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. 4 Olathe North (6-0) at 5A No. 1 Mill Valley (6-0)
Perhaps the state’s marquee matchup this week pits unbeaten Olathe North against 5A’s top-ranked Mill Valley Jaguars.
Along with carrying importance for both schools in maintaining the top seed in their classification’s east side (Olathe North in 6A and Mill Valley in 5A), the game will also likely decide the Sunflower League championship.
Three-time defending 5A champion Mill Valley has continued to roll this season behind a stout defense that has allowed 41 total points through six games. Broc Worcester leads the defense with 42 tackles while Noah Coy has added 40 stops. Sophomore Jayden Woods (6-3, 220), has registered 22 tackles including four sacks. Woods recently picked up offers from Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State.
On offense, senior quarterback Hayden Jay directs a Jaguar unit that averages 400 total yards per contest. Jay has completed 67 percent of his passes for 941 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 310 rushing yards and nine scores.
Hayes Miller has been Jay’s top receiving target with 29 catches for 424 yards and five scores.
Tristan Baker has followed up a sophomore season in which he rushed for more than 560 yards and nine touchdowns with more than 650 yards and ten scores through six weeks this season.
The Jaguars have been the model for consistency in the state having won the 5A state title in five of the past seven years.
On the other side they’ll be opposed by an Olathe North squad that has averaged 42.5 points per game this season.
The Eagle offense averages 405 yards per game including 257 yards rushing per contest. Junior T.J. Porter has emerged as a feature back having rushed for 787 yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry.
Quarterback Jason Scoma has added more than 300 yards rushing and four touchdowns and has passed for 873 yards and nine scores. Scoma has several options on offense including Joshua Parrish and Caden Butler as receivers. Parrish has 487 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while Butler has 250 receiving yards.
Alex Gunderson paces the Eagle defense with 73 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions.
The two teams share opponents several Sunflower League opponents. Both have posted blowout victories over Shawnee Mission West and Shawnee Mission South. Olathe North won a shootout with Shawnee Mission Northwest (49-35), while Mill Valley shut out the Cougars, 41-0.
Both faced current 6A No. 5 Gardner-Edgerton in consecutive weeks. Mill Valley rallied from down 14-0 early to defeat the Trailblazers 35-14, while Olathe North won a low-scoring game over the Blazers, 13-2.
Our Pick: Mill Valley 28, Olathe North 17 (Gilmore)
5A No. 5 Hutchinson (5-1) at 5A No. 2 Maize (6-0)
This game is for the AVCTL Division I conference title. If Maize wins, the Eagles have the outright crown. If Hutchinson wins, the Salthawks, Maize and Derby will share the conference championship.
Hutchinson has moved into the 5A top-5 with multiple close wins. Hutchinson was 4-5 last year and opened with wins by seven, five and 14 points, including a 32-27 league win against Newton. The Salthawks lost, 28-21, against Derby in Week 4. Hutchinson threw to the end zone in the final seconds to potentially tie the score, but the Panthers’ Miles Wash picked off the pass.
In the last two weeks, Hutchinson has cruised over Salina South and Haysville Campus by a combined score of 70-14. Last year, Hutchinson lost a pair of overtime games and another by 14 points. In 2020, Hutchinson finished 8-2 and went 5-1 in one-score games.
Maize has rolled through its schedule, including a quality 42-14 win at Andover Central in Week 2, and a 49-0 win against Newton in Week 3. Last week, Maize defeated Derby, 52-51, in possibly the most memorable game of 2022. Maize and Derby have played three straight one-score victories.
In the 5A rankings, three-time reigning state champion Mill Valley is No. 1 and defending state runner-up Maize is No. 2. There is a perceived gap after the top-two with a second tier that includes Hays High, Hutchinson, Bishop Carroll and some others, including De Soto, Topeka Seaman, Goddard, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
This game will provide a measuring stick to see the gap between Maize and another 5A West contender. Last week, Hutchinson delivered 375 yards of total offense, including 326 rushing under coach Mike Vernon. All-purpose threat Noah Khokhar, one of Kansas’ fastest players, had 14 touches for 181 yards. Zion Burgess, Kade Smith and Devon Spiller are key offensive weapons, while Nic Lange has played quarterback. Hutchinson has won the time of possession in every game but one and Maize rarely wins the time of possession.
Maize rolled up 572 yards of total offense against Derby. Avery Johnson, a Kansas State commit, was re-ranked this week and is now the No. 75 player nationally in the 247 rankings. Johnson, the reigning 5A Offensive Player of the Year, accounted for seven total TDs against Derby. He continues to put up remarkable numbers with 82 of 118 for 1,627 yards with 18 scores against no interceptions. Johnson has 49 carries for 476 yards and 10 TDs.
Hutchinson ran 68 plays for 436 yards against Derby, including 294 on the ground. The Salthawks ground out 18 first downs, including 16 carries for 118 yards and a score from Khokhar.
Maize has RB Daeshaun Carter and its WR trio of Bryce Cohoon, Justin Stephens and Bryson Hayes. All three receivers caught a TD pass against Derby. Maize will be the favorite, but Hutchinson, similar to the Derby game, will keep it close with its ability to control the clock.
Our Pick: Maize 42, Hutchinson 28 (Nicholl)
Salina Central (4-2) at Goddard (5-1)
These are two 5A West teams that have surprised this year, notably Goddard. If Goddard wins, it will be in strong position for the AVCTL Division II title.
Salina Central was 7-3 and Goddard finished 0-9 in 2021. Goddard, which reached the state championship game in ’16 and ’18, finished 7-3 in ’20 before a winless season last fall. The Lions went to the single wing this year after it tallied more than 14 points just once. This season, Goddard has enjoyed an offensive explosion with 33.3 points a game. The Lions’ only loss was a 20-13 Week 3 overtime defeat to Andover.
Salina Central lost, 47-33, at Goddard Eisenhower in Week 2; that marks Eisenhower’s only victory. Salina Central beat Andover, 54-44. The Mustangs lost, 43-36, to Valley Center, while Goddard beat Valley Center, 30-7.
Devin Mathes and Micah Johnson have each rushed for 574 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Ashton Sell has completed 19 of 34 passes for 316 yards with 10 scores against two interceptions. Junior Mason Healy has eight catches for 116 yards with four scores. Junior Lane Nelson delivered 59 tackles with six tackles for loss. Goddard has eight sacks and forced 11 turnovers.
Goddard has made massive improvements off last year when the Lions had a 4/17 TD/INT ratio and just six turnovers forced.
Salina Central has enjoyed a big season from junior Gunnar Gross. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,075 yards with nine scores against one interception. Gross has 103 carries for 563 yards with 14 scores. Senior Kenyon McMillian, among Kansas’ fastest players, has 89 carries for 863 yards and 10 scores.
Salina Central has averaged seven yards a carry and 8.1 yards per pass. Goddard has 9.3 yards per pass and 5.9 yards per rush.
This should be a very close game, though Salina Central, with an offense that has 44.3 points a game, is a little more explosive.
Our Pick: Salina Central 28, Goddard 24 (Nicholl)
4A No. 4 Chanute (6-0) at Coffeyville (5-1)
The SEK League title is on the line this week when 4A No. 4 Chanute travels to Coffeyville to take on the Field Kindley Golden Tornado.
Coffeyville has been one of the state’s biggest surprises this fall. The young ‘Nado team has posted a 5-1 record through six games after having won a total of six games over the three previous seasons.
The Golden Tornado opened with an 8-0 overtime win over Mulvane and a close road won at Winfield. After solid victoires over Columbus and Independence, the Golden Tornado suffered 34-6 defeat at current 4A No. 5 Wamego.
Coffeyville rebounded last week with a 32-14 win over Labette County.
It’s still a roster gaining experience for head coach Deonta Wade. Through six weeks, all but six yards of total offense have been gained by non-seniors.
Sophomore Aaron Tunstall started out the season rushing for 357 yards and four touchdowns in two games before a broken leg ended his season. Sophomore Jeremy Colbert, Jr. has stepped in as the feature back since having rushed for 681 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Their fellow classmates Joshua Shobe has added nearly 230 yards on the ground, while LaMarcus Allen has added 218 yards and three scores.
Sophomore quarterback Axel Erne has passed for 224 yards and three scores.
The ‘Nado defense has been led by the guys up front in Kanian White, Brayson Voss, and De’Andre Shobe. White has a team-high 46 tackles including 17 for loss and six sacks. Shobe has added four sack and 8 TFL, while Voss has 41 stops including 8 for loss.
They will have their hands full with a Chanute team ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. The Blue Comets have rolled to a 6-0 start by scoring more than 38 points per game while allowing only 11.
Senior quarterback Eric Erbe, who is receiving interest to play at the next level, has completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,018 yards and 16 touchdowns against only one interception. Erbe’s also added three rushing scores.
Kaiden Seamster (6-3, 190) and Dagen Dean (6-3, 205) have been Erbe’s top targets this season. Seamster has 26 catches for 497 yards and five touchdowns, while Dean has 21 receptions for 444 yards and ten scores.
Senor Ty Leedy is a quick, physical runner who has produced 681 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Along with SEK title on the line this week, Chanute is playing to retain the top seed on the east side of the 4A bracket. Currently, the Blue Comets are tied atop the standings with Atchison at 6-0.
Our Pick: Chanute 36, Coffeyville 12 (Gilmore)
3A No. 2 Topeka Hayden (6-0) at 3A No. 3 Holton (5-1)
From 2004-18, Holton vs. Topeka Hayden was on the short list for Kansas’ best matchup. The teams met 10 times, often for district titles or in the playoffs. In ’16, the teams met twice. Hayden has won the last four in the series dating back to 2013.
Friday marks the first meeting for the teams in four years. This will decide District 4.
The winner of this contest will be a clear 3A East favorite. Holton lost, 35-28, to 2A No. 2 Nemaha Central in the season opener. Holton defeated Sabetha, 35-14, and has won the last four games by at least 30 points. Sabetha is ranked No. 4 2A.
Hayden has a similar resume, including a 21-7 season-opening win against Olpe, currently ranked No. 2 in 1A. Hayden has its well-known offensive line paced by Joe Otting, the Notre Dame commit. Holton has its experienced backfield under coach Brooks Barta, who has won 250 career games.
Hayden has seniors JC Cummings and Bradyn Rose in the backfield for longtime coach Bill Arnold. Senior Ben Evans (6-3, 270) is another anchor up front.
Hayden has outscored opponents by a total score of 253-93. Holton is almost identical at 257-106.
Senior quarterback/kicker Matt Lierz is a multi-year starter at both positions for Holton. He has tossed a pair of TD passes among 13 attempts. Holton’s top-seven rushers are seniors. Garyson Booth paces with 47 carries for 784 yards and 10 scores. Lierz has 26 carries for 378 yards and three TDs. Senior fullback Jace Boswell has a team-high 51 carries for 359 yards and is tied for the high with 10 rushing scores. Holton has averaged 403 rushing yards a game and 9.5 yards per carry.
In their loss to Nemaha Central, Holton outrushed the Thunder, 360-282. However, the Thunder held a 134-0 edge in passing. A difference came on third and fourth down when Holton was a combined 5 of 13.
This is going to be a great game, but I think Hayden, like Nemaha Central, has a little more firepower in what could be the first of two matchups.
Our Pick: Hayden 35, Holton 34 (Nicholl)
1A No. 2 Olpe (4-2) at Jayhawk-Linn (6-0)
The Class 1A District 2 championship will be on the line this Friday when two-time defending champion Olpe travels to Mound City to take on the unbeaten Jayhawk-Linn Jayhawks.
After dominating their competition in allowing 59 total points over the past two seasons, Olpe’s schedule looked significantly more difficult entering this first of the two-year cycle. The Eagles opened with a road trip against traditional 3A power Topeka Hayden followed by a matchup with a much-improved 3A program in Bishop Ward and 2A contender Osage City. Olpe challenged Hayden in a 21-7 loss which ended the Eagles’ 24-game win streak. A week later, Bishop Ward held on for a 16-13 win over Olpe. The Eagles responded with a 20-12 win over Osage City
All combined, Olpe’s five on-field opponents have combined for a 23-7 record this season. The Eagles received a forfeit victory over winless Northern Heights back in Week 5.
Last week Olpe traveled to Caney Valley and shut out the Bullpups, 38-0. Blake Redeker rushed for two touchdowns and Truman Bailey added more than 100 yards and another score.
This week, Olpe will take on unbeaten Jayhawk-Linn for the first time since 2013.
Jayhawk-Linn has cruised to a 6-0 start with an average score of 45.6 to 6.8.
Quarterback Dylan Nickelson guides the Jayhawk offense. He passed for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns a couple of weeks ago in the win over Central Heights.
Last week, Nickelson connected with Garrett Seeley three times for 165 yards, including two touchdowns in Jayhawk-Linn’s 20-6 win over Pleasanton. Nickelson also tossed a touchdown pass to Bryton Spencer in the win.
Along with Seeley, Nickelson and the Jayhawks have several capable players they can turn to on offense. Running back Trevor Brownback had more than 150 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Central Heights and Braeden Nation contributed more than 140 receiving yards in the win.
But opponents have had minimal success against a stout Olpe defense over the past few seasons. The Eagles have posted 18 shutouts in their last 28 on-field games.
Both teams have a common victory over district opponent Pleasanton after Jayhawk-Linn’s 20-6 win over the Blu-Jays last week. Olpe defeated Pleasanton 27-0 back in Week 4 on the strength of three interceptions for touchdowns.
Our Pick: Olpe 27, Jayhawk-Linn 12 (Gilmore)
The Pick List:
5A No. 4 Bishop Carroll (4-2) at Wichita Heights (4-2) – Bishop Carroll
Blue Valley (3-3) at 4A No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2) – Aquinas
Blue Valley West (3-3) at 4A No. 1 Bishop Miege (5-1) – Bishop Miege
6A No. 2 Derby (4-2) at Maize South (3-3) – Derby
Garden City (5-1) at Dodge City (3-3) – Garden City
Lawrence Free State (3-3) at Lawrence (4-2) – Lawrence
Basehor-Linwood (5-1) at Topeka Seaman (4-1) – Topeka Seaman
4A No. 2 St. James Academy (3-3) at Kapaun Mt. Carmel (3-3) – St. James Academy
Atchison (6-0) at Perry-Lecompton (2-4) – Perry-Lecompton
Cheney (5-1) at 3A No. 1 Andale (6-0) – Andale
Clay Center (4-2) at 3A No. 4 Rock Creek (5-1) – Rock Creek
Hugoton (5-1) at Holcomb (5-1) – Holcomb
Humboldt (4-2) at Cherryvale (4-2) – Humboldt
2A No. 3 Kingman (6-0) at Haven (4-2) – Kingman
1A No. 1 Inman (6-0) at Conway Springs (3-3) – Inman
Oswego (5-1) at West Elk (6-0) – West Elk
8M-I No. 4 South Sumner Co. (6-0) at Argonia-Attica (4-2) – South Sumner
Wichita Independent (5-1) at Central Burden (5-1) – Central Burden
Beloit St. John’s-Tipton (5-1) at 8M-II No. 2 Canton-Galva (6-0) – Canton-Galva
Hodgeman County (4-2) at Minneola (6-0) – Minneola
Sylvan-Lucas Unified (5-1) at 8M-II No. 3 Victoria (6-0) – Victoria
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