VALLEY CENTER, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - We expected one of the more competitive opening round games would come in Valley Center Friday night, and we were rewarded with a great one. Back and forth all night long, it was Valley Center who struck last to make it a 34-27 final. It’s the first playoff win since 2016 for the Hornets.

Valley Center took the opening possession down the field, but the Hornets got into a 4th and 6 situation from just outside the Redzone. They went for it, and it paid off. Henry Welu scrambled to buy Preheim Maxwell some time to get open, and Maxwell rewarded him with a great 25-yard TD catch, just staying in bounds to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead.

Maize South got a 68-yard kick return on the ensuing kick-off from Braxton Bigley. On the first play from scrimmage, Tate McNew took a shot to the endzone, but it was picked off by Samuel Eldridge. Valley Center would punt it back to Maize South, and the Mavs capitalized on a long drive, capped by a Bigley TD run to go up 7-6.

Valley Center fumbled the ensuing kick, and Maize South pounced on it. The Mavs then marched down for another Bigley TD run to go up 14-6.

The Hornets scored two more times in the 2nd quarter, for 13 straight points and a halftime lead at 19-14.

Back and forth all the way in the second half, with Welu connecting with Dai’Mont Mucker for a touchdown with under four minutes to go for the go ahead score. Then the Hornet defense stepped up to pick off Maize South in their own end zone, as the Mavs were threatening, to seal the win.

Valley Center advances to play Hays in the 2nd round.

Valley Center takes thriller over Maize South 34-27

First Hornet playoff win since 2016