By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
Washburn Rural junior quarterback John Hoytal and the Junior Blues will try to snap a two-game losing streak in Friday's non-league home game against Blue Valley Northwest. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (3-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-2)
Washburn Rural, which has dropped two straight road games, faces another tough non-league test Friday night against undefeated Blye Valley Northwest. The Junior Blues are coming off a 49-20 loss at Platte County, Mo. while the Huskies took a 27-24 decision over St. James Academy. Northwest senior quarterbacks Ford Bevins and Nathan Baxter have combined to go 25 of 38 passing for 428 yards and six touchdowns while junior L.J. Bowen has carried the ball 53 times for 329 yards and two TDs. Senior Trevor Garlington has 11 pass receptions for 257 yards and two TDs. Washburn Rural got defensive touchdowns from juniors Jordy Heim and Elijah Gaines against Platte County and a 76-yard TD pass from junior John Hoytal to senior Blake Recinos, but the Junior Blues couldn't keep pace with the undefeated Pirates.
Senior Jamon Wilson has helped lead Highland Park to a perfect 3-0 record to open the 2024 season. [File photo/TSN]
KC-HARMON (1-2, 0-2 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0 Meadowlark)
At Hummer Sports Park
Two streaks will be on the line for Highland Park in Friday's Meadowlark Conference game against Harmon. The Scots will be looking for their fourth straight win while also trying to extend their shutout streak after outscoring their first three conference opponents by a 126-0 margin. Highland Park is coming off a 32-0 win over KC-Schlagle while Harmon dropped a 45-0 decision to KC-Washington last Friday. Harmon senior quarterback Mikey Hammer has completed 13 of 39 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Adrian Fernandez has carred the ball 25 times for 167 yards and two TDs. Highland Park junior quarterback Dontrail Fox has completed 17 of 38 passes for 276 yards and five TDs while senior Jamon Wilson has carried the ball 22 times for 275 yards and compiled 605 all-purpose yards and scored seven total TDs. Sophomore G'Honi Montgomery has 247 rushing yards and a TD on 35 attempts.
Topeka High junior quarterback Zane Smith has helped the Trojans get off to a 3-0 start this fall. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH (3-0, 0-0 Centennial) at EMPORIA (0-3, 0-0 Centennial)
At Welch Stadium
Topeka High and Emporia will open Centennial League play Friday night. Topeka High improved to a perfect 3-0 on the season in last Friday's weather-shortened 26-0 non-league road win over Wichita Southeast, the Trojans' third straight win over members of the Wichita City League. Topeka High led 13-0 when the game was delayed for approximately an hour due to lightning and added to its advantage with a 45-yard TD pass from junior Zane Smith to senior Saron Carter and led 26-0 at the half when the game was called due to the inclement weather. Carter led the Trojans' attack with three TDs on the night. Emporia is coming off a 30-20 non-league loss to Coffeyville and the Spartans have been outscored 126-45 on the year. Topeka High has outscored its first three foes by a 105-33 margin.
Shawnee Heights junior David Wakes has rushed for 275 yards and two touchdowns this fall. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
LEAVENWORTH (1-2, 1-2 UKC) at Shawnee Heights (1-2, 1-1 UKC)
Shawnee Heights is coming off a tough 42-35 home United Kansas Conference loss to Basehor-Linwood last Friday while Leavenworth picked up its first win of the season, a 51-6 UKC romp past KC-Turner. Shawnee Heights junior quarterback Aiden Scott has completed 61 of 105 passes for 918 yards and eight touchdowns while junior AJ Gallegos has caught 20 passes for 249 yards and three TDs and Tyren Parker has 15 catches for 265 yards and three TDs. Junior David Wakes has 275 rushing yards and two TDs on 52 carries while junior Royce Daniels leads the Shawnee Heights defense with 36 tackles, including 17 solo stops.
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak has passed for 432 yards and three TDs and rushed for 342 yards and four TDs this fall. [File photo/TSN]
MARANATHA ACADEMY (0-3, 0-0 Class 1A District 2) at ROSSVILLE (0-3, 0-0 Class 1A District 2)
Rossville will play its Class 1A District 2 opener against Maranatha Christian Academy Friday night. A furious second-half Rossville rally fell three points short last Friday as two-time defending 2A state champion Nemaha Central held on for the 31-28 Big East win. The Thunder took a 31-14 lead with 3:29 left in the third quarter, but the Bulldawgs gave themselves a chance with a 1-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Tayson Horak and a 65-yard TD pass from Horak to junior Jack Donovan that cut Rossville's deficit to the final margin. Horak has completed 35 of 68 passs for 432 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 342 yards and four TDs on 49 attempts. Junior Andre Johnson leads the Bulldawgs with 29 tackles, including 14 solo stops. Maranatha has been outscored 181-18 in its first three games.
Hayden junior Kade Mitchell scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 30-yard interception return, in the Wildcats' 62-8 win over KC-Ward last Friday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
HAYDEN (3-0) at WAMEGO (2-1)
Hayden faces its toughest test of the 2024 season Friday night against Class 4A power Wamego. The Wildcats have outscored their first three opponents by a 139-29 margin, including a 62-8 romp past KC-Bishop Ward last Friday at Hayden. Wamego is coming off its first loss of the season, a 22-20 loss to Marysville. Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 29 of 40 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns while junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 22 times for 221 yards and scored five total touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught nine passes for 127 yards and has scored three TDs. Jude Krentz has recorded 22 tackles for the Wildcats, including 13 solo stops.
Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston threw for five touchdowns in last Friday's 53-6 UKC win over Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN (2-1, 2-0 UKC) at KC-TURNER (0-3, 0-3 UKC)
Seaman bounced back from its lone loss, a 35-7 non-league decision to Shawnee Mission East, with a 53-6 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West in a game that was cut short due to lightning. Viking senior quarterback Max Huston threw for five touchdowns on the night while senior receiver Bryer Finley caught four TD passes. Huston has completed 35 of 67 passes for 530 yards and eight touchdowns while Finley has 16 catches for 234 yards and five TDs and junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 36 times for 198 yards and four TDs. Turner is coming off a 51-6 UKC loss to Leavenworth.
Silver Lake senior quarterback Dysen Schooler and the Eagles are 2-1 on the season after last Friday's 18-12 victory over Perry-Lecompton. [File photo/TSN]
SILVER LAKE (2-1, 2-1 Big East) at ST. MARYS (3-0, 3-0 Big East)
Silver Lake and St. Marys will open Class 2A District 3 play on Friday. Silver Lake bounced back from its loss to two-time defending Class 2A state champion Nemaha Central with last Friday's 18-12 road win over Perry-Lecompton. Junior Dayne Johnson had a big night for the Eagles, catching a pair of touchdown passes from senior quarterback Dysen Schooler. Silver Lake held a 7-6 lead at the half and led 15-12 at the start of the fourth quarter before adding a field goal in the fourth quarter. St. Marys remained undefeated on the season with a 42-0 rout over Jefferson West.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-2, 0-0 Class 1A District 2) at MISSION VALLEY (2-1, 0-0 Class 1A District 2)
Cair Paravel Latin and Mission Valley will open Class 1A District 2 play on Friday. Cair Paravel will be looking to bounce back from last week's 46-0 Flint Hills League loss to Council Grove while Mission Valley is coming off a 46-0 league win over West Franklin. Mission Valley senior quarterback Porter Deters has completed 18 of 33 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns and he has rushed for 262 yards and five TDs on 36 attempts. Cair Paravel's lone win came against West Franklin in the Lions' season-opener.
TOPEKA WEST (0-3, 0-3 UKC) at LANSING (2-1, 2-0 UKC)
Both the Chargers and Lions are coming off losses, with Topeka West dropping a 53-6 United Kansas Conference decision to city rival Seaman while Lansing dropped a 14-13 non-league decision to Tonganoxie. Topeka West scored its lone touchdown against Seaman on a 37-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Josiah Wilke to senior Elijah Berg. Berg's TD pass cut the Chargers' deficit to 14-6, but Seaman scored the final 39 points of the night. Lansing senior quarterback Reid Oakley has completed 36 of 75 passes for 583 yards and eight touchdowns while sophomore Jaxon Pollard has carried the ball 45 times for 258 yards and three TDs and senior Makhi Butler has caught 12 passes for 269 yards and two TDs.
