Playoff Matchups: Round One |
An undefeated season is a common goal for many teams, but undefeated in the playoffs is the holy grail for teams still playing high school football. Undefeated in the playoffs equals a State Championship.
The journey begins for 6A, 5A & 2-1A teams tonight.
For Wichita Heights, the 6A top seed in the western bracket, the defense of their state title begins with Washburn Rural. The Junior Blues qualified for the playoffs thanks to a favorable point-differential in their district, but enter Friday night with a two-game losing streak. Heights is looking for its third-straight trip to a state championship game, and is also hoping to extend its winning streak to 23 games.
For Bishop Carroll, the 5A top seed in the western bracket, they have a date with a Salina South team that is probably better than its 4-5 record would indicate. South is coming off of a 2-1 district schedule that included an emotional last-second win over cross-town rival Salina Central, and a last-minute win over Great Bend, which propelled them into the playoffs.
Bishop Carroll is briming with confidence after taking down previously top-ranked Hutchinson. This was the second straight victory for the Golden Eagles over the Salthawks, who also knocked Hutch out of the playoffs last season. Bishop Carroll is also trying to get back to the state title game, where they lost last season to Blue Valley Stilwell. The Golden Eagles have only one loss on the season, which came in Week 1 against Wichita Heights.
4A, 3A & 8-Man schools have already started the playoff run with the first round on Tuesday. You can see all of the scores from Tuesday by clicking this link, and see the playoff brackets by clicking the following links: 4A, 3A, 8-Man Div. 1 or 8-Man Div 2.
You can catch the highlights tonight, and every Friday night on the CatchItKansas Show, at 11 p.m. on KSCW channel 33, cable channel 5.
KWCH Sports Director Bruce Haertl and the Eyewitness sports team of Jenn Bates, Grant Meech, Karl Man, Heather Williams & Danilynn Welniak will bring you extended highlights from area games. If you miss the show on Friday, rebroadcasts will air on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on KSCW and on Sundays at 11:05 p.m. on KWCH right after Sports Sunday.
And if you don't catch any of the televised broadcasts, check out CatchItKansas.com on Mondays where you will find the show online.
If you're going to a game tonight, be sure to contact us with a halftime and final score. Call the scores line at 316-831-6143, or text it to us at 316-706-7865. If you have a smartphone, e-mail us at stats@catchitkansas.com.
Also, you can go Inside the Huddle, and get a behind-the-scenes view of the weekly discussions between the Eyewitness Sports staff and the Catch It Kansas staff.
Be sure to make your picks for U Pick 'Em. If you haven't signed up yet, you can still join the contest. Each week, anyone who picks more correct games than Bruce Haertl will be eligible for the weekly prize from Arbys.
Click Here to see the CatchItKansas.com Football Rankings.
Friday Coverage:
Bruce Haertl: Topeka Washburn Rural @ Wichita Heights
Jenn Bates: Derby @ Wichita Northwest
Karl Man: Salina South @ Bishop Carroll
Heather Williams: Hutchinson @ Hays
Danilynn Welniak: Wichita South @ Garden City
Saturday Coverage:
Wichita Collegiate @ Garden Plain
Buhler @ Abilene
Sedgwick @ Conway Springs
Smith Center @ Scott City
Andale @ Rose Hill
Ulysses @ Hesston
State Soccer - Click links for brackets
6A at Topeka Hummer Sports Complex
5A at Kansas City Piper High School
4-1A at Southwestern College, Winfield
CatchItKansas may change coverage at any time.
