Each week 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:
Basehor-Linwood (5-0) at Tonganoxie (4-1)
The unbeaten Basehor-Linwood Bobcats travel to Tonganoxie to take on the Chieftains in a battle of two teams that sit atop their respective district standings. The two schools are separated by less than ten miles.
Basehor-Linwood is off to a 5-0 start for a second consecutive season. The Bobcats average 41.8 points per game thanks to a highly-explosive offense led by senior quarterback Carson Dixon. Dixon has completed 68 percent of his passes for 968 yards and 12 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He also remains the team’s leading rusher with 283 yards and five rushing scores.
Sophomore Gavin Mitchell is the Bobcats’ second leading rusher with 272 yards and five touchdowns, while Peter Rodriquez (209 yards) and Jeremiah Buie have also share carries.
When the Bobcat offense has needed a big play, Dixon has looked to senior Nash Morrison. After Basehor-Linwood lost senior Nate Martin to an early-season injury, Morrison has elevated his game and produced 28 receptions for 466 yards and six touchdowns so far this season. Morrison snagged eight catches for 154 yards and four touchdowns in the Bobcats’ 42-38 win at De Soto a couple of weeks ago, including the game-winner with :13 seconds left.
Roman Miller has added 16 catches for 196 yards and two more scores.
Jacob Sharp continues to lead the Bobcat defense with 56 stops including three for loss. Ty Darting, Noah Gutierrez, and Cole Hofer lead a talented secondary that has four interceptions through five weeks.
Tonganoxie has won three consecutive games since being shutout by Spring Hill, 35-0, back in Week 2. The young Chieftains have close victories over Louisburg (20-14) and Paola (14-0) along with big wins over Lansing (40-15) and Bonner Springs (42-0).
Sophomore quarterback Bodee Maslak has led a balanced Tonganoxie offense. The Chieftains average 155 yards per game on the ground, and 152 yards through the air. Maslak has completed nearly 58 percent of his pass attempts for 758 yards and four touchdowns against five interceptions.
Junior Blake Riedel has rushed for a team-high 326 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Maslak has added 237 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Senior Jacob Morenz has 471 yards on 27 receptions to lead the team, while sophomore Kipton Harder has eight catches for 205 yards.
The two teams have split the last six meetings. Last season, Dixon torched the Tongie defense for 373 yards and three touchdowns through the air as part of a 44-6 Bobcat win. Morrison and Miller each had more than 100 yards receiving on the night.
Our Pick: Basehor-Linwood 34, Tonganoxie 17 (Gilmore)
Sabetha (5-0) at 2A No. 2 Nemaha Central (5-0)
A huge contest in the Big East League and in 2A District 4 as unbeaten Sabetha (5-0) will travel to take on No. 2 Nemaha Central (5-0). Sabetha and Nemaha Central are the two undefeated teams left in the 11-team league.
Sabetha earned a quality 28-16 season-opening win against Holton, a team that has won four straight since. Since then, the Bluejays have permitted only 14 total points.
Nemaha Central has won seven straight in the series dating to back to 2020. Last three years, the games have been 17-7, 24-0 and 21-0. The Thunder feature Carter Hajek, the multiple time Top 11 player who is closing on the Kansas record for career total touchdowns. This year, Hajek has already posted 102 carries for 950 yards and 17 scores, including 300-plus yards against 1A-ranked Rossville.
Nemaha Central averages 6.2 yards per carry and 277 rushing yards per game. Hajek is efficient in the passing game with 22 of 38 for 369 yards with six touchdowns against two interceptions.
The Thunder has put together an excellent resume, especially in Weeks 2-4: versus Silver Lake (42-7), at Rossville (56-28) and versus 4A Chanute (28-14).
Sabetha, a 6-4 team has year, tallied just 16.4 points per contest in ’24. The Bluejays have upped to 27.8 points per game this season. Will Voos has rushed for a team-high 646 yards and eight touchdowns.
Sabetha also leads in 2A in fewest points allowed. The Bluejays will keep this a low scoring game, but no team has been able to solve Hajek.
Our Pick: Nemaha Central 27, Sabetha 14 (Nicholl)
Madison (5-0) at 8M-I No. 5 Lyndon (4-0)
This contest will likely decide the Eight-Man, Division I, District 2 championship. Madison is 5-0, 2-0 in district, while Lyndon stands at 4-0, 2-0. They are among the nine undefeated teams left in Division I.
Madison has run through its schedule with every win by at least 16 points. The most quality victory was a 42-26 home victory in Week 3 against Burlingame, then ranked fifth in Division II. Madison has outscored opponents 252-62, or an average score of 50.4-12.4.
Lyndon, a Kpreps Potential Breakout Team in the summer, has moved into the top-five in Division I. The Tigers had a Week 3 bye sandwiched around wins at Pretty Prairie (52-0) and Division II power Frankfort (54-44). They also won at Chase County (68-18) and at Flinthills (50-0).
In 2023, Lyndon went 13-0 and won its first ever eight-man state championship. They took major graduation losses last year and slipped back to 5-4, including three losses by a combined 18 points. Lyndon fell to Madison, 40-36 last fall. This will also be the fourth straight year the teams have played. Madison won in ’22 and ’24, while Lyndon won last year.
For Lyndon, senior Lucas Griffin has completed 22 of 36 passes for 379 yards with five scores against no interceptions. Lyndon has delivered 299 rushing yards and 9.5 yards per carry. Senior James Marcotte has 62 catches for 533 yards and 10 scores. Marcotte and junior Josh Vignery have combined for 12 catches for 264 yards and four TDs. Last year, Lyndon posted 175 rushing yards and 6.5 yards per carry.
Madison is the Lyon County League champion. Brayden Grimmett had six touchdown passes against Northern Heights. Octavian Dean has served as the main receiver, including 101 receiving yards last week. Cruz Leiser cleared 200 rushing yards.
Both teams have enjoyed a stellar season in a matchup that could clear 90 total points. Lyndon has become very run-heavy this year and has a great back in Marcotte.
Our Pick: Lyndon 48, Madison 44 (Nicholl)
8M-I No. 2 Little River (5-0) at Ell-Saline (4-1)
The first of a series of three key matchups in Eight-Man, Division, District 3 featuring three of the state’s top teams in No. 2 Little River (5-0), No. 4 Central Plains (4-1), and Ell-Saline (4-1). This week, Little River goes on the road to take on the Ell-Saline Cardinals.
Little River has rolled to an unbeaten start having posted three shutouts allowed 36 total points. Similarly, Ell-Saline has rebounded from a season-opening loss to 8M-II No. 3 Hanover (32-8) to post four straight wins, including three consecutive shutouts. The Cardinals have allowed only 38 points all season.
Little River features several talented players on a balanced offense. The Redskins average 200 yards per game on the ground with carries divided among senior Jaxon Konen and juniors Logan Schubert, Jhet Ewertt, and Jaren Garrison. Schubert has rushed for a team-high 287 yards on just 19 carries. He shares the team lead with Garrison with each rushing for seven touchdowns. Konen has contributed 261 yards rushing with four scores, while Ewertt has 175 yards and six scores.
Konen and Garrison have shared the duties behind center, each completing 14 passes. Garrison has thrown for 334 yards and three scores, while Konen has passed for 258 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior Ty Janette and junior Blayne Baldetti led the team with 177 and 142 receiving yards, respectively. Janette has four touchdown catches and Baldetti, two. Schubert has added 108 yards receiving with two scores.
The diversified Redskin offense make it difficult on opposing defense to prepare.
Ell-Saline features one of eight-man football’s top players in senior Reece Krone. Korne (6-5, 230) is a load at quarterback and with classmate Kas Kramer, the Cardinals have one of the top backfield duos in the classification.
Krone has completed 74 percent of his passes for 533 yards and ten touchdowns against no interceptions. He’s added four rushing scores.
Kramer has rushed for 450 yards and eight scores while averaging nearly 11 yards per carry. He’s added five receptions on the season – three of which have gone for touchdowns. Trey Williams leads the team with four touchdown catches, while Landon May and Collin Dent are also receiving threats.
The Ell-Saline defense hasn’t allowed a point since Week 2. Kramer and Krone lead the team in tackles. Krone has five sacks, while Kramer has four interceptions and Dent has picked off three passes.
Last season Ell-Saline won at Little River, 38-36. The Redskins scored with :28 seconds remaining, but had an errant snap on the potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt. Little River went on to reach the state quarterfinals before falling to eventual runner-up, and fellow District 3 member, Central Plains. Ell-Saline was upset by Madison 14-12 in the second round of the 8M-I playoffs.
Both teams are expected to make deep playoff runs again this season.
Our Pick: Littler River 40, Ell-Saline 32 (Gilmore)
The Pick List:
Blue Valley Northwest (3-2) at Blue Valley (2-2) – Blue Valley Northwest
Derby (3-2) at Valley Center (3-2) – Derby
Maize South (4-1) at 6A No. 1 Maize (5-0) – Maize
6A No. 4 Manhattan (4-1) at 6A No. 2 Wichita Northwest (4-1) – Manhattan
Olathe West (4-1) at 5A No. 4 Mill Valley (4-1) – Mill Valley
Andover Central (3-2) at Salina Central (4-0) – Andover Central
Bishop Carroll (3-2) at 4A No. 1 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (5-0) – Kapaun
Leavenworth (4-1) at De Soto (4-1) – De Soto
Liberal (5-0) at 5A No. 2 Great Bend (5-0) – Great Bend
4A No. 4 McPherson (4-1) at Mulvane (4-1) – McPherson
Anderson County (3-2) at Prairie View (4-1) – Prairie View
Baldwin (3-2) at Santa Fe Trail (5-0) – Santa Fe Trail
3A No. 3 Holcomb (5-0) at Scott City (4-1) – Scott City
Holton (3-2) at 3A No. 2 Topeka Hayden (5-0) – Hayden
Phillipsburg (3-2) at Pratt (4-1) – Pratt
St. Marys (3-2) at 2A No. 3 Osage City (5-0) – Osage City
Hutchinson Trinity (4-1) at Ellinwood (4-1) – Hutch Trinity
Marion (4-1) at Moundridge (4-1) – Marion
Troy (4-1) at Riverside (4-1) – Riverside
Leoti-Wichita Co. (3-2) at La Crosse (3-2) – Wichita Co.
St. Francis (3-2) at Atwood-Rawlins Co. (3-2) – Rawlins County
Sylvan-Lucas Unified (5-0) at Clifton-Clyde (4-1) – Clifton-Clyde
8M-II No. 5 Hutch Central Christian (5-0) at Argonia-Attica (4-1) – Central Christian
6M No. 5 South Barber (4-1) at 6M No. 3 Ingalls (5-0) – Ingalls
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