By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
MANHATTAN (1-0, 0-0) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (0-1, 0-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High dropped a 43-0 decision to 2022 Class 5A runnerup Maize last Friday and Carlos Kelly's Trojans face another tough test in their home-opener Thursday night, facing reigning 6A state champ Manhattan. The Indians opened their season with a 33-19 non-league win over Derby. Thursday night's game will be the Centennial League opener for both Topeka High and Manhattan.
FRIDAY GAMES
SILVER LAKE (1-0) at HAYDEN (1-0)
Both Silver Lake and Hayden are coming off big season-opening wins, with the Eagles avenging a 2022 playoff loss with a 40-24 win over Riley County while Hayden rolled to a 41-7 decision over traditional small-school power Olpe while giving veteran Wildcat coach Bill Arnold his 200th career win as a head coach. Senior standout Finn Dunshee ran for 196 yards, including 66 and 67-yard touchdown runs while junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier threw for 188 yards and three TDs on a 12 of 20 performance. Senior Blake Redmond scored four touchdowns in Silver Lake's win over Riley County, including an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.
KC-SCHLAGLE (1-0, 1-0) at HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0)
Highland Park, coming off a 6-3 season in 2022, opened its season with a win over Meadowlark Conference foe Kansas City-Wyandotte for the second straight season, rolling to a 33-7 win over the Bulldogs at Wyandotte. Kansas City-Schlagle opened its season with a 44-0 Meadowlark Conference win over Kansas City-Harmon.
Washburn Rural senior Jaren Heim (27) scored on a pick six in Friday's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
DE SOTO (1-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-0)
Washburn Rural survived a tough non-league test from Wichita East last Friday at Rural, with senior JC Heim blocking a Blue Aces extra point attempt late in the game to preserve the Junior Blues 1-point lead in a 26-25 victory. Senior Jaren Heim had a pick-six in the game for Washburn Rural. De Soto opened its season with a 42-21 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing.
RILEY COUNTY (0-1, 0-1) at ROSSVILLE (1-0, 1-0)
Down 16-0 just 1:35 into its 2023 season-opener, Rossville rallied to knock off 2022 Class 1A state champion St. Marys 30-22 last Friday night at Rossville. The Bulldawgs gave up a rushing touchdown, a pick-six and a pair of 2-point conversions by the 10:25 mark of the opening quarter, but five-time state champ Rossville answered with 30 unanswered first-half points to take control. Rossville senior quarterback Camden Horak ran for a touchdown and also threw for TDs to sophomore Jack Donavan and junior Kameron Badura. Riley County dropped a 40-24 decision to Silver Lake in its opener.
Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston had a hand in six touchdowns in last Friday's 76-6 UKC win over Topeka West, including five passing TDs. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
KC-TURNER (0-1, 0-1) at SEAMAN (1-0, 1-0)
Seaman rolled to a 76-6 United Kansas Conference victory over Topeka West last Friday while Turner dropped a 46-6 UKC decision to Leavenworth. Seaman senior Tristan Berg recorded a pick-six on Topeka West's opening possession while Viking junior quarterback Max Huston had a hand in six touchdowns, including five passing TDs.
DONIPHAN WEST (0-1) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (0-1)
Cair Paravel Latin put up a fight against Axtell, the defending Eight-Man Division II champion, on the road last Friday but took a 60-44 loss. The Lions will play their home-opener Friday night against Doniphan West at Highland Park, where the Lions will play all of their home games. Doniphan West dropped a 46-0 decision to Washington County in its season-opener.
Shawnee Heights senior Allen Baughman ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns in last Friday's 42-0 win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-0, 1-0) at LANSING (0-1, 0-1)
Shawnee Heights avenged one of its five 2022 losses with a 42-0 United Kansas Conference rout over Piper last Friday at Heights, puting the game away with a 28-0 first half. Senior Allen Baughman rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries while senior quarterback Ryeki Tuley completed 15 of 26 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown and senior Jayden Moore had nine catches for 128 yards. Senior Jon Scott led the Heights defense with seven tackles, including a sack. Lansing is coming off a 42-21 UKC loss to De Soto.
TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1) at LEAVENWORTH (1-0, 1-0)
Topeka West dropped a 76-6 United Kansas Conference decision at Seaman last Friday, with the Vikings building a 61-6 halftime advantage. Leavenworth is coming off a 46-6 UKC win over Kansas City-Turner in its season-opener. Topeka West junior quarterback Kenton Tisdale completed an 85-yard touchdown pass to senior Josh Nitschke for the Chargers' lone TD against Seaman.
