By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All games at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY GAMES
Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese and the Junior Blues will face a huge test Friday against defending Class 6A state champion Manhattan at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0 Centennial League)
This figures to be one of the state's top matchups of the week, with Manhattan the defending Class 6A state champion and winner of 16 straight games dating back to 2021 while Washburn Rural is coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons and is off to a perfect start this fall. Washburn Rural notched a 51-15 non-league road win at Piper last Friday while Manhattan rolled to a 49-7 non-league win over Hays and has outscored its first three foes by a 137-45 margin. Friday's game will be the Centennial League opener for Washburn Rural.
Hayden senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards on just 25 carries for the 3-0 Wildcats while scoring eight total touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN (3-0, 0-0 Class 3A District 4) at JEFFERSON WEST (1-2, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden, which has outscored its opposition by a 146-37 margin, stayed unbeaten with a 49-23 non-league win at Rossville last week and will open Class 3A district play Friday night. Senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards and seven touchdowns on just 25 carries and added an eighth touchdown on a pick six. Junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 24 of 43 passes for 358 yards and four TDs while junior Jensen Schrickel has 10 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff West is coming off a 50-14 loss to Sabetha.
LYNDON (3-0, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-1, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Cair Paravel has posted back-to-back lopsided victories that ended by way of the 45-point spread rule, including a 62-8 win over Marais de Cygnes Valley last Friday. The Lions have outscored their past two opponents by a 122-20 margin. Lyndon is undefeated on the season, including a 70-24 romp past Frankfort last week. Friday's game opens Eight-Man Division II district play for both schools. Jase Pavlik completed 9 of 11 passes for 132 yards, 3 touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the CPLS win over Marais des Cygnes while Jesiah Bonura rushed for 69 yards and two TDs on just four carries and Evan Will had two carries for 65 yards and two TDs.
TOPEKA HIGH (0-3, 0-1 Centennial League) vs. EMPORIA (0-3, 0-0 Centennial League)
At Welch Stadium
Both Topeka High and Emporia will be looking for their first wins of the 2023 season in Friday night's game at Emporia State's Welch Stadium. Topeka HIgh dropped a 51-13 home non-league decision to Liberal last week while Emporia is coming off a 46-13 non-league loss to Salina Central. Friday's game will be the Spartans' Centennial League opener. Topeka High beat Emporia for its lone win in a 1-8 season a year ago.
ROSSVILLE (1-2, 0-0 Class 2A District 3) at ATCHISON COUNTY (2-1, 0-0 Class 2A District 3)
Rossville is coming off a 49-23 non-league loss to undefeated Hayden while Atchison County improved to 2-1 with a 26-20 win over Oskaloosa. Friday night's game is the Class 2A District 3 opener for both teams. Rossville senior quarterback Camden Horak has completed 50 of 82 pass attempts for 722 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Tayson Horak has 17 catches for 226 yards and sophomore Jack Donovan 13 catches for 214 yards and a TD.
Silver Lake senior Tanner Martin and the Eagles will be looking to stay unbeaten in the Mid-East League Friday night when they host Rock Creek. [File photo/TSN]
ROCK CREEK (2-1, 2-0 Mid-East League) at SILVER LAKE (2-1, 2-0 Mid-East League)
Both teams are coming off tight Mid-East League victories last Friday, with Silver Lake edging St. Marys, 29-28, and Rock Creek taking a 14-8 decision over Riley County. Friday's winner will gain the upper hand in the race for the final championship in the Mid-East League, which will disband at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0 Meadowlark Conference) at KC-HARMON (0-3, 0-3 Meadowlark Conference)
Highland Park will be looking to start the year 4-0 for the second straight season after a 26-13 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Sumner Academy last Friday. Scots junior quarterback Craig Sipple has completed 21 of 41 passes for 376 yards and five touchdowns while senior Amari Taylor has rushed for 286 yards and three TDs on 27 carries and junior Jamon Wilson has 174 rushing yards and two TDs on 12 carries and has caught four passes for 144 yards and three TDs. Junior Ricky Crawford has 28 tackles, including six for loss. Harmon is coming off a 77-6 loss to Atchison and has been outscored 182-6 on the year.
Shawnee Heights senior Ryeki Tuley has passed for 729 yards and six TDs for the 3-0 T-Birds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-0, 3-0 United Kansas Conference) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (1-2, 1-2 United Kansas Conference)
Shawnee Heights roared back from a 27-6 deficit early in the third quarter to pull out a 33-30 overtime United Kansas Conference win over Seaman at Wetter Field. T-Bird senior quarterback Ryeki Tuley has completed 57 of 93 pass attempts for 729 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for 143 yards and four TDs on 29 carries. Senior Jayden Moore has 22 catches for 304 yards and a touchdown while senior Jayden Holly has 17 receptions for 128 yards and two TDs, senior Jacob Malcom 12 catches for 148 yards and two TDs and senior Jordan Armbruster 11 receptions for 197 yards and two scores. Basehor-Linwood beat KC-Turner 56-0 last Friday.
Seaman senior Callen Barta (6) scores a touchdown in last Friday's 33-30 overtime loss at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
SEAMAN (2-1, 2-1 United Kansas Conference) at LANSING (1-2, 1-2 United Kansas Conference)
Seaman will be looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season, a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime United Kansas Conference decision at Shawnee Heights. Viking junior quarterback Max Huston has completed 49 of 75 pass attempts for 898 yards and 15 touchdowns while senior Callen Barta has 14 receptions for 365 yards and six touchdowns and senior Holden Finley has 14 catches for 250 yards and four TDs. Senior Jack Bloom has rushed for 261 yards and five touchdowns on 44 attempts. Lansing picked up its first victory last Friday, a 28-26 UKC win over Leavenworth.
TOPEKA WEST (0-3, 0-3 United Kansas Conference) at PIPER (1-2, 1-2 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West fell to 0-3 last week with a 59-0 United Kansas Conference loss to De Soto while Piper is also coming off a loss, with the Pirates taking a 51-15 home defeat at the hands of undefeated Washburn Rural. The Chargers will be looking to crank up its offense after being outscored 183-12 over its first three games.
