By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All games at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
WASHBURN RURAL (7-0) vs. TOPEKA WEST (1-6)
At Hummer Sports Park
Washburn Rural clinched the Centennial League championship with last Friday's 46-0 win at Emporia and can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Class 6A West for the playoffs with a Thursday night non-league win over city rival Topeka West. Washburn Rural is the only remaining undefeated team in 6A. Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for three touchdowns against Emporia as the Junior Blues opened up a 39-0 halftime lead before forcing a running clock early in the second half. Topeka West is coming off a 62-12 United Kansas Conference loss to Shawnee Heights and is currently the No. 13 seed in the 5A East.
FRIDAY GAMES
Junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has passed for 852 yards and six touchdowns for 7-0 Hayden, which will host Hiawatha in a non-league contest Friday. [File photo/TSN]
HIAWATHA (1-6) at HAYDEN (7-0)
Hayden clinched the Class 3A District 4 championship last Friday night with a 24-7 win over Holton and will host Hiawatha in a non-league contest. Hiawatha is coming off a 28-0 loss to Marysville. Hayden will be at home next Friday for the first round of the 3A playoffs. Wildcat junior Jett Wahlmeier has completed 50 of 94 passes for 852 yards and six touchdowns while junior Jensen Schrickel has caught 20 passes for 393 yards and four TDs and has carried the ball 10 times for 100 yards. Junior Broderick Desch has rushed for 286 yards and eight touchdowns on 57 attempts and sophomore Kade Mitchell has 235 yards and four TDs on 36 carries.
Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston has passed for 1,905 yards and 25 touchdowns this fall. [File photo/TSN]
PIPER (1-5, 1-5 United Kansas Conference) at SEAMAN (3-4, 3-3 United Kansas Conference)
Seaman will be looking to bounce back from last Friday's heartbreaking 27-24 United Kansas Conference road loss at Basehor-Linwood, the Vikings' third loss this fall by 7 or fewer points and their second 3-point loss. Seaman is currently the No. 10 East seed for the Class 5A playoffs. Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston has completed 128 of 205 passes for 1,905 yards and 25 touchdowns while only throwing one interception. Senior Callen Barta has 44 receptions for 891 yards and 12 TDs. Senior Jack Bloom has rushed for 416 yards and six scores on107 attempts. Junior Hayden Cummings has been in on 69 tackles for the Vikings. Piper is coming off a 10-0 UKC win over Leavenworth.
KC-WASHINGTON (4-3, 3-2 Meadowlark Conference) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (6-1, 4-1 Meadowlark Conference)
At Hummer Sports Park
It's already been a big week for Highland Park, which picked up a forfeit from Kansas City, Mo.-Lincoln Prep to improve to 6-1 on the season. Highland Park, which shut out KC-Northeast, Mo. 36-0 last week, is currently the No. 3 East seed for the upcoming Class 5A playoffs. The Scots are one of four 6-1 teams in the East. Washington is coming off a 20-14 Meadowlark Conference loss to KC-Schlagle. Friday night's Highland Park-Washington game is a Meadowlark Conference contest. Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson has completed 20 of 39 passes for 395 yards for the Scots. Amari Taylor has carried the ball 43 times for 377 yards and four TDs while Jamon Wilson has caught 25 passes for 465 yards and six TDs.
Logan Pegram's Silver Lake Eagles are 6-1 on the season, with senior quarterback Tanner Martin (16) turning in a big season. [File
ATCHISON COUNTY (4-3, 2-1 Class 2A District 3) at SILVER LAKE (6-1, 3-0 Class 2A District 3)
Silver Lake can cap an unbeaten run to the Class 2A District 3 championship with a win over Atchison County. The Eagles are on a five-game winning streak, including a 60-6 win over Maur Hill-Mt. Academy last week. The Eagles' lone loss came against undefeated 3A Hayden. Top players for Logan Pegram's Eagles include senior quarterback Tanner Martin and senior running back Blake Redmond. Atchison County is coming off a 46-26 loss to Jackson Heights.
Junior Tayson Horak (12) scored four touchdowns in Rossville's 64-14 Class 3A district win over Pleasant Ridge last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
MAUR HILL-MT. ACADEMY (0-7, 0-3 Class 2A District 3) at ROSSVILLE (4-3, 2-1 Class 2A District 3)
Rossville is coming off a 64-14 Class 2A District 3 romp past Pleasant Ridge while Maur Hill dropped a 60-6 district decision to Silver Lake. Junior Tayson Horak scored four touchdowns in the Bulldawgs' win over Pleasant Ridge, scoring on 52 and 59-yard runs and catching 4 and 26-yard touchdown passes. Senior quarterback Camden Horak threw for five touchdown passes against the Rams, completing 4, 10, 14, 26 and 51-yard TD strikes.
TOPEKA HIGH (1-6) at HAYS (5-2)
Topeka High is coming off a 47-0 Centennial League loss to Junction City and will make the trek to Hays for a non-league contest while Hays topped Liberal, 48-41, in overtime. Topeka High is currently tied for the No. 14 Class 6A West seed for the playoffs. Top players for Topeka High include seniors Isaiah Kincade and BJ Canady while sophomore Zane Smith has had a solid season for the Trojans at quarterback.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (5-2, 4-2 United Kansas Conference) at LEAVENWORTH (2-5, 2-5 United Kansas Conference)
Shawnee Heights is coming off a 62-12 home United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West last Friday and will be looking to strengthen its seeding in the Class 5A East for the playoffs in Friday's United Kansas Conference matchup.The T-Birds are currently tied for fifth in the East seedings and No. 6 in terms of point differential. T-Bird senior quarterback Ryeki Tuley has completed 115 of 179 passes for 1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 271 yards and six TDs on 65 carries. Senior Allen Baughman has rushed for 461 yards and six touchdowns on 110 attempts while senior Jayden Moore has 43 receptions for 516 yards and two TDs and senior Jacob Malcom has 32 catches for 435 yards and five TDs. Leavenworth is coming off a 10-0 loss to Piper.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (5-2, 3-1 Eight-Man I District 2) at MARANATHA ACADEMY (2-5, 0-4 Eight-Man I District 2)
Cair Paravel Latin continued its late-season surge with a 52-16 Eight-Man Division I District 2 romp past Chase County last Friday. The Lions have wrapped up a playoff berth. CPLS junior quarterback Jase Pavlik had a hand in five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) in the Lions' win over Chase County while senior Jesiah Bonura rushed for 131 yards and a TD on 18 carries and caught six passes for 53 yards. Bonura also returned a kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown.
