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Kpreps takes you Around the Brackets to recap Sub-State semifinal playoff action from Friday night.
Class 6A
6A – EAST
1-Blue Valley Northwest 35, 7-Blue Valley West 7 – Blue Valley Northwest advanced to the schools’ first-ever state football championship game with a 35-7 victory over Eastern Kansas League rival Blue Valley West. The Huskies turned in a stellar defensive performance in limiting the Jaguars to 159 yards of total offense, including 76 rush yards on 34 attempts. Northwest also forced two Jaguar turnovers. Northwest quarterback Mikey Pauley rushed for four touchdowns in the game, finishing with 169 yards on the ground. Grant Stubblefield added 99 yards and another score for the Huskies.
6A – WEST
1-Derby 62, 6-Lawrence 28 – The Derby Panthers advanced to their seventh consecutive 6A state title game with a 62-28 win over Lawrence. After an early Dylan Edwards touchdown run, Lawrence responded with 14 consecutive points as Shance Wilkerson and Truman Juelsgaard rushed for scores to give the Lions the lead. Derby quickly tied the game as Mercer Thatcher connected with Nathan Keener on a touchdown pass to tie the game, and a fumble on the kickoff by Lawrence gave the ball right back to the Panthers. Thatcher quickly scored to give Derby a 21-14 lead after the first quarter. Thatcher then hit Cayden Brown on a touchdown pass and Edwards scored two touchdowns late in the half to widen the lead to 41-14. Avion Nelson’s touchdown got the Chesty Lions within 41-21 early in the third quarter, but Thatcher and Edwards each responded with third-quarter rushing touchdowns to lead 55-21. Thatcher’s third rushing touchdown of the game gave the Panthers their 62-point total. Edwards rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns and Thatcher added 179 yards through the air.
Class 5A
VIEW: 5A BRACKET
5A – East
1-Mill Valley 35, 7-St. Thomas Aquinas 19 – Mill Valley advanced to the 5A state championship game for a third consecutive season with a 28-19 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. The Jaguars led 7-0 after the first quarter on a fumble return for a touchdown by Cody Moore. Mill Valley led 14-7 at halftime as quarterback Hayden Jay connected with Jared Napoli on a 36-yard touchdown pass. Aquinas closed to within 14-13 as Sean Carroll scored his second rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Jay then hit Aidan Jacobs and threw a second touchdown pass to Napoli to extend the Jaguar lead to 28-13. After an Aquinas touchdown pulled the Saints to within 28-19, Mill Valley added an eight-yard touchdown run by Reice Kennedy with 3:06 left. On Friday, Jay finished 10 of 22 for 192 yards and three scores. Napoli delivered four catches for 112 yards and two scores. Jay Ybarra picked off a pass. The Jaguar defense limited Carroll, a 1500-yard rusher, to 48 yards on 14 attempts and forced four Saint turnovers. Mill Valley, 18-1 in its last 19 games and 11-1 this year, has won seven in a row, all by at least 15 points. The Jaguars had to replace nearly every starting position outside of wide receiver and defensive line from 2020. However, quarterback Jay and Kennedy – in just his second year of high school football – have been among those who have had exceptional seasons. Mill Valley and Aquinas have met in the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons with six of those coming in the state semifinals.
5A – West
3-Maize 22, 1-Kapaun Mt. Carmel 21 – The Maize Eagles advanced to the first state football championship in school history with a dramatic 22-21 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Avery Johnson hit Jaeden Martin in stride on a 27-yard touchdown pass with :29 seconds remaining in the game to pull the Eagles within 21-20. Landon Helm then sprinted to the left corner of the end zone on the two-point conversion to give Maize the 22-21 lead. Johnson’s connection with Martin shortly after an Omari Elias’ two-yard touchdown run gave Kapaun a 21-14 lead with 1:36 left in the game. The Crusaders reached midfield on the final possession, but Dylan Hamilton’s final heave down the sidelines fall incomplete. Johnson passed for 89 yards and the final touchdown to Martin. He also added 105 yards rushing and two scores. Elias led Kapaun with 119 yards and three scores, while Will Doolittle added 105 yards on the ground. Hamilton was efficient completing 11 of 17 for 116 yards.
Class 4A
VIEW: 4A Bracket
4A East
8-St. James Academy 42, 10-Bishop Miege 19 – Defending-champion St. James Academy eliminated Bishop Miege in the state semifinals for a second consecutive season. After an early touchdown by Tiave Watts, Bishop Miege was driving when a Stag fumble was picked up by Tre’ Clark of St. James Academy and returned 80 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Jackson House then went to work. He connected threw touchdown passes to standout receivers Tyler Claiborne and John Niesen in the second quarter for a 28-6 halftime lead. Miege could only get within 28-13 in the third quarter on Jaylen Burch’s second touchdown run, but House responded with two touchdowns to Claiborne, including a 97-yarder. House completed 20 of 25 passes for 322 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Claiborne, a returning first team all-state receiver, delivered 12 catches for 259 yards and three scores. Claiborne, who has more than 2,600 career receiving yards, went over 200 receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career. Sophomore Malcolm Russell was 6 of 6 on extra points. Burch was exceptional for Miege in rushing for 202 yards and two scores on 30 attempts. The Thunder opened the season 0-4 and have won eight in a row. They are trying to become the first state champion in Kansas history to open 0-4.
4A West
3-Andover Central 42, 1-Buhler 21 – Andover Central advanced to the Class 4A state championship game for the second time in the past three seasons with a 42-21 win over Buhler. Jaguar quarterback Kai Kunz continued his excellent season with a four-touchdown effort on Friday. His 42-yard touchdown sprint gave Central the early lead. After a Buhler turnover, the Jags scored again to lead 14-0. Buhler answered as Bradley Neill hit Tanner Tustian on a touchdown pass to cut the lad in half, but Kunz responded with a 78-yard touchdown run and a 21-7 lead. Buhler then fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Andover Central recovered. Shortly after, Kunz hit Brock Stupka on a touchdown pass for a 28-7 lead. Neill and Tustian connected again to half the lead, but Kunz added a 1-yard scoring run before halftime to put the Jaguars up 35-14. Kunz passed for 109 yards and two scores and rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
Class 3A
VIEW: 3A Bracket
3A EAST
Frontenac 32, Holton 13 – Frontenac delivered a complete effort in pulling away from Holton in the second half and advancing to the eighth state football championship game in school history. The Raiders trailed 7-6 at halftime but took a 12-7 lead on a 17-yard reverse for a touchdown by Mario Menghini. After a Holton punt, Frontenac quarterback Collin McCartney hit Menghini on the first of two 68-yard touchdown connections to extend the Raider lead to 18-7. Holton’s Matt Lierz returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Frontenac territory leading to a Jayden Fletcher two-yard scoring run a couple of plays later to pull the Wildcats to within 18-13. On the ensuing possession, McCartney again hit Menghini for a 68-yard strike to push the Frontenac lead to 24-13. Justice Compton later added a two-yard score as Frontenac prevailed 32-13. McCartney passed for nearly 200 yards with 168 of those going to Menghini. Frontenac’s defense was exceptional in limiting Holton to 185 rushing yards – 167 yards below their season average.
3A WEST
Andale 37, Southeast of Saline 16 – Andale won its 37th consecutive game with a persistent ground game in defeating Southeast of Saline, 37-16. The Indians did not complete a pass in rushing for more than 300 yards and advancing to their third consecutive state title game. Andale has won the past two 3A state titles. Andale’s Cody Parthemer rushed for more than 230 yards and scored five touchdowns on 31 carries. The Indians used a ball-control offense to take a 14-8 lead into halftime. After a Trojan punt to begin the third quarter, Andale went on a long time-consuming drive that resulted in a Parthemer touchdown early in the fourth quarter for a 22-8 lead. Parthemer added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead 37-8. Southeast of Saline scored on a Luke Gebhardt touchdown run and his touchdown pass to Michael Murray.
Class 2A
VIEW: 2A Bracket
2A EAST
Rossville 36, Silver Lake 8 – Rossville picked up its 25th consecutive victory and advanced to the state championship game for the second straight season with a 36-8 win over rival Silver Lake. After a scoreless first quarter, Rossville drove the length of the field resulting in a 5-yard Corey Catron touchdown for a 7-0 lead. After an Eagle turnover, Torrey Horak rushed for a 15-yard score to push the Bulldawg lead to 15-0 at halftime. Rossville also scored on the opening drive of the third quarter to lead 22-0. Catron rushed for three touchdowns on the night and totaled more than 180 yards rushing. Horak added two scores and 109 yards on the ground and passed for 144 yards. Silver Lake’s Daigan Kruger passed for more than 200 yards including a touchdown pass to Kamryn Kaniper for the Eagles lone score.
2A WEST
Beloit 22, Kingman 19 – Beloit held off Kingman 22-19 to advance to the schools’ sixth state football championship game. Beloit scored early on a Benson Berndt touchdown run after an errant punt snap by Kingman gave the Trojans a short field. Berndt’s second rushing score of the game gave Beloit a 16-0 lead at halftime. Kingman got on the board in the third quarter after a Beloit fumble gave the Eagles a short field. Nolan Freund scored on a short rushing touchdown to pull Kingman within 16-7. Beloit regained a two-score lead on a Tate Kadel touchdown run. Kingman answered with another short touchdown run from Freund to pull within 22-13. Freund later added his third rushing score of the game to get Kingman within 22-19, but the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful and Beloit ran out the final minute. Berndt finished with more than 150 yards rushing and two scores on the ground for the Trojans.
Class 1A
VIEW: 1A Bracket
1A EAST
Olpe 28, Centralia 6 – Olpe won its 23rd consecutive game by getting past Centralia, 28-6. Despite the Eagles’ streak of seven consecutive shutouts coming to an end, Olpe advanced to its second straight 1A title game thanks to a consistent offense and stifling defense. Derek Hoelting rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Damon Redeker passed and rushed for a score for the Eagles. Redeker’s 14-yard connection with Blake Skalsky just before halftime gave Olpe a 14-0 lead. Redeker then broke a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for a 21-0 lead. Centralia responded on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ethan McNally to Presley Bowers to pull within 21-6, but Hoelting’s second score gave Olpe a comfortable three-score margin.
1A WEST
Inman 26, Sedgwick 21 – Inman rallied from a 21-6 second-half deficit to knock off Sedgwick, 26-21, and advance to the first state football championship game in school history. After an early Kendyn Blank touchdown gave Inman a 6-0 lead, Sedgwick scored twice in the second quarter as Lance Hoffsommer connected on touchdown passes to Jeff Nold and Austin Cook to lead 14-6 at halftime. The Cardinals threatened to score again before the half, but Harrison Brunk intercepted Hoffsommer in the end zone. Hoffsommer’s 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the Cardinals up 21-6, but Eli Brunk caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jace Doerksen shortly after to pull Inman within 21-12. Early in the foruth quarter, Doerksen scored on a short touchdown run to pull the Teutons within 21-18. Sedgwick drove inside the Inman 10-yard line, but a penalty and a sack backed them the Cardinals up and they were unable to convert on 4th-and-goal. Inman took possession and scored on a Doerksen 64-yard touchdown pass to Eli Brunk to take the lead. Tanner Heckel hit Eli Brunk for the two-point conversion for a 26-21 advantage. Inman tried an ensuing onside kick given Sedgwick good field position, but the Cardinals could not convert on downs. Doerksen passed for more than 200 yards and two scores to Eli Brunk who had 143 yards on seven receptions. Hoffsommer passed for 343 yards and two touchdowns for Sedgwick.
Class 8-Man, Division I
VIEW: 8M-I Bracket
8M-I EAST
Little River 76, Canton-Galva 68 – Defending state champion Little River held off Canton-Galva, 76-68, in another classic eight-man football game between these two Wheat State League rivals. The Redskins scored 42 points in a wild fourth quarter that featured 64 combined points. The game saw seven lead changes, including four in the fourth quarter. Canton-Galva led 46-34 after three quarters and broke a 54-54 tie on a Garrett Maltbie touchdown run to lead 60-54 with 6:25 left. Braxton Lafferty answered with a 53-yard touchdown 11 seconds later. Lafferty delivered a two-point conversion to put Little River up 62-60. The game took a final shift when Grant Stephens recovered an Eagle fumble for a score to give the Redskins a 70-60 lead. Canton-Galva closed to 70-68 with 2:04 left, though Lafferty responded with a 40-yard TD run. Maltbie completed 23 of 37 passes for 419 yards and six TDs against zero interceptions in a losing effort. He finished with 13 carries for 128 yards and two scores. Tyson Struber closed out an exceptional career with 14 receptions for 263 yards and three TDs. Struber finishes as the eight-man record-holder for career receiving yards and receiving TDs. He also finished with 15 tackles. Lafferty accounted for 206 rushing yards and accounted for eight TDs (five rush, two pass, one receiving). Little River quarterback Rylan Konen went out with injury in the second half. Defending champion Little River has won 20 straight contests and is 4-0 in one-score contests this season. Little River has trailed in each of its last three playoff games, including 14-0 versus Burlingame and by two scores in the fourth quarter against both Madison and Canton-Galva.
8M-I WEST
Meade 48, Hill City 34 – Meade bumped its winning streak to 14 games and has eight-win improvement to 12-0 after its semifinal victory over Hill City. Meade went up 6-0 and stopped Hill City on fourth-and-goal in early second quarter. Meade was up 20-0 after a 48-yard touchdown run from Korben Clawson. However, Hill City closed to 26-20 midway through the third quarter. The Ringnecks then took a 28-26 lead early in the fourth quarter. Meade scored twice to take a 40-28 advantage. The Buffs finished with 527 yards of total offense, including 306 rushing. Senior Torren Haynes completed 11 of 19 passes for 221 yards and a score. Clawson also delivered 22 carries for 265 yards. Meade has had games with 554, 485, 467 and 527 yards of total offense. Sophomore Aiden Amrein passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns and added 135 yards rushing and two scores for the Ringnecks. Derek Keith had 137 receiving yards and two scores on 11 receptions. Hill City finished 10-2 for the second-best season in school history.
Class 8-Man, Division II
VIEW: 8M-II Bracket
8M-II EAST
Axtell 46, Thunder Ridge 0 – Axtell scored on its first offensive plays, both on option runs to the Eagles’ left side. Standout speedy freshman Brandon Schmelzle delivered the touchdowns from 56 and 35 yards. Then, freshman Eli Broxterman delivered a 31-yard run for a 24-0 advantage. Thunder Ridge standout junior quarterback Dylan Bice went out with an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. Schmelzle also caught a pair of TD receptions. Junior quarterback Isaac Detweiler enjoyed another big game with seven of eight passing for 133 yards with three touchdowns against zero interceptions. He rushed 19 times for 119 yards. The game was called with 7:27 left when Detweiler found Grant Buessing for a 65-yard score. Axtell has more than 95 percent of its team production from non-seniors. Thunder Ridge was inside Axtell’s 10-yard line on three drives, though didn’t score. The Eagles beat Thunder Ridge, 42-40, in the playoffs last year. Axtell, the state runner-up in 2019, has its first 12-0 start since its undefeated state title squad in 1993. The Eagles beat Wheatland-Grinnell, 62-16, in the season opener, and gets the rematch in the state final.
8M-II WEST
Wheatland-Grinnell 42, Victoria 30 – Wheatland-Grinnell won its 11th straight contest and avenged a state quarterfinal loss to Victoria last season. Thunderhawk senior quarterback Trey Vincent completed 15 of 20 passes for 179 yards with three touchdowns and three INTS. Senior Isaac Mendez had a massive all-around game with 24 rushes for 121 yards and two scores, along with six carries for 69 yards and two receiving TDs. Mendez also finished with 19 tackles, two TFLs and two sacks. The Thunderhawks led throughout, though Victoria was tied at six and trailed at 14-12, 20-18 and 28-24. Then, Wheatland-Grinnell tacked on two short scoring runs. The Thunderhawks get a rematch of the season-opener with Axtell in the state championship game. Axtell handed the Thunderhawks its only loss of the season, 62-16, back in Week 1. Wheatland-Grinnell, 1-8 three years ago, is 8-2, 8-3 and 11-1 since under coach Jesse Vincent.
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