There will be six state championship football games played across Kansas on Saturday, but only one of those games will feature two undefeated teams.
The defending champion Rossville Bulldawgs (13-0) will face the Wichita Collegiate Spartans (13-0) in the Class 3A state championship at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson.
“We’re both undefeated,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “3A is a 64-team class, so if you can make it through that unscathed then you’re obviously a good football team.”
Both teams have been dominant on the road to the state title game.
Rossville has outscored its opponents by an average score of 55.6-14.0, while Wichita Collegiate has defeated its opposition 54.6-9.4. The Bulldawgs have not scored fewer than 42 points in a game and have defeated every opponent by double digits. The Spartans have scored more than 60 points seven times and have pitched six shutouts.
Last losing to Silver Lake in the 2013 semifinals, Rossville enters on a 27-game winning streak and is coming off a 49-0 semifinal win over Wellsville.
The Bulldawgs are 39-1 during the last three seasons, and senior Tucker Horak has been the starting quarterback during that stretch.
This season, Horak has completed 141 of 178 passes for 2,043 yards with 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 2,705 yards and 45 touchdowns on 176 carries.
“He’s comparable to players at any level,” said Hammes, who coached 6A’s Washburn Rural before taking over the Rossville program in 2013. “You could put him at any position, and he’d be the best player. He could play at any level and be special.”
However, Rossville’s talent does not end with Horak.
Junior running back Dawson Hammes has rushed for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns on 109 carries. Cole Schumacher (675), Christian Roduner (606) and Jacob Bradshaw (405) all have more than 400 yards receiving. Hammes leads Rossville with 139 tackles, while Derek Gentry is second with 96. Isaac Luellen has posted 18 sacks.
“We’re more than a one-man show,” Hammes said. “Our team has been pretty consistent. A lot of kids have stepped up and contributed.”
Wichita Collegiate is fresh off a 21-0 win in the semifinals over a previously undefeated Halstead team.
Spartans coach Mike Gehrer said his veteran squad has been very motivated since last year’s playoff loss to Scott City.
“That loss was a driving force for this season,” Gehrer said. “Two or three days after that loss, the kids were back in the weight room and committed to getting back to the same game and to go even farther. They’ve done it through hard work and dedication.”
Wichita Collegiate’s confidence increased after a 46-45 overtime win against 4A Division II’s 2014 state champion Andale in the third week of the season. Since then, the Spartans have won every game by at least three touchdowns.
Quarterback Austin Waddell has passed for 1,491 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
Nathan Burgoyne leads the Spartans with 1,458 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on 183 carries.
Jack Larsen has 38 receptions for 551 yards, while Burgoyne has 21 catches for 513 yards.
Defensively, Cooper Root leads with 78 tackles. Defensive ends Will Locke and Levi Aldag have five and four sacks, respectively.
“A strength of our team has been our defense,” Gehrer said. “We have very good team speed, and we really get to the ball on defense. We have two of the best defensive ends in the state. All of our kids run well.
“A key will be trying to contain Horak. We’re not going to be able to stop him. We just have to try to control him.”
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