Welcome to the 2011 football season and our first edition of The Pick List. Each Thursday throughout the regular season, we will feature six of the best match-ups across the state, and make our predictions on a handful of other games.
We open the season with a pair of games featuring teams ranked in our Kpreps Top 5 in their respective classifications.
In Class 6A, Olathe North and Olathe East will battle in a rematch of a 6A state semifinals matchup from last fall won by the Eagles.
In the Centennial League, the top-ranked team in 4A, Topeka Hayden, hosts 6A’s #4 ranked Manhattan.
In addition, we feature a 4A showdown in Division III of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League as Buhler visits Rose Hill, and a couple of small school contenders stepping up a classification to take on an opponent who made the playoffs last fall.
Feature Games of the Week:
6A #1 Olathe North at 6A #5 Olathe East
The two teams picked to finish atop the Sunflower League standings will square off Friday night as Olathe North takes on rival Olathe East.
Both schools have been among the most successful programs in Class 6A over the past seven seasons with Olathe East sporting the top winning percentage in the classification over that time.
The one thing the Hawks haven’t accomplished in Jeff Meyers’ 20 years is a state title. The Eagles ended that dream last season by knocking off Olathe East 13-6 in the state semifinals after being blanked by the Hawks 25-0 earlier in the season.
For both schools to get back to that type of success this season, they each have to replace great backfields lost to graduation.
Olathe North will seek to fill the void left by Victor Simmons and Adonis Saunders who both went on to play at Kansas.
The Hawks must replace a pair of backs in Brandon Willingham and Austin Fulson who combined for more than 2,600 yards last season.
Both school’s backfields appear to be in good shape thanks to some transfers.
Olathe East’s backfield will feature former Shawnee Mission North Indian Kendall Kelly. While the Eagles received a boost from Phoenix, Ariz., transfer Orange Mooney and Olathe East transfer Treshawn Root.
Root backed up Willingham and Fulson at Olathe East last season, adding even more intensity to what has been an even rivalry in recent years.
The Eagles and Hawks have met six times over the past five seasons; including twice in the 6A playoffs, with each side winning three times.
The Hawks have experience on the defensive side of the ball with Northern Illinois-commit Matthew Baltimore and Myron Tipton returning on the d-line.
But Pete Flood’s group seems to reload every year, and with another dynamic backfield duo, look for the Eagles to pull out another close one.
Our Pick: Olathe North 20, Olathe East 14
6A #4 Manhattan at 4A #1 Topeka Hayden
Most coaches will agree that early in the season defenses are typically ahead of the offensive units.
That certainly was the case in week one last season when Manhattan edged Hayden 7-6 thanks to a blocked extra point.
As the final score suggests, the game was a defensive struggle.
The Indians could muster only 131 total yards against the Hayden defense, but Jordan Nelson provided all of the production they needed with a 76-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Wildcats had their own struggles on offense despite 138 yards on the ground from Alec Stueber.
Hayden would eventually find pay dirt on a 7-yard Jon Bannister run before the blocked PAT.
This year’s opener is sure to be equally competitive.
Gone are Manhattan playmaker Jordan Nelson, quarterback Ryan Wilkinson, and several other key players. The Indians return five starters on each side of the ball including an all-state caliber running back in Ty Suggs.
Hayden must replace Stueber who seemed to be all over the field last fall. But the Wildcats return quarterback Grant Arnold, running back Jason Tetuan, and big tight end Collin Strobel (6-4, 230).
Coach Bill Arnold’s defense will be anchored by linebackers Tetuan and Alex Schmidtberger along with Thomas Wittman on the d-line.
Expect another defensive battle with a slight edge going to Hayden at home.
Our Pick: Hayden 20, Manhattan 17
4A #3 Buhler at Rose Hill
Buhler appeared poised to make a trip to the 2010 4A state title game after shutting out Topeka Hayden 21-0 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, but the Crusaders hopes were dashed in a 42-7 semifinal beating at the hands of the Holton Wildcats.
The Crusaders and veteran coach Steve Warner will try to get beyond the semis this year. With 10 players with starting experience returning, including senior tailback Tanner Fisher, a 2,300 yards rusher last season, there's much reason for optimism.
A season-opening road trip to Rose Hill will provide a tough test for the Crusaders, and a big reason for that is Rocket quarterback Derrick Decker.
The 6-5, 205 pound senior was a true dual-threat quarterback last season rushing for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns and passing for 917 yards and seven more scores. Decker also tallied 81 tackles and three interceptions from his defensive back spot.
If the Rockets are to find a way to make the game closer than last year's 34-10 loss to the Crusaders they will have to find replacements for 1,300 yard rusher Laque Mayes and now TCU offensive lineman Brady Foltz.
Our Pick: Buhler 32, Rose Hill 21
Concordia at 3A #4 Beloit
A week one rivalry game between two teams that went a combined 18-5 last season is certainly going to be one to watch, but add the return of several starters, two power run games and two hard hitting defenses and you've got one of the top week one games in the state.
Beloit rode running backs Lane Koster and Luke Shamburg to the second highest scoring output in all of class 3A last year, but the Trojans will break-in several new skill players as Koster and Shamburg, and their 2,700 yards rushing, graduated in May.
But whoever carries the ball in Beloit's double-wing this fall will do so behind a HUGE offensive line that features returning starters Bryce Black (6-0, 245, So.), Jake Barrett (6-1, 250, Jr.), Austin Budke (6-5, 215, Sr.) and Division I prospect Jacob English (6-5, 260, Sr.).
The Trojans also welcome back 6-3, 185 pound sophomore quarterback Payton Vetter who, as a freshman starter, orchestrated the game winning drive in last year's playoff win over Norton.
The Concordia Panthers will return seven starters on offense and defense including a sizable o-line of their own that features three players standing at least six feet tall and weighing in at more than 225 pounds.
Returning senior QB Blake Woellhoef will engineer the Panther's wishbone offense that features a punishing ground game.
This one was a tight contest in 2010 as Concordia came away with a 12-6 win against the Trojans. Expect more of the same this year.
Our Pick: Concordia 18, Beloit 12
2-1A #4 Centralia at Riley County
The Centralia Panthers kick off their quest to get back to the 2-1A title game by opening on the road against a tough Mid-East League opponent in Riley County.
Last season in Centralia, the two teams traded late touchdowns with difference being a successful two-point conversion attempt by the Panthers.
Riley County padded a 7-6 lead with a 20-yard run from quarterback Bryce Chavis with 1:39 left, but the Falcons’ two-point attempt was dropped in the end zone.
Centralia responded with a 48-yard completion from Michael Glatczak to Kaylor Talkington down to the Falcon 31-yard line. Four plays later, Sam Olberding scored from 8-yards out to pull the Panthers within one with just 30 seconds left.
Glatczak then hit Olberding in the end zone for the winning two-point conversion as the host Panthers prevailed 14-13.
Expect another close contest this season.
Both quarterbacks return as their team’s primary playmakers, but Riley County’s Chavis may return more of a supporting cast.
Back for the Falcon offense is running back Ty Wendland, three offensive linemen, and receivers Joel Garver and Collin Wood.
Centralia must replace a solid core of backs, but whoever carries the ball will likely find space behind a huge offensive line that includes Hayden Cross (6-6, 300), Alex Steinlage (6-4, 265), and Kyson Talkington (6-1, 290).
Our Pick: Riley County 20, Centralia 12
Victoria at Macksville
This match-up features two teams that finished 2010 with identical 7-3 records, and similar disappointing finishes to the season.
Victoria opened 2010 with a 36-14 loss to Macksville before ripping off seven straight victories but a week nine injury to team leader Kameron Dinkel led to consecutive losses to close out the season including a 56-6 loss to Cheylin in the opening round of the playoffs.
Macksville entered their first round playoff match-up with Hodgeman County optimistic they could compete with the Longhorns but were dismantled in a 70-24 loss that saw the Mustangs allow 28 points in the final quarter.
For the Knights, a youth movement is in store as only three senior starters return. But 12 lettermen are back to help make the transition a smooth one. For Macksville, the return of senior quarterback Seth Filbert and Adam Oak at running back could signal a return to dominance for the Mustangs.
These two perennial 8-Man powers are anxious to prove the end to 2010 was a fluke and a week one win against a quality opponent could set the table for a special season.
Our Pick: Macksville 42, Victoria 24
The Pick List:
Wellington at Andale – Andale
Paola at Baldwin – Paola
Olpe at Cherryvale – Olpe
Ellis at Norton – Ellis
4A #5 Louisburg at Eudora – Louisburg
Garden City at 3A #5 Scott City – Scott City
Great Bend at St. Thomas Aquinas – Aquinas
8M-II #4 Thunder Ridge at Hill City – Thunder Ridge
Sedgwick at Hoisington – Sedgwick
Topeka High at 4A #2 Holton – Holton
Wichita Northwest at Kapaun Mt. Carmel – Wichita Northwest
South Gray at Kiowa County – Kiowa County
Neodesha at Frontenac – Neodesha
8M-I #3 Osborne at Lakeside-Downs – Osborne
Phillipsburg at Plainville – Phillipsburg
St. Marys at Rossville – St. Marys
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