Four teams remain unbeaten in Class 4A, Division II as we enter district play.
Defending 4A-II champion Holcomb has cruised to a 6-0 start behind new quarterback Trey Gilbert. The transition has appeared almost seamless between Gilbert and 2015 All-Stater Trey Teeter. Gilbert has passed for more than 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns already this season.
Two other unbeaten teams are in the same district. Second-ranked Frontenac and third-ranked Columbus are both members of District 4, and will square off in Week 8 to decide the CNC League title.
Frontenac is led by senior quarterback Brandon Mlekus, an explosive dual-threat player at this level. The Raider defense has been the best in the classification in allowing only 33 points.
Columbus is unbeaten, but not necessarily untested. The Titans had to score the final 16 points of the game last week to edge Galena, 36-35. Keenan Stanley has done his best to replace 2015 All-State selection Jace McDown as the primary offensive weapon for the Titans.
Finally, Santa Fe Trail enters district play unbeaten though the Charges are likely not the favorite to reach the playoffs from their district. Traditional powers Holton (3-3) and Topeka Hayden (2-4) have been assigned the same district as Santa Fe Trail.
EAST
District 1 (Gilmore)
- Santa Fe Trail (6-0) – Santa Fe Trail is looking for a third consecutive playoff appearance. The Chargers are unbeaten, but have a challenge in this district against Holton and Hayden. Senior Peyton Newell has rushed for 1,205 yards and 16 touchdowns to lead the Charger offense. The line is solid led by senior Jake Hastings (6-3, 305).
- Holton (3-3) – Holton began the season 0-3 and had lost four consecutive games when you add in last year’s 4A-II state title game. Since, the Wildcats have won three straight and averaged 51 points per game in those wins. Miles McClintock-Strozier and Spencer Baum lead the Wildcat offense with 810 and 708 rushing yards, respectively. McClintock-Strozier has scored 11 times, while Baum has rushed for 10 touchdowns. Holton averages 414 yards rushing per game.
- Topeka Hayden (2-4) – Hayden enters 2-4 with all losses coming against 6A and 5A schools out of the Centennial League. The Wildcats picked up a 23-20 win last week on Patrick Ellrich’s 46-yard field goal as time expired. Hayden has to travel to Santa Fe Trail and Holton in consecutive weeks, but the Wildcats have been tested with their schedule.
- Jefferson West (1-5) – Jeff West has managed just a 16-14 win over Hiawatha this season. The Tigers have close losses to Chapman (8-6) and Riverside (21-14). Nemaha Central and Sabetha, both unbeaten in Class 3A, defeated the Tigers by a combined score of 102-0. By comparison, those two schools defeated Holton by a combined four points.
Key Games: (Wk 7) Topeka Hayden at Santa Fe Trail; (Wk 8) Topeka Hayden at Holton; (Wk 9) Holton at Santa Fe Trail
Winner: Hayden
Runner-up: Holton
District 2 (Gilmore)
- Prairie View (1-5) – The only time in the district with a win, Prairie View got that win in the season-opener by topping Anderson County, 26-24. Since then, the Buffalos have lost five straight, but have been competitive in most of those. That includes a 35-14 loss to No. 3 Columbus in a game where the Titans scored late to pull away. The Prairie View offense has only averaged 11.5 points per game.
- Baldwin (0-6) – Baldwin dropped to 4A-II this fall, but the Bulldogs have had little success in going 0-6 against Frontier League rivals. The Bulldogs have struggled on offense this season, averaging only 9.5 points per game. They will look for their strength of schedule to help them get one of the top two spots in District 2.
- Bishop Ward (0-6) – Bishop Ward has lost 26 consecutive games entering district play this week. The Cyclones last win came on October 25, 2013 when they defeated Atchison 26-21. This season, the Cyclones were shutout the first three weeks and have only scored 29 total points.
- Osawatomie (0-6) – With the departure of super-back Riley England, the Trojans have leaned more towards the pass this season. Chaseton Wylie passed for 707 yards in the Trojans’ first four games, but hasn’t played since. Will Thompson passed for 220 yards and two scores in the Trojan’s 20-14 loss to Iola last week. Osawatomie has lost three games by six points or less.
Key Games: All games are vital in a district where the four teams enter with a combined one win.
Winner: Baldwin
Runner-up: Prairie View
District 3 (Schremmer)
- Burlington (3-3) – The Wildcats enter districts after winning three of their past four games. However, they must bounce back from last week’s 56-7 loss to Class 3A defending state champion Rossville. Connor Jeffers is Burlington’s leading rusher with 530 yards and eight touchdowns on 106 carries. Defensively, Jeffers leads the Wildcats with 2.5 sacks. Burlington has already matched its win total from last season under new head coach John Petrie.
- Anderson County (2-4) – The Bulldogs enter districts on a two-game losing streak after lopsided losses to Independence and Wellsville. Senior Kyle Lamb is Anderson County’s biggest offensive weapon with 652 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 149 carries. Sophomore Austin Adams is the top receiver with 11 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The Bulldogs will try to return to the playoffs after advancing to the first round last year.
- Girard (2-4) – After losing three consecutive games, the Trojans gained some momentum with a 57-0 victory over Southeast-Cherokee. Girard hopes it can make a run to the playoffs after facing a tough Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League schedule that included a pair of 4A Division II ranked teams in Frontenac and Columbus. Led by veteran coach Leon Miller, the Trojans will try to make the postseason for a third consecutive year.
- Iola (2-4) – The Mustangs only victories are against a winless Osawatomie team and a 1-5 Prairie View squad. Plus, Iola fell 48-42 to Parsons, giving the Vikings their only win of the season. The Mustangs haven’t made the playoffs since 2008.
Key Games: All games are key in a fairly even district.
Winner: Girard
Runner-up: Burlington
District 4 (Schremmer)
- Columbus (6-0) – The Titans maintained their perfect record after escaping with a 36-35 victory over the Galena Bulldogs last week. Columbus is ranked No. 3 in the state. The Titans like to run the ball first as junior Keenan Stanley leads the team with 849 yards and 11 touchdowns on 89 carries. However, the Titans also can put the ball in the air. Junior quarterback Ridge Smith has passed for 616 yards and eight touchdowns. Kale Smith is the leading receiver with 14 catches for 271 yards and five touchdowns. Led by coach Dan Grundy, Columbus advanced to the state semifinals in 2015 and the state championship game in 2014.
- Frontenac (6-0) – The undefeated Raiders are ranked No. 2 in the state. Led by Brandon Mlekus at quarterback and a stingy defense, Frontenac has outscored its six opponents by combined score of 271-33. Last week’s game was especially impressive, posting a 43-0 win over Labette County team that had scored more than 40 points in four of its previous five games. The District 4 championship will likely come down to the Raiders’ Week 8 battle at Columbus. The Raiders fell to the Titans 54-43 last year but bounced back to reach the state quarterfinals.
- Baxter Springs (4-2) – The Lions are off to their best start since 2010, but they will have their work cut out for them in a district led by Columbus and Frontenac. Baxter Springs enjoyed lopsided victories over Oswego, Southeast-Cherokee, Riverton and Northeast-Arma. Those four teams have a combined record of 1-23.
- Parsons (1-5) – The Vikings finished 0-5 in the Southeast Kansas League under new head coach Travis Hurley. Parsons’ only victory was a 48-42 shootout at Iola. The Vikings have allowed at least 40 points in five of their six games.
Key Games: (Wk 8) Frontenac at Columbus will likely decide both playoff spots.
Winner: Frontenac
Runner-up: Columbus
WEST
District 5 (Nicholl)
- Nickerson (4-2) – Second-year coach Mike Vernon has led a big turnaround for the Panthers. Last season, Nickerson finished 4-6 with a close first round playoff loss to Andale. It marked a three-win improvement from 2014. This year, the Panthers have already matched their win total, including a 36-27 home win versus Hesston in Week 4. Nickerson has averaged 33.7 points per contest, up from 25.1 last year. The Panthers did take big losses to Pratt and Hoisington, the two top teams in the Central Kansas League. Nickerson gets Trinity and Clearwater at home. Last year marked the Panthers’ first playoff berth since 2007. Nickerson has never made the playoffs in back-to-back years.
- Wichita Collegiate (3-3) – The Spartans, defending Class 3A runner-ups, have played the No. 2 schedule in the classification, according to Prep Power Index. Collegiate has posted W-L-W-L-W-L this season with close losses to Hoisington and Andale and a big defeat versus Mulvane. Even with the schedule, the defense has permitted just 20.8 points per contest, easily the best in the district. Junior quarterback Cody McNerney has completed 101 of 155 passes for 1,354 yards with a 17/7 TD/INT ratio. He also leads the team with 376 yards and two scores. Collegiate is plus-two in turnover margin. The Spartans have made the playoffs every year since 2002.
- Wichita Trinity (3-3) – Trinity Academy has delivered some solid teams and standout players, especially Morgan and Tyler Burns, but is still looking for the first playoff berth in school annals. Trinity, with Kansas State commit Ben Adler leading the line, is 3-0 at home but 0-3 on the road. Junior Sammy Hardin has completed 82 of 141 passes for 1,061 yards with an 11/4 TD/INT ratio. Trinity is 5-4, 7-3, and 6-3 the last three years. The Knights are plus-seven in turnover margin and have averaged 31.3 points per contest.
- Clearwater (2-4) – Clearwater has lost three straight and has two losses this season by a combined nine points. However, the Indians have usually played well in districts. Last season, Clearwater went 0-5 to start the year but went 2-1 in districts and made the playoffs. In 2014, Clearwater opened 0-5, went 2-1 in districts and then won a playoff game.
Key Games: (Wk7) Wichita Trinity at Nickerson; (Wk 8) Clearwater at Wichita Trinity; (Wk 9) Clearwater at Nickerson will decide the runner-up spot
Winner: Collegiate
Runner-up: Nickerson
District 6 (Nicholl)
- Smoky Valley (4-2) – Smoky Valley was expected to yield significant improvement under second-year coach Tim Lambert, the longtime veteran previously at St. Francis and Concordia. The Vikings returned nearly their entire roster and has already doubled its win total. Smoky Valley has big road defeats versus Hesston and Halstead, but has permitted just 10 points a game in its four victories. The Vikings have tallied 23.2 points per contest after scoring just 10.6 last year. Junior Kyle Anderson leads the team with 104 carries for 806 yards and six scores, and junior Brett Heitschmidt has completed 62 percent of his passes with a 6/2 TD/INT ratio.
- Clay Center (3-3) – The Tigers, typically known for low-scoring games the last couple of years, have not had a single contest where the combined point total has exceeded 50 points. Clay Center has averaged 19 points and allowed 20 per game versus the No. 9-hardest schedule in Class 4A, Division II. Clay Center is 2-1 at home and 1-2 on the road. Junior Levi Pfizenmaier has rushed 91 times for 490 yards and four scores. Senior Kade Wallace has completed 23 of 40 passes for 412 yards with six scores against two interceptions. Clay Center is minus-7 in turnover margin.
- Chapman (1-5) – Chapman opened with an 8-6 win at Jefferson West and then has lost the last five contests by at least 16 points. Chapman has the second-lowest offense in the classification at 43 points.
- Rock Creek (1-5) – Rock Creek has maintained competitiveness in the Mid-East League with the average margin of loss 16.4 points. The Mustangs lost their first five games before a 35-7 win at St. Marys in Week 6. Rock Creek has played Wamego, Rossville and Silver Lake, teams with a combined four losses.
Key Games: (Wk 7) Smoky Valley at Rock Creek; (Wk 8) Rock Creek at Clay Center; (Wk 9) Clay Center vs. Smoky Valley
Winner: Clay Center
Runner-up: Rock Creek
District 7 (Nicholl)
- Scott City (4-2) – Scott City has bounced back from season-opening losses to Hays High (31-21) and Holcomb (32-13) and then started to roll. The tradition-laden Beavers have permitted just 21 points in its last four contests, including a 53-7 home victory versus rival Ulysses in Week 5. Scott City has rushed for 179 and passed for 120 yards a contest. The offense has averaged just 5.9 yards per play and sophomore Wyatt Hayes leads the team with 66 carries for 417 yards and six scores, along with 6.5 sacks on defense. Scott City is plus-3 in turnover margin against the No. 12 SOS in the classification.
- Colby (3-3) – Colby standout junior running back Jordan Schippers has carried the Eagle offense against a challenging schedule. Schippers has 59 carries for 461 yards and nine rushing scores and 25 catches for 553 yards and seven receiving scores. Junior Zach Hart has passed for 987 yards with a 13/9 TD/INT ratio. Colby has averaged 6.3 yards per play. The Eagles’ SOS ranks No. 17 in the 32-team classification, although the Eagles have lost to Ulysses, Holcomb and Norton in the last three weeks by 14, 14, and 11 points.
- Goodland (2-4) – Goodland owns a big 55-6 win against Wray (Colo.) in Week 2 but has dropped some contests in the challenging GWAC conference. Goodland’s losses have come by 35, 22, 28 and 14 points. Last week, Goodland delivered a key win, 26-17, at Ulysses. From ’04-15, Goodland had lost 10 straight to Ulysses.
- Concordia (1-5) – Concordia has dropped back after a 6-4 season last fall for second-year coach Austin Kingsbury. Concordia has two losses within 13 points, including a 22-12 season-opening home defeat to 5-1 Beloit. Concordia’s lone victory was a 30-14 win Week 3 at Chapman.
Key Games: (Wk 9) Colby at Goodland will decide the runner-up spot
Winner: Scott City
Runner-up: Colby
District 8 (Nicholl)
- Holcomb (6-0) – The Longhorns, defending 4A-II champions, have continued to roll. Holcomb, the No. 1 defense last season, ranks second to Frontenac with just 57 points permitted. Holcomb has won 15 straight games. Junior Trey Gilbert has replaced all-state quarterback Trey Teeter under center and has led the offense to 207 passing and 197 rushing yards per contest. He has thrown for 1,243 yards with a 21/5 TD/INT ratio. Senior Dillon Williams has 70 tackles – 37 more than second place – and leads the squad with 293 rushing yards. Holcomb has forced 20 turnovers and is plus-8 in turnover margin.
- Pratt (5-1) – Pratt averages 332 rushing yards and 72 passing yards a contest. The Greenbacks’ only loss came to Hoisington, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, 32-14 in Week 5. Sophomore Travis Theis has 123 carries for 917 yards and 13 scores, while senior Hunter Kaufman has 47 offensive touches for 661 yards and 11 scores. Pratt’s explosive offense averages 8.3 yards per play. The Greenbacks have just four turnovers are plus-seven in turnover margin. Pratt has lost to 57-26 and 33-7 the last two years. Pratt has already last season’s win total from a 4-5 season.
- Hugoton (4-2) – Senior quarterback Valentino Degollado continues to be one of the state’s top dual threat players. He has completed 79 of 139 passes for 1,255 yards with 17 scores against eight interceptions. He has also rushed 102 times for 406 yards and six scores. Hugoton has averaged just four yards a rush but 6.1 yards per play. The Eagles are minus-3 in turnover margin.
- Kingman (3-3) – Kingman has struggled against the top teams on its schedule with road losses to Hoisington (44-3), Halstead (44-0) and Hesston (35-7). Kingman defeated Hillsboro, 31-30, in overtime in Week 2 and has wins at Haven and versus Wichita Independent, schools that have a combined three wins.
Key Games: (Wk 7) Pratt at Hugoton will decide the runner-up spot.
Winner: Holcomb
Runner-up: Pratt
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