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Class 6A
VIEW: 6A BRACKET
6A East
Highlighted Game:
#5 Blue Valley Northwest (6-3) at #4 Gardner-Edgerton (6-3) – Blue Valley Northwest
Defending 6A champion Blue Valley Northwest will travel to take on Gardner-Edgerton. Both the Huskies and Trailblazers have posted 6-3 records to reach the Regional round of the playoffs. Northwest advanced to the second round with a 42-21 win over Olathe East, while Gardner-Edgerton defeated Shawnee Mission East, 42-21.
Northwest has now won four consecutive games since back-to-back losses at Lee’s Summit North (Mo.) (40-34) and Blue Valley West (27-26). The Huskies feature standout senior back Grant Stubblefield who has rushed for 1,283 yards and 17 touchdowns in seven games. Junior Lovie Pulliam has added 489 rushing yards and three scores – 412 of which came during Stubblefield’s absence.
Senior Connor White has passed for 1,663 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season. Junior Gavin Hoffman has a team-high 38 receptions for 685 yards and 11 scores, while Jashon White has added 414 yards and four scores.
Gardner-Edgerton is 3-3 in its last six games with losses to Mill Valley (35-14), Olathe North (13-2), and Olathe South (37-36).
Dawson Kindler leads the Blazer offense with 1,036 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Dylan Butash has added 386 yards on the ground and four scores, including 139 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over Shawnee Mission East. Quarterback Conner Elder has passed for 856 yards and seven touchdowns, but had only two carries and didn’t throw a pass in last week’s win over the Lancers. Bravin Powell-Brown moved to quarterback last week, but has rushed for 362 yards and seven scores this season.
Turnovers may ultimately tell the story in this one. Blue Valley Northwest’s balance and the explosiveness of Stubblefield may be the difference.
Other first-round games:
#8 Blue Valley West (4-5) at #1 Olathe North (8-1) – Olathe North
Thursday’s Regional-round games:
2-Olathe West 42, 7-Blue Valley 20
6-Olathe Northwest 35, 3-Olathe South 21
6A – WEST
Highlighted Game:
#6 Washburn Rural (7-2) at #3 Garden City (7-2) – Washburn Rural
Garden City has posted a nice two-win improvement with a 7-2 mark, 5-0 in non-league play. The Buffs are an historically run-heavy team under longtime coach Brian Hill. Garden City has passed for 488 yards, though paced the Western Athletic Conference with 2,609 rushing yards, per broadcaster Dustin Armbruster’s conference statistics. The Buffs have averaged 40.1 points per game and allowed 16.1 points a game.
Zack Keosengphet rushed for 975 yards, and all-purpose threat Jerry Arteaga has 593 rushing yards and 285 receiving yards. Keosengphet has 16 rushing scores. Austin Elam has paced the defense with 75 tackles, and Ryan Heiman has picked off four passes.
Rural, a darkhorse pick to reach the state championship in 6A West, has quality wins against Wichita East (49-42), KC Piper (37-10), Emporia (49-14) and Dodge City (36-0). Piper is a 4A quarterfinalist, while Wichita East and Emporia reached the Regional Round. Rural has a three-point loss to 6A No. 1 Manhattan and an 18-point defeat against Junction City. Rural has not played past Week 10 since 2016. The Junior Blues are loaded with talent, including junior quarterback Branton DeWeese, senior linebacker Ty Weber, receiver Amr Sabbarini, along with JC and Jaren Heim. Weber is the likely front runner for 6A Defensive Player of the Year. Rural has played a substantially harder schedule that Garden City and has a much more explosive passing game.
In 2017, Garden City defeated Rural, 7-0, in the playoffs. The next year, Rural won, 21-7, in the postseason. This game should be higher scoring, but the Junior Blues are the favorite.
Other first-round games:
#8 Wichita East (6-3) at #1 Manhattan (9-0) – Manhattan
#5 Junction City (7-2) at #4 Wichita Northwest (7-2) – Wichita Northwest
#7 Lawrence (6-3) at #2 Derby (7-2) – Derby
Class 5A
VIEW: 5A BRACKET
5A – East
Highlighted Games:
#5 Pittsburg (6-3) at #4 KC Sumner Academy (7-2) – Pittsburg
Pittsburg will travel to Kansas City to take on the Sumner Academy Sabres with a spot in the state quarterfinals on the line.
The Purple Dragons have produced a six-win season in Josh Lattimer’s first-year as head coach. Pittsburg has won six of its past seven games after consecutive losses to Emporia (25-22 OT) and Chanute (28-13) to open the season. Overall, the Dragons are a young team and gaining valuable experience for the future. Junior quarterback Webb Fern directs the Dragon offense. Several backs have shown their capability for the Purple Dragons, including juniors Wyatt Rink and Matthew O’Doherty, and sophomores Stone Perry and Conner Proffitt. Tight-end, defensive End Jackson Turnbull (6-5, 225) is receiving a lot of recruiting interest and can be a problem for opposing defenses.
Sumner will counter with standout bank Antonio Harrison. Harrison became the schools’ career rushing leader a few weeks ago, and produced huge numbers in last week’s 47-42 win over Topeka High. Harrison carried 38 times for 422 and seven touchdowns. Harrison has now rushed for 1,850 yards and 24 touchdowns this season and 3,099 yards and 39 scores in his career.
Quarterback Camron Johnson has provided balance for the Sabres in passing for 935 yards and 11 scores. Howard Peoples and Jayden Gordon have each pulled in around 250 receiving yards and each have four touchdown catches.
Other first-round games:
#8 Shawnee Heights (5-4) at #1 Mill Valley (9-0) – Mill Valley
Thursday’s Regional-round games:
2-De Soto 56, 7-Spring Hill 0
11-Blue Valley Southwest 56, 14-Emporia 20
5A – West
Highlighted Games:
#7 Valley Center (7-2) at #2 Hays High (8-1) – Hays
The major question for Hays High is how the Indians will play without standout running back Malik Bah, in strong consideration for Top 11 all classes with 1,344 rushing yards. Last week, Hays High responded quickly after Bah went out with a serious injury after a carry on the first play. Hays scored a touchdown on the next snap and cruised over Wichita West.
Valley Center, a surprise team, is at a different level and should provide the No. 3-ranked Indians with their best test in more than a month. A win ties Hays High’s most victories in a single season and would be an exceedingly rare home victory after Week 9.
Hays High has wins against Junction City, Great Bend and Garden City and a competitive loss to 6A No. 1 Manhattan. The Indians have enjoyed elite defense under new coordinator Kip Keeley. Last year, he led Chanute to the No. 1 scoring defense in 4A. The Indians’ senior class, many of them unheralded before this fall, has been superb. Hays has permitted 15.9 points a contest and just 254 yards a game. Kyreese Groen, a converted all-league receiver, has enjoyed a strong season with 659 passing and 635 rushing yards. He scored immediately after Bah’s injury last week. Wide receiver Keamonie Archie, in his first season ever playing high school football, has 19 catches for 336 yards and seven TDs, all team-highs.
Wyatt Waddell, Evan Lind and Ben Pfeifer have paced the defense with 65, 64 and 58 tackles, respectively. Bryce Salmans, an elite athlete, leads the WAC with 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and has three fumble recoveries.
Valley Center last made the quarterfinals in 2016, its lone appearance since 1998. The Hornets have won multiple close games, including wins by four, one, seven, seven in overtime, 10 and 34-27 last week against Maize South. Valley Center has tallied 23 points a contest and allowed 21 a game. Under coach Scott L’Ecuyer, the Hornets have a five-win improvement over last year. Valley Center permitted 33.3 points a game a year ago.
Valley Center has 252 rushing yards and 63 passing yards a game. Junior Dai’Mont Mucker, a transfer from Missouri power Staley, has been among the state’s top rushers with 243 carries for 1,788 yards and 17 scores. Junior Hank Welu has completed 34 of 83 passes for 565 yards with 11 TDs against five interceptions. Senior Cameron Bowyer has 97 tackles, 12.5 for loss. Mucker did not have a carry for Valley Center last season, and Welu recorded a 6/6 TD/INT ratio.
The likely absence of Bah will close the gap, but Hays High’s depth, especially on defense, is highly impressive. The Indians have a slight edge with its depth.
Other first-round games:
#9 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (5-4) at #1 Maize (9-0) – Maize
#5 Bishop Carroll (7-2) at #4 Hutchinson (7-2) – Bishop Carroll
#6 Great Bend (7-2) at #3 Salina Central (7-2) – Salina Central
Class 4A
VIEW: 4A Bracket
4A East
Highlighted Games:
#5 Bishop Miege (7-2) at #4 Eudora (8-1) – Bishop Miege
The last spot in the 4A quarterfinals will be on the line when Bishop Miege travels to Eudora to take on the Cardinals.
Bishop Miege is 2-2 in its last four games with close losses to St. Thomas Aquinas (29-26) and Blue Valley Northwest (28-21). Eudora’s lone loss came 28-27 in overtime to Louisburg back in Week 5. The Stags are averaging 40 points per game while giving up 14.8 points per contest. Eudora scores more than 44 points per game while allowing 12.
Miege is led by senior quarterback Mac Armstrong who has thrown for 2,724 yards and 25 touchdowns. Armstrong has a group of talented receivers led by Isaiah Coppage, Teryn Jackson, and Daegan Jensen. Coppage has 67 catches for 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jensen has 36 catches for 553 yards and seven scores, while Jackson’s 35 catches has produced 538 yards and four scores.
David Garcia has rushed for 367 yards and seven touchdowns and DeAndre Beasley has added 275 yards and seven scores – primarily in the last four games.
Last week, Eudora rolled to a 54-0 halftime lead in defeating Labette County, 54-22. The Cardinals rushed for more than 300 yards and seven touchdowns led by Octavius Lyles with 168 yards and three scores. Kole Manley passed for 70 yards and two scores and added a rushing touchdown. Connor Watson also added a pair of rushing scores for Eudora.
Sophomore Errol Siemon has added 722 yards and eight scores, while Manley has 418 rushing yards and six scores.
Manley has added balance with 705 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Manley’s primary target has been Adrion Seals who has 18 catches for 381 yards and five scores. Division I recruit Jaden Hamm has four touchdown receptions from his tight-end position.
This game will likely come down to Eudora’s ability to control the ball and may be impacted by weather. Miege has been much more consistent with its passing game that on the ground. For Eudora to pull of the upset, the Cardinals will have to shorten the game and convert their drives into points.
Thursday’s Regional-round games:
8-KC Piper 48, 1-Chanute 47 (2OT)
10-St. James Academy 42, 2-Atchison 17
6-St. Thomas Aquinas 40, 3-Louisburg 0
4A West
Highlighted Game:
#6 Coffeyville-Field Kindley (6-3) at #3 Towanda-Circle (7-2) – Circle
Coffeyville, a surprise team after a 2-7 record last fall, has enjoyed a four-win improvement with coach Deonta Wade. Earlier this season, Wade went through awful tragedy when his young child passed away. Coffeyville opened 4-0 with two one-score victories, though is 2-2 since, including a 50-44 double-overtime loss to Fort Scott.
Since 2003, Coffeyville has one trip to the state quarterfinals, a runner-up showing in 2013 that marks the best season in school history. Circle’s only time past the Round of 16 is a state semifinal in 1980, per Prep Power Index archices. After years of struggle, Circle broke through with a 6-4 mark last season.
Coffeyville has significantly relied on sophomores, especially in the running game and has likely overachieved this season. Jeremy Colbert has 122 carries for 873 yards and 13 scores. LaMarcus Allen has 120 carries for 745 yards and eight scores. Coffeyville has thrown for 310 yards and rushed for 2,638.
Circle is significantly more explosive, especially in the passing game. Ty Smith is among Kansas’ top wide receivers for all classes. He has 34 catches for 954 yards and 10 scores for coach Logan Clothier. Cooper Chadwell is top-10 for all classes in passing with 1,908 yards. Cole Glaves has 450 receiving yards.
Both teams should be really pleased about its 2022 football seasons, but Circle is more experienced and certainly able to pass at a higher clip.
Other first-round games:
#9 Rose Hill (4-5) at #1 Wamego (9-0) – Wamego
#13 Winfield (2-7) at #5 Andover Central (6-3) – Andover Central
#10 Arkansas City (3-6) at #2 McPherson (8-1) – McPherson
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