On this Friday Playoff edition of the Subway Fresh Take, we’ll recap quarterfinal playoff action from the 11-Man classes as well as the 8-Man state semifinals.
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Class 6A
Blue Valley 42, Lawrence 17 – Blue Valley scored 28 points in the second quarter to knock out top-ranked Lawrence in a 42-17 win. With the Tigers leading 14-7, Blue Valley defensive end Jeff Gurley returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead. William Evans scored with under a minute to go in the half for a 28-7 lead. Evans carried the load for the injured A.J. Totta by rushing for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. Colton McCumber passed for 166 yards and three scores for the Tigers. Blue Valley held Lawrence back J.D. Woods to 53 rushing yards.
Olathe North 44, Shawnee Mission East 30 – Olathe North used several big plays to knock out defending champion Shawnee Mission East. SM East outgained Olathe North by 175 total yards and ran 89 offensive plays to the Eagles’ 25. Olathe North kept pace by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 98-yarder by Isaiah Simmons in the third quarter after the Lancers had pulled to within 21-17. Olathe North also scored via a short field after recovering a Lancer fumble. Simmons also caught a touchdown pass and rushed for a score. Storey Jackson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including a late return of an onside kick. Wyatt Edmisten led SM East with 154 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 48 carries.
Lawrence Free State 52, Wichita Northwest 34 – After a wild first quarter that saw Free State lead Wichita Northwest 21-20, the Firebirds scored twice in the final minute of the second quarter to grab a 35-20 halftime lead. Bryce Torneden hit Zack Sanders on a touchdown pass for a 28-20 lead and the Firebirds recovered a Grizzly fumble on the ensuing kickoff. One play later, Jack Flynn passed back to Torneden for a short touchdown pass and the 15-point halftime lead. Torneden returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter as Free State extended its lead to 42-20. Sam Skwarlo rushed for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Free State, while Torneden added 108 yards rushing and two more touchdowns. Torneden also passed for 109 yards and a score. Kevin Folsom passed for 222 yards and a touchdown for Northwest, but was intercepted three times. Folsom also rushed for two scores for the Grizzlies.
Derby 46, Junction City 27 – Quarterback Brady Rust rushed 35 times for 292 yards and three touchdowns as Derby pulled away for a 46-27 win over Junction City. Rust also passed for 124 yards and a touchdown with another pass resulting in a wild touchdown for the Panthers. Derby led 23-20 when Rust completed a pass to Kaleb Kelly, who fumbled, but Kai Lemmons was there to pick up the ball and race to the end zone for a 10-point lead. Raye Wilson led Junction City with 145 rush yards and a touchdown, while catching three passes for 130 yards and two scores.
Class 5A
Mill Valley 56, Pittsburg 21 – Top-ranked Mill Valley scored 21 points in the second quarter to pull away from Pittsburg en route to a 56-21 win. Standout senior Christian Jegen rushed for 118 yards and four touchdowns and caught eight passes for 134 yards and three more scores. Logan Koch passed for 149 yards and three scores, including a touchdown pass to Lucas Krull. Koch was injured in the third quarter and played sparingly after. Brody Flaming filled in to pass for 65 yards and a touchdown. Pittsburg was led by Zach Roark who caught two touchdown passes.
St. Thomas Aquinas 42, St. James Academy 7 – Aquinas rushed for nearly 300 yards in rolling past St. James Academy, 42-7. James Cosentino rushed for three touchdowns and quarterback Karter Odermann added two more rushing scores. Odermann also threw a touchdown pass as the Saints took a 42-0 halftime lead. Aquinas held the beat up Thunder to just 95 yards of total offense. St. James played without Dylan Streeter and his 1,100 total yards due to a concussion.
Bishop Carroll 44, Wichita Heights 14 – Third-string quarterback Braden Howell stepped in early in the first quarter and led Bishop Carroll to a 44-14 victory over Wichita Heights. With Jake Allen out and Friday’s starter Cannon Lynch injured, Howell came in and rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Adam Theis led Carroll with 167 rushing yards and two more scores. Rodney Murphy led Wichita Heights with 111 rushing yards and two scores.
Goddard-Eisenhower 16, Maize South 0 – After picking up the school’s first ever playoff win a week ago, Eisenhower is now on to the state semifinals. The Tigers shut out Maize South 16-0 on Friday night by forcing five Maverick turnovers. Eisenhower led 3-0 at halftime on a Trey Greening 33-yard field goal. Joseph Weibel broke a 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 10-0 lead. Weibel finished with 136 rushing yards on 22 carries. The Tigers held Maize South quarterback Korie Frausto to 100 rushing yards on 22 carries. Frausto completed 5 of 14 passes for 43 yards and an interception. Eisenhower defeated Maize South for the second time this season.
Class 4A, Division I
Eudora 60, Basehor-Linwood 59, 2 OT – Eudora survived a furious comeback from Basehor-Linwood with a 60-59, double-overtime win. Eudora led 47-28 in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats scored, recovered the onside kick, and scored again to pull within 47-41. Eudora would drive to the Basehor-Linwood 2-yard line before turning it over on downs. The Bobcats faced a six-point deficit with 98 yards to go in 1:20 with no timeouts. Justin Phillips hit Eric Scott on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 3 second remaining to tie the game at 47. A bad snap on the PAT send the game into overtime. Both teams scored in the first overtime and each blocked the others’ PAT. In the second overtime, Basehor-Linwood took a 59-53 lead and elected to go for the two-point conversion after failing to convert their last two PATs. The Bobcats could not convert the two-point attempt and Eudora responded with a score and PAT to win, 60-59. Eudora’s Grant Elston rushed for 318 yards and four touchdowns, while Austin Downing added 195 yards and five scores. Basehor-Linwood quarterback Justin Phillips passed for six touchdowns and added another rushing score. Jackson Brimblecom caught four touchdown passes for the Bobcats.
Bishop Miege 65, Paola 14 – Paola struck first on an 11-yard touchdown run from Nathan Staats and got the ensuing onside kick, but powerful Bishop Miege scored the next 65 points in beating the Panthers. Miege quarterback Carter Putz tossed a touchdown pass to Nolan Gray to tie the game at 7. After a stop, Dawson Downing broke a 47-yard touchdown run to put the Stags up 14-7. Miege followed with an onside kick and another Downing touchdown to lead 22-7. Cameron Clark then broke a 59-yard scoring run and Putz hit Armstrong on a pair of touchdown passes to lead 44-7.
Andover Central 35, Abilene 34 – Andover Central withstood a big fourth-quarter rally by Abilene to advance with a 35-34 win. The Jaguars led 27-7 at halftime, but Abilene scored three times in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys scored on a halfback pass from Trey Bender to Ryan Wilson to pull within 35-34 with 1:46 remaining. Abilene’s PAT bounced off the upright leaving Andover Central with the one-point lead that they would hold on to. Jordan Birch rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass. Peyton Huslig passed for 157 yards and three scores for the Jaguars. Bender rushed for 81 yards and touchdowns for Abilene, while Harley Hazlett added 76 rushing yards and a score.
Topeka Hayden 17, Buhler 14 – Hayden’s Patrick Ellrich kicked a 29-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to lift the Wildcats to a 17-14 victory over Buhler. The Crusaders fumbled a Hayden punt late in the game that put the Wildcats in position for the winning score. Connor Schumacher rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown to lead Hayden. Dallas Crittenden passed for 95 yards and a touchdown to Mason Dodd. Buhler was led by quarterback Jace Williams’ 174 rushing yards. Williams rushed for a touchdown and passed for a score.
Class 4A, Division II
Holton 22, Frontenac 7 – Holton forced three Frontenac turnovers in beating the Raiders 22-7. Mason Barta rushed for 113 yards and two scores to lead the Wildcats. The game was tied at 7 in the third quarter when a Holton punt pinned the Raiders deep in their own territory. Holton sacked quarterback Brandon Mlekus in the end zone for a safety and a 9-7 lead. Mlekus hit Dylan Flora in the first quarter on a touchdown pass as the Raiders grabbed a 7-0 lead. Frontenac fumbled at the Holton 11-yard line late in the second quarter to keep the game tied at the half.
Columbus 36, Santa Fe Trail 27 – Top-ranked Columbus scored twice in the fourth quarter to get past Santa Fe Trail, 36-27. The Titans led 21-20 after three quarters and took a 29-20 lead in the fourth on a Keenan Stanley 9-yard touchdown run. The Chargers would respond with a Collin Watkins touchdown to pull within 29-27, but the Titans answered with Ethan Martin’s second rushing score of the night to win 36-27. Jace McDown led Columbus with 186 yards and two scores on the ground. Watkins led Santa Fe Trail with 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Andale 28, Hugoton 27, OT – Defending champion Andale survived a scare at Hugoton but prevailed 28-27 in overtime. The Indians and Eagles were tied 7-7 until the fourth quarter when Tristen Dagenais and Zach Meyer scored to give Andale a 21-7 lead. Hugoton’s Valentino Degollado tossed a touchdown pass to Zack Leininger and then scored on a short touchdown run with under a minute to go to tie the game at 21 forcing overtime. In overtime, Degollado hit Daniel Bustillos on a 6-yard touchdown pass, but missed the PAT wide left. Andale scored and converted their PAT for the 28-27 win.
Holcomb 55, Wamego 14 – The Longhorns rolled into the state semifinals with a 55-14 win over Wamego. Holcomb led 43-14 at halftime. Trey Teeter passed for 220 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Longhorns. Braden Showalter caught an 88-yard touchdown pass from Teeter and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Christian Merz caught three passes for 74 yards and two scores and added a short touchdown run. Dillon Williams led Holcomb with 115 rushing yards and two scores.
Class 3A
Wellsville 31, Sabetha 14 – Brock Frey scored on a 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to pull Sabetha within 21-14 of Wellsville. The Eagles responded with a 20-yard Reece Williams field goal to lead 24-14, and added a Zach Strawn touchdown run to advance 31-14. Strawn rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts to lead the Eagles. Frey led Sabetha with 126 yards on the ground and both Bluejay scores.
Rossville 42, St. Mary’s Colgan 32 – Defending champion Rossville won a 26th consecutive game with a 42-32 victory over St. Mary’s Colgan. The Bulldawgs built a 21-11 lead at halftime and then matched Colgan’s scoring in the second half. Tucker Horak rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Dawson Hammes added 104 yards and a score on 11 carries, while Christian Roduner scored twice as part of his 75 yards rushing. Colgan quarterback Ryan Cedeno passed for 215 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to Connor O’Brien. Garrett Normand caught eight passes for 151 yards and as score for the Panthers.
Halstead 44, Hoisington 8 – Halstead took advantage of six Hoisington turnovers in defeating the Cardinals 44-8. The Dragons led 24-0 at halftime and 30-0 after three quarters. Eli McKee rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns to lead Halstead. Blake Beckett, playing with a torn ACL, added 47 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Norton (9-2) at Wichita Collegiate (11-0) – Saturday, 3:00pm in Wichita
Class 2-1A
Troy 58, Lyndon 21 – Troy scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Lyndon in a 58-21 win. The Trojans led 22-15 at halftime and 30-15 after three quarters. Troy scored twice on defense on Brody Winder’s 99-yard fumble return and Cuttar Huss’ 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. Winder and Huss each also caught touchdown passes from Reid Greaser.
Olpe 26, Jackson Heights 6 – Olpe scored twice in the fourth quarter on Friday to eliminate Jackson Heights, 26-6. Dylan Redeker rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Eagles back to the semifinals. Quarterback Ryker Schmidt threw a touchdown pass and Andrew Burenheide added a touchdown run for Olpe.
Smith Center 42, Oakley 21 – Smith Center advanced to the 2-1A state semifinals by defeating Oakley for the second time this season. Three Redmen backs rushed for more than 100 yards led by Thayne Benoit’s 131 yards and three touchdowns. Cale Rogers added 123 yards and a touchdown, while Kaden Meitler 101 yards and a touchdown. Kendrick Smith rushed for 154 yards on six carries to lead Oakley. Smith Center shut out Oakley 35-0 in Week 2.
Phillipsburg 26, Meade 21 – Phillipsburg freshman quarterback Trey Sides scored on a 36-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to lift the Panthers over top-ranked Meade, 26-21. Phillipsburg rushed for 225 yards in the game while holding Meade to 135 rushing yards on 51 attempts. Mark Coomes led the Panthers with 89 rush yards while Conner Weinman added 80 yards and a touchdown.
8-Man, Division I
Hanover 56, Burlingame 32 – After an early Burlingame touchdown, Hanover’s Matthew White returned the kickoff for a score to tie the game and the Wildcats scored the next three touchdowns to grab momentum. Hanover led 36-16 at halftime and held off the Bearcats to win 56-32. Will Bruna passed for 259 yards and five touchdowns on the game. His second touchdown pass set a new single-season state record. He now has 56 on the season. Bruna also rushed for 75 yards and score. Trey Lohse caught 14 balls for 179 yards and three scores from Bruna. Dalton Sporing passed for 207 yards and three scores for Burlingame, while Clay Thomas caught six for 121 yards and two scores.
Spearville 68, Solomon 36 – Spearville led Solomon 16-12 after one quarter, but used a 24-8 second quarter to build a 20-point halftime lead. The Lancers then outscored the Gorillas the rest of the way to beat Solomon 68-36. Luke Heskamp rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Lancers. Nathan Stein passed for 97 yards and two touchdowns for Spearville. Jake Tiernan wrapped up a brilliant career by completing 35 of 46 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns for Solomon. Tiernan also rushed for 79 yards and two scores on 20 attempts.
8-Man, Division II
Argonia-Attica 52, Axtell 0 – Argonia-Attica advanced to the 8-Man, Division II state championship game for the second consecutive season with a 52-0 shutout of Axtell. The Titans were led by Devon Newberry who rushed for 43 yards and three touchdowns on the night. Alec McDaniel rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown and completed all three of his passes for 68 yards and a score.
Victoria 40, Sharon Springs-Wallace County 8 – Defending champion Victoria advanced back to the state title game in Newton with a 40-8 road victory at Wallace County. The Knights led 16-8 at halftime as Brady Dinkel tossed a touchdown pass to Grant Weber. Dinkel rushed for two more scores in the second half and tossed another touchdown pass to Weber to complete the scoring. The Victoria defense held Wallace County to 95 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
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