The Kpreps Game of the Week as voted on by the fans certainly lived up to its billing. Third-ranked Mulvane held on to edge second-ranked Buhler 38-34 in a wild back-and-forth game that featured four second-half lead changes.
Mulvane jumped out to an early 14-0 lead behind two Ty Redington touchdown passes – one each to Alex Evans and Nolan Smith. Buhler’s Riley Allen would respond with a touchdown run late in the first quarter to pull the Crusaders within 14-7.
Redington widened the Wildcat lead to 21-7 with a 13-yard strike to Collin Dempsy, but Buhler quarterback Luke Berblinger’s touchdown pass cut the lead to 21-14. Redington responded by connecting on a 39-yard field goal for a 24-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter featured consecutive touchdown runs from Allen and Berblinger to give Buhler its first lead at 28-24. But Redington would strike again, this time breaking a tackle and using his legs for a 47-yard touchdown run to put Mulvane back on top 31-26.
Berblinger countered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Keeler at the 6:29 mark of the fourth quarter to give the Crusaders a 34-31 lead.
Mulvane would drive deep into Buhler territory, and on third-and-goal, Redington escaped a sack and hit Nolan Smith on a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats up 38-34 with just 1:35 left.
Buhler quickly marched to the Mulvane 22-yard line where Berblinger convert on a fourth down and reached the Mulvane 10. Two plays later, Berblinger was tackled at the Wildcat 2-yard line as time expired.
Berblinger threw for 224 yards and two scores on the night while adding a rushing touchdown. Allen added 110 yards rushing and two scores for Buhler.
Redington’s performance overshadowed everyone as the senior completed 29 of 39 attempts for 425 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in addition to his second-quarter field goal. Evans caught 14 balls for 254 yards and a pair of scores, while Nolan Smith added 12 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.
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In a battle of respective state powers, Rockhurst (Mo.) shocked Hutchinson 35-31 by overcoming a 31-13 fourth-quarter deficit. The Hawklets scored 22 unanswered in the fourth quarter behind backup quarterback Ian Brown.
Brown hit Tom Keller on an 11-yard touchdown to trip the Salthawk lead to 31-20. After Rockhurst returned a fumble deep into Hutch territory, Brown connected on his second touchdown pass to pull the Hawklets within 31-28 after the two-point conversion. Rockhurst would recover the ensuing onside kick and Brown punched the winning score in on a 1-yard run with under two minutes left.
Rockhurst improves to 2-2 with the win and has now won three straight, and four of five in this showdown between state powers.
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In a battle of ranked 6A teams, third-ranked Olathe South slipped by No. 5 Lawrence Free State, 38-35. South build a 21-7 lead in the second quarter after converting two Kyle McFarland interceptions into touchdowns.
But the Free State quarterback would rebound throwing his second touchdown pass of the game, and immediately after, Demarko Bobo returned an Olathe South interception back for a touchdown to tie the game at 21.
A field goal gave Olathe South a 24-21 at the intermission.
Free State took its first lead of the game in the third quarter on T.J. Cobbs touchdown run. But the defending champs would respond. Russell White’s second touchdown run put the Falcons back on top 30-28 late in the third quarter. He would strike again in the fourth quarter as Olathe South widened its advantage to 38-28.
Cobbs would score again early in the fourth quarter to pull the Firebirds within 38-35, but Chase Hansen’s interception of a McFarland pass with two minutes left closed out Free State’s hope for an upset.
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Fort Scott used a dominant second-half performance to beat rival Pittsburg 41-20 on a rainy night at Hutchinson Field. The two teams played to a 14-14 tie after two quarters as Fort Scott unconventionally scored on a 90-yard fumble return and a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdowns.
The Tigers performance in the second half was anything but unconventional. Fort Scott lined up and ran right at Pittsburg and limited the Purple Dragons to just one possession in the third quarter.
Tiger quarterback Johnathan Stark gave Fort Scott the lead for good with a 1-yard plunge early in the third quarter. He would later add a 44-yard touchdown run as Fort Scott beat Pittsburg for the first time since 2004.
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It was a wild night in the Eastern Kansas League on Friday as 5A’s second-ranked Bishop Miege Stags fell to Blue Valley Northwest, 21-14 in overtime. Miege trailed 14-0 before scoring on a 98-yard touchdown run by quarterback Montel Cozart to force overtime after a two-point conversion. In overtime, quarterback Alec Winsor hit Bailey Strohl on a 10-yard touchdown pass to propel the Huskies to the 21-14 win.
Elsewhere in the ELK, St. Thomas Aquinas picked up a good road win 35-14 over Salina Central. Meanwhile Salina South traveled to Stilwell and handled Blue Valley 28-7, meaning that the second and third ranked teams in 5A fell on Friday night. Blue Valley Southwest also was impressive in a 31-24 win over Gardner-Edgerton.
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Led by what is arguably the best wide receiver duo in the state, the Emporia Spartans crushed Topeka Highland Park 50-14 on Friday night in Topeka.
Emporia’s Jerel Morrow, who has verbally committed to play for Oklahoma State, caught four balls for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Emporia’s J.L. Savage caught three balls for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Savage also hit Morrow on an 85-yard touchdown streak.
Quarterback Braxton Marstall passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns to lead Class 5A’s fourth-ranked Spartans to the easy victory.
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Topeka Seaman improved to 3-0 with a quality 21-20 win against Manhattan.
Seaman, which finished just 2-7 a year ago, held on as Manhattan missed an extra point in the third quarter. Manhattan quarterback Jacob Holloway hit Logan Clark for a 13-yard TD pass, but Joseph Trujillo’s extra-point attempt was no good.
Quarterback Butch Rea led the Vikings with 121 yards rushing and one touchdown, while passing for 107 yards and a touchdown. Speedy sophomore Joe Reagan was a threat as a runner and receiver with 53 yards rushing on seven carries and three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Holloway led Manhattan by rushing for 139 yards and passing for 64 yards and a touchdown.
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Smith Center picked up its first win of the season with a 20-14 overtime victory over Oberlin-Decatur County. After Oberlin tossed an interception on their overtime possession, it took the Redmen only 1-play to score from 10 yards out and register their first win.
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Northeast-Arma picked up their second win this week with a 35-6 road victory at Eureka. The Vikings snapped a 19-game losing streak on Monday by beating Fredonia 34-14 in a game that was postponed due to power outages resulting from last Friday’s storms.
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A pair of unbeatens hooked up in 3A as Sacred Heart edged Sedgwick in overtime 31-28 by virtue of a Tymony Bonilla field goal. Also among 3A unbeatens, Scott City knocked off a good Holcomb team 21-7.
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District play began for many 8-man schools in the state on Friday night and Pike Valley got a key win over Clifton-Clyde. The Panthers had been outscored 98-20 entering this week, but knocked off the Eagles 34-14.
In non-district 8-man action, Baileyville B&B picked up another statement win in defeating Pretty Prairie 52-8 at a game played in Solomon. The Falcons have beaten Madison, Quinter, and Pretty Prairie in the first three weeks of the season.
In Division II, Hoxie ran away from Otis-Bison 56-22, and Hodgeman County outscored WaKeeney-Trego 22-8 in the second half to win 38-16.
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