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. 2 Derby (1-1) at 5A No. 3 Bishop Carroll (2-0)
One of the state’s marquee games will feature 6A power Derby traveling to take on 5A power Bishop Carroll. The Panthers and Golden Eagles have met in each of the past six seasons. Derby has won all six meetings with a 17.6-point average margin of victory.
Last season, Derby built a 41-23 halftime lead and added only a field goal in the second half to hold off Carroll, 44-36.
Derby opened the season as the favorite in Class 6A, but suffered a surprising 26-23 overtime loss to Manhattan. That loss snapped the Panthers’ 46-game home win streak.
The Panthers rebounded last week with a 69-20 thrashing of Salina South in which they scored 55 points in the first half. Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards carried only six times for 106 yards and touchdown. Edwards has rushed for 297 yards and three scores in the first two weeks of the season and is closing in on 5,000 career rushing yards.
Senior quarterback Brock Zerger is the Panthers’ second-leading rusher with 120 yards and two scores. Zerger has also thrown for 119 yards and two touchdowns this season. Travon Rose, Colton Ruedy, and Talen Neel have each caught touchdown passes for the Panthers.
Bishop Carroll opened the season with a come-from-behind 53-41 victory over 6A-ranked Wichita Northwest. The Golden Eagles trailed that game 31-9 in the second half before rallying to defeat Grizzlies. Last week, Carroll rolled to a 50-14 victory over Wichita South.
Senior Zach Steven and junior Jackson King have each played quarterback for the Golden Eagles. Steven has completed 82 percent of his passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, while King has 168 passing yards and a score.
King is the Eagles’ leading rusher through two games with 225 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas Gorges has added 136 yards and three scores on the ground. Tate Blasi is one of the state’s top receivers and has ten receptions for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns thus far this season.
Both teams have standout defensive players in Derby’s Miles Wash and Carroll’s Walt Gray. For Carroll to end its streak of losses to Derby, the Eagles will have to limit Edwards’ big plays and slow the Derby ground game.
Our Pick: Derby 34, Carroll 27 (Gilmore)
5A No. 4 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1-1) at 6A No. 4 Wichita Northwest (1-1)
The other big game in the Wichita area and specifically in the Wichita City League pits 5A No. 4 Kapaun Mt. Carmel against 6A No. 4 Wichita Northwest.
While both teams are considered serious contenders in their respective classifications, both have already suffered losses this season. Wichita Northwest lost the season-opener, 53-41, to Bishop Carroll – a game that the Grizzlies led 31-9 in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Kapaun Mt. Carmel will try to rebound this week from a 30-20 loss to Wichita East last Friday. In that game, Kapaun led 20-16 in the fourth quarter before allowing a pair of Blue Aces touchdowns.
Both teams return experienced backfields. Kapaun features junior running back Omari Elias, who burst on to the scene in 2021 with a 2,300-yard season to go along with 30 touchdowns. The Crusaders also have junior quarterback Dylan Hamilton who was efficient in passing for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns a season ago. They also boast on of the state’s top players in tight end Will Anciaux.
Through two games this season, Elias has rushed for 365 yards and three touchdowns, while Hamilton has provided good balance with 290 yards passing and three scores. Anciaux leads the receiving group with 15 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
Wichita Northwest’s backfield features standout running backs L.J. Phillips and Cencere Thompson. Phillips rushed for 1,982 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2021, while Thompson added 1,180 yards and 12 scores. While the Grizzlies had to produce dynamic quarterback Geremiah Moore, junior Jayce Glasper has stepped in nicely in the first two weeks. Glasper has thrown for 321 yards and three touchdowns and added a pair of rushing scores.
But the Grizzlies offense is predicated on getting the ball to Phillips and Thompson. Phillips has 284 yards and four touchdowns this season on 33 carries, while Thompson has carried two less times for 192 yards and two scores.
Last season, Kapaun defeated Northwest twice – 34-17 during the regular season and 38-35 in the playoffs. Those victories by the Crusaders snapped an eight-game losing streak to Northwest. Prior to last season, Kapaun’s last victory over Northwest came back in the 2013 season.
Our Pick: Northwest 28, Kapaun 25 (Gilmore)
6A No. 1 Manhattan (2-0) at 5A No. 5 Hays (2-0)
Just two weeks ago, neither of these teams were ranked in the top-5. Then, Manhattan won, 26-23, at then-6A No. 1 Derby in overtime. Manhattan ended Derby’s 46-game home winning streak. Hays High came off its best season since 1995 and took significant graduation losses, including Top 11 all-classes picks Jaren Kanak and Gavin Meyers.
Hays scored 26 unanswered points and won 33-21 at home versus Junction City in Week 1. Both teams had sizable Week 2 victories. Hays High has enjoyed several breakout players, paced by running back Malik Bah.
A breakout candidate in the summer, Bah has delivered 48 carries for 469 yards and five touchdowns. All-league wide receiver Kyreese Groen took over at quarterback and has the best arm in the Tony Crough era. He has completed 11 of 19 passes for 212 yards with three scores against two interceptions. Highly talented Keamonie Archie has a remarkable story and had never played football before. Archie has seven catches for 157 yards and two scores and a critical fourth quarter, fourth down end zone pass breakup versus Junction City. Wyatt Waddell has been another breakout candidate with 16 tackles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss.
Bryce Salmans is an excellent blocker and an athletic marvel. Hays senior defensive back Remy Stull, who carries a New Mexico State offer, missed the Week 2 game. As of Wednesday, his status was questionable.
Manhattan was the top story in Kansas after Week 1 after Braxton Frey’s 25-yard game-winning field goal. Derby had missed a 22-yard field goal as time expired in regulation and had a 35-yard field goal blocked in overtime. Quarterback Keenan Schartz delivered 126 passing and 91 rushing yards in the Derby win. DeAndre Aukland and Jason Sanchez are key in the backfield.
Manhattan limited Derby senior running back Dylan Edwards, who had more than 3,000 all-purpose yards in ’21, earned Gatorade Player of the Year and committed to Notre Dame, to 19 carries for 185 yards. Manhattan ran 17 more snaps than Derby and held a 328-274 edge. Derby by far led 6A in scoring offense in ’21. Linebacker Jaxon Vikander helps pace the defense, and Manhattan returned four defensive back starters.
Manhattan has consistently delivered excellent defense with longtime coach Joe Schartz. The Indians went 9-2 and permitted 13.7 points a game, best in 6A. Hays High allowed 22 a contest. Manhattan’s defense has showed quickness and aggressiveness.
Hays has limited depth, notably at defensive back, especially if Stull cannot play. Bah is quickly emerging as one of Kansas’ best players. Hays High is 10-3 in its last 13 games with at least two upsets at home (Maize South in ’21, Junction City in ’22) in that span. Manhattan’s defense and overall depth gives the Indians a slight edge, but HHS could win this game in what should be a low-scoring contest.
Our Pick: Manhattan 21, Hays 14 (Nicholl)
Shawnee Mission Northwest (1-1) at 5A No. 1 Mill Valley (2-0)
We feature this Sunflower League showdown between the explosive offense of Shawnee Mission Northwest and Mill Valley’s stout defense.
Shawnee Mission Northwest opened the season with a 44-0 blowout win over Shawnee Mission West. Last week, the Cougars dropped a 49-35 decision to Olathe North.
Northwest features one of the state’s most explosive players in senior Malik O’Atis. O’Atis rushed for 860 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and added nearly 700 receiving yards and six scores. Through two games this season, O’Atis has rushed 40 times for 390 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also caught six passes for 109 yards.
In last week’s loss to Olathe North, O’Atis rushed for 176 yards and three scores. Cougar quarterback Logan Morley threw for more than 200 yards, including touchdown passes to Daisean Bennett and Clayton Habben.
The Cougars will go up against a Mill Valley defense that has allowed only seven points in the first two weeks of the season. Mill Valley followed up a 40-0 shutout of Olathe Northwest with a 65-7 win over Shawnee Mission West last week. The Jaguar defense has been led by Broc Worcester who has nine tackles and has also recovered a fumble.
On offense, the Jaguars are led by senior quarterback Hayden Jay. Jay has passed for 273 yards and two scores and added three rushing touchdowns through two weeks. Jay passed for 2,300 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.
Mill Valley has had three backs rush for more than 100 yards this season through two weeks. Senior Amarian Graves has rushed for a team-high 168 yards and two scores, while junior Tristan Baker has added 104 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Sidney Lockhart has rushed for 100 yards on 15 attempts.
Our Pick: Mill Valley 31, SM Northwest 17 (Gilmore)
Hoxie (2-0) at 8M-I No. 1 Leoti-Wichita County (2-0)
These two teams know each other quite well. This is the seventh time in the last five years the teams have played. In ’18, Hoxie won 36-20. In ’19, Wichita County picked up a 30-point win. In ’20, Wichita County had big wins in Week 1 and the state semifinals en route to a state runner-up finish.
Last season, Wichita County won 56-6 in Week 1, though Hoxie picked up a 66-58 playoff win. Both squads won six games. Each team was expected to vault up the classification this year. This could be the first of two matchups. Both coaches have had great success.
Wichita County is 36-9 under fifth-year coach Brant Douglas. The Indians lead all of eight-man in points per game since Douglas took over. Hoxie stands at 89-42 under 14th-year coach Lance Baar, who won a state title in ’17. Both teams are known for their offense and passing games. Hoxie has rolled WaKeeney-Trego (64-22) and Wheatland-Grinnell (55-0). Leoti has beaten Wheatland-Grinnell (76-0) and at Elkhart (56-6).
Wichita County’s Erhik Hermosillo contributed more than 3,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 49 offensive scores in ’21. He has 201 passing and 208 rushing with seven TDs accounted for this year. His brother, Khris Hermosillo, had a big freshman season and has two tackles with a sack this fall. Senior Cordell Brown had 76 tackles last year, along with eight tackles and two TFLs this season.
Hoxie moved first team all-state wide receiver Brady Jones to quarterback. The senior has completed 12 of 17 passes for 203 yards with five scores against no interceptions. Senior Drew Bretz has 11 carries for 122 yards and two TDs, while senior Ryan Shaw has 19 carries for 284 yards and four TDs. Senior Miles Baalman is a matchup problem at 6-4 and has delivered seven catches for 127 yards and four TDs. Bretz and junior Jonathan Mader have 15 tackles, and sophomore Braydon Scheetz has 14 stops.
This is going to be a high-scoring game, but the major question likely comes down to how much can Hoxie corral Erhik Hermosillo. In Week 1, Hermosillo passed for 164, rushed for 238 and accounted for six total TDs. In the second game, he accounted for seven offensive TDs. Wichita County had a sizable 501-362 margin in the playoff loss, though committed five turnovers.
Our Pick: Wichita County 62, Hoxie 50 (Nicholl)
Hill City (2-0) at 8M-II No. 3 Thunder Ridge (2-0)
Last season, Hill City and Thunder Ridge reached the Division I and Division II state semifinal games, respectively. Each team lost to the eventual champion, Hill City to Meade in Division I, and Thunder Ridge to Axtell in Division II. Both squads are known for great offenses and highly experienced backfields.
Last season, Thunder Ridge ranked second in Division II with 52.3 points per game. Thunder Ridge was fourth in scoring defense with 15.8 points a contest. The Longhorns have eight-plus seniors, including quarterback Dylan Bice, his twin brother and running back Dalton Bice, end Kaleb Wagenblast, running back Jace Randall and lineman Brian Shaw.
Junior Joseph Ferguson and Shaw have been Thunder Ridge’s stalwarts up front. Ferguson might be the Longhorns’ best overall lineman. Multiple players, including the Bice brothers, Wagenblast, Randall and Shaw have seen time since their freshman years. Dalton Bice and Wagenblast each have multiple KCAC offers. Thunder Ridge has dominated, especially offensively, with a 74-58 win against Alma (Neb.) and a 54-8 win versus Mankato-Rock Hills.
Thunder Ridge finished with 712 yards, including 636 rushing, against Alma. Dylan Bice rushed for 308 yards, and Randall had 297. Against Rock Hills, Thunder Ridge delivered 56 plays for 398 yards. Bice delivered 87 passing and 144 rushing yards, and Randall had 91 rushing yards.
Hill City was sixth in Division I with 51.8 points a contest. The Ringnecks allowed 26.7 points per game, No. 12 in the classification. Hill City rolled over Osborne (58-12) and WaKeeney-Trego (62-12). The Ringnecks have its acclaimed trio of quarterback Aiden Amrein and running backs Kaleb Atkins and Jaden Nuss. All three players have three or four rushing touchdowns and between 114 and 121 rushing yards. Amrein has completed 8 of 16 passes for 227 yards with three scores against zero interceptions. Seniors Trent Long and Conner Dinkel have tied for the team lead with 21 tackles. Dinkel, a four-year starter and returning first team all-state player, has 317 career tackles.
Hill City had to find new linemen, and Desbien noted to Kpreps this week that sophomore Sylar Rohr (5-7, 148) and Long (6-5, 180) have stepped up. Rohr is undersized, though is tough and plays hard. Long, a superb basketball player, is tall, lanky and doubles as a tight end on some formations.
This is the seventh time the teams have matched up since 2008. The teams have split the meetings. The margins include six points, two points and 12 points. This game should be high scoring and again close. A huge key should be line play and could the separator.
Our Pick: Thunder Ridge 52, Hill City 48 (Nicholl)
The Pick List:
6A No. 5 Olathe North at Shawnee Mission North – Olathe North
6A No. 3 Blue Valley Northwest at Blue Valley – Blue Valley Northwest
Gardner-Edgerton at Olathe West – Olathe West
KC Piper at Washburn Rural – Washburn Rural
4A No. 4 McPherson at Junction City – Junction City
Eudora at Spring Hill – Eudora
Maize South at Hutchinson – Maize South
Shawnee Heights at Topeka Seaman – Topeka Seaman
4A No. 1 Bishop Miege at 4A No. 3 St. James Academy – Bishop Miege
Columbus at Coffeyville – Columbus
Tonganoxie at 4A No. 5 Chanute – Chanute
Galena at Girard – Girard
Perry-Lecompton at 2A No. 2 Nemaha Central – Nemaha Central
2A No. 4 Rossville at 3A No. 3 Topeka Hayden – Topeka Hayden
Osage City at 1A No. 4 Olpe – Osage City
1A No. 2 St. Marys at Silver Lake – St. Marys
Russell at 1A No. 3 Smith Center – Smith Center
2A No. 5 Norton at Oakley – Norton
Central Burden at West Elk – West Elk
Lebo at Madison – Madison
8M-I No. 4 Little River at Ell-Saline – Little River
Oswego at Colony-Crest – Crest
Quinter at 8M-II No. 5 Dighton – Dighton
6M No. 2 Ashland at 6 M No. 3 Cheylin – Ashland
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