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Class 6A
VIEW: 6A BRACKET
6A East
Highlighted Game:
#7 Blue Valley West (5-4) at #2 Blue Valley (8-1) – Blue Valley
Rivals Blue Valley West and Blue Valley will meet for a second time this season with the winner of this one advancing to the Class 6A quarterfinals.
Blue Valley won the first meeting 23-17 as quarterback Greyson Holbert scored on a 1-yard run with 2:06 remaining in the game. The Tigers trailed that meeting 17-10 in the fourth quarter when Hayden Essex intercepted a Jaguar pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Blue Valley West was effective running the ball in the first meeting as Sage Huffman rushed for 213 yards and a score on 36 attempts. Huffman has had a breakout sophomore season with 1,169 yards and nine touchdowns. West quarterback Gage Roach has passed for 1,278 yards and 13 scores.
Blue Valley got a huge performance from junior Andre Davis in the first meeting. Davis had 10 receptions for 169 yards and a score. Michael Solomon leads the Tiger ground game with 1,065 yards and 11 scores, while Holbert adds a true dual-threat dimension with 889 rush yards and 1,346 passing yards.
#6 Shawnee Mission Northwest (3-5) at #3 Olathe West (7-2) – Olathe West
Another rematch as Sunflower League rivals Shawnee Mission Northwest and Olathe West will meet for a second time this season.
Back in Week 2, Shawnee Mission Northwest raced out to a 28-6 lead in the first half before Olathe West rallied for a 39-34 victory. The Owls scored three times in the third quarter to get back in the game. Olathe West quarterback Mason McGavran rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns in that game and added 179 yards and a score through the air.
McGavran has had a great junior season for the Owls. He has passed for 1,248 yards ad 11 touchdowns and added 1,089 rushing yards and 13 scores. Anthony Favrow leads the Owl ground game with 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Shawnee Mission Northwest is led by Blake Reeder who has made a successful transition from receiver to quarterback his senior year. Reeder passed for more than 200 yards in the first meeting. The Cougars have a star in Malik O’Atis who is a threat to score on offense and in the return game. O’Atis rushed for 143 yards in the first meeting. Jack Meylan has been one of Reeder’s top receiving targets for Northwest.
Other first-round games:
#8 Olathe South (5-4) at #1 Blue Valley Northwest (8-1) – Blue Valley Northwest
#5 Olathe Northwest (6-3) at #4 Olathe North (7-2) – Olathe North
6A – WEST
Highlighted Game:
#5 Lawrence Free State (7-2) at #4 Washburn Rural (8-1) – Free State
Both Free State and Washburn Rural have enjoyed nice turnarounds this year. Free State was winless last season in a year wrecked by COVID-19 and injuries. This season, Rural has doubled its win total from 4-6 to 8-1.
Free State enters this contest at 7-2. The Firebirds have outscored teams, 301-159, behind the No. 2 strength of schedule in the classification, per Prep Power Index. Rural has faced the No. 25 SOS (of 32 teams) and has a 341-133 margin.
Rural clinched a share of the Centennial League title for the first time since the ‘90s. Free State has one of Kansas’ best wins with a 41-20 victory versus Mill Valley, the Jaguars’ lone defeat in its last 16 contests.
Free State features electrifying quarterback Jet Dineen and running back Dash Cleveland. Dineen has passed for 1,292 yards and rushed for 1,219. Jordan Brown, a transfer from nearby Basehor-Linwood and an excellent basketball player, has 550 receiving scores.
Rural has standout receiver Amr Sabbarini posted 31 catches and six touchdowns in the regular season. A junior, he has 4.6 speed and a 33-inch vertical. Sophomore Branton DeWeese has played well at quarterback and sophomore JC Heim is a key receiver.
#6 Lawrence (7-2) at #3 Junction City (8-1) – Lawrence
These two historic programs have two of Kansas’ most well-known coaches with Junction City’s Randall Zimmerman (200-plus career wins) and Lawrence’s Clint Bowen, who spent a long stint with Kansas football before he took over his alma mater this year.
The Chesty Lions and Blue Jays rarely play each other; this is the first matchup in at least 15 years.
Bowen’s son, Baylor, has more than 500 receiving yards and Lawrence quarterback Truman Juelsgaard has posted 1,159 passing and 18 TDs.
Junction City lost at Manhattan in Week 2, and then won back-to-back OT games, part of a seven-game winning streak. Junction City has delivered a strong defense. Quarterback David Rowell and running back T.J. Jones have both missed time with injury.
Other first-round games:
#8 Wichita East (6-3) at #1 Derby (8-0) – Derby
#10 Gardner-Edgerton (4-5) at #2 Manhattan (8-1) – Manhattan
Class 5A
VIEW: 5A BRACKET
5A – East
Highlighted Games:
#7 St. Thomas Aquinas (5-4) at #2 Spring Hill (8-1) – St. Thomas Aquinas
Spring Hill will look to continue its incredible season by knocking out perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas.
Aquinas has rebounded from a four-game losing streak to win three straight and appear to be hitting their stride at the right time. Included in that recent run of victories was a 35-16 decision over 6A-East top seeded Blue Valley Northwest. The Saints advanced to this round with a 48-17 win over KC Washington.
Aquinas averages 286 yards per game on the ground led by junior Sean Carroll. Carroll has rushed for 1,213 yards and 12 scores this season, while Gianni Rizzi has added 445 yards and five scores. Quarterback Maxxwell Ford has rushed for 526 yards and nine touchdowns and passed for 385 yards and three scores.
Spring Hill cruised to a 7-0 start to the season before falling 33-7 at Eudora to close out the regular season. Senior quarterback Fletcher Pankey left that game early with an injury and did no play in last week’s win over Schlagle. Pankey has passed for more than 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Junior Luke Metcalf has played in Pankey’s absence and thrown for 97 yards and a touchdown the past two weeks. The Broncos will likely need big performances out of Draven Pipkin (740 rushing yards, 9 TD) and Zach Knowlton (900 all-purpose yards, 11 TD).
#12 Blue Valley Southwest (3-6) at #4 Topeka Seaman (6-3) – Topeka Seaman
Blue Valley Southwest will travel to Topeka Seaman in a rematch of a second-round game last season won by the Timberwolves, 27-21. While many may have viewed that victory as an upset for the then 9-seed Timberwolves over top-seeded Topeka Seaman, Blue Valley Southwest has a history of making noise in the playoffs despite their regular season win total. This year may be no different as Southwest suffered six losses against stout Eastern Kansas League opponents during the regular season.
The Timberwolves feature a strong passing attack with sophomore Dylan Dunn and senior receiver Zach Atkins. Dunn has passed for 1,811 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Atkins has 60 receptions for 785 yards and seven scores. Jake Laurie and Parker Smith handle the bulk of the carries for Southwest with Laurie topping 100 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over Leavenworth.
Topek Seaman has had a strong season with its three losses coming to 6A Centennial League contenders Junction City (23-16 in OT), Manhattan (48-21), and Washburn Rural (42-31). Senior quarterback Camden Barta has passed for 1,911 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Barta has four quality receiving options including Casen Stallbaumer, Brody Gormley, P.J. Vargas, and Braden Colley. Stallbaumer has 51 catches for 572 yards and five scores, while Gormley has 533 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Neither of these two teams rely heavily on their run game. Seaman averages 107 yards per game on the ground, while Southwest averages 92 yards per contest. Avoiding turnovers and having success in the run game may be the key in which of these two advances to the quarterfinals.
Other first-round games:
#8 Shawnee Heights (5-4) at #1 Mill Valley (8-1) – Mill Valley
#6 De Soto (5-3) at #3 Pittsburg (6-3) – Pittsburg
5A – West
Highlighted Games:
#7 Hays (7-2) at #2 Andover (7-2) – Andover
This will likely be one of the closer Round of 16 matchups. Fourth-year coach Tony Crough spent one season at Andover and a fall at Hutchinson Community College before he came to Hays. Since ’01, Andover’s lone quarterfinal appearance is in ’12. Hays last made at least the quarterfinals in ’95.
The Indians have outscored teams, 374-188. Andover has outscored teams, 301-104. Andover is second in 5A in scoring defense, a point behind Kapaun. The Trojans have posted a top-six scoring defense in 5A in each of the last three years.
Andover has delivered several dominant defensive performances and held the following teams to either its lowest point total of 2021 or tied for the lowest point total: Maize, Arkansas City, Goddard Eisenhower, Wichita Heights and Valley Center. Andover beat Eisenhower, 19-0. Last week, Hays High scored in the final minute for a 19-13 win versus Eisenhower.
Andover running back Max Middleton has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. The Trojan defense features standout outside linebacker Chandler Goodnight. Andover has upped its scoring average from 17.8 points in ‘20 to 33.4 points this year.
Jaren Kanak, a Clemson commit, has more than 1,150 rushing yards, though is banged up and only started to carry the ball in the second half of the Eisenhower game. Roy Moroni, who has significant NAIA interest, has more than 800 rushing yards.
Hays High has struggled against the pass, especially in recent weeks, and has faced injuries on that side of the ball. Hays also has Gavin Meyers, the school’s all-time leading tackler. The Indians have some elite players, but Andover might have the overall edge on defense and special teams. Plus, Kanak’s health is a big question mark.
#6 Bishop Carroll (7-2) at #3 Maize (7-2) – Maize
Bishop Carroll suffered a surprising loss to Wichita East in Week 8 and last week, Carroll had to convert a fourth-and-long and eventually beat Hutchinson in overtime.
The Golden Eagles, which have wins against Wichita Northwest and Kapaun Mt. Carmel, feature senior quarterback Chase Smarsh and standout receiver Matt Holthusen. Carroll has fought some injuries, too.
Maize bounced back from a surprising 24-17 loss to Arkansas City in Week 4. Since then, the Eagles have averaged 45.6 points per contest. That includes a 42-41 loss at Derby in a remarkable game. Carroll lost, 44-36, to Derby in Week 3. Maize has lost four straight against Carroll since ’14.
However, Maize is likely the more explosive team at this point. Avery Johnson, with multiple Power 5 offers, has completed 106 of 195 passes for 1,677 yards with 15 scores against three interceptions. Wide receiver Bryce Cohoon has 23 catches for 492 yards and six scores. Daeshaun Carter has emerged at running back with 142 carries for 1,025 yards and 14 scores. Cole Segraves is one of Kansas’ best kickers.
Other first-round games:
#8 Maize South (6-3) at #1 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (8-1) – Kapaun Mt. Carmel
#5 Salina Central (7-2) at #4 Wichita Northwest (7-2) – Wichita Northwest
Class 4A
VIEW: 4A Bracket
4A East
Highlighted Games:
#8 St. James Academy (5-4) at #1 Basehor-Linwood (9-0) – St. James Academy
Maybe the premier game in Class 4A this week has defending champion St. James Academy traveling to top-ranked Basehor-Linwood.
The Thunder have won five straight since an 0-4 start to the season. Last week, St. James scored the games’ first 42 points in beating Louisburg 56-22. Tiave Watts rushed for 161 yards and three scores in the win and leads the team with 635 yards and eight scores. The Thunder offense is directed by quarterback Jackson House who has thrown for 1,759 yards and 15 touchdowns and added 542 yards and six scores. John Niesen is the team’s leading receiver with 904 yards and five scores while Tyler Claiborne has added 558 yards and 8 scores.
Basehor-Linwood will counter with an explosive offense of its own led by senior quarterback Brady Garrison. Garrison has thrown for 1,523 yards and 20 touchdowns, while classmate Zach Sisemore has rushed for 1,219 yards and 18 scores. Chants Nelson and Brant Wilsons lead the Bobcat receiving group with each over 400 yards.
These two met twice last season with St. James winning 42-35 in the regular season and 56-35 in the state quarterfinals. This should be an outstanding game between two of the state’s top teams, but we’ll give a slight edge to the defending champs.
#10 Bishop Miege (3-6) at #2 Chanute (8-1) – Bishop Miege
Bishop Miege will travel to Chanute for a second consecutive season for a playoff game, but this time a trip to the Class 4A quarterfinals is on the line. Last season, Miege beat Chanute 64-17 in the first round.
Chanute has won eight straight games since a season-opening loss to Towanda-Circle. The Blue Comets have rolled behind a stingy defense that has allowed only 35 points and posted four shutouts over the past eight weeks. Juniors Eric Erbe and Ty Leedy lead an explosive Chanute offense. Erbe has passed for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Leedy has rushed for more than 850 yards and 18 scores. Chanute has a talented receiving group as well with senior Kam Koester, junior Dagan Dean, and sophomore Kaiden Seamster.
Miege found itself tied 20-20 with Tonganoxie in the second half last week before two Mac Armstrong touchdown passes helped the Stags to a 34-20 win. Armstrong didn’t play in the first quarter last week, but still passed for 289 yards and threw touchdowns to three different receivers. He connected with Christian Bowen-Webb seven times for 176 yards. Armstrong has passed for nearly 2,100 yards this season and has 17 touchdown passes. Miege will need to continue to have success in the running game at Chanute. Jaylen Burch has turned in four consecutive games with 100 or more yards and has nearly 850 yards and 14 scores this season.
Other first-round games:
#5 KC Piper (6-3) at #4 Paola (6-3) – Paola
#6 Eudora (5-4) at #3 Atchison (8-1) – Eudora
4A West
Highlighted Game:
#5 McPherson (7-2) at #4 Mulvane (7-2) – Mulvane
Mulvane won the regular-season matchup, 22-12, at McPherson back in Week 7. The Wildcats have won seven in a row and have enjoyed a well-publicized turnaround after a 1-7 injury-plagued squad last year. Last week, McPherson had a forfeit victory against Arkansas City as the Bulldogs dealt with the tragic loss of senior Rhett Lathers.
In the first meeting, McPherson scored first on a 67-yard run by Jaytin Gumm. McPherson also led 12-7 late in the third quarter. Then, Mason Ellis responded with an 80-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Mulvane had a safety and Ellis tacked on a 17-yard touchdown run. McPherson also outgained Mulvane, 372-321.
Ellis, a North Dakota State commit, has 1,410 passing and 987 rushing with 31 total scores. Mulvane’s defense, especially versus the pass, has been dominant. Trent Moses has 41 tackles, Trenton Davis has 39, and Hunter Seier has 12 pass breakups. Moses, a standout wrestler and golfer, joined Mulvane football this season. Mulvane has allowed 5.3 yards per pass with seven TD passes against 14 INTs.
McPherson junior Hunter Alvord has completed 65 percent of passes for 1,442 yards with 12 scores against five interceptions. Gumm has rushed for 953 yards and 14 scores. Senior Trey Buckbee has 29 catches for 554 yards and five scores.
Much of the contest hinges again on McPherson’s passing game. The Bullpups have averaged 19 points a game in their three games when the passing efficiency is under 100. When McPherson has an efficiency over 100, it has averaged 45.4 points a game.
#7 Augusta (6-3) at #2 Wamego (8-1) – Wamego
Wamego is sixth in 4A in scoring offense with 313 points. The Red Raiders have averaged 39.1 points per game, which is at least the team’s best since 1985, per Kpreps/Kansas Football History database research. Wamego’s last quarterfinal appearance came last year and ’15, Augusta in ’05.
Dual-threat quarterback Hayden Oviatt has his second consecutive standout season. He has passed for 1,334 yards and rushed for 1,237. Chase Cottam has stepped up with 432 receiving yards. Wamego’s offensive line has senior Braydon King, junior Andrew Hildebrand, senior Ethan Holle, sophomore Brayden Fulton, junior Eli Bergmeier and senior tight end Jace Jager.
Augusta, against a slightly harder strength of schedule per Prep Power Index, has tallied 276 points. Last week, Gavin Kiser threw for 173 yards for Augusta in its 33-25 win versus rival El Dorado last week. Augusta had two one-score wins versus El Dorado. Sebastian Flower is a dynamic player for Augusta. However, Wamego likely has too much offense and has the edge here.
Other first-round games:
#9 Winfield (4-5) at #1 Buhler (8-1) – Buhler
#6 Towanda-Circle (6-3) at #3 Andover Central (8-1) – Andover Central
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