is a Week 9 upset in Division I, and this could be the matchup in 2021.
D6-#3 Kinsley (5-3) at D5-#2 Argonia-Attica (7-1) – Argonia-Attica
Kinsley has struggled down the stretch with a 1-2 finish in a pair of home losses to La Crosse and Macksville. Still, the Coyotes have achieved an impressive turnaround under coach Corey Dunlap. Against Macksville, Kinsley permitted 424 total yards. Overall, Kinsley quarterback Peyton Schmidt has completed 39 of 90 passes for 740 yards with 19 touchdowns against five interceptions. Conner Chamberlain has 83 carries for 602 yards and eight scores behind a line that includes senior Tysen Schmitt. Defensively, Schmitt has five TFLs this year. A&A is 6-2 all-time in Week 9 contests. A&A has standout senior quarterback Xander Newberry has completed 49 of 73 passes for 956 yards with 19 touchdowns versus five interceptions. He has 92 rushes for 699 yards and 17 scores. The Titans have averaged 7.9 yards per carry. Senior Adam Blanchat has 69 tackles this year, 399 for his career.
Other first-round games:
D6-#4 Pratt-Skyline (3-5) at D5-#1 Goessel (6-2) – Goessel
D8-#4 Atwood-Rawlins Co. (4-4) at D7-#1 Meade (8-0) – Meade
D7-#3 Spearville (4-4) at D8-#2 WaKeeney-Trego (7-1) – WaKeeney-Trego
D5-#4 Moundridge (3-5) at D6-#1 La Crosse (6-2) – La Crosse
D7-#4 South Gray (4-3) at D8-#1 Hill City (7-1) – Hill City
D8-#3 Hoxie (5-3) at D7-#2 Leoti-Wichita Co. (6-2) – Leoti-Wichita Co.
Class 8-Man, Division II
VIEW: 8M-II Bracket
8M-II EAST
Highlighted Games:
D1-#3 Colony-Crest (5-3) at D2-#2 Marais des Cygnes Valley (4-3) – Crest
This is a rematch from back in Week 3 when Crest won at MdCV, 56-34. In that meeting, Crest rushed for 488 yards and eight touchdowns on 62 attempts. Holden Barker rushed for 311 yards and seven touchdowns in the first meeting. Ethan Godderz added 141 yards and a touchdown. Crest’s talented junior trio of Barker, Godderz, and Avery Blaufuss have combined for 3,007 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns this season. Barker is among the state leaders with 1,784 yards and 33 scores. Marais des Cygnes entered last week’s district championship game against Lebo averaging 49 points per game. Lebo shut out the Trojans, 56-0, and held them to 19 yards of total offense.
D3-#3 Hanover (5-3) at D4-#2 Osborne (6-2) – Osborne
Last year, Hanover beat Osborne, 54-6, in Week 5. Then, Hanover defeated Osborne, 56-6, in Week 9. This year, Osborne returned nearly everyone. Hanover had multiple graduation losses and has suffered key injuries after another undefeated state championship season. Osborne beat Hanover, 36-26, in Week 5. Then, the Bulldogs lost, 44-34, at No. 2 Thunder Ridge the following week. Senior Mason Schurr has 57 carries for 580 yards and 11 touchdowns, though has only played in five games after he suffered injury in the Thunder Ridge contest. Schurr has 3,309 career rushing yards.
Other first-round games:
D2-#4 Wakefield (1-5) at D1-#1 Waverly (5-1) – Waverly
D4-#4 Beloit St. John’s-Tipton (4-4) at D3-#1 Axtell (8-0) – Axtell
D1-#4 Southern Coffey Co. (1-5) at D2-#1 Lebo (7-1) – Lebo
D2-#3 Hartford (3-4) at D1-#2 St. Paul (5-3) – St. Paul
D3-#4 Onaga (4-4) at D4-#1 Thunder Ridge (8-0) – Thunder Ridge
D4-#3 Lakeside-Downs (6-2) at D3-#2 Frankfort (6-2) – Frankfort
8M-II WEST
Highlighted Games:
D5-#3 Central Plains (5-3) at D6-#2 Caldwell (7-1) – Caldwell
This is a rematch of a 2020 playoff game that Caldwell won 36-34 behind some big special teams returns. Caldwell junior Keiondre Smith has enjoyed another huge season with 27 of 56 passing for 550 yards and 11 touchdowns versus four interceptions. He has 147 carries for 1,374 yards and 24 scores. Dawson Bristor and Jackson Risley have combined for 11 receiving TDs. Caldwell has averaged nine yards a play. CP has won two straight, though the Oilers have averaged just four yards a play this year. Senior Dawson McNeal has 95 carries for 427 yards and seven scores. Senior Cole Lamatsch has 74 tackles.
D7-#3 Minneola (4-3) at D8-#2 Quinter (7-1) – Quinter
Minneola took a 46-0 road loss against Dighton two weeks ago. In Week 2, Quinter beat Dighton, 36-22. Minneola sophomore Eli Lang passed Kansas in rushing earlier this season and has 147 carries for 1,389 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Quinter has encountered coaching upheaval in recent days, though Jeff Savage is expected to coach the game. Savage has announced his retirement, effective end of the season. Quinter has a plus-four wins improvement from last year and its most victories in 12 years. Standout Jaden Boone has been out since midseason with injury. Preston Havlas has stepped up at quarterback. Braden Polifka is a talented lineman.
Other first-round games:
D6-#4 Peabody-Burns (4-3) at D5-#1 Victoria (7-1) – Victoria
D8-#4 Triplains-Brewster (2-5) at D7-#1 Dighton (7-1) – Dighton
D5-#4 Otis-Bison (4-4) at D6-#1 South Barber (7-1) – South Barber
D6-#3 Norwich (4-2) at D5-#2 Sylvan-Lucas Unified (5-3) – Norwich
D7-#4 South Central (2-5) at D8-#1 Wheatland-Grinnell (7-1) – Wheatland-Grinnell
D8-#3 Sharon Springs-Wallace Co. (3-5) at D7-#2 Bucklin (7-1) – Bucklin
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