The state’s largest classifications kicked off playoff action tonight as Class 6A and 5A held first round games. In addition, the smallest 11-man class, Class 2-1A , also held first round action.
---
In a game where the defenses took a back seat to two high-powered offenses, Gardner-Edgerton simply ran out of time. The Trailblazers missed a 35-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining and fell to the Lawrence Lions, 34-32.
Lawrence led the entire way, but late Lions miscues and another incredible performance from Gardner-Edgerton running back Traevohn Wrench made for an exciting finish.
Wrench scored his second touchdown of the game late in the third quarter and added the two-point conversion to pull his Trailblazers within 28-25.
Lawrence would answer when outstanding senior quarterback Brad Strauss threw his second touchdown pass of the game as the Lions extended their lead to 34-25.
Wrench answered right back at the 10:08 mark of the fourth quarter to cut the Lawrence lead to 34-32.
The Lions would mount a long drive inside the Gardner-Edgerton 20-yard line before Strauss lost a fumble fighting for extra yards at the end of a run.
Gardner had new life, but on fourth-and-7 at midfield, Wrench was stopped short on only a 3-yard gain.
Lawrence again threatened to put the game away, but Strauss was stripped of the ball again as he broke into the secondary inside the Blazer 20.
Gardner-Edgerton would take over with 1:53 remaining on the clock and only one timeout. The Blazers drove deep into Lions territory aided by a pass interference call and a beneficial clock stoppage after a running play for an equipment malfunction. Gardner-Edgerton faced a fourth down with just 12 seconds left when junior Tim Mitchell’s field goal attempt came up short.
Strauss and the Lions breathed a sigh of relief and will advance to the quarterfinals where they will host Shawnee Mission West; 34-14 winners over Blue Valley Northwest. The Vikings beat the Lions in Lawrence 20-14 to open the season.
Gardner-Edgerton finishes the season 6-4, and Wrench, just a junior, finished with 322 yards rushing in the game. Strauss threw for 320 of Lawrence’s 395 passing yards.
---
Elsewhere in Class 6A, Lawrence Free State built a big lead and held off Olathe North 38-22, and Olathe East avenged a 20-point regular season loss to Shawnee Mission East by beating the Lancers 17-7.
Top-ranked Hutchinson had no trouble with Wichita Heights in a showdown of two of the state’s best programs over the past few seasons. The Salthawks rushed for more than 400 yards in a 42-7 win.
Topeka High picked up the school’s first ever playoff victory with a 42-13 road-win over Wichita Northwest. Quarterback Raymond Solis rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns for the Trojans.
Dodge City went on the road and dominated Manhattan in a 38-6 victory. The Red Demons will host Derby in the next round. The Panthers thrashed Wichita North 70-7.
---
In Class 5A, top-ranked Bishop Carroll finally got a test as the Eagles traded scores with Hays the entire first half before pulling way. Carroll led just 24-21 at halftime, but went on to win 52-27. Bishop Carroll will travel to Andover next week. The Trojans beat Ark City 31-14.
Emporia and Salina South set up a showdown for next Friday night as they posted big wins over Andover Central and Goddard, respectively.
On the eastern half of 5A all four remaining teams belong to the Eastern Kansas League. St. Thomas Aquinas blew by Lansing 50-20 to set up a rematch with the team that handed them their only setback of the season; the Blue Valley Tigers. Blue Valley scored with under a minute to go to defeat Shawnee Heights, 17-10.
Blue Valley West used another huge night from senior running back Conley Wilkins as the Jaguars throttled Topeka Seaman 54-14. Their reward will be Bishop Miege who won at Mill Valley, 41-23.
---
Smith Center’s return to the Class 2-1A playoffs ended abruptly thanks to a big second half from the Sterling Black Bears. The Redmen, which dominated 2-1A by going 79-1 a few years ago, took a 16-0 lead into halftime before surrendering nearly 300 yards in the second half of their 26-16 loss. Sterling will advance to host the Meade Buffaloes; 47-0 winners over Oberlin-Decatur County.
The fifth-ranked Stanton County Trojans saw their season come to an end with a 14-12 loss at Oakley. Oakley will travel to take on top-ranked La Crosse in the next round. La Crosse defeated Ell-Saline 35-6 on Friday night.
Defending champion Centralia extended its state-best winning streak to 19 games with a 46-7 win over Jefferson County North. The Panthers will hit the road next Friday to take on Chris Schmidt’s Olpe Eagles. The Eagles built a 28-0 lead at Onaga and held on to beat the Buffaloes 28-20.
Elsewhere on the eastern half of Class 2-1A, Lyndon posted its sixth shutout of the season in blanking Wabaunsee, 44-0. The Tigers will travel to McLouth next Friday. McLouth, newcomers to 2-1A, opened with a 42-8 win over Jackson Heights.
Playoff match-ups for Friday, November 9th
Class 6A
Olathe East (6-4) at Lawrence Free State (9-1)
Shawnee Mission West (9-1) at Lawrence (8-2)
Derby (9-1) at Dodge City (5-5)
Hutchinson (8-2) at Topeka High (9-1)
Class 5A
St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1) at Blue Valley (6-4)
Blue Valley West (8-2) at Bishop Miege (5-5)
Bishop Carroll (10-0) at Andover (8-2)
Emporia (9-1) at Salina South (9-1)
Class 2-1A
Centralia (10-0) at Olpe (8-2)
Lyndon (10-0) at McLouth (9-1)
Oakley (7-2) at La Crosse (10-0)
Meade (9-1) at Sterling (4-6)
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
