WICHITA, Kan.—
District play opened up tonight for most of the classes.Class 6A
Wichita Northwest was able to hold off Campus and win 17-7. The other side of this district saw Wichita South pick up its first win of the season over Wichita North 25-19 in overtime. Campus plays South and Northwest meets North next week.
In District eight, a pair of Western Athletic Conference teams dominated two AVCTL teams. Dodge City rolled Goddard 41-13. Garden City met similar success against Maize it its 28-10 win. Garden City plays Goddard, while Dodge City meets up with Maize next week.
Wichita Heights won big last night over Wichita East to open up District six play. Derby proved to be a contender in its 47-14 win over Wichita Southeast. Southeast plays at Heights next week, while Derby will tangle with East.
Class 5A
Bishop Carroll rolled by Liberal 42-7 at home in District Eight. The Golden Eagles have their eye on a week nine game with Hutchinson. The Salthawks blew away Wichita West 70-7 to open district play. Everyone got in on the action for the Salthawks as six different players scored touchdowns. Ben Heeney had 10 carries for 113 yards and four touchdowns to lead Hutchinson. West plays Carroll next Friday, and Hutchinson gets Liberal next week.
In District Seven, Alex Bontz led the Andover Central Jaguars to a 21-7 win in the battle of Andover. Bontz had 39 carries for 188 yards and a touchdown on the night. Kapaun began its bid for a district title with a 44-14 shellacking of Arkansas City on the other side of that district. Andover will host Kapaun next week and Central will lock horns with Ark City.
Great Bend beat WAC rival Hays 17-6 and iced the game with an interception late to get a win in District Six. The battle for Salina went down to the wire, but Salina Central pulled out a 31-28 win over the Cougars from the south side. Central was up 28-6 at one point, but Salina South got big plays from Cody Busby to make a game out of it. The Mustangs’ defense picked a ball off late to seal the win. Salina South makes the trip to Hays next week, while Salina Central plays Great Bend for a guaranteed playoff berth.
McPherson and Emporia won easily to open play in District Five. McPherson got 159 yards on seven carries for two touchdowns out of Kevin O’Connor to beat Valley Center 55-14. Tyler Matthews was eight for eight passing for 141 yards and four touchdowns. Christian Ulsaker hauled in three of those balls for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Emporia romped by Newton 47-20. McPherson makes the haul up Emporia to battle for a playoff berth next week. Valley Center and Newton will also play.
Class 4A
Rose Hill continues to roll after a 56-21 blowout of Augusta in District 10. Derrick Decker had 11 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while LaQua Mayes had 16 carries for 191 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rockets. The Rockets get Circle next week after the Thunderbirds had similar luck in a 63-0 win over El Dorado.
Mulvane used a big night from Gus Stunk passing and Todd Parton rushing to get off on the right foot in District 11 play with a 49-35 win over Wellington. Parton finished with 14 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown. Strunk was 14-17 passing for 213 yards and five touchdowns. Wellington’s offensive attack was led by Taylan Ybarra and his 19 carries for 172 yards and four touchdowns. Winfield picked up the other win in this district tonight with a 42-14 win over Clearwater. The game was tied at the break, but Winfield scores 35 points unanswered to finish the game. Winfield plays Wellington and Clearwater gets Mulvane next week.
Andale was only up by three at the half, but scored 36 points in the second half to blow Cheney away 48-17 in District 12 play. Wichita Trinity won a nail biter against Maize South 14-13. Morgan Burns ends up with 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, while Austin Kessinger goes for 97 yards on 19 carries to lead the Knights. Trinity heads to Andale next week to try and secure a playoff berth, while Maize South plays Cheny.
Buhler’s Tanner Fisher continued to run wild as he led the Crusaders over Pratt 42-7. He had 18 carries for 215 yards and a touchdown. Fisher also caught one pass for 69 yards and a touchdown. Chandler Shantz completes three passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Buhler travels to Haven next week after the Wildcats lost to Nickerson 67-14 to open its District 13 season. Nickerson rushed for 407 yards on 52 carries to rout the Wildcats. Nickerson gets Pratt next week.
Hesston blanked Smoky Valley 44-0 in District 15. Abilene cruised by Chapman 28-6. Abilene and Hesston battle in Hesston for a playoff berth next week.
Class 3A
The premier game of the night was between Garden Plain and Hutchinson Trinity out in Garden Plain as the Owls defended its home field to beat Trinity 14-7 to open play in District 10. The game was scoreless going into the second quarter, but Joey Capul got in for a two-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left before half. Kendrae Arnold started the second half off with a score for the Owls to make it 14-0. Hutchinson Trinity’s Derek Racette would answer late in the fourth with a one-yard touchdown plunge to make it 14-7. Garden Plain would bend, but not break later to hold on for the win. Michael Mesh had 11 catches for 248 yards to lead Hutchinson Trinity.
On the other side of that district, Halstead and Sedgwick needed overtime to settle their differences, with Sedgwick pulling out the win 41-35. Trent Stucky led Sedgwick with 38 carries for 158 yards and four touchdowns. He also was 16-21 passing for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Simon McKee was 13-22 passing for 282 yards and two touchdowns to lead Halstead.
Halstead and Hutchinson Trinity will have to bounce back from their first losses quickly as they play next week with the loser likely staying home for the playoffs. Garden Plain and Sedgwick will play for supremacy in the district.
Hillsboro got by Southeast of Saline 39-28 in District Nine to set up a big matchup next week with Remington after the Broncos beat Marion 43-24. Jake Green caught four passes from Caleb Cherryholmes for 103 yards and two touchdowns to lead Remington.
Collegiate did not miss a beat after the loss of star quarterback Markus Phox as it pummeled Belle Plaine 63-6. Raymond Taylor had 13 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns. The Spartans remain the favorite in District 11 as Independent beat Douglass 14-6 on the other side. Independent and Collegiate meet next week as the unbeatens in this district.
Conway Springs shelled Medicine Lodge 64-6 to open up with a win in District 12.
Hoisington and Ellsworth looked dominant in District 13. Hoisington kept Lyons off the scoreboard in its 30-0 win. Ellsworth only allowed the Sterling Black Bears eight points in its 34-8 win.
Smith Center got by Beloit 35-30 in District 13. The Redmen will contend with Minneapolis next week after it blanked Republic County 57-0.
Bluestem put up a fight, but Eureka beat the Lions 12-9 to pick up a win in District three.
The “What’s defense?” award of the night goes to Goessel and St. John’s Military Academy. Goessel won the game 96-74. There were 15 touchdowns scored in the first half alone. John Berkholz had 11 carries for 381 yards and six touchdowns. That averages out to 34.6 yards per carry. Neal Brubaker was eight for 15 passing for 276 yards and six touchdowns. Berkholz hauled in three of those passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
