Kpreps 2023 playoff coverage
Class 6A
VIEW: 6A BRACKET
6A East
Highlighted Game: (Gilmore)
#6 Blue Valley (7-4) at #1 Gardner-Edgerton (10-1) – Gardner-Edgerton
Blue Valley will take on Gardner-Edgerton with a spot in the 6A state title game on the line.
Gardner-Edgerton started the season as the 6A favorite and remained atop the rankings until a Week 7 loss to Olathe East. The Trailblazers will be at home for a sixth consecutive week when they take on the Tigers on Friday.
Blue Valley alternated losses and wins through a down-and-up regular season that saw the Tigers finish 4-4 and be slotted in the 6-seed on the eastern half of Class 6A. As the season has gone on and the Tigers have gained experience, the wins have come with it. In the playoffs, Blue Valley has made its way through three-fourths of the Olathe schools in defeating Olathe West (40-28), Olathe East (17-0) and Olathe North (42-21).
Offensively, junior quarterback Chris Aiello has led the Tigers by passing for 1,563 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior back John Price, a Kansas State commit, has 931 rushing yards and eight scores, while Buchanan has rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Grady Westphal leads Tiger receivers with 41 catches for 859 yards and two scores.
The Tigers are led by their defense that has allowed 16.9 points per game primarily against a brutal Eastern Kansas League schedule. Junior Maguire Richman (6-2, 205) leads the unit with 118 tackles, while senior safety Martell Buchanan (6-2, 180) has added 113 stops. Richman is receiving some D-1 interest, while Buchanan is on the radar of several D1, FCS, and D2 schools.
Outside linebacker/edge Dawson Merritt (6-3, 205) has received offers from several Division I programs, including Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, N.C. State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Utah, and Washington among others. Defensive end Lincoln Stueve (6-3, 215) has a team-high 21 tackles for loss and is tied with Merritt with seven sacks. Stueve, a junior, is also receiving D1 interest.
That defense will get tested by Gardner-Edgerton’s physical ground game. The Trailblazers average nearly 215 yards per game on the ground led by a deep backfield. Junior quarterback Bravin Powell has rushed for more than 600 yards and 13 touchdowns, while senior Dylan Butash has also added more than 600 yards and eight scores. Butash rushed for 124 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 28-6 win over Blue Valley Northwest.
When Powell looks to throw, it has often been in the direction of either Randy Singleton or Colton Hawkinson. Singleton is one of the state’s top playmakers, whether it be catching passes, in the return game, or on defense. Singleton has 22 catches for 454 yards and seven touchdowns through the Blazers first ten games. Hawkinson added more than 350 yards and three scores.
Gardner-Edgerton’s guys up front have helped the Blazer defense dominate at times this season. Gardner-Edgerton is allowing 8.3 points per game and has posted three shutouts. The Trailblazers are hoping that defense will carry them back to the state title game where they fell 21-20 in overtime to Manhattan last year.
This will be the 13th meeting all-time between the two schools with Blue Valley holding a 10-2 advantage in the series.
These two have some storied history in state semifinals games. Back in 2010, a Bubba Starling led Gardner-Edgerton team appeared to be the 5A favorite. Blue Valley outscored the Trailblazers, 45-42, in the semifinal showdown. The Tigers went on to claim the 5A state title 35-14 over Bishop Carroll the following week. In 2011, Blue Valley again knocked out the Trailblazers in the semifinal game, 34-14. That year, the Tigers finished as 5A runner-up to Hutchinson a week later.
Blue Valley is very similar to the Olathe East team that handed Gardner-Edgerton its only loss of the season. The Tigers are physical, rely on their defense, and have made just enough plays on offense to stay alive. Gardner-Edgerton is equally as physical and defensively has allowed less than nine points per game. The Trailblazers are the favorite to get back to the 6A title game, but Blue Valley will present a challenge.
6A – WEST
Highlighted Game: (Nicholl)
#3 Derby (10-1) at #1 Washburn Rural (11-0) – Derby
Derby has quietly won 10 straight after a 14-point loss to Manhattan to open the year. Washburn Rural defeated Manhattan 35-28 in conference play. Derby held off Manhattan, 23-21, last week.
The Panthers enjoyed one of 6A’s all-time great runs before they fell in the 2021 state title game and lost to Manhattan in the semifinals last year. Derby won state in ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19 and ’20. Rural has steadily climbed under coach Steve Buhler and lost 36-21 to Derby in the playoffs last fall. Rural has its first double-digit wins in a fall since 1992. The last time WR finished undefeated came in 1989.
Rural has enjoyed standout seasons from quarterback Branton DeWeese, along with Jaren and JC Heim. For Derby, Braxton Clark has returned at quarterback and completed 17 of 25 passes for 288 yards for a score. Grady Jesseph kicked a game-winning 26-yard field goal to defeat Manhattan. Derek Hubbard has 917 rushing yards and 13 scores. In seven games, Clark has thrown for 1,246 yards with 14 TDs against two interceptions. Senior Britton Pascual has 106 tackles, 15 for loss.
Derby is third in offense, while Rural stands third in defense in 6A.
Class 5A
VIEW: 5A BRACKET
5A – East
Highlighted Game: (Gilmore)
#4 Mill Valley (9-2) at #2 Blue Valley Southwest (10-1) – Mill Valley
Four-time defending champion Mill Valley will take on Blue Valley Southwest in one of the more anticipated 5A matchups as the season has gone on.
Mill Valley has been the barometer for all Kansas programs of late having won four consecutive 5A state championships and six titles in the past eight seasons. Meanwhile, Blue Valley Southwest is in the state semifinals for the second time in the school’s 14-year history. Last season, the Timberwolves were handled by Mill Valley, 63-0, in their only other semifinal appearance.
Mill Valley features a solid defense that has allowed 17.5 points per game. The Jaguars lone losses of the season have come to 6A semifinalist Gardner-Edgerton (49-10) and to 6A quarterfinalist Olathe North (28-14). Junior defensive end Jayden Woods (6-3, 235) holds offers from seemingly every major Division I program. Woods has 55 tackles, including 10 for loss and six sacks this season. Senior linebacker Evan Seifert leads the Jaguars with 63 tackles.
The Jaguar offense is much more one-dimensional this season relying on a sound run game behind a big, talented offensive line. Mill Valley has run the ball on 85 percent of its snaps and averages more than 340 yards per game on the ground. Senior Tristan Baker leads the team with 1,324 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. For his career, Baker has rushed for 3,323 yards and 49 scores. Senior Daniel Blaine and Conor Bohon have split time at quarterback and both have rushed for more than 600 yards. Bohon has 13 rushing scores, while Blaine has contributed eight touchdowns on the ground. Jaden Scobee is closing in on 600 yards rushing for the season and has scored six times.
Blaine has passed for 590 yards and six scores with Baker and Davion Harris being his primary targets. Harris had a huge breakout performance in last year’s 5A state title game with three touchdowns.
Where Mill Valley wants to keep the ball on the ground, Blue Valley Southwest has the ability to throw the ball all around the yard. Senior quarterback Dylan Dunn (6-4, 190) has completed 74 percent of his passes for 3,287 yards and 42 touchdowns this season. For his career, Dunn has passed for 8,658 yards and 89 scores.
Southwest has a deep and talented group of receivers. Seniors Alex Parks and Tate Everard have each posted 1,000-yard seasons. Parks has 73 catches for 1,193 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Everard has 66 receptions for 1,128 yards and 12 scores. Classmates Emmitt Peters (413 yards, 10 TDs) and Gage Ilges (153 yards, TD), are also receiving threats.
The Timberwolves have balance in the run game with four backs having rushed for between 295 and 479 yards. Quinn Lemons leads the group with 479 yards and nine scores, while Drake Dombrosky has added 471 yards and nine rushing scores in just seven games. Luke Falkner and Angelo Keuwo have also seen significant carries for the Timberwolves.
Last week, Southwest used a solid defensive effort to slow down Shawnee Heights in a 38-10 win, while Mill Valley outscored Topeka Seaman, 72-42. Southwest gave up more than 200 yards on the ground against Shawnee Heights, while Mill Valley allowed 483 yards and five passing touchdowns from Seaman quarterback Max Huston.
Expect both teams to play to their strengths, but Mill Valley holds is still the four-time defending champion until someone knocks them off.
5A – West
Highlighted Game: (Nicholl)
#2 Goddard-Eisenhower (10-1) at #1 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (10-1) – Kapaun
Kapaun Mt. Carmel is looking for its first state championship game appearance since the late ‘80s, and Eisenhower has already enjoyed the most wins in a single season in school annals. KMC running back Omari Elias, perhaps the state’s best player, has again exceeded 2,000 rushing yards and is the City League’s all-time leading rusher. Dylan Hamilton is a veteran quarterback.
KMC has won games by 14, 14, 12, two and 10 points and lost by seven. The Crusaders have survived potential upsets the last two weeks. KMC has 5A’s top rushing offense, Eisenhower with the classification’s top defense. Eisenhower has held every opponent except one under 28 points. Junior Derek Morgan has completed 104 of 170 passes for 1,574 yards with 24 scores against five interceptions. Senior Lucas Dickman has 226 carries for 1,509 yards and 14 rushing TDs. Junior Carter Pabst had 42 carries for 703 yards and 16 scores. Senior Hunter Houser paces the defense with 19 stops.
This will be a classic test of Eisenhower’s defense versus Elias and KMC. Elias will get the ball 30-40 times each contest and produces well over 200 yards most nights. KMC has produced enough offense and made enough plays on non-Elias carries to win.
Class 4A
VIEW: 4A BRACKET
4A East
Highlighted Game: (Gilmore)
#6 St. Thomas Aquinas (8-3) at #5 Tonganoxie (9-2) – Aquinas
The eastern side of Class 4A will be decided by the 6-seed and the 5-seed.
St. Thomas Aquinas has advanced through a difficult playoff path to reach the substate semifinal game for a 10th consecutive season, while Tonganoxie will play in its first-ever football state semifinal. The Saints are 3-6 in those previous nine semifinal contests having claimed the schools’ only state football title back on 2018.
Aquinas has dealt with its share of injuries, particularly in their backfield. Leading rusher Gianni Rizzi and Calin Arndt were lost to injury during a 45-44 loss to Rockhurst mid-way through the season. The Saints have gone through several combinations of backs with Elzie Slaughter, Cole Richardson, Gavin Middendorf, Joey Walker, and Will Callahan all getting carries. The Saints have also been banged up on the offensive line.
Last week in the 38-7 win over Basehor-Linwood, Richardson rushed for 151 yards and three scores while Middendorf added 80 yards and a touchdown. Rizzi returned for the Saints’ playoff win over Bishop Miege and rushed for 146 yards, but did not play last week. Along with Rizzi’s team-high 733 yards, Slaughter has rushed for 529 yards and three scores and Richardson 374 yards and six touchdowns.
Quarterback Aiden Skinner has passed for more than 750 yards and eight touchdowns for the Saints.
Aquinas is led by one of the state’s best defensive units with standout Kian Payne (6-4, 255) up front. Payne is second on the teams with 58 tackles, including seven for loss and six quarterback sacks. Senior linebacker Wyatt Potter leads the Saint defense with 70 stops.
Tonganoxie has won five straight games since a 30-29 loss to Louisburg in Week 6. The Chieftains other loss came 36-29 to Spring Hill back in the second week of the season.
The Chieftains are led by a balanced offense that features a feature back in senior Colton Brusven, and a trio of good receiving targets in Isaiah Holthaus, Todd Brown, and Tyler Pankey. Holthaus (6-3, 195) ahs 32 catches for 870 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Brown has 33 receptions for 647 yards and four scores. Pankey has 330 yards and three touchdowns in just seven games.
Senior quarterback Trevor McGraw directs the Tongie offense and has completed 56 percent of his passes for 2,019 yards and 20 touchdowns against only four interceptions.
But the focal point of the Chieftain offense has been Brusven. The 5-10, 185-pound senior has eclipsed 4,000 career rushing yards and has 46 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Tonganoxie scored late to win a 57-50 shootout over top-seed Atchison last week. In that game, Brusven had 255 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and McGraw threw for three scores.
Tonganoxie will have to play well up front to deal with Payne, JuJu Marks, and the rest of the talented Aquinas front. The Chieftains have the firepower to score, but the Aquinas defense and run game has proven ability to win through this difficult playoff stretch.
4A West
Highlighted Game: (Nicholl)
#6 Andover Central (8-3) at #1 Wamego (9-2) – Wamego
This marks the third straight season Wamego and Andover Central will meet in the playoffs. Wamego won 42-7 last season, while AC earned a 48-0 victory two years ago. Andover Central won the 4A state runner-up in ’21.
Wamego rolled over Wellington, 49-0, last week and features 4A’s top-scoring defense for a second straight year. Wamego is the defending 4A state runner-up and has an experienced offensive line and defense. Last week against Wellington’s great passing offense, Kaden Kearn and Gannon Couture each returned interceptions for scores.
Thomas McIntyre had 26 rushes for 125 yards with two touchdowns, while Porter Smith rushed 10 times for 56 yards. Pruitt Nowlin has enjoyed a strong year at quarterback, including a TD last week.
Andover Central continually makes deep playoff runs and performs above preseason poll expectations. The Jaguars opened 2-3, though have won six straight, including back-to-back 28-21 victories. AC is known for excellent special teams, and the Jags returned a kickoff for a TD last week. Drew Wilborn is among the state’s top specialists and went 4 of 4 on extra points. Jace Jefferson completed 19 of 26 passes for 157 yards with four scores against two INTs last week, and Maddox Archibald has led the running game. Both teams are extremely well-coached with veteran staffs. This should be the closest of the three meetings between the teams, though Wamego’s defense might be a slight edge.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
