Kpreps 2023 playoff coverage
Class 3A
VIEW: 3A Bracket
3A EAST
Highlighted Game:
D4-#2 Holton (5-4) at D3-#1 Wellsville (9-0) – Wellsville
Traditional playoff contender Holton is back in the Regional round after graduating its entire backfield from last year’s state runner-up squad. The Wildcats will make the trip to unbeaten Wellsville to take on the explosive Eagles.
Holton came in with plenty of question marks this season after being hit hard by graduation. The Wildcats have responded with a 5-4 campaign and an offense that still turns out 325 yards per game on the ground. Backfield depth isn’t as plentiful as a season ago, but senior Abbott Hundley leads the way with 955 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior Kyler Jackson has contributed 670 yards and six scores, while sophomore Cael Fraizier has added nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns. Holton has completed six of 22 pass attempts this season for 136 yards.
Wellsville is much more prolific in the passing game with senior quarterback William Dorsey. Dorsey has passed for 2,443 yards and 37 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Four Eagle receivers have dougle-digit receptions led by seniors Dezmond Winton and Brody Lee. Winton has 41 catches for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Lee has 38 catches for 747 yards and 11 scores. Junior Kenyon Gillins has added 33 catches for 499 yards and five scores. Sophomore Payton Otwell leads the Eagle ground game with 360 yards and seven touchdowns.
Wellsville has averaged more than 45 points per game with their closest contest coming in a 36-29 win over run-heavy Prairie View. The key for Wellsville is explosive plays and they must be able to slow Holton’s ground game.
Other second-round games:
D2-#2 Burlington (6-3) at D1-#1 Frontenac (8-1) – Frontenac
D1-#2 Parsons (8-1) at D2-#1 Prairie View (5-4) – Parsons
D3-#2 Santa Fe Trail (7-2) at D4-#1 Topeka Hayden (9-0) – Hayden
3A WEST
Highlighted Games:
D7-#2 Andale (8-1) at D8-#1 Scott City (8-1) – Andale
Only four Class 3A teams have not lost to a Kansas team this season: No. 1 Cheney, No. 3 Topeka Hayden, Wellsville – and Scott City. Scott City, just out of the rankings all season, is 8-1, 7-0 against Kansas opponents. In Week 2, Scott City defeated Wray (Colo.), 54-22. The following week, the Beavers dropped a 6-0 decision to Millwood (Okla.), a much bigger school that has an 8-1 record in the Oklahoma City area.
Andale’s 57-game winning streak ended with a 36-30 overtime road loss to Cheney in Week 7. Since then, the Indians defeated Pratt (43-6) and Hugoton (46-0). Scott City held off Hugoton, 28-6, on the road in Week 5. Andale is the favorite, but Scott City’s great season should be noted. The Beavers are seventh in 3A defense with 10.2 points permitted a contest, while Andale is fifth with 9.2 points allowed a game. Andale leads the classification with 67 points scored a contest, while Scott City has 31 points a game.
Andale has its great depth with Gage Prosser, Cooper Marx and Owen Eck in the backfield and Henry Eck anchoring up front. Andale had the best statistical start in school history through the season’s first five weeks. Scott City has enjoyed a great 1-2 combination with quarterback Camden Vulgamore and all-purpose threat Collin McDaniel. Last week, Scott City had both a pick-six and a scoop-and-score for a touchdown, per Scott City broadcaster Adam Kadavy. Scott City will likely need similar plays to beat the Indians, though this game is probably going to be closer than many expect.
Other second-round games:
D6-#2 Hesston (5-4) at D5-#1 Clay Center (8-1) – Clay Center
D8-#2 Holcomb (7-2) at D7-#1 Cheney (9-0) – Cheney
D5-#2 Rock Creek (6-3) at D6-#1 Wichita Collegiate (8-1) – Collegiate
Class 2A
VIEW: 2A Bracket
2A EAST
Highlighted Game:
D4-#2 Sabetha (8-1) at D3-#1 Silver Lake (8-1) – Sabetha
Sabetha visits Silver Lake in a battle of two tradition-rich programs from two of the premiere leagues in the small school classifications. Those two schools will become leagues rivals next season as the Big 7 Conference and the Mid-East League combine to form the Big East.
Both teams have a lone loss to a top tier team. Silver Lake dropped a 56-7 decision to 3A No. 3 Topeka Hayden back in Week 2. Sabetha dropped the regular season finale to top-ranked Nemaha Central, 28-0. The Blue Jays rebounded last week with a 71-6 thrashing of Atchison County – a team that Silver Lake bested 71-0 just a week prior.
Last week, Silver Lake routed Minneapolis, 58-7. The Eagles are led by senior dual-threat quarterback Tanner Martin. Martin connected on touchdown passes to Trenton Rollenhagen and Blake Redmond early in last week’s game and rushed for another score.
Sabetha used a 340-yard rushing performance in routing Atchison County. The Blue Jays were led by Colin Menold who rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter as part of his 99-yard, four-touchdown performance. Mitchell Kramer rushed for a score and threw a touchdown pass to Marcus Bauman. Sabetha’s ability to control the clock and limit Silver Lake’s big play capability will be key. The Blue Jay defense has allowed less than nine points per contest.
Other second-round games:
D2-#2 Humboldt (8-1) at D1-#1 Riverton (6-3) – Humboldt
D2-#3 Council Grove (6-3) at D2-#1 Osage City (8-1) – Osage City
D4-#3 Riley County (5-4) at D4-#1 Nemaha Central (9-0) – Nemaha Central
2A WEST
Highlighted Game:
D6-#2 Kingman (7-2) at D5-#1 Southeast of Saline (9-0) – SE Saline
This is a rematch from an epic 28-22 double-overtime Kingman home victory against Southeast of Saline in the 2A state semifinals last season. The contest, played in freezing temperatures, was arguably the 2022 game of the year and helped then-Kingman quarterback Nolan Freund earn the Kpreps Get Busy Livin’ Award, given to one senior football player each year. Kingman eventually lost to Nemaha Central in the 2A state championship game.
In 2023, both teams have again enjoyed great seasons. Southeast of Saline has the state’s longest current regular-season winning streak. The Trojans have rolled through their schedule, including a 22-17 road win in Week 5 versus Clay Center, currently ranked No. 4 in 3A. Kingman fell, 34-7, to Cheney in Week 1, and won at Conway Springs, 40-19, in Week 2. In Week 8, Kingman lost at Garden Plain, 28-25. Cheney is currently ranked first in 3A, Conway Springs is third in 1A, and Garden Plain is fifth in 2A.
SE Saline is top-five in scoring offense (42 points per game) and second in scoring defense with 7.1 points permitted a contest. Kingman has an average score of 32-14. Southeast senior quarterback Daniel Kejr has completed 86 of 129 passes for 1,118 yards with nine scores against four interceptions. Senior Nathan Friesen has enjoyed another big year with 116 carries for 787 yards and 16 scores. Kejr has 132 carries for 719 yards with 11 TDs. Sophomore Grady Gebhardt has rushed for 387 yards, eight touchdowns and by far leads the defense with 84 tackles. Southeast’s defense is superb with havoc plays, including 86 tackles for loss, 28 sacks and 26 turnovers.
Kingman has enjoyed a big season, including 67 plays for 478 yards. Tristen Davidson had three rushing touchdowns and 167 rushing yards, along with 10 of 16 passing for 131 yards with no touchdowns against three interceptions. Carter Helm is an elite two-way player and led Kansas in interceptions last fall. In the Garden Plain loss, Kingman rolled up 329 yards and led the majority of the contest before the Owls scored on a 66-yard run in the fourth quarter. Kingman is an excellent team, though Southeast of Saline gets the slight edge with its depth, especially on defense.
Other second-round games:
D8-#2 Beloit (5-4) at D7-#1 Hoisington (9-0) – Hoisington
D5-#2 Ellsworth (8-1) at D6-#1 Garden Plain (8-1) – Garden Plain
D8-#3 Thomas More Prep (5-4) at D8-#1 Norton (9-0) – Norton
Class 1A
VIEW: 1A Bracket
1A EAST
Highlighted Game:
D3-#2 Jefferson Co. North (8-1) at D4-#1 Centralia (8-1) – Centralia
This shapes up to be the top match-up on the eastern half of the classification. Jefferson Co. North and Centralia have met five times since 2012, and in each of the past three seasons. Centralia has won all five of those meetings.
The Panthers have won three straight since their lone loss of the season, a 35-6 home defeat to 2A No. 5 Garden Plain. The Panthers feature standout athlete Maveryk Becker who is a threat carrying the ball and as a receiver. Junior Jacob Flentie was the primary spinner-back for the Panther offense before an injury back in Week 5 in a win over Jackson Heights. He has returned to the field, but freshman Quentin Aldefer has also seen time directing the Panther offense as of late.
Jefferson County North has an experienced and talented team that may be their best in recent history. The Chargers rolled to five victories to open the season, including a 36-34 win over a good Wabaunsee squad. Jeff Co. North then fell to defending-champion St. Marys, 34-18.
Last week, Jefferson Co. North fell behind 16-0 to Troy midway through the second quarter before rallying to tie the game at 16 by halftime thanks to a touchdown run by Ethan Noll and a touchdown pass from Grady Noll to Cameron Seever. In the second half, the Chargers dominated and pulled away for a 48-22 win. Connor Keirns rushed for more than 200 yards on the night, while Grady Noll added 139 yards and two scores and Ethan Noll added 85 yards and three touchdowns.
Other second-round games:
D2-#2 Jayhawk-Linn (8-1) at D1-#1 St. Mary’s Colgan (9-0) – Colgan
D4-#2 Jackson Heights (8-1) at D3-#1 St. Marys (6-3) – St. Marys
D2-#3 Central Heights (5-4) at D2-#1 Olpe (7-2) – Olpe
1A WEST
Highlighted Game:
D7-#4 Hutchinson Trinity (4-5) at D7-#2 Medicine Lodge (7-2) – Hutch Trinity
Both teams have enjoyed great seasons for their respective programs. Trinity has not advanced past Week 10 since 2018. This marks Medicine Lodge’s most wins since 2006.
This is a rematch from Week 6 where Medicine Lodge defeated Hutchinson Trinity, 16-14. Both teams have been in multiple close games this season. Trinity is 0-3 in games decided by a score or less, including a double-overtime loss. Medicine Lodge is 3-1 in games decided by a score (total margin seven points) and has a six-point loss.
In the first matchup, Trinity held a 223-156 yardage edge, though had the only turnover in the contest. Medicine Lodge scored first on a 60-yard pass, while Hutchinson Trinity tied the game on a 75-yard pass. Medicine Lodge had a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter. The Indians added a 60-yard touchdown pass for a 16-7 lead. Trinity scored in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard pass from Drew Dechant to Eric Armour, the Celtics’ former veteran quarterback who moved to receiver.
Last week, Trinity earned an impressive 25-6 road win at Plainville, a Mid-Continent League team and a district champion. Armour finished with 15 offensive touches for 166 yards and three scores. Trinity has struggled with turnovers this season and has had at least one miscue in each contest. Overall, the Celtics have 14 turnovers and are plus-1 in turnover margin. Trinity has averaged 5.9 yards per play. In Week 9, Armour had a huge day receiving with seven catches for 254 yards and a score in a loss to Conway Springs.
Medicine Lodge has a four-win improvement from last year. Last season, the Indians averaged four yards per play and allowed 31 points per game. This season, Medicine Lodge is tied for fourth in 1A scoring defense with 12.1 points allowed and has upped its per play average to 6.1 yards per snap. Medicine Lodge has forced just nine turnovers this season and is minus-1 in turnover margin. Junior Sawyer Stone has 11 tackles for loss. Junior Keveon Ruiz has completed 78 of 145 passes for 1,281 yards with 14 scores and seven interceptions.
In the first matchup, Medicine Lodge held Armour to 13 touches for 60 yards. Armour has been highly explosive in the last couple of weeks and could be the difference in likely another one-score game.
Other second-round games:
D6-#2 Marion (8-1) at D5-#1 Smith Center (8-1) – Smith Center
D7-#3 Sterling (6-3) at D7-#1 Conway Springs (7-2) – Conway Springs
D5-#2 Valley Heights (7-2) at D6-#1 Sedgwick (8-1) – Valley Heights
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