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Class 3A
VIEW: 3A BRACKET
3A EAST
D4-#1 Holton (11-0) at D2-#2 Frontenac (9-2) – Holton
Holton will travel to Frontenac for a second consecutive season, but this time a trip to the Class 3A state championship game is on the line.
The Wildcats and Raiders met in the state quarterfinals a season ago with Holton claiming a 42-6 win before falling to Perry-Lecompton (22-9) in the substate semifinal a week later. In that game, Holton surprised Frontenac with a long pass play to set up an early touchdown and eventually built a 28-0 lead by halftime.
This season, both teams spent significant time in the Class 3A Top 5 Rankings.
This veteran Frontenac team remained in the rankings for much of the season despite an early season loss to Oklahoma Class 5A contender, Coweta. The Raiders dropped their regular-season finale at Girard, 13-6, despite scoring on their first offensive play of the game.
Frontenac’s experience is on the offensive and defensive lines with Oklahoma State commit Landon Dean (6-5, 245) and returning all-state selection Cruz Blair. The Raiders also have an a dual-threat at quarterback in Collin McCartney and a pair of good backs in Mario Menghini and Justice Compton.
Last week, Frontenac used a consistent rushing attack in a 42-26 victory at Rock Creek. The Raiders got three rushing scores from Compton and two from Menghini in the win. Compton also hauled in a touchdown pass from McCartney.
Frontenac will again have to solve the power rushing attack of powerful Holton. The Wildcats feature incredible depth in the backfield with four junior backs having rushed for more than 600 yards this season.
Garyson Booth leads the Wildcats with 891 yards and has 11 rushing touchdowns, while Jayden Fletcher has added 803 yards and 11 scores. Quarterback Matt Lierz has rushed for 689 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns while averaging 15 yards per carry. Jace Boswell rounds out the group with 613 yards and six scores. Boswell, Lierz, and Fletcher were all recently named to the Big 7 Conference’s 2021 first team.
Holton averages more than 350 yards per game on the ground. Leading the way up front are a pair of Big 7 first-team selections in seniors Andrew Williams (6-2, 260), Kaden Cattrell (6-1, 260), and junior tight end Charlie Gilliland (6-1, 190).
Holton’s defense has allowed a little more than 10 points per game and have posted four shutouts – including two straight. Frontenac’s defense has been equally impressive allowing 12 points per contest.
In a close game, Lierz also gives Holton an advantage in the kicking game having connected on 90 percent of his PATs and hit a pair of field goals.
3A WEST
D7-#1 Andale (11-0) at D6-#1 Southeast of Saline (11-0) – Andale
In most years, Andale and Southeast of Saline are state title teams.
Two-time defending state champion Andale has won 36 straight games, the longest current winning streak in Kansas and a school record. Southeast of Saline has its best season since a state title in 2005.
The squads lead 3A by sizable margins in offense and defense. Andale has outscored teams, 604-52, and SES is at 560-53. Southeast of Saline is headed for the best defense in school history.
Last week, Andale beat Concordia, 54-14. That marked the most points Andale has allowed this season. Andale shut down standout Concordia back Keyan Miller to 23 carries for 38 yards. Gage Prosser had a key early touchdown run. Kelby Eck returned a kickoff for a score. Wyatt Spexarth also threw a TD pass to Drew Bunger.
Southeast of Saline held off Cheney, 34-28, in a turnover-filled game. Cheney led 14-0 after the first quarter. The game was tied at 28 after three. Trojan junior Luke Gebhardt completed 15 of 30 passes for 162 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The Trojans had 35 carries for 264 yards.
Gebhardt has completed 154 of 217 passes for 2,274 yards with 30 touchdowns versus four interceptions this season. Senior Matthew Rodriguez has enjoyed a terrific season and career with 114 carries for 658 yards and 19 TDs. Rodriguez has 81 tackles for 24 for loss. Seniors Dawson Adams, Jasper McDowell and Dalton Bunch have a combined 42 TFLs. Senior Chase Poague, a state track champion, has 39 catches for 837 yards and 15 scores.
Southeast of Saline is a great team, but Andale, with more than 80 players, has the edge.
Class 2A
VIEW: 2A BRACKET
2A EAST
D3-#2 Silver Lake (9-2) at D3-#1 Rossville (11-0) – Rossville
Rivals Silver Lake and Rossville will meet for a second time this season with this one deciding a berth in the Class 2A state championship game.
While it may seem like the Eagles and Bulldawgs meet each year during the regular season and in the state semifinals, this will actually be the first semifinal meeting since 2014. Rossville won that semifinal game in 2014 on their way to their first of three consecutive state championships.
Silver Lake hasn’t reached a state title game since winning it all in 2013. Meanwhile, Rossville has won the Class 2A state championship four of the past seven years.
The district contest earlier this season ended in a 24-19 victory for Rossville. The top-ranked Bulldawgs lost senior quarterback Torrey Horak in the first-half of that game due to an arm injury. In Horak’s absence, Corey Catron moved from running back to behind center and led Rossville on consecutive scoring drives in the fourth quarter to help Rossville to victory.
Since then, Catron has been exceptional in improving the Bulldawgs’ win streak to 24 consecutive games. He’s rushed for 1,075 yards and 22 touchdowns this season while passing for 456 more yards and six scores.
Horak returned and played sparingly in the Bulldawgs’ second-round win over Nemaha Central. Last week, Horak took over at quarterback in the second quarter and quickly led Rossville on a scoring drive. He finished with 139 yards rushing on only seven attempts and passed for 33 yards.
Silver Lake has won four consecutive games since the loss to Rossville.
Last week, the Eagles held off a talented Wellsville team, 33-27. Silver Lake methodically pulled away thanks to a solid night from senior quarterback Daigan Kruger. Kruger passed for 271 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score. Brogan Renfro caught a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for a touchdown, while Kamryn Kaniper had more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.
For the season, Kruger has passed for 2,021 yards and 25 touchdowns and added more than 500 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Gannon Remer is Silver Lake’s leading receiver statistically, while Troy Heiman and Kaniper give the Eagles plenty of playmakers. Renfro has also contributed 16 offensive touchdowns.
As with any big game, this one will likely come down to turnovers. But with a healthy Horak, Rossville is the favorite to win its 25th straight game.
2A WEST
D6-#1 Kingman (10-1) at D8-#2 Beloit (8-3) – Beloit
Kingman has its second-best season in school history, trailing only a state runner-up appearance in 1972. Beloit had its surprise run as a sub-.500 team and finished as a 2A semifinalist last fall. Both coaching staffs have enjoyed a nice turnaround. Kingman four-win improvement from 2020, Beloit has improved by three wins.
Last week, Kingman defeated Thomas More Prep-Marian, 35-0, behind its havoc defense. Kingman has outscored teams, 413-102. The Eagles are third in scoring defense. Beloit, which has played the No. 3 SOS in 2A, has a total margin of 334-140. The Trojans opened 1-2 with losses to Southeast of Saline and Concordia, and then fell to Hoisington, 7-6, in the district final.
Kingman, which has won 10 straight games, features quarterback Nolan Freund, who has passed for 2,195 yards. Junior Avrey Albright has 808 receiving yards and Carter Helm stands at 595. Defensively, Kingman is paced by Colby Schreiner and Ty Birkenbaugh. Kingman has one starter over 200 pounds.
Beloit junior running back Benson Berndt has enjoyed a big year. Last week, Beloit picked up a 32-27 victory against Hillsboro. Beloit senior Owen Eilert is an experienced quarterback. Beloit has a definite size advantage with Grady Seyfert (6-2, 270), one of Kansas’ top junior linemen.
Seniors Cameron Konkel (5-9, 225) and Gage Robinson (5-10, 250), sophomore Brody Widrig (5-10, 255) and junior Wes Adolph (6-1, 235) are all experienced players. Senior Brennan Walker (6-4, 200) is a three-year starter. Senior Braden Burks (5-8, 205) is an experienced player and is a first-year starter at fullback. Kingman will keep this low scoring, but Beloit will have a size advantage.
Class 1A
VIEW: 1A BRACKET
1A EAST
D1-#1 Olpe (10-0) at D2-#1 Centralia (8-2) – Olpe
Traditional small-school powers Olpe and Centralia will meet to decide the east representative in the Class 1A championship game.
The Eagles and Panthers have met twice in the playoffs in recent years with each school winning a close contest. Olpe earned a 20-18 victory over Centralia in the 2018 quarterfinals on its way to a state runner-up finish. A year later, it was Centralia that earned a 22-20 win over Olpe before winning the Class 1A state championship two weeks later.
Last season the two teams appeared to be on a collision course for a semifinal meeting before Centralia lost to Lyndon the week before. Olpe went on the win the state championship and has now won 24 consecutive games.
The Eagles continued their dominant run through the 2021 season with a 28-0 shutout of Jefferson County North last week. Olpe has registered nine shutouts this season and has allowed a total of 12 points – all coming in a 70-12 victory over Lyndon.
The Olpe defense is led by standout linebacker Ted Skalsky, while Damon Redeker leads the Eagles offense. In last week’s win over Jefferson Co. North, Redeker threw for 173 yards including touchdown passes to Blake Skalsky and Blake Redeker. He also rushed for 72 yards and a third score. Derek Hoelting and Garrett Cole lead the Eagle ground game and the duo combined for more than 100 yards in last week’s win.
Centralia has rebounded from an upset loss to Wabaunsee in Week 8. The Panthers have rolled to playoff victories over Valley Heights (41-0) and Lyndon (53-22).
In last week’s win over Lyndon, the Panthers built a 33-6 lead with the help of three Tiger turnovers. Lyndon pulled to within 33-22 at halftime, but Centralia shut out the Tigers in the second half for the 31-point win. Centralia’s Ethan McNally rushed for 175 yards and five touchdowns on the night. Jarod Blaha added 112 yards rushing and two more touchdowns.
McNally has rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 24 touchdowns this season. Blaha has added nearly 750 yards and seven touchdowns.
Centralia will have to have another big performance from McNally and Blaha in order to top the defending champion Eagles.
1A WEST
D3-#1 Inman (10-0) vs. D4-#1 Sedgwick (10-0) – Inman
The two Heart of America rivals match up for the first time in two years. The towns are separated by just 41 miles on US-50W. This game will be played at Newton’s Fischer Field, which will host the eight-man state championship games next week.
Sedgwick is 12-0 against Inman since ’04, but the Teutons are 20-3 since the start of last season. The Cardinals are into the state semifinals for the first time in program history after a thrilling 49-48 comeback win at Smith Center last week. The Cardinals were 0-5 all-time in state quarterfinal games.
Inman, which defeated Smith Center 38-15 for the district title earlier this year, lost at Oakley in the state semifinals in 2020. Inman has never made a state final.
Sedgwick kicker Connor Tillman, who has battled injury in recent weeks, broken the state career kick scoring points record. He stands at 279 points.
Both teams have highly experienced quarterbacks. Inman quarterback Jace Doerksen is a four-year starter. Sedgwick quarterback Lance Hoffsommer has delivered a huge career. He has completed 486 of 721 passes for 8,126 yards with 96 passing touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He has 9,765 total rushing and passing yards and 128 total TDs. That included 448 total yards and five TDs accounted for in the win over Smith Center last week.
Last week, Koen Werner – who has stepped up offensively after key lineman Sam Culp went out with injury – continued his fine season with 12 tackles. Ryan Stucky also delivered 12 stops. Westyn Anderson and Christian Brown finished with 10 tackles.
On offense, Ryan Stucky had 10 catches for 130 yards and two scores, including the game-tying TD pass. Running back Austin Cook finished with 13 carries for 120 yards and a TD.
Sedgwick is tied with Olpe for the second-best scoring offense with 517 points.
The Conway Springs’ district-clinching victory and Smith Center win marked a quality victory for Sedgwick. In the last four years, Sedgwick’s opponents are a combined 156-227 (.407 winning percentage).
Inman has outscored opponents 532-47 in an historic year and leads 1A in scoring offense and is second to Olpe in defense. In addition to Duerksen, the Teutons have its impressive talent with Kendyn Blank, Tanner Heckel, Harrison and Eli Brunk and Kyler Konrade.
Inman is expected to have an edge up front, especially with experience. Last week, Inman beat Conway Springs, 26-13, with a pair of third-quarter TDs. Konrade paced Inman with 10.5 tackles. Overall, Doerksen has 1,491 passing yards, Blank has rushed for 820 yards, and Harrison Brunk has delivered 576 receiving yards.
This has marked an historic season for both teams. Inman, though, gets the edge with its defense and line play.
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