New to Kpreps this fall is our most important performance of the week powered by Athletic Strength Institute (ASI). Each Sunday our experts will hand out helmet stickers to a team or individual that delivered the most important performance of the week in their opinion.
Check out Athletic Strength Institute (ASI) – building better athletes in Lawrence (Kan.) and the surrounding area. If you mention Kpreps, you will receive a free initial screening and 15% off your initial training package. Check them out online at AthleticSI.com and follow ASI on Twitter @AthleticSI or Facebook
Athletic Strength Institute (ASI) – MOST IMPORTANT THING (Nov. 6th)
Use a Periodized Strength & Conditioning Program for Best Results
A chronological approach to developing the skills necessary for optimal performance on the field is necessary because it is not possible to improve all components of performance – strength, speed, power, endurance, etc. – simultaneously to a high level. However, many high school coaches fail to do this and simply use the programs that the winning teams at the college and pro level are using.
Periodization structures a strength and conditioning program into sequential phases with each phase emphasizing a different component of performance with the ultimate goal of developing the highest levels of speed, strength, power, agility, and endurance possible.
Periodizing a training program involves shifting training priorities from non-sport-specific activities in the off-season to sport-specific activities as the season grows nearer, with the ultimate goal of building a bigger, stronger, and faster athlete at the start of the season.
For more information on how to adjust training volumes contact chris@athleticsi.com.
Helmet sticker: La Crosse (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
The Leopards delivered a 44-29 road win against rival Meade in the first round of the playoffs. It marked the most points Meade had permitted since a 60-14 home loss to Smith Center in the 2008 sub-state championship. Meade had not allowed more than 20 points in a game this season.
La Crosse entered the playoffs at 4-5 after it missed the playoffs last year, its first since 2003. The Leopards opened this year 0-4 before winning four in a row. The game was tied at 14 after the first quarter, but the Leopards outscored Meade 30-7 in the next two quarters. Senior Clayton Herdman had 24 carries for 137 yards and four scores, and completed eight of 11 passes for 124 yards with two TDs against no interceptions. Senior fullback Jasey Woods had 25 rushes for 181 yards. Meade finished 8-2.
La Crosse has played its best football at the most crucial times. In a Week 7 road district game at Ellis that essentially decided a playoff berth, the Leopards won, 44-12. Woods had 205 yards in the Ellis victory, his only two 100-yard games this fall. La Crosse and Republic County became the first 2-1A squads to enter the playoffs with a losing record and win a postseason game for the first time since 2010. The Leopards have won five straight first round contests dating back to '09 and will play host to Smith Center on Friday.
Helmet sticker: Girard (Chet Kuplen – Sports In Kansas)
Girard went just 4-5 during the regular season but pulled off a huge upset of number five ranked Columbus, 28-24, on Friday at home.
Girard jumped out to a 16-0 lead on an Eric Wilson touchdown and an Isaiah Fisher pick-6. Columbus pulled within 16-8 at halftime, and tied the game at 16 in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown run by Keenan Stanley.
Girard would answer right back as Wilson hit Shane Redfern on a touchdown pass for a 22-16 lead. Columbus took its only lead 24-22 later in the third quarter on Kale Smith’s second touchdown run. But Wilson responded again with the winning points on a 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The upset win capped off quite a week for Wilson who was officially his Offer of Appointment to the Naval Academy earlier in the week.
The Trojans qualified for the playoffs as a district champion via the district marginal point tiebreaker last week after their win over Iola. Girard lost to Columbus 22-6 earlier this season. Hats off to the Trojans and head coach Leon Miller. Girard has a huge test with Topeka Hayden this week.
Helmet sticker: Weskan (Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
Congratulations to coach Brett Clow and the Weskan Coyotes who won the 6-Man championship in the inaugural Wild West Bowl in Dodge City on Saturday. Weskan defeated Pawnee Heights 36-18 to claim the title.
The Coyotes lead was 14-6 at halftime, but expanded to 30-12 by the end of the third quarter.
Weskan completed the 6-Man season undefeated capturing both the regular season title and tournament championship. Golden Plains claimed third place by winning the consolation game 52-42 over Cheylin earlier in the day.
Helmet sticker: Shawnee Mission North (Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
The Shawnee Mission North Indians have reached the Class 6A quarterfinals after getting their first playoff wins since 2000. On Friday, the Indians avenged a 52-26 regular-season loss to Lawrence by eliminating the Chesty Lions 52-49. Oscar Aguilar connected on a 26-yard field goal with :02 seconds remaining to provide the winning points.
Lawrence led 28-21 at halftime and the two teams traded scores before entering the fourth quarter tied at 35. Lawrence regained a 42-35 lead on an Angel Garcia touchdown run early in the 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 (6-4, 205) passed for 394 yards and four touchdowns in the game and is closing in on the all-time state record for career passing yards of 8,781 held by Silver Lake’s Kyle Kruger. Schneider’s totals on Friday appear to have pushed his career totals to 8,648 yards and 81 touchdowns; just 133 yards short of the state record. He has thrown for 2,782 yards and 29 touchdowns this season and also added 515 rushing yards and 11 scores.
Ben Bartlett took over as coach in 2014 and the Indians finished just 2-8, but snapped a 10-year playoff drought. Last season, SM North finished 3-7 and again reached the postseason. To advance to the semifinals, the Indians will have to try and take down rival Shawnee Mission East. The Lancers beat the Indians 77-26 back in Week 5 of the regular season.
Helmet sticker: Republic County (John Baetz – Kansas Pregame)
Republic County ended the 2015 season with high expectations in returning a number of key players including quarterback Trey Kuhlman, running back Nick Allsman, and Kansas Pregame coverboy, Mikel Cottenmyre. The Buffs were 4-5 last year under first year coach Andy Gwennap, but when the announcement was made in late May that Gwennap would not return, the program was left in limbo.
Belleville native Brad Couture, an assistant under Gwennap a year ago, took over as head coach. An eight point loss to Southeast of Saline in the season-opener followed by a win over Minneapolis had the Buffs riding a wave of enthusiasm. But mid-season three game losing skid, coupled with an injury to standout running back Allsman, left the team deflated.
The Buffs have since rallied, winning four of their last five, including Friday's victory over Sedgwick, the first playoff win in 21 years. Republic County took an 18-6 lead in the fourth quarter before Sedgwick made a furious comeback, taking the 21-18 lead with just 1:32 left in the game. Kuhlman would hit Trevor Lowell with a 45-yard touchdown pass to give the Buffs the decisive score with just :06 seconds left, delivering the 24-21 win.
Helmet Stickers (2016 Season)
Week 1 – Atchison, Holcomb, Mill Valley, St. Francis
Week 2 – Hoisington, Junction City, Plainville, St. Marys
Week 3 – Central Plains, Great Bend, Topeka Seaman, Valley Center
Week 4 – Clifton-Clyde, Coffeyville, Lawrence, Osborne
Week 5 – Logan-Palco, Phillipsburg, Pittsburg, Santa Fe Trail
Week 6 – Frontenac, Spring Hill, Thomas More Prep, Topeka Hayden
Week 7 – Dighton, Goddard, Lakeside-Downs, St. Paul
Week 8 – Hays, Lawrence Free State, Ottawa, Pratt, Riverton
Week 9 – Blue Valley Southwest, Larned, Onaga, Wichita Northwest
Week 10 – Girard, La Crosse, Republic County, Shawnee Mission North, Weskan
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