In a match-up of two of the state’s top passers, Derek Racette heaved a 60-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired in the first half to provide Hutchinson Trinity some breathing room and momentum in a 43-12 win over previously unbeaten Whitewater Remington. The toss to Austin Rea helped the Celtics break open a 14-12 game, and they would go on to shutout Bronco quarterback Caleb Cherryholmes in the second half.
Racette completed only eight passes for more than 220 yards and five scores. Cherryholmes completed 21 of 33 attempts for more than 200 yards, but was pressured and sacked several times by the Celtic defense.
Just two weeks after shocking Class 6A with a 25-0 shutout of Olathe North, #3-ranked Olathe East fell on the road to Lawrence High on Friday night. Quarterback Brad Strauss threw touchdown passes to three different receivers as Dirk Wedd’s Lions improved to 3-2.
In one of the feature game in the state, Topeka Hayden ranked #1 in Class 4A topped Class 6A’s #5-ranked Topeka High 23-13. Having survived a brutal Centennial League schedule, Hayden will take on winless Shawnee Heights in week six before beginning district play. The Trojans will look to rebound next week against Topeka West before beginning a district that features unbeatens Manhattan and Junction City, and 4-1 Washburn Rural.
In Class 5A, St. Thomas Aquinas built a 31-13 lead and held off Bishop Miege 31-26. Aquinas remained unbeaten with the win, and set up a showdown with the powerful Webb City (Mo.) Cardinals next week in Overland Park. Webb City is 6-0, and ranked #2 in Missouri Class 4.
Norton used a 281-yard rushing performance from star tailback Terrell Lane to blow past Smith Center 41-20. Lane also returned a punt 55-yards for a score to help sink the Redmen to 3-2.
It’s officially playoff time in Class 2-1A as the state debuted a new format featuring districts expanded to either five or six-teams. The change will result in a reduction in the number of playoff qualifiers from 32 to 16 teams, and cut out the Tuesday-night round of the playoffs .
As district play began this week, much of the focus has been in District 1 where three of the state’s top five teams, along with unbeaten Lyndon, are battling for two playoff spots. The first big game in that district took place tonight in Olpe as the #3-ranked Eagles knocked off their fifth unbeaten opponent this season by dispatching of Lyndon, 32-7. Olpe pulled away in the second half after leading the Tigers 13-7 at halftime.
The 8 Man classes are also immersed in district play and there is also a heavily talked about district featuring multiple unbeatens. Entering play Friday night, District 3 included unbeaten and unscored upon Madison along with undefeated Lebo and Burlingame. The latter two met on Friday night.
Lebo junior quarterback Trevor White passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more as the unbeaten Wolves handed the Burlingame Bearcats a 62-22 loss Friday night in Lebo. It was Burlingame's first loss of the season and will likely play a big factor in 8-Man Division I's District 3 standings.
A close game early, Lebo was able to pull away in the second quarter. Each team scored on its first two possessions, then Lebo scored on its third to take a 22-14 lead at the 8:55 mark of the second quarter. The Bearcats appeared set to answer again as Burlingame senior James Clem opened the possession with a 43-yard kickoff return. However, Clem fumbled a couple of plays later, and Lebo's Thadd Barker recovered.
The Wolves capitalized when junior running back Sam Strawder scored on a 54-yard run on the ensuing possession. After that, Lebo never looked back as it didn't allow Burlingame to score again until the 7:46 mark of the fourth quarter. By that time, Lebo already held a 54-22 lead.
On the downside for the Wolves, White left the game in the third quarter with what was thought to be a separated shoulder.
Elsewhere, Madison did surrender its first points of the season in an 81-8 win over White City.
Upsets were prevalent in the 8 Man rankings in week five. In 8 Man Division I, both the #4 and #5 ranked teams fell as Osborne defeated Reggie Jordan and Hill City 50-38, and Jetmore-Hodgeman County dropped a 32-30 decision at Deerfield.
In 8 Man-II, the #4-ranked Caldwell Blue Jays came up short in a key road district game at South Barber 34-22. The Chieftains successfully rebounded from a 37-2 loss to 8 Man-I #1-ranked Pretty Prairie last week. Speaking of the Bulldogs, they continued to roll with a 68-20 win over traditional playoff qualifier Macksville.
Believe it or not, it took five weeks for the tradition-rich Claflin Wildcats to get their first win of the season, a 54-22 decision over Canton-Galva.
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