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Class 8-Man, Division I
VIEW: 8M-I BRACKET
8M-I EAST
Highlighted Game:
D4-#1 Little River (10-1) at D2-#1 Burlingame (10-1) – Little River
Little River has finished as state champion and state runner-up the last two seasons. The Redskins have never lost a home game in the four-year tenure under Kevin Ayers. Last season, Little River defeated a banged-up Burlingame squad, 42-26, in Week 10.
Both teams have been ranked second in Division I this winter. Little River was preseason No. 1. Burlingame has enjoyed a nice improvement and coach Jeff Slater has done an impressive job. Last year, the Bearcats were 6-3 with 39 points a game and 17.3 points allowed a contest, fifth-best in the classification. Burlingame has an average score of 51-18. Little River has an average score of 52-16 and has won 10 in a row after a season-opening loss to Canton-Galva.
Ayers is 4-2 all-time in state title games and the only Kansas eight-man coach to win state titles at three schools.
Little River returned all of its skill players, though graduated its trio of all-state linemen. Burlingame has significantly relied on seniors and sophomores this fall. Little River senior Rylan Konen has completed 37 of 60 passes for 754 yards with 16 scores against two interceptions. Senior Braxton Lafferty has enjoyed another huge season with 118 carries for 1,271 yards and 25 scores. The Redskins average 9.2 yards per carry and 9.8 yards per play. Senior Braden Young has 1,071 all-purpose yards. The top-five tacklers are seniors, led by 94 from Lafferty. Toby Jesseph has 89 stops in a breakout season, and Grant Stephens has 29 TFLs.
Burlingame’s Colby Middleton has delivered a huge season with 63 of 86 passing for 1,104 yards with 19 scores against zero interceptions. He has 146 carries for 1,063 yards and 30 scores. Burlingame, 0-3 in semifinals under Slater, has just four turnovers this season. The Bearcats have 8.8 yards per play.
Sophomore Dane Winters and senior Matthew Heckman have 52 catches, 13 for scores. Sophomore JD Tyson paces the defense with 80 tackles, 11 for loss. Burlingame has three non-offensive scores and is plus-18 in turnover margin. The Bearcats likely need to win on special teams and turnover margin to reach their first final since 1972.
8M-I WEST
Highlighted Game:
D8-#1 Leoti-Wichita County (11-0) at D6-#1 Hill City (10-1) – Wichita County
Wichita County lost to Little River in a wild 2020 Division I state championship game. Wichita County has been no lower than second in the rankings this fall. Hill City has been as high as second. Hill City lost to eventual state champion Meade in the ’21 state semifinals. Hill City is in the state semifinals for the second straight year, the first time that’s occurred in school history. Last week, Hill City defeated Meade, 68-50.
Wichita County was a Kpreps Potential Breakout Team this summer. The Indians went 6-3 last season and had an average score of 56-38. This season, the Indians have again led the classification in scoring offense with an average score of 60-9. Hill City has significantly improved its defense, too, from 27 points allowed to 14 points permitted this season.
Hill City junior quarterback Aiden Amrein has set several school passing records, including all-time passing yards. This season, he has completed 97 of 151 attempts for 1,522 yards with 24 scores against five interceptions. Amrein, Kaleb Atkins and Jayden Nuss highlight a prolific backfield. The trio has combined for 31 rushing scores and 1,831 rushing scores. Atkins is a multi-dimensional player with 51 catches for 837 yards and 13 TDs.
Senior Conner Dinkel has cleared 400 career tackles. He has 132 stops, 18 for loss. Senior Trent Long has 14 TFLs. Hill City averages 8.8 yards per play.
Last season, Wichita County defeated Hill City, 62-28, in Week 3.
While Hill City is much improved on defense, Wichita County might be on a different level. Wichita County quarterback Erhik Hermosillo has completed 59 of 95 passes for 1,086 yards with 22 scores against two interceptions. He has 157 carries for 1,589 yards and 31 TDs. His brother, sophomore Khris, has 103 rushes for 1,026 yards for 21 scores. The Indians average 9.9 yards per carry.
Hill City has played well as the underdog and is at home, but Wichita County is highly explosive. Senior Cordell Brown has led the Indians in tackles the last two seasons and has 70 stops this year. Khris Hermosillo has 15 TFLs, Brown has 11 TFLs, and junior Christopher Michel has 10.5 TFLs. Three of Wichita County’s top-five tacklers are seniors.
Class 8-Man, Division II
VIEW: 8M-II BRACKET
8M-II EAST
Highlighted Game:
D2-#1 Canton-Galva (11-0) at D3-#1 Axtell (11-0) – Canton-Galva
This is an historic matchup between likely the two best eight-man teams, regardless of classification. Statistically, these are among the best eight-man squads in recent vintage. Both teams are very close and feature remarkable players, led by Axtell’s QB Isaac Detweiler, RB/WR Brandon Schmelzle, RB Eli Broxterman, OL Owen Strathman, and Canton-Galva’s QB Garrett Maltbie, ATH/S Jett Vincent, OL/E T.J. Koehn.
This is a very even matchup and one that has been discussed since the summer. Axtell and Canton-Galva have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 all fall. Axtell is the defending state champion and won 24 games in a row. Canton-Galva is 53-5 since the start of 2018 with an undefeated state crown in ’19. Canton-Galva dropped down to Division II this year.
Detweiler, the reigning Division II Offensive Player of the Year, has accounted for more touchdowns (passing, rushing, receiving) than any player in Kansas history. Vincent, with a Colorado State offer, is Kansas’ all-time record-holder in career interceptions. Canton-Galva has nine pick-sixes this year, also a state mark. Axtell has an average score of 61-8, and Canton-Galva has an average score of 56-6.
Last season, Axtell defeated Wheatland-Grinnell in the season opener and again in the Division II state championship game. Vincent was 8M2 Defensive Player of the Year before he transferred to Canton-Galva.
Canton-Galva has incurred significant injuries. Maltbie missed time early with a knee injury suffered at the jamboree. A three-year starter, Maltbie has thrown for 1,541 yards with 27 scores against zero interceptions. Vincent has been banged up with a back injury. He missed two games and has played just defense the last two. Vincent is expected to be healthier and be able to go both ways. Vincent has accounted for 19 offensive touchdowns. He has 46.5 tackles and eight interceptions. Vincent moved to quarterback in Week 1 and accounted for more than 500 yards of total offense in a 66-36 win against Little River, currently ranked second in Division I. Cason Mastre has 40 catches for 856 yards and 18 scores.
For Axtell, Detweiler has 84 carries for 652 yards and 17 scores. Schmelzle has 39 carries for 458 yards and 15 TDs. Detweiler has 106 of 144 passing for 1,679 yards with 36 scores against one pick. Schmelzle, Grady Buessing and Eli Broxterman have combined for 92 catches, 29 scores.
Axtell has five turnovers and is plus 19 in turnover margin. Axtell has averaged 10.6 yards per play and permitted three yards a play. Axtell has 65 plays of 20 yards or more, while Canton-Galva has 24.
Canton-Galva has 11.5 yards per play and allowed 2.8. The Eagles have remarkably forced 36 turnovers. Overall, Canton-Galva has held teams to 51 of 159 passing for 547 yards with seven scores against 21 interceptions. This game could certainly go either way, and much hinges on Vincent’s health. It is possible that Canton-Galva – which has rarely had Maltbie and Vincent healthy in the same contest – has another level.
8M-II WEST
Highlighted Game:
D8-#1 Dighton (11-0) at D6-#1 Thunder Ridge (10-1) – Thunder Ridge
Thunder Ridge, Victoria and Dighton have been ranked third, fourth, fifth in the Division II poll nearly all season. Dighton has played a great schedule and defeated seven teams that reached at least the Round of 16. Both teams have excellent coaches with Thunder Ridge alum Joel Struckhoff and Dighton’s Ken Simon.
However, Dighton has a key injury with sophomore Daniel Cramer. Cramer has performed at an all-state level with 45 catches for 757 yards and eight scores. Eli Wilkinson has been exceptional on defense with 118 tackles, 13 for loss. Neeley and Shimer have combined for 1,615 yards, 68 percent passing and 25 scores against two interceptions. Neeley has 170 carries for 1,080 yards and 24 scores.
Thunder Ridge has an average score of 52-16, while Dighton is at 46-8. Dighton made a key midseason move when it switched all-state quarterback Max Neeley to running back and moved Carson Shimer to quarterback.
Thunder Ridge won a 62-46 shootout at Victoria last week. Senior Dylan Bice went over 4,000 career rushing yards. Bice enjoyed a mammoth game with 9 of 12 passing for 145 yards. He rushed 39 times for 221 yards and four scores. Thunder Ridge accounted for 499 total yards. Bice has 196 carries for 1,605 yards and 28 scores. The Longhorns have averaged 8.5 yards per play, while Dighton is at 7.7. Thunder Ridge lists 10 seniors on the roster.
Thunder Ridge senior Hunter Gitchel (6-2, 247) was hurt against Hodgeman County. Kaleb Wagenblast moved to guard, and junior Austin Barnes went to end. Wagenblast went through an ejection, and sophomore Brayden Burge (5-10, 220) stepped in at guard. Burge had never played varsity. Gitchel is expected to be good to go this week. Dighton is 7-1 at home and 3-3 on the road/neutral in playoff games under Simon.
This game would be very close and possibly even a slight edge to Dighton. However, Dighton being at less than full strength and Bice’s overall play gives Thunder Ridge an edge.
Class 6-Man
VIEW: 6-Man BRACKET
6-Man EAST
Highlighted Game:
D2-#1 Cunningham (10-0) at D1-#1 Waverly (10-0) – Cunningham
The two remaining unbeaten teams in 6-Man football will meet for a trip to the first-ever KSHSAA-sanctioned state championship in the classification.
Waverly has quietly flown under the radar all season despite an unblemished record. The Bulldogs re-enter the rankings this week after a 46-12 win over Tescott. After opening the playoffs with a bye, the Bulldogs topped Pawnee Heights 52-18 before answering an early Tescott score with 46 consecutive points in last week’s quarterfinal win.
Waverly doesn’t publicize statistics, but the Bulldogs average nearly 48 points per game. Quarterback Ben Meehan is a dual-threat for the offense and has plenty of options around him in back Koy Myers, and receiving threats Luke Bartley, Brady Wallace and Brantley Petersen. The Bulldogs have given up less than 14 points per games. Waverly has two close victories over Wetmore (38-32) and Peabody-Burns (38-34).
Meanwhile, Cunningham has gone wire-to-wire as the state’s top team. The Wildcats opened with a 38-30 win over second-ranked Ashland. Cunningham advanced to the semifinals with a 58-12 win over Wetmore. In that game, Luke McGuire rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns on only eight carries. McGuire also threw for 98 yards and a touchdown. Trey DeWeese threw for 104 yards and three scores, including 138 yards and three scores to Lane Halderson.
For the season, DeWeese has passed for 854 yards and 23 touchdowns. McGuire has added 539 yards passing and nine scores while also rushing for 480 yards and 12 scores. Halderson leads the team with 450 receiving yards and nine scores. Sophomore Luke Albers has added 414 receiving yards and eight scores.
6-Man WEST
Highlighted Game:
D4-#1 Cheylin (9-1) at D3-#1 Ashland (8-1) – Ashland
Two teams and coaching staffs who know each other well meet up for the second time this year and third occasion in the last two falls. These teams are very similar and junior-laden. Cheylin has no seniors in key roles.
Cheylin coach Chris Walden and Ashland coach Ben Fox were in the same graduating class and are leading their alma maters. Last season, Ashland finished third in the last year of non-KSHSAA sanctioned six-man football. Cheylin was second at state in ’19 and went undefeated for a state crown in 2020. The Cougars were 3-5 last fall, though with several close losses and were a Kpreps Potential Breakout Team this season.
Ashland lost 38-30 to No. 1 Cunningham in the season opener. This is by far Cunningham’s closest margin in 2022. Ashland allowed 42.4 points a game last season and has halved that to 21 this fall. The Bluejays, helped by the return of junior Kale Harris from back-to-back significant injuries the last two seasons, pace six-man in scoring offense with 60 points a game. Cheylin has an average score of 51-15.
Remarkably, neither team has thrown an interception. Ashland has three players with at least 273 passing yards and combined for a 30/0 TD/INT ratio. Cheylin has mainly used Logan McCarty at quarterback, though sometimes moved him to running back/receiver. McCarty has 1,238 passing, 1,063 rushing yards with 41 total scores. The Cougars have a 31/0 TD/INT ratio.
Ashland won, 50-28, against Cheylin in Week 3. The yardage total was similar, though Ashland forced two key turnovers early that pivoted the game.
Cheylin earned a marquee 49-48 comeback win against Northern Valley in Week 4. Last week, Ashland defeated Northern Valley, 68-20, but the Huskies were significantly banged up and without key players.
The Cougars have a significantly different team than the first Ashland matchup. Cheylin has the three well-known standouts of Brady Ketzner, Logan McCarty and Pablo Bermudez; the latter two are returning all-state selections. Cheylin has enjoyed breakout seasons from junior Connor McPherson, sophomore Harley McPherson, John Paul Sabatka, and Cooper Paugh. Walden and assistant Mike McCarty have done a great job. McPherson and the sophomores had zero to extremely little playing time in ’21 and started to emerge in Week 4.
Harley McPherson has picked off five passes, and Bermudez has 15 interceptions in his career. Logan and Bermudez have both started since they were freshmen on the state title game.
Ashland has notably enjoyed another big year from junior Britt Grigsby. He has completed 42 of 64 passes for 744 yards with 14 scores against zero interceptions. Junior Landen and sophomore Lathan McPhail have both had big seasons and combined for 14 passing scores and 11 receiving touchdowns. Landen has paced Ashland with 91 carries for 951 yards and 21 scores. Harris is highly athletic and enjoyed a huge year with 1,072 offensive yards and 21 TDs. Ashland has tallied 11 yards a play, and Cheylin is at 8.3.
Throughout the year, Kpreps has noted the difference a healthy Harris has made for Ashland. Cheylin will keep this game closer than the first meeting, but Ashland’s overall offensive firepower, Harris’ ability and home field advantage gives the Bluejays a slight edge in a likely 8 to 10-point margin. Ashland looks for its first final since 1995.
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