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:
Jefferson Co. North (7-0) at 1A No. 1 Jackson Heights (7-0)
One of several top games on the Class 1A docket pits unbeaten Jefferson County North traveling to take on unbeaten and top-ranked Jackson Heights. This matchup between the visiting Chargers and host Cobras will decide the District 3 championship.
Both schools will enter the playoffs with high expectations, but first both are looking forward to a test before the second season begins. Neither team has been challenged much this season. Jackson Heights has outscored its opponents 378-26 this season. That’s an average of 54 to 3.7 per game. Similarly, Jeff Co. North has outscored its seven opponents 308 to 28 for an average score of 44 to 4.
Jackson Heights’ seven opponents are a combined 15-34 this season, while Jeff Co. North’s opponents have posted an 11-38 record.
The Cobras are experienced and led by senior quarterback Drake Mellies. Mellies is one of the top players in Class 1A. He and tight end Austin Zeller (6-4, 215) provide plenty for opposing defenses to account for.
Mellies has rushed for 838 yards and 15 touchdowns this season and has thrown for 1,057 yards and 16 scores. For his career, Mellies has rushed for 3,482 yards and 53 touchdowns, while passing for 3,147 yards and 31 scores.
Zeller, who holds multiple MIAA offers, has a team-leading 22 catches for 445 yards and eight touchdowns. Freshman Tatum Eisenbarth is second on the Cobras having rushed for 441 yards and five scores.
Jefferson Co. North will counter with a strong offensive attack under the direction of quarterback Will Elias. Elias has produced well over 1,200 yards of total offense this season having through 15 touchdown passes and rushed for 10 more scores.
Merick Noll, Nick Cahill, and Knox Heston provide plenty of options for the Chargers in the backfield. Noll has more than 400 rushing yards and eight touchdowns – five of those coming in last week’s win over McLouth. Chris Noll leads the receiving group with ten touchdown catches, while tight end Rex Fuhrman is another receiving threat.
Last season, Jackson Heights comminated this meeting 52-0 en route to a state quarterfinal appearance where the Cobras squandered a big lead in a close loss to Rossville. The Cobras seemed determined to make a deeper playoff run this season.
Our Pick: Jackson Heights 32, Jeff Co. North 16 (Gilmore)
Hutchinson Trinity (6-1) at 1A No. 2 Sterling (7-0)
Hutchinson Trinity stands at 6-1, while Sterling is 7-0 and ranked second in Class 1A. Both teams are 4-0 in District 7, and the winner will capture the district title.
Sterling has won the last two meetings, 13-7 in ’23 and 41-18 in ’24. Sterling, paced by running back Zane Farney, can also capture the Heart of America championship with a victory. If Trinity wins, there will be a multiple-team tie.
Sterling opened the season with close wins at Moundridge in Week 2 (27-15) and versus Inman (60-47). Since then, they have won four straight games by at least 26 points. Trinity started with a 24-6 home loss to Imman in Week 1. Since then, Trinity has had its normal great defense. The Celtics have permitted 41 points in the last six games – including back-to-back shutouts.
Farney has enjoyed another huge game with 112 carries for 1,297 yards and 27 scores – and is possibly the state’s best running back. Sterling has averaged 394 rushing yards per game and 11.3 yards per carry. Trinity will rely on quarterback Drew Dechant and a talented an experienced offensive line.
Trinity is an excellent defense, though Sterling is incredibly challenging to slow down.
Our Pick: Sterling 28, Trinity Catholic 14 (Nicholl)
Oberlin-Decatur Community (6-1) at Hill City (6-1)
This contest will decide the Eight-Man, Division I, District 8 championship.
Hill City has continued to be a consistent winner under Travis Desbein. The Ringnecks have enjoyed nine consecutive non-losing seasons under Desbien, easily the longest run in school history. A victory would give Hill City its second all-time district title, after 2021. Hill City won this matchup last year, 56-20, en route to a quarterfinal showing and a 7-4 record. The Ringnecks are 7-1 against Oberlin since 2014, including four straight victories.
Hill City lost, 30-20, to WaKeeney-Trego in Week 1 – and has since reeled off six straight victories. WaKeeney has since stayed undefeated and risen to No. 2 in Eight-Man, Division I. Hill City has six straight big victories and has scored at least 58 points in all the matchups. Overall, Hill City has averaged 57.4 points per game and permitted 17.1 points a contest. The Ringnecks scored 43 points a game but allowed 30 last season.
The marked improvement comes from multiple veterans. Senior quarterback Tate Balthazor, a multi-year starter, has completed 38 of 62 passes for 844 yards with 14 scores against three interceptions. Senior Tyler Ashbaugh has 81 carries for 766 yards and 15 touchdowns. Balthazor has delivered 65 carries for 655 yards and 10 TDs. Ashbaugh and sophomore Jaxson Smith have combined for 23 catches for 556 yards and a score. Junior Slade Rohr paces the defense with 78 tackles. Senior Aiden Hall has 67 tackles with a team-high 16 for loss.
Oberlin has its first winning season since 2019 and already has the program’s most wins since 2014. This also marks Oberlin’s best start since ’14 and second-best since at least 1989, per Kansas Football History. Oberlin has scored 44.8 points per game. The Red Devils fell 32-28 at Wallace County in Week 3 and have reeled off four straight wins since: versus St. Francis (38-28), at Hoxie (24-12), versus Stockton (64-0) and versus Atwood.
Josiah Pattangall was a key returning player after more than 1,300 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore. Oberlin was 4-5 last year and has improved under first-year coach Blake Gehring.
Both these teams have been somewhat overlooked since the early season losses, but each squad had posted a very strong year. Oberlin has not won a district title since 2014. It’s an historic win for either program, but Hill City likely has too much firepower.
Our Pick: Hill City 42, Oberlin 30 (Nicholl)
Burlingame (5-2) at Rural Vista (6-1)
This game will decide the Eight-Man, Division II, District 2 championship. Both the Burlingame Bearcats and Rural Vista Heat sit at 3-0 in district play. The winner will be the district champion, while the loser will reach the playoffs as the district runner-up.
Burlingame will look to rebound from last week’s non-district loss to Reno County Homeschool. The Bearcats were within 22-14 mid-way through the second quarter when the unbeaten Sabres added three touchdowns to take control, 44-14, by halftime. Reno County scored early in the third quarter to lead 52-14 before lightning delayed and eventually ended the contest.
Burlingame’s other loss came 42-26 at the hands of Madison back in Week 3. The Bearcats have posted district wins over Centre-Lost Springs (48-0), Lebo (36-32), and Hartford (54-8).
Coach Jeff Slater has built one of the most consistent eight-man programs in the state at Burlingame. The Bearcats won the district last season by defeating Rural Vista, 60-30, then advanced to the state quarterfinals before falling to Frankfort.
Burlingame features senior Danny Cain at quarterback and 6-foot-6 Drake Skirvin at receiver. Cain has passed for 1,194 yards and 18 touchdowns this season while adding a team-high 539 rushing yards and nine scores. Blake Middleton has provided balance to the run game with 479 yards and seven touchdowns, while Jude Aguilar has added 102 yards and four scores.
Skirvin is a match-up problem for any team and leads the Bearcats with 49 receptions for 722 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brock Moon has 17 catches for 289 yards and five touchdowns.
Rural Vista, the co-op between Hope and White City, will counter with a dominant run game that features one of eight-man football’s most productive players. Senior Kole Riedy (6-2, 170) has rushed for 1,435 yards and 25 touchdowns this season while averaging 11.8 yards per carry. For his career, Riedy is closing in on 3,000 career rushing yards and 500 career receiving yards.
Quarterback Koden Sanford has passed for 539 yards and four touchdowns and added 216 yards and ten scores on the ground. Senior Andrew Calvert has added 183 yards and three rushing scores.
Tyler Brockmeier has been the Heat’s leading receiver with 214 yards and two touchdowns, while Grant Eskeldson has 133 yards and two scores.
Rural Vista’s lone loss came 70-30 to state power Little River back in Week 2. IN that game, Rural Vista led 16-14 after the first quarter before a 24-0 run by Little River allowed the Redskins take control by halftime.
Rural Vista has been exceptional on defense allowing six total points in the last five weeks. They’ll need another strong effort on that side of the ball to limit Cain and Skirvin.
Our Pick: Rural Vista 38, Burlingame 32 (Gilmore)
The Pick List:
Bishop Carroll (4-3) at 6A No. 5 Derby (5-2) – Derby
Manhattan (5-2) at Washburn Rural (5-2) – Manhattan
Olathe Northwest (5-2) at 6A No. 4 Olathe West (6-1) – Olathe West
Shawnee Mission Northwest (4-3) at Shawnee Mission East (5-2) – SM East
Andover (5-2) at Andover Central (4-3) – Andover
4A No. 3 Bishop Miege (2-5) at Blue Valley (4-3) – Blue Valley
5A No. 5 Hays (5-2) at Liberal (6-1) – Hays
Holton (4-3) at Leavenworth (6-1) – Leavenworth
Salina Central (6-1) at Goddard (5-2) – Salina Central
Buhler (5-2) at McPherson (4-3) – Buhler
4A No. 5 Wamego (5-2) at Abilene (5-2) – Wamego
Cheney (5-2) at Pratt (6-1) – Pratt
Frontenac (6-1) at Neodesha (5-2) – Frontenac
Hesston (5-2) at 3A No. 1 Andale (7-0) – Andale
Jefferson West (6-1) at 3A No. 2 Topeka Hayden (7-0) – Hayden
Beloit (4-3) at Russell (6-1) – Russell
Caney Valley (6-1) at Riverton (4-3) – Caney Valley
Ellsworth (5-2) at 2A No. 1 Southeast of Saline (7-0) – SE Saline
Silver Lake (5-2) at Council Grove (6-1) – Silver Lake
Inman (6-1) at Moundridge (6-1) – Inman
Riverside (6-1) at Centralia (6-1) – Centralia
Sacred Heart (5-2) at Republic County (6-1) – Republic County
Central Plains (5-2) at 8M-I No. 3 Ell-Saline (6-1) – Ell-Saline
8M-I No. 5 Lincoln (7-0) at Clifton-Clyde (5-2) – Lincoln
Oxford (6-0) at 8M-I No. 1 South Central (6-0) – South Central
Frankfort (4-3) at 8M-II No. 2 Axtell (6-1) – Axtell
8M-II No. 1 Hanover (7-0) at Linn (5-2) – Hanover
8M-II No. 4 Hodgeman County (7-0) at 8M-II No. 3 Victoria (6-0) -- Victoria
6M No. 2 Cunningham (6-1) at 6M No. 5 Tescott (6-1) -- Cunningham
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
