Friday Fresh Take presented by Subway –
On this Friday Playoff edition of the Subway Fresh Take, we’ll recap first round playoff action from Class 6A, 5A, 4A Divisions I & II, and Class 2-1A.
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Class 6A
Blue Valley 49, Olathe South 35 – Blue Valley was challenged by Olathe South before eventually posting a 49-35 win over the Falcons. The two teams were tied at 21 at halftime and again at 28 in the third quarter. Tiger running back William Evans scored his second touchdown of the third quarter to give Blue Valley a 35-28 lead after three. But Olathe South tied the game at 35 early in the fourth quarter. Blue Valley would add two Matthew Dercher touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and the Tiger defense intercepted two passes to secure the win.
Blue Valley North 20, Shawnee Mission West 9 – Blue Valley North took the lead for good on a short touchdown run from back-up running back Tony Bragulla in the second quarter. Bragulla, playing for the injured Grant Hamel, scored late in the second quarter to give the Mustangs a 10-7 lead. North opened the second half with a touchdown drive for a 17-7 lead. Hamel is expected to be back next week when the Mustangs take on top-seed Blue Valley.
Shawnee Mission East 36, Gardner-Edgerton 35 – Gardner-Edgerton took an early 14-0 lead and nearly took down No. 3 Shawnee Mission East. The Lancers scored on a Milton Braasch touchdown with :33 seconds remaining and Braasch converted a two-point conversion to win 36-35. Braasch rushed for three touchdowns in the win. The Lancers will take on rival Shawnee Mission North in the quarterfinals.
Shawnee Mission North 52, Lawrence 49 – Oscar Aguilar nailed a 26-yard field goal with :02 seconds left to lift Shawnee Mission North to a 52-49 upset win at Lawrence. The Indians advanced to the state quarterfinals in avenging an early-season, 52-26 loss to Lawrence. Lawrence led 28-21 at halftime despite losing running backs Trey Moore and James Reeder to injury in the first half. The teams traded scores after halftime and were knotted at 35 entering the fourth quarter. Lawrence regained a 42-35 lead on an Angel Garcia touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, but North responded with a Will Schneider run with under eight minutes remaining. The Indians chose to go for the two-point conversion, but failed leaving Lawrence with a 42-41 lead. Garcia scored again to give the Lions a 49-41 lead with 3:52 remaining, but Schneider immediately connected on a 80-yard touchdown pass to Noah Laird and the conversion tied the game at 49 setting up Aguilar’s late field goal. Schneider passed for 385 yards and four touchdowns in the game, and depending on the final numbers, may have pulled to within 94 passing yards of the all-time state record for a career. Silver Lake’s Kyle Kruger holds the state record with 8,781 passing yards, while Friday’s total should put Schneider at 8,687 career yards.
Derby 65, Wichita Northwest 28 – The top-ranked Panthers scored 31 points in the second quarter to pull away from Wichita Northwest in a 65-28 win. Derby’s lead was 14-7 after one quarter, but the Panthers quickly scored four touchdowns in the second quarter. Derby scored on a Brody Kooser 16-yard run, a blocked punt return, a touchdown pass from Dan Dawdy to Kai Lemons, and an interception return for a touchdown. Dawdy threw for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns, while Kooser rushed for 220 yards, two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass.
Hutchinson 42, Junction City 41, OT – Hutchinson stopped Junction City on a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt in overtime to preserve a 42-41 win. Peyton Pendergrass stopped Junction City’s Baylor Wilkey short of the goal line sending the Salthawks in to the quarterfinals. Hutchinson scored on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line as Conor Craig dove into the end zone for a 42-35 lead. Wilkey later scored for the Blue Jays to set up the deciding two-point conversion. Hutchinson missed a long field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter. Hutch reversed a 56-21 beating to Junction City in last year’s first round playoff game.
Washburn Rural 24, Manhattan 21 – Washburn Rural avenged a 28-6 regular-season loss to Manhattan by eliminating the Indians 24-21 on Friday night. The win was the Junior Blues’ first over Manhattan since 1992. Rural stuffed Manhattan on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter and freshman Joey Blakesley kicked a 22-yard field goal on the ensuing possession for a 17-14 lead. Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Hunter Browning scored on a short touchdown run to put Rural up 24-14. Manhattan pulled to within 24-21 on an Ian Trapp touchdown run, but Washburn Rural was able to grind out the clock. Jordan White rushed for 112 yards and passed for 107 to lead the Junior Blues. Trapp led Manhattan with 163 yards on the ground.
Lawrence Free State 42, Garden City 7 – The Firebirds traveled more than 330 miles and dominated the previously undefeated Buffaloes in the first ever matchup between Free State and Garden City. Free State scored on its second possession on a Dallas Crittenden touchdown pass to Bo Miller, and extended their lead to 14-0 on a Jax Dineen run in the first quarter. The Firebirds bumped the lead to 21-0 on a Zion Bowlin 47-yard scoring run in the second quarter, and 28-0 as Keenan Garber returned a punt 61 yards for a score just before halftime for a 28-0 lead. Garden City scored for the only time with 3:11 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-7. Bowlin and Dineen each added touchdown runs in the fourth quarter as the Firebirds pulled away for a 42-7 win. Free State rushed for 260 yards in the win as both Bowlin and Dineen broke the 100-yard mark.
Class 5A
St. James Academy 53, KC Schlagle 17 – St. James Academy took advantage of Schlagle turnovers in beating the top-seeded Stallions, 53-17. Jack Petz rushed for four touchdowns in the first half as the Thunder built a 32-9 lead. St. James advances to take on fellow new EKL member Mill Valley in the next round. The two teams met in the season opener with Mill Valley winning 35-13.
Mill Valley 55, Blue Valley Southwest 24 – Blue Valley Southwest looked to be poised for another upset. The Timberwolves led defending champion Mill Valley 17-10 at halftime, but the Jaguars used a big second half to pull away for a 55-24 win. Brody Flaming passed for 215 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 232 yards and two more scores for the Jaguars. Cameron Young added 130 yards on the ground, while Ben Hartman caught six passes for 116 yards and a score.
Topeka Seaman 62, KC Turner 14 – Seaman jumped out to a 41-0 lead in the second quarter and blitzed KC Turner 62-14. The Vikings scored 55 points in the first half. Dalton Cowan passed for 140 yards and three touchdowns, while nine different Vikings combined for 220 rushing yards.
St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Bonner Springs 14 – Will Swanson rushed for a pair of first-half touchdowns as Aquinas built a 21-0 lead at the break en route to a 28-point win. Drew Hicks rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the second half, as the Saints eventually pushed their lead to 42-0.
Wichita Heights 42, Emporia 7 – Top-seeded Wichita Heights used a big second half to pull away for a 42-7 win over Emporia. The Falcons lead was only 14-7 at halftime, but Ontario Russell and K’Vonte Baker alternated scoring touchdowns in the second half to pull away. Baker rushed for nearly 200 yards and three scores, while Russell added 165 yards and three more scores.
Goddard 20, Bishop Carroll 12 – Goddard’s Kody Gonzalez scored twice in the fourth quarter as the Lions beat Bishop Carroll 20-12. Goddard sealed the game as Ian McSwain intercepted a Carroll pass in the end zone. The Lions intercepted Carroll quarterback Braden Howell six times in the game, including a 100-yard pick-6 by Dayton Driskell that provided Goddard’s only points until Gonzalez’s fourth quarter. Gonzalez rushed for 128 yards, while Blake Sullivan added 127 for the Lions.
Great Bend 16, Andover 7 – Great Bend moved to 9-1 and defeated former Panther coach Tony Crough, who went to Andover after last season. The game was tied at seven at halftime when Great Bend quarterback Jacob Murray was stopped on fourth down from the 1-yard line just before intermission. Great Bend went up 9-7 in the third quarter on a safety. Andover later missed a 26-yard field goal. With 10:37 left in the fourth, Murray found Brayden Smith for a 58-yard scoring pass for the final points. Peyton Mauler had a key interception with seven minutes remaining to solidify the win.
Valley Center 27, Maize 13 – Valley Center grabbed a 12-7 halftime lead and scored a touchdown in the third and fourth quarter to beat Maize 27-12. Quarterback Josh Roeser rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hornets. Roeser continues to fill-in at quarterback for the injured Wyatt Lange. Dayln Johnson led Maize with 146 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Class 4A, Division I
Basehor-Linwood 21, De Soto 14 – Basehor-Linwood held off a very good De Soto team 21-14 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bobcats led 7-0 at halftime on a Chas Rollo touchdown run, and 14-0 after Justin Phillips hit Jackson Brimblecom on a short touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Phillips then hit Eric Scott on a touchdown pass for a 21-0 lead with under five minutes remaining. De Soto scored on a long touchdown pass and added a touchdown with under ten seconds remaining for the 21-14 final.
Ottawa 45, Labette County 13 – Ottawa scored 35 points in the first half in a 45-13 win over Labette County. The Cyclones scored on their first offensive play on a 85-yard touchdown pass from Isaac McCullough to Cooper Diel. Devion Bethea rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, while McCullough threw three touchdown passes. Diel caught two touchdown passes and returned a fumble 85y yards for another score on defense.
Bishop Miege 64, KC Piper 0 – Defending champion Bishop Miege led Piper 42-0 at halftime and eventually won 64-0. The Stags led 15-0 after one quarter, but scored 27 points in the second quarter to provide separation. We talk so much about the Miege offense, but the Stag defense posted its third shutout and held Piper to 149 yards of total offense.
Louisburg 20, Independence 0 – Louisburg traveled to Independence and shut out the Bulldogs, 20-0. The Wildcats led 7-0 after the first quarter on a Korbin Hankinson touchdown run. The lead grew to 13-0 by halftime as Grant Harding hit Hankinson on a long touchdown pass late in the second quarter. Thomas San Agustin added a late touchdown run to give Louisburg its first playoff win in four years.
Mulvane 42, Augusta 7 – Mulvane cruised to a 35-point win over Augusta to advance to the 4A-I quarterfinals. Jayden Price threw for 180 yards and four touchdowns in the win for the Wildcats. Price also added 85 yards rushing and a score. Mulvane led 28-0 at halftime and 42-0 before the Orioles scored in the fourth quarter.
Buhler 45, Abilene 13 – Buhler jumped out to a 45-0 lead in rolling past Abilene 45-13. Crusader running back Dalton Brown rushed for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Buhler advances to host Mulvane in the next round. The Crusaders defeated the Wildcats twice in 2015, 20-14 during the regular season and 35-28 in the 4A-I playoffs.
Maize South 63, Ulysses 14 – Maize South overwhelmed visiting Ulysses 63-14 on Friday night. Quarterback Ethan Richardson rushed for more than 100 yards and four touchdowns as the Mavericks advanced to the quarterfinals to take on McPherson. Maize South won at McPherson 14-6 back in Week 2 of the regular season.
McPherson 21, Andale 20 – Drew Labertew kicked a 27-yard field goal with 14 seconds to play, as the Bullpups defeated Andale, 21-20. The Indians led 20-15 entering the fourth quarter after two touchdowns from senior quarterback Taylor Richter. McPherson led 15-8 at halftime and used its ground game to rush for nearly 340 yards. After Andale’s big third quarter, the Bullpups pulled to within 20-18 on a Labertew field goal with 8:25 remaining to set up his late-game heroics. The game was the last for Andale coach Gary O’Hair, who has announced he and his wife will move to New Mexico after the season.
Class 4A, Division II
Topeka Hayden 55, Osawatomie 34 – Hayden used a 29-point second quarter to pull away from Osawatomie. The Wildcats led 43-14 at halftime before the Trojans won the second half, 20-14. Nine Hayden ball carriers combined to rush for 275 yards in the game. Tomas Stringer and Conor Hobart each rushed for a pair of touchdowns for Hayden. Cody Hazlett rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns to lead Osawatomie.
Girard 28, Columbus 24 – Perhaps the biggest surprise from Friday night occurred in Girard where the Trojans knocked off No. 5 Columbus, 28-24. An Eric Wilson touchdown and an Isaiah Fisher pick-6 gave Girard a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter. Kale Smith pulled the Titans to within 16-8 at halftime, and Keenan Stanley tied the game at 16 in the third quarter with a 35-yard touchdown run. Girard would answer right back as Wilson hit Shane Redfern on a touchdown pass for a 22-16 lead. Columbus would take its only lead 24-22 later in the third quarter on a Smith touchdown run. Wilson responded with Girard’s winning points on a 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Holton 20, Baldwin 14 – Holton topped Baldwin 20-14 on Thursday night. The Wildcats let 20-0 at halftime and held on for the six-point win.
Frontenac 56, Iola 14 – Frontenac raced out to a 42-7 halftime lead in rolling past Iola. The Raiders started the scoring on a Ryan Long pick-6 on Iola’s first play for the early lead. Frontenac quarterback Brandon Mlekus passed for 185 yards and four touchdowns including a 60-yard screen pass to Isaac Bicknell on the final play of the first half.
Wichita Collegiate 35, Clay Center 7 – Wichita Collegiate methodically pulled away from Clay Center to advance to the 4A-II quarterfinals. Clay Center took a 7-0 lead after the first quarter, but the Spartans scored on a Sutton Carder touchdown run and Jad Hourani touchdown catch from Cody McNerney to take a 14-7 lead at the half. McNerney threw a pair of touchdown passes to Cooper Root and one to Jake Flamini in the fourth quarter to allow the Spartans to pull away.
Holcomb 34, Scott City 20 – Holcomb defeated its GWAC rival for the second time this season. The Longhorns led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter on two scores from Brandon Stegman. The first came on a 69-yard pass play, the second from a 38-yard run. Stegman tacked on another eight-yard run for a 20-7 lead late in the first half. Then, a flurry of big plays and key stops ensued after Holcomb led by the same score after three quarters. Scott City tallied a 64-yard TD pass to pull within 20-14, but Holcomb’s Dillon Williams rushed for a 94-yard score. Later the Beavers had a 71-yard touchdown pass. The three scores, all in less than a minute, put Holcomb up, 27-20. Holcomb went up 34-20 with 4:06 to play, and Michael Roth sealed the win with an interception.
Smoky Valley 21, Nickerson 20, OT – Smoky Valley defeated Nickerson 21-20 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinal round. Nickerson got the ball first in overtime and scored, but failed to convert a two-point attempt. Smoky Valley responded with a touchdown and PAT for the 1-point win.
Pratt 49, Colby 26 – Pratt built a 35-6 halftime lead and cruised to a 49-26 win over Colby. Travis Theis rushed for two touchdowns in the first half and tossed a touchdown pass to Noah Myers. Hunter Kaufman also rushed for a pair of first-half scores for the Greenbacks.
Class 2-1A
Troy 42, Valley Heights 16 – Troy used a big fourth-qaurter to pull away from Valley Heights in a 42-16 win. The Trojans led 13-8 at halftime and 21-8 after three quarters before scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Cuttar Huss rushed for a pair of scores and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Reid Greaser. Troy will host Lyndon in the second round of the 2-1A playoffs.
Lyndon 56, Oswego 6 – Lyndon cruised to a 56-6 win over Oswego on Friday night. Dexton Swinehart rushed for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Tigers rebounded from last week’s 26-20 loss to Olpe. Swinehart also caught five passes for 100 yards and a score in the game.
Washington County 18, Jefferson Co. North 0 – Washington County scored single touchdowns in the first, second, and fourth quarters in beating Jefferson County North, 18-0. Hunter Kier rushed for two of those touchdowns to pace the Tigers. Jae Eaton led the Tigers with 120 yards rushing. Washington County (8-2) will travel to Colgan (7-2) next week, while the Chargers finish their season at 8-2.
St. Mary’s Colgan 42, Olpe 21 – Olpe began the game with a successful onside kick and held the ball for nearly half of the first quarter before being stopped on downs deep in Colgan territory. Colgan needed just on play to get on the board as Max Wilson sprinted 76 yards for a touchdown. Wilson later intercepted a pass and scored one play later on his second of four touchdowns on the night. Colgan’s Billy Dickey sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown late in the half as the Panthers led 28-7. Colgan extended its lead to 35-7 in the third quarter before Olpe scored, got an interception, and scored again to pull within 35-21. Colgan immediately responded with its third 1-play scoring drive as Dickey out ran everyone for a 56-yard touchdown.
Republic County 24, Sedgwick 21 – Republic County ended a 21-year playoff drought with a dramatic 24-21 win against Sedgwick. The Buffs got an early fumble return for a touchdown and a safety to lead 8-0 at halftime, and added a Brett Stindt field goal early in the fourth quarter for an 11-0 lead. Sedgwick scored its first points mid-way through the fourth quarter on a punt return for a touchdown, but Republic County’s Nick Allsman’s TD run extended the Buffs’ lead to 18-6. Sedgwick would immediately answer back with a long touchdown pass from Hooper Schroeder to Brayden Francis to pull within 21-13. Schroeder and Francis hooked up again with 1:32 left to give Sedgwick its first lead, 21-18. Republic County scored the winning points on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Trey Kuhlman to Trevor Lowell with :06 seconds left. Republic County and La Crosse became the first 2-1A teams to win a playoff game after entering the postseason with a losing record since St. Marys and Ell-Saline in 2010. Class 2-1A teams with losing records had lost 11 straight in the playoffs from 2011-15.
Plainville 49, Elkhart 6 – Plainville raced out to a 49-0 halftime lead in rolling past Elkhart in the first round. Riley Nyp rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns in the game to lead the Cardinals, while Hayden Friend added 164 yards rushing and two scores. The Cardinals won their first playoff game since 2011.
Smith Center 52, Moundridge 6 – The Redmen won their eighth straight contest with a 52-6 home win versus Moundridge. Smith Center led 20-0 after the first quarter and 34-0 at halftime. Moundridge’s only points came on a 49-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Chase Ryan rushed for scores of 33 and two yards in the first quarter and three yards in the third quarter. David Hileman had scoring runs of 18 and six yards. After a rare first-round home loss in 2012, Smith Center has won three straight first round contests, all since Darren Sasse took over as head coach.
La Crosse 44, Meade 29 – Considered an upset on paper, La Crosse traveled to playoff-rival Meade and earned the 15-point victory. The teams have played 12 times since 2004 and had split the previous six meetings. The game was tied at the end of the first quarter at 14, but the Leopards led 28-21 at halftime and 44-21 at the end of three quarters. The Leopards opened the season 0-4, then won four in a row before the district title loss to Plainville in Week 9. La Crosse will play host to Smith Center, the third straight season the teams have met, but first in the playoffs since a memorable 2008 contest.
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