Class 6A
6A East: Olathe East (6-4) at No. 3 Lawrence Free State (9-1)
Many may have written Jeff Meyers’ Olathe East Hawks off in the middle of this season. The Hawks opened the season 1-4, but have won five straight games since and are one win away from reaching the 6A state semifinals for the third consecutive season.
Standing in their way is the top-seeded Lawrence Free State Firebirds who are trying to reach the semifinal round for the first time since a state runner-up finish in 2008. The two Sunflower League rivals did not meet during the regular season.
Olathe East advanced to the quarterfinals by avenging an early-season loss to Shawnee Mission East. The Hawks fell 41-21 to the Lancers back in Week 5, but shutdown SM East in last week’s 17-7 win.
Quarterback John Blazevic and running back Hayden Frazier each scored touchdowns as Olathe East built a 14-0 halftime lead last week. Frazier has been solid all season totaling 1,450 yards on the ground and 14 scores.
Ryan Ahlgren has been a handful for opposing offenses all season. The 6-foot, 210-pound senior has registered three sacks and forced five fumbles this season. He’ll be charged with chasing around one of the better quarterbacks in Kansas on Friday night.
Free State’s Kyle McFarland (6-3; 195) has produced more than 2,000 yards of total offense this season. The senior quarterback has thrown for 1,487 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 687 yards rushing and six scores.
The Firebirds have the offensive weapons to compliment McFarland.
Running back T.J. Cobbs is explosive and has rushed for 664 yards and 14 scores. Tye Hughes can be an impact player at wide receiver where he has nearly 600 yards receiving and nine scores. Hughes is also a threat in the return game where he’s taken two punts back for touchdowns.
For the Firebirds to advance, their offense will have to be on point. The Olathe East is only surrendering seven points per game over the last five games; all Hawk victories.
Free State 27, Olathe East 14 (Gilmore)
Fan vote: Free State (78%)
6A East: No. 4 Shawnee Mission West (9-1) at Lawrence (8-2)
This quarterfinal playoff game is a rematch of these two teams’ season opener. Shawnee Mission West won the first meeting 20-14 at Lawrence and now will try to beat the Lions on the road for the second time this season.
The first game came down to the final seconds as Lawrence quarterback Brad Strauss took a shot at the end zone as time expired.
In that game, Shawnee Mission West’s Bret Sterbach ran for 115 yards and all three of the Vikings’ touchdowns on 27 carries.
Sterbach has rushed for 1,702 yards and 19 TDs on the season and is coming off a 34-14 playoff win against Blue Valley Northwest where he ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Stopping the run will be a focus for the Lions as they are coming off a 34-32 playoff win over Gardner-Edgerton in which they allowed running back Traevohn Wrench to rush for about 330 yards.
The Vikings’ first option is to run, but they can pass when needed. SM West quarterback A.J. Verdini has passed for nearly 1,000 yards this season, including a 45-yard TD pass in last week’s win.
Shawnee Mission West will look to slow down Lawrence quarterback Brad Strauss, who passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns against Gardner-Edgerton. Strauss threw for about 200 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting against the Vikings, but he also was picked off twice.
Strauss is Lawrence’s top offensive threat, passing for 2,110 yards and 23 TDs, while rushing for 731 yards and 14 TDs on the season. He does have several good receiving options with Will Thompson, Erick Mayo and Drake Hofer. All three have more than 500 yards receiving.
Shawnee Mission West 28, Lawrence 20 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Lawrence (64%)
6A West: No. 2 Derby (9-1) at Dodge City (5-5)
Derby enjoyed a big victory against one-win Wichita North in the first round of the playoffs last week, 70-7. Derby collected more than 300 rushing yards in the win.
A victory Friday would give the Panthers their first double-digit win season since a 10-2 record in 2008.
Dodge City hasn't matched up against Derby since a 19-7 loss in the 2009 state playoffs. The Red Demons have now made the playoffs in each of coach Dave Foster's three seasons.
After they qualified for the playoffs with a Week 9 24-20 victory against rival Garden City, the Red Demons won 38-6 against Manhattan in the first round.
Junior Kelan Newton passed for 201 yards with a 3/0 TD/INT ratio, while senior Parker Davis rushed 21 times for 204 yards. Davis, an Air Force commit, has rushed for 822 yards this season, including 463 in the last three weeks.
Dodge City can be explosive, but it won't be enough versus Derby.
Derby 35, Dodge City 21 (Nicholl)
Fan vote: Derby (81%)
6A West: No. 1 Hutchinson (8-2) at No. 5 Topeka High (9-1)
This is a matchup of two schools on opposite ends of the spectrum. While both teams are ranked, the two teams’ traditions are far different.
The Hutchinson Salthawks are the defending Class 5A state champions and have won seven state championships at either the 5A or 6A level over the past eight years.
Meanwhile, the longtime program for the Topeka High Trojans is coming off its first playoff win in school history. The Trojans, 4-5 a year ago, are enjoying what is arguably its best season.
Quarterback Raymond Solis makes the Trojan offense go. Solis rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 88 yards and one TD in Topeka’s 42-13 playoff win over Wichita Northwest.
Trojans running back Eli Weinbrecht also ran for about 130 yards and a touchdown in the win.
The Salthawks are coming off a 42-7 win over a Wichita Heights team that had advanced to the 6A state championship game in each of the past three seasons.
Hutchinson rushed for about 375 yards in the win. Running back Will Smith led the way with 158 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Trevor Turner has been successful in running Hutchinson’s option offense.
The Salthawks’ only losses this season were to perennial Missouri power Rockhurst and Salina South. Hutchinson has won five straight leading into this quarterfinal matchup.
Hutchinson 49, Topeka 28 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Hutchinson (81%)
Class 5A
5A East: No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1) at Blue Valley (6-4)
Top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas will look to avenge their only loss of the season when the Saints travel to take on the Blue Valley Tigers.
Blue Valley rallied from down 28-14 late in the fourth quarter to pull out a dramatic 29-28 win back in Week 6.
The Tigers recovered an Aquinas fumble at their own 3-yard line and one play later Henry McGrew’s second touchdown run pulled Blue Valley within 28-21 with just under four minutes remaining.
Blue Valley was unable to cover the onside kick, but the Tiger defense got a stop. The Tigers would then drive 91 yards in just over a minute capped by a Mikey Henson 21-yard touchdown catch from Logan Brettell to pull Blue Valley winthin 28-27. With under a minute to go, Coach Eric Driskell decided to go for the win. McGrew ran in the two-point conversion to give the Tigers a 29-28 lead with 56 seconds left.
Aquinas would mount one last scoring opportunity, but Derek Rodgers 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired came up just short.
Blue Valley was led by Ryan McNerlin in that first game. McNerlin rushed for 108 yards and also had 68 yards receiving. He went over 1,000 yards for the season despite only gaining 42 yards on the ground in the Tigers’ first-round win over Shawnee Heights. That game appeared headed to overtime tied at 10 before a Blue Valley interception and another dramatic Brettell to Henson touchdown pass with under a minute to go.
Aquinas, meanwhile, had little trouble in blowing out Lansing in the opening round. The Saints quickly raced to a 21-0 lead and extended that lead to 43-0 by halftime before cruising 50-20.
Quarterback Danten Cosentino has plenty of weapons including Nick Williams out of the backfield. To advance, Aquinas will need to avoid turnovers and avoid digging a 14-0 hole to start the game as they did in the first meeting with Blue Valley. Otherwise, the Tigers could book their ticket to the state semifinals for the fifth consecutive season.
Aquinas 24, Blue Valley 21 (Gilmore)
Fan vote: Aquinas (64%)
5A East: No. 5 Blue Valley West (8-2) at Bishop Miege (5-5)
A second Eastern Kansas League rematch will take place on Friday as No. 5 Blue Valley West will take on Bishop Miege with the winner advancing to the state semifinals.
Blue Valley West won the earlier meeting with Miege by extending a 14-9 halftime lead to 34-9 heading into the fourth quarter. That’s when the Stags, plagued by four early turnovers, began to mount a comeback. Miege quarterback Montel Cozart threw four of his five touchdowns passes in the fourth quarter as the Stags got back within 41-36, but they could not cover a late onside kick. The Jaguars held on for the five-point win.
Cozart, a University of Kansas commit, completed 27 of 42 passes for 351 yards and five touchdowns in that game. He’s followed up his outstanding junior season, in which he was named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, by throwing for 2,175 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Miege went on the road to beat another set of Jaguars in Mill Valley 41-23 in the opening round. Cozart threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns and added 84 yards on the ground in that victory. His top wideout McKinley Johnson had 13 catches for 124 yards and also returned a kickoff 87 yards for a score.
Now the challenge for the Stags’ defense and outstanding linebacker Brad Ivey is to slow the two-headed Blue Valley West attack of Conley Wilkins and Ryan Ralston.
Wilkins, the senior running back, rushed for 302 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries in the earlier win over Miege. He has gained 1,665 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. Wilkins rushed for 199 yards and three scores in the Jaguars’ 54-21 opening-round blowout of Topeka Seaman.
Ralston, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior quarterback, has scored 22 rushing touchdowns this season. He’s rushed for 902 yards and thrown for 1,370 yards and 11 scores.
If they can again control the line of scrimmage, Blue Valley West will be playing in the state semifinals for the first time since winning the state championship in 2007; the last time the Jaguars were in Class 5A.
Blue Valley West 38, Bishop Miege 31 (Gilmore)
Fan vote: Blue Valley West (52%)
5A West: No. 1 Bishop Carroll (10-0) at Andover (8-2)
Bishop Carroll, the lone 5A and 6A team that hasn't lost, defeated Hays High, 52-27 last week, the Eagles' closest game of the year.
Carroll led 24-21 at halftime, but then opened it up in the second half. Zeke Palmer completed 16 of 21 passes for 216 yards and rushed for two scores in the victory.
The Eagles have outscored opponents 528-101 and rank No. 1 in scoring offense and defense.
Andover coach Mike Lee has orchestrated one of Kansas' biggest turnarounds this season. The Trojans went 9-2 in 2008 and '09 before it went 2-7 and 1-8 the last two years.
Andover has averaged 263.7 rushing yards per game and has eight players who have rushed between 126 and 481 yards.
Andover defeated Ark City 31-14 last week, the program's first playoff win since 2007. Andover has collectively beaten teams 283-137.
Carroll wins — and continues its march toward a Class 5A state crown.
Carroll 42, Andover 14 (Nicholl)
Fan vote: Bishop Carroll (89%)
5A West: No. 3 Emporia (9-1) at No. 2 Salina South (9-1)
Two of the best teams in Class 5A are meeting early in the playoffs as the third-ranked Emporia Spartans will travel to face the second-ranked Salina South Cougars.
The Cougars appear tough to beat as they have won nine consecutive games since losing 27-14 to Class 6A’s second-ranked Derby Panthers in the season opener. Since then, Salina South has earned wins over the likes of 6A’s top-ranked Hutchinson Salthawks, rival Salina Central and Hays.
Salina South is coming off a 62-21 win over Goddard in which they rushed for about 360 yards. Cody Busby returned from injury to rush for 154 yards and three scores, while Mike Jones ran the ball 12 times for 115 yards and three TDs.
The Spartans boast one of the most explosive offenses in the state with a variety of offensive weapons. Emporia is capable of running the ball or throwing it deep. The Spartans are coming off a 55-27 playoff win over Andover Central in which they rushed for about 475 yards and had about 600 yards of total offense.
Emporia’s Cody Swanson, Logan Highley and Tanner Taylor each rushed for about 100 yards in the win.
However, the Spartans also have shown the ability to throw this season. Quarterback Braxton Marstall has proven to be a more than adequate passer. Marstall was 8 of 10 passing for 125 yards and two TDs in the playoff win.
With Jerel Morrow and J.L. Savage the Spartans have two of the best receivers and return men in the state.
Salina South 28, Emporia 21 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Salina South (69%)
Class 4A
4A East: Chanute (7-4) at KC Piper (9-2)
The Chanute Blue Comets and the KC Piper Pirates each opened the season with losses, but now they are both one win away from the Class 4A semifinals.
Chanute opened the season with a 30-9 loss to Mulvane and was only 2-3 after the first five weeks. However, the Blue Comets have won five of six games since then and are poised for a run at the state finals.
The Blue Comets have played their best ball of late and are coming off a dominating 53-6 win over the Girard Trojans, who had entered the game with nine consecutive wins.
Chanute quarterback Brock Gilmore has passed for more than 1,500 yards, and running back Blake Kisner has rushed for about 1,000 yards.
The Blue Comets also possess a good defense, pitching two shut outs and keeping opponents two one touchdown in two more games since starting the season 2-3.
Chanute is especially good against the run, slowing down the ground games of Paola and Girard in recent outings.
KC Piper is a veteran team that returned six starters on offense and eight on defense from last year’s 7-4 squad. The Pirates are making their first ever appearance in the state quarterfinals.
The Pirates are led by senior running back Matt McDonald, who has rushed for 878 yards and 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Tanner Eikenbary also returned after throwing for about 1,500 yards last year.
Sophomore running back and linebacker Colton Bebee (6-3, 240) led the team in tackles as a freshman and is already considered a Division I prospect.
KC Piper rallied to beat Baldwin 27-21 last week after trailing 14-6 in the first quarter. Baldwin lost two key players to injury early in the game.
The Pirates defense forced Baldwin into seven turnovers.
Chanute 28, Piper 13 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Chanute (62%)
4A East: No. 5 Eudora (10-1) at Louisburg (7-4)
You know the Louisburg Wildcats have to be looking forward to a rematch in this one.
Consider that Louisburg held a 20-0 lead over Eudora in Week 2 only to fall 21-20.
The Wildcats blocked two Cardinal punts for touchdowns to take the big lead. Eudora responded with two Andrew Ballock touchdown runs in the second quarter and another in the fourth to go up 21-20.
Louisburg kicker Jason Danciak attempted a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds but it fell short.
Now, the Wildcats have a second chance.
Louisburg is coming off consecutive playoff wins over Southeast Kansas League opponents Fort Scott and Coffeyville.
Eudora, the defending 4A runner-up, finished 6-0 in the Frontier League and its only loss was 17-14 to St. James Academy in Week 6.
Ballock leads the Cardinals with more than 700 yards passing and more than 900 yards rushing. The Cardinals have three other players –Garret Elston, Gabe Cleveland and Markis Hill – who have rushed for more than 500 yards.
Eudora 24, Louisburg 20 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Eudora (61%)
4A West: No. 2 McPherson (10-1) at No. 1 Holton (11-0)
In this quarterfinal match-up of the top-ranked Holton Wildcats and the number two ranked McPherson Bullpups the winner will emerge as the favorite to take this year's 4A title.
Both teams are highlighted by explosive offenses with the Wildcats using Brooks Barta's wishbone offense to feed multiple running backs, and Tom Young's Bullpups utilizing a high-powered passing attack that has yielded over 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air this season.
The Wildcats are unbiased when it comes to handing off the pigskin with five backs tallying more than 400 yards rushing this season led by junior Drake Ewing with 1,213 yards and 16 touchdowns and senior Cameron Karn nearing the 1,000 yard mark with 973 yards and 13 scores. Both backs average over 7.9 yards per carry. Senior quarterback Jaxon Wright has added 554 yards rushing and averages nearly 10 yards per carry. While Wright doesn't get to throw the ball much, when he does he's effective, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and only one interception.
For the Bullpups, sophomore quarterback Kyler Kinnamon has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for over 2,000 yards with 17 touchdowns, but interceptions have been a problem of late with seven picks in the last three games and 13 on the season. While the Bullpups are effective through the air they are far from one dimensional as standout senior Austin O'Bannon has rushed for over 1,100 yards with 18 touchdowns. Fellow senior Dalton Clark has added 742 yards and nine scores. Kinnamon is no slouch on the ground either with 520 yards rushing and six scores while averaging nearly eight yards per carry.
But with all this offense, defense will be the key to advancing to the semi-finals and the advantage appears to weigh heavily with the Wildcats. Holton allows an average of only 10 points per game and have shut-out state powers Topeka Hayden and Wichita Collegiate in two of the last four games. The Bullpups, on the other hand, have allowed an average of nearly 24 points per game.
Granted the Bullpups have played a tougher AVCTL schedule and allowed 58 points in a week two loss to 5A power Hays, but it still appears Holton's defense may give the Wildcats the edge in this one.
Holton 34, McPherson 14 (Baetz)
Fan vote: Holton (72%)
4A West: No. 4 Buhler (8-3) at No. 3 Mulvane (10-1)
A rematch of one of the most exciting regular season AVCTL games which Mulvane won 38-34 in Week 3 will be highlighted by two of the state's best players in Mulvane senior quarterback Ty Redington and Buhler junior tailback Riley Allen.
Redington is one of the state's best dual-threat quarterbacks and has thrown for nearly 2,400 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing nearly 60 percent of his 300 pass attempts on the season. Redington is also the team's second leading rusher with 608 yards and nine touchdowns.
Allen, a state placer in the 4A sprints last year as a sophomore, has rushed for more than 2,000 yards this season (the fourth year in a row a Buhler tailback has done so) including 205 yards and four touchdowns rushing in last weekend's 45-14 blowout of Concordia.
If the game is anything like the thrilling Week 3, four-point Mulvane win, expect a good one. In that game, Redington was 29 of 39 passing for 422 yards with four touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown and a 39-yard field goal. The Wildcats held Allen to one of his lowest rushing performances on the season with 110 yards on 28 carries, but Buhler quarterback Luke Berblinger compensated with 223 yards passing and three total touchdowns.
Mulvane was clutch in that win, but what Buhler learned in that loss could be the difference in another close game.
Buhler 28, Mulvane 21 (Baetz)
Fan vote: Mulvane (54%)
Class 3A
3A East: No. 1 Silver Lake (11-0) at Caney Valley (10-1)
The Silver Lake Eagles want to get back to the state finals, and the Caney Valley Bullpups want to get over the hump of the quarterfinals after ending their season there the past two seasons.
Silver Lake opened the season with eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense from last year’s state runner-up team. The Eagles have been atop the 3A rankings all season and haven’t even been tested to this point. The closest game all season was a 20-point margin of victory against rival Rossville.
Junior quarterback Dailin Kruger has been protective with the football, throwing for 25 TD passes with only four interceptions. He’s passed for 1,555 yards and has rushed for 884 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averages almost 10 yards per carry.
Pete Pfannenstial leads the team in rushing with 931 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging almost 9 yards per carry.
Jeff Torkelson is the team’s leading receiver with 32 catches for 555 yards and five touchdowns. Evan Burdiek, who started the season sharing quarterback duties with Kruger, has developed into a reliable receiver as well. He has 12 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
Silver Lake is coached by C.J. Hamilton, who with 355 victories, is the winningest coach in Kansas high school football history.
Caney Valley lost 16-8 to Rock Creek in the quarterfinals last year and 18-16 to Rossville two years ago.
The Bullpups’ only loss this season came to defending state champion Conway Springs 33-8 in Week 2. Caney Valley is coming off a 28-6 playoff win against Wellsville in which Brian Dixon scored all four Bullpup touchdowns. He and backfield mate Anthony Camper have each rushed for more than 1,000 yards on the season.
Like Silver Lake, Caney Valley is a veteran team as it opened the season with seven returning starters on offense and eight on defense.
Coach Criss Davis, the son of 300-plus win coach Les Davis, has turned the Caney Valley program into one of the best 3A teams on the east side of the state.
Silver Lake 35, Caney Valley 16 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Silver Lake (74%)
3A East: St. Mary’s Colgan (8-3) at Rossville (10-1)
St. Mary’s Colgan and Rossville are each perennial playoff contenders, but this is the first time they will meet as the Panthers moved up to Class 3A this year.
Colgan, which had advanced to at least the quarterfinals of 2-1A the past 13 seasons, kept the streak alive by beating Humboldt 63-28 to reach that level in 3A this year. Colgan advanced to nine state championships and won four from 1999-2010. The Panthers finished last season in the 2-1A state semifinals against eventual champion Centralia.
The Panthers are led by senior quarterback Dyson Dechant and senior running back Conner Dayton. Dechant passed for 281 yards and four TDs in the win over Humboldt and has 1,492 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Dayton has rushed for 1,410 yards and 14 touchdowns on 214 carries.
The quarterfinal matchup features two of the most balanced offensive attacks in 3A.
As a team, Colgan is averaging 137.2 yards passing and 191.2 yards rushing.
Rossville is even more balanced, averaging 159.5 yards passing and 177.5 rushing.
The Bulldogs are led by senior quarterback Dalton Catron, who has passed for 1,671 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 645 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Catron was a big part of Rossville’s 28-27 come-from-behind win against Sabetha last week.
Sophomore running back Nick Reesor leads the team with 818 rushing yards, and the Bulldogs have six players with at least 10 receptions.
Colgan tied a state record with eight interceptions in the win over Humboldt last Saturday night.
Rossville 26, Colgan 20 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Colgan (53%)
3A West: No. 3 Garden Plain (11-0) at No. 2 Scott City (11-0)
These two teams have had two classic playoff matchups in recent years, both won by Garden Plain. In 2006, Scott City lost 28-14 to Garden Plain, and in 2008, the Owls edged Scott City 20-17.
Scott City has been close to breaking through and making a run to the sub-state or state title game, but multiple close playoff losses have kept the Beavers from advancing deeper.
The Beavers have another strong team this year, paced by senior quarterback Brett O'Neil and senior running back Dalton Buehler.
O'Neil has completed 89 of 129 passes for 1,549 yards with a 20/1 TD/INT ratio. Buehler has rushed 129 times for 1,535 yards and 20 scores. O'Neil has also picked off a team-high five passes for a team that has outscored opponents 519-75 and ranks No. 1 in Class 3A in scoring defense.
Garden Plain has beaten teams by a combined margin of 519-164, including two victories against defending 3A champion Conway Springs.
The Owls defeated the Cardinals 41-20 in the regular season and 33-28 in the playoffs. Denver Doyle rushed for more than 200 yards and tacked on two scores in last Saturday’s win over Conway Springs.
Scott City gets it done this year - and finally moves into a sub-state game.
Scott City 21, Garden Plain 17 (Nicholl)
Fan vote: Scott City (61%)
3A West: No. 4 Beloit (11-0) at Sedgwick (10-1)
Beloit may not be getting the respect it deserves.
Maybe it's the odd looking Double Wing offense or their unorthodox 10-1 defense, or maybe it’s that the last several seasons have ended short of the title game with blowout losses deep in the playoffs. But whatever it is, the Trojans have not climbed higher than fourth in the prep football polls in Kansas most of this season.
Yes, the Class 3A west is packed with quality teams including Garden Plain, Scott City, and the recently upended Conway Springs Cardinals, but the Trojans resumé is as impressive as any of those teams. Especially last weekend's 60-8 blowout of a Holcomb team that had quality wins over Meade, Ulysses, and Hoisington, and gave unbeaten Scott City its best game of the season in a 21-7 loss in Week 3.
The Trojans dominance is unmatched in 3A this year. They have scored fewer than 50 points just ONCE! They have scored at least 50 points 10 times, at least 60 points seven times and put up 70 and 84 in consecutive early season games. The game they didn't hang 50 on their opponent they rallied from 27-12 down to win 32-27 against a Phillipsburg team that would finish 7-2 and features one of the best players in all of Kansas in quarterback Sean Newlan.
Are they playing the worst competition in Kansas? Not by a stretch! Their wins include dominating performances against six playoff qualifiers - three of which won first round games - and seven of their nine opponents finished the regular season with winning records.
While Jeff Werner has built a consistent winner in Sedgwick that handed Hillsboro their first loss last week, one needs look only as far as Week 3 to see the challenge that lie ahead for the Cardinals. That week Sedgwick suffered their only loss of the season in overtime to Sacred Heart, 31-28. The next week Beloit was dominant in a 70-20 win over Sacred Heart that proved to be their only loss of the regular season.
The Cardinals rebounded from a midseason injury to starting quarterback Brylie Ware by developing former offensive lineman Logan Thompson into one of the best spread run quarterbacks in Kansas, but the Cardinals don't have the size and strength to match-up with a Trojan team deserving of more respect.
Beloit 48, Sedgwick 12 (Baetz)
Fan vote: Scott City (88%)
Class 2-1A
2-1A East: No. 4 Centralia (10-0) at Olpe (8-2)
There were plenty of questions surrounding the defending state champion Centralia Panthers when the season began.
Centralia returned only two starters on offense and four and defense. The only two offensive starters were moving to new positions. The questions were strong enough that the Panthers were left out of the top five of the Kpreps.com Class 2-1A preseason rankings.
Now, the Panthers are just two wins away from getting back to the state championship game.
J.T. Rosine took over quarterback duties for All-Stater Michael Glatzcak. Rosine has flourished in the role, rushing for close to 1,500 yards. Rosine and classmate Sam Steinlage each rushed for three touchdowns during the Panthers’ 46-7 win over Jefferson Co. North.
Centralia, which is on a 19-game winning streak overall, has rolled through its first 10 games of 2012. The offense has scored no fewer than 28 points in a game and has scored at least 42 in the past eight. The defense has pitched four shutouts and has allowed no more than one touchdown in the past nine games. The 16 points by St. Marys in Week 1 is the most the Panthers have allowed all season.
Olpe has won five consecutive games since falling 40-6 to Lyndon in Week 5.
The Eagles are coming off a 28-20 playoff win at Onaga. Olpe quarterback Bo Krueger passed for three TDs and rushed for one touchdown in the victory.
Centralia beat Onaga 42-0 earlier this season.
Centralia 44, Olpe 8 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Centralia (78%)
2-1A East: No. 3 Lyndon (10-0) at McLouth (9-1)
The Lyndon Tigers have posted jaw-dropping scores every single week.
Lyndon has won its 10 games by an average of 52.9 to 3.2. The Tigers have scored no fewer than 40 points in a game and have scored 50 or more six times. Defensively, Lyndon has pitched six shutouts, including the past two games. Twelve points to Oswego is the most they’ve allowed all year.
Quarterback Joe Walsh has passed for more than 1,200 yards. Skylar Farwell has rushed for more than 1,000 yards with 23 touchdowns, averaging almost 11 yards per tote. Junior Cameron Woodruff has caught 38 passes for 640 yards and seven touchdowns.
McLouth’s only loss this year was 13-12 to Olpe – a team Lyndon beat 40-6 earlier this year.
However, the Bulldogs have rolled to six consecutive victories in dominating fashion. McLouth beat Jackson Heights 42-8 in the opening round.
McLouth quarterback Marc Walbridge completed 6 of 10 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff win. Walbridge also ran for 72 yards on six carries and scored on a 2-point conversion. T.J. Crowell led the Bulldogs on the ground with 114 yards on 22 carries.
Lyndon 40, McLouth 12 (Schremmer)
Fan vote: Lyndon (77%)
2-1A West: Oakley (7-2) at No. 1 La Crosse (10-0)
La Crosse and Oakley will meet up in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The squads also met in 2005 and 2006 in the postseason with Oakley winning two of the three matchups.
This season, La Crosse looks to return to the sub-state game for the second straight year after it finished as state runner-up to Centralia last year. The Leopards, one of three undefeated teams left in 2-1A, has outscored opponents 424-108.
Oakley, with no star players, has won six in a row after a 1-2 start. The Plainsmen have won with defense, including its last three wins where they didn't score more than 18 points in any contest. Oakley has collectively beaten teams 286-116.
While the state is well-aware of La Crosse's running back duo of senior Kip Keeley (898 rushing yards, 416 receiving yards) and senior Levi Morss (1,409 rushing yards), the team has had several players step up in their first seasons as starters. That includes sophomore quarterback Jack Garcia, who has completed 65 of 106 passes for 1,222 yards with a 16/4 TD/INT ratio.
Sophomore lineman Sheldon Schmidt, the team leader with seven sacks, has played well, but injured his hip last Friday and is questionable for Oakley. The secondary graduated nearly all of a group that set a state record for interceptions last year with 34. However, the new group has picked off 17 passes, including four apiece from seniors William Storie and Lucas Moeder.
A key Friday is the first quarter - La Crosse has started very quickly the last few weeks, including an early 21-0 lead in last week's 35-6 first round playoff win against Ell-Saline.
Oakley keeps the game close for a half, but the Leopards have too much offense.
La Crosse 24, Oakley 14 (Nicholl)
Fan vote: La Crosse (86%)
2-1A West: No. 2 Meade (9-1) at Sterling (4-6)
Meade is a win away from its fifth straight double-digit victory season. The Buffs won the state championship two years ago, but lost in the second round to La Crosse last year.
Meade has won nine straight since a one-point loss to Holcomb to start the year.
Sterling defeated Smith Center last week, the Black Bears' first playoff victory since 2007 — and the last game of Redmen coach Roger Barta's 34-year career at Smith Center that featured 323 wins. Barta announced his retirement to his players Wednesday night.
Meade's single wing power running game has continued to put up big yards, averaging 364.7 rushing yards a contest. Senior Trevin Wiens has rushed 99 times for 1,164 yards and 21 scores. Wiens has exceeded 3,900 rushing yards in his career.
Sterling is the lone Kansas team still alive in the postseason with a losing record, but the program is 4-2 in its last six contests after an 0-4 start.
In the 26-16 victory against Smith Center, senior quarterback Riley Galyon had another big game with 50 rushes for 230 yards. He has passed for 617 yards with 1,544 rushing yards.
Galyon's a great player, but Meade is a great team.
Meade 32, Sterling 12 (Nicholl)
Fan vote: Meade (87%)
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