6A District Preview

By: Kpreps.com
October 13, 2010 - 8:18 AM

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 Class 6A
 
There are only 11 teams in Class 6A that have a record of 5-1 or better. Class 6A’s West District 5 is the home for four of those teams.
 
Manhattan (6-0), Junction City (5-1), Topeka High (5-1) and Washburn Rural (5-1) prepare to battle in one of the most competitive district’s in the state.
 
The Manhattan Indians are ranked No. 2 in the state, the Junction City Blue Jays are the 2008 state champions, and Topeka High’s and Washburn Rural’s loss both were in close games against 4A’s top-ranked Topeka Hayden Wildcats.
 
However, only two of these teams will advance to the 6A playoffs.
 
Washburn Rural knows the feeling all too well. A year ago, the Junior Blues were in a similar situation with a 5-1 record entering district. However, they dropped all three games to Junction City, Manhattan and Topeka to miss the playoffs.
 
Rural hopes it doesn’t repeat that fate this season.
 
 
EAST
 
District 1
 
  • KC Wyandotte (2-4) – The Bulldogs’ two wins are the schools’ most in one season since going 5-5 and losing in the first round of the playoffs back in 2006. 
  • Shawnee Mission Northwest (2-4) – Cougars four losses have come to teams that are a combined 19-5. Senior QB Stephen Mangelsdorf leads a Cougar offense that’s averaged 32 points over its last four games.
  • Leavenworth (0-6) – The Pioneers enter district play having lost 21 consecutive games dating back to the 2008 season.
  • Shawnee Mission North (0-6) – The Indians defense has given up more than 40 points in five out of their six games.
 Key Game: (Wk 7) SM Nothwest at SM North

Winner: SM Northwest
Runner-up: SM North


District 2
 
  • Shawnee Mission East (5-1) – Chip Sherman’s Lancers have won two straight since an 11 points setback to Olathe North. Senior quarterback John Schrock (6-4, 215) gives East a running as well as a passing threat.
  • Shawnee Mission West (5-1) – The Vikings lone loss came by a touchdown to defending champ Olathe North in week one. Tre Burt (608 yards, 7TDs) and Will Livingston (417 yards, 6TDs) give West multiple rushing options.
  • Blue Valley North (2-4) – The Mustang defense has surrendered 37 points per game against the tough Eastern Kansas League.
  • Shawnee Mission South (2-4) – The Raiders’ two wins have come against winless teams in SM North and Leavenworth. South is averaging just shy of 16 points per game on the season.
 Key Game: (Wk 8) SM East at SM West
 
Winner: SM West
Runner-up: SM East
 
 
District 3
 
  • Olathe East (5-1) – Brandon Willingham (872 yards, 12TDs) and Austin Fulson lead the Hawks both in the backfield and on the defensive side of the ball. Olathe East has proved they can play with anyone in 6A as evidenced in their 25-0 shutout of Olathe North.
  • Olathe South (4-2) – Nick Sands leads the Falcons’ new run-oriented offense with 821 yards rushing and six touchdowns. The Falcons have won four straight since starting 0-2.
  • Blue Valley Northwest (1-5) – Mike Zegunis’ Huskies took a huge loss to graduation in 2009, and have struggled to gain consistency during a brutal EKL schedule.
  • Blue Valley West (1-5) – The Jaguars have averaged 37 points over their last three games and feature one of the state’s best players in 6-4, 275-pound Dylan Admire who has committed to Nebraska.
 Key Game: (Wk 9) Olathe South at Olathe East
 
Winner: Olathe East
Runner-up: Olathe South
 
  
District 4
 
  • Olathe North (5-1) – If North is to repeat as 6A champs, they’ll need big performances from Adonis Saunders (836 yards, 10TDs) and quarterback Victor Simmons. Three of the Eagles’ five wins have come by a total of 20 points.
  • Lawrence (3-3) – After shocking the state with a 27-21 opportunistic upset of Olathe East, the Lions struggled with illness last week in being blown out by SM West 55-21.
  • Lawrence Free State (3-3) – Bob Lisher’s Firebirds have averaged nearly 48 points per game in their three wins, but have scored only 41 total points in their three losses. Quarterback Dylan Perry is also one of Free State’s primary running options.
  • Olathe Northwest (2-4) – The Ravens two wins have come against SM South (2-4) and Leavenworth (0-6), but they’ve been competitive in their four losses.
 Key Games:   (Wk 8) Free State at Olathe North, (Wk 9) Free State at Lawrence
 
Winner: Olathe North
Runner-up: Free State
 
  
WEST
 
District 5
 
  • Manhattan (6-0) – The #2 ranked Indians appear loaded for a playoff run with a talented backfield featuring Ty Suggs and Jordan Nelson, and an experienced quarterback in Ryan Wilkinson.Since escaping Topeka Hayden 7-6 in week one, the Indians have averaged 48 points per game.
  • Junction City (5-1) – Randall Zimmerman’s Blue Jays were rolling along until last week’s 28-21 set back at Emporia. The Blue Jays will try and win with a defense is surrendering just 13 points per game.
  • Topeka High (5-1) – The Trojans have a number of offensive weapons including quarterback Tevyn Harmon (nearly 1,200 yards of total offense), running back Caleb Walker (715 yards), and wide-out Logan Clothier (400 yards receiving).
  • Washburn Rural (5-1) – Junior quarterback Skylar Curtis leads the Rural offense with 913 yards passing and 444 rushing yards. Brandon Dozier has rushed for 526 yards for the Junior Blues.
 Key Games: All games are big in this loaded district.
 
Winner: Manhattan
Runner-up: Topeka High
 
 
District 6
 
  • Wichita Heights (6-0) – The #1 ranked Falcons have been dominant in allowing only 28 points all season. The offense is loaded with talent in Dremius Smith and Daniel Deshazer.
  • Derby (3-3) – The Panthers are led by quarterback Tyler Harrison who has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,213 yards this season.
  • Wichita East (3-3) – The Blue Aces have a playmaker at quarterback in Desmond McGee, but the East defense has been key in their three wins allowing just six total points.
  • Wichita Southeast (2-4) – Coach Gary Guzman got his 100th career win this season, and hopes to ride running back Braden Smith to a few more this season.
 Key Games: (Wk 9) Derby at Wichita Heights
 
Winner: Wichita Heights
Runner-up: Derby
 

 District 7
 
  • Wichita Northwest (2-4) – Northwest’s four losses have come against opponents that are a combined 22-2, but the young Grizzlies hope to make a run towards the playoffs behind back Cory Cuda.
  • Haysville Campus (1-5) – The Colts hope to ride the arm of Zach Chrisman (620 yards, 6TDs) to their first playoff appearance since 2005.
  • Wichita North (0-6) – The Redskins have been struggling on offense having been shutout four times this season.
  • Wichita South (0-6) – Coming of a 5-5 season and a playoff appearance, the Titans have scored just 32 points all season.
 Key Games: (Wk 8) Campus at Wichita South, (Wk 9) Wichita North at Campus
 
Winner: Wichita Northwest
Runner-up: Haysville Campus
 
 
District 8
 
  • Dodge City (6-0) – The Red Demons have averaged 40 points per game this season behind dual-threat quarterback Jared Helfrich, and a backfield featuring sophomore Parker Davis and senior Matt Esquibel.
  • Garden City (3-3) – Cody Bernbeck has thrown for 924 yards and five scores this season. In his third season under center, Bernbeck should surpass 3,000 yards passing for his career this week.
  • Goddard (3-3) – The Lions look to surpass three wins for the first time since 2007 when Goddard went 9-3 and finished as substate runner-up. Charlie Nally’s team has won two straight and three of their last four.
  • Maize (3-3) – The Eagles flexbone offense has produced just 17 total points in their last three games. In those games they beat Andover (7-3) and lost to Salina Central (10-3). 
 Key Games: (Wk 7) Maize at Garden City, (Wk 8) Garden City at Goddard, (Wk 9) Maize at Goddard
 
Winner: Dodge City
Runner-up: Maize
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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