The regular season has come to a close as Week 9’s full schedule included three games featuring teams in our top 5 rankings. While two of those top five games lived up to their billing, both were overshadowed by a pair of double-overtime thrillers in Class 6A.
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The top-ranked team in the state was tested tonight, but the Wichita Heights Falcons would score 28 consecutive points to beat Derby, 49-35. Derby led 35-21 in the second half before the Falcons cut the lead to 35-27. Derby would stop Heights on fourth down and take over at the Falcon 37-yard line looking to extend their eight-point lead. The momentum would swing shortly after as the Panthers’ Tyler Shain would miss a 23-yard field goal, and two plays later Marquel Moore had covered 80-yards on two catches to pull Heights even at 35. Disaster would strike on the ensuing kickoff for Derby as the Panthers would cough up the ball and Heights would take over in Derby territory. Prentice Byrd would score shortly after to give Wichita Heights a 42-35 lead with 5:35 remaining in the game. The Falcons would add another touchdown and win the district championship by two touchdowns.
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Elsewhere in the Wichita area, #4 Bishop Carroll knocked off #1 Hutchinson for the second consecutive time. Carroll built a 25-10 in the second half and the Salthawks would close within 25-17 before the Golden Eagles would widen the lead to two scores again. Bishop Carroll would eventually close out the Salthawks 32-24 to win the District 8 championship.
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In Class 6A, fourth-ranked Olathe South controlled the game against #3 Olathe East in a 36-18 win. Given Blue Valley Northwest’s comfortable win over Blue Valley West tonight, Olathe South needed to beat the Hawks by 13 or more points to qualify for the playoffs. The Falcons would add some late points to secure their playoff spot. In addition to the district championship and a likely top playoff seed, the Falcons wrapped up the Sunflower League title with the win.
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Walt Alexander’s Topeka High Trojans have been very competitive in 6A District 5. The Trojans built a 30-13 halftime lead over Manhattan two weeks ago only to see the Indians rally for a 44-36 win. On Friday, the Trojans were looking to play spoiler against Washburn Rural. Topeka led by two scores in the fourth quarter before the Junior Blues came storming back to tie the game at 47 and force overtime. After the two schools went scoreless in the first overtime, both would score in the second overtime. Topeka High would take a 54-47 lead after an Alex Beatty touchdown run. Rural would answer with a Skylar Curtis pass to Brandon Ediger, but the Trojans blocked the extra point and celebrated a 54-53 double overtime win. Rural would claim the district runner-up position anyway by virtue of winning the district points tie-breaker over Topeka High and Junction City. The Junior Blues advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons.
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In the battle for the Hatchet, four quarters wasn’t enough for Dodge City and Garden City to decide their annual rivalry game. The teams ended regulation tied at 9, and each team added a field goal on their first over time possession. Dodge City would take a 15-12 with another field goal in the second overtime, but Garden City would score on their possession and claim an 18-15 double overtime win.
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The Kpreps.com Game of the Week as voted on by the fans was a close, low-scoring affair. Fifth-ranked LaCrosse held a 14-0 for most of the game before third-ranked Plainville scored in the fourth quarter to pull within 14-8. The Cardinals wouldn’t get the ball back, however, as the Leopards grinded out the clock with a long drive that took them deep into Plainville territory as time expired. LaCrosse is the district champion and will host Moundridge in the first round of the 2-1A playoffs. Plainville will travel to take on Sacred Heart in the first round.
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Blue Valley – Stilwell rebounded from their loss to Pittsburg last week with a 40-6 thrashing of Gardner-Edgerton. With the win, the second-ranked Tigers took the District 4 championship while the #5 Trailblazers had to settle for the runner-up finish. Blue Valley will host Lansing in the first round, while Gardner-Edgerton will travel to Bonner Springs.
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Olathe North lost a fourth consecutive game as Olathe Northwest routed the Eagles, 56-28. The Eagles, once ranked atop the 6A rankings, will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
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On Thursday, Wellington’s streak of 19 consecutive playoff appearances came to an end as the Crusaders fell to Clearwater, 34-14. Wellington’s playoff streak was in jeopardy a year ago, but the Crusaders qualified for the playoffs via the district points tie-breaker with a record of 2-7.
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Life in district play can be tough; just ask Sedan. The Blue Devils came into Week 9 undefeated at 8-0. On Thursday night Sedan trailed Udall 43-40 at halftime, and the Eagles blanked the Blue Devils in the second half to claim a 62-40 upset win. Not only did the loss deliver the Blue Devils’ first loss of the season, it resulted in the end of their season as Udall and Central Burden claimed the two playoff spots thanks higher district points margins.
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On the other side of the spectrum from the Sedan situation, Chetopa came into Thursday night hoping to win a district championship by beating Marmaton Valley. Instead, the Green Hornets were manhandled by the Wildcats; 60-6 in a game that ended at halftime. But even after that 54-point loss, the Green Hornets still claimed the district runner-up by way of a head-to-head tie-breaker with St. Paul.
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