By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Topeka High senior Tevante Ewing scored three touchdowns in last Friday's 52-19 Trojan win over Wichita West. [File photo/TSN]
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAME
WICHITA HEIGHTS (0-1) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (1-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High began the Jason Filbeck coaching era with a 52-19 non-league road win over Wichita West, equaling its win total from both the 2022 and 2023 seasons (1-8). Wichita Heights, which posted a 5-4 record last fall, opened its season with a 48-0 loss to Wichita East, a Class 6A quarterfinalist last season. High scored the first 20 points against Wichita West and never looked back, getting three touchdowns from senior Tevante Ewing. The Trojans went in front 32-6 at the half and led 46-6 at the 7:46 mark of the third quarter before cruising the rest of the way.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-0) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Both Shawnee Heights and Topeka West are looking for their first wins after tough season-openers last week. Shawnee Heights dropped a 42-21 decision to Washburn Rural, a Class 6A semifinalist last season, while West dropped a 56-6 decision to De Soto, which went 8-2 last fall. West is looking to improve on last season's 1-8 record while Shawnee Heights went 8-3 in 2023 but returns just two defensive starters and its placekicker from that team. Junior quarterback Aiden Scott threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns on a 24 of 40 performance against Rural while AJ Gallegos had eight catches for 82 yards and Tyren Parker had six catches for 98 yards. Royce Daniels was in on 14 tackles and Cayden Lindsey 11 for the Heights defense. The T-Birds took a 62-12 United Kansas Conference win over the Chargers last fall.
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier threw for 277 yards and a TD in the Wildcats' 35-7 win at Eudora last Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL (1-1) at HAYDEN (1-0)
St. Michael Archangel, located in Lee's Summit, Mo., will come across the state line to face Hayden in the Wildcats' home opener. St. Michael opened its season with a 35-28 win over Summit Christian before dropping a 57-7 decision to St. Pius X last week. St. Michael Archangel posted a 10-3 record in 2023. Hayden, the Class 3A runnerup last season, opened its season with a 35-7 road win over Eudora. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier went 16 of 21 passing for 277 yards and a TD against Eudora while senior Jensen Schrickel had six receptions for 87 yards and junior Kade Mitchell rushed for 81 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Jude Krentz was in on a team-high seven tackles for the Wildcats.
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak rushed for 161 yards and threw for 89 yards in last Friday's 33-27 overtime loss to Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN[
ST. MARYS (1-0) at ROSSVILLE (0-1)
St. Marys went 7-4 last season after winning the Class 1A state title in 2022 and opened the current season with a 30-6 win over Perry-Lecompton. Rossville opened its season with a 33-26 overtime road loss to rival Silver Lake in the annual War on 24. Bulldawg senior quarterback Tayson Horak rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts and completed 10 of 20 passes for 89 yards in his first start as Rossville's quarterback.
Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson caught 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns in last Friday's 33-27 overtime win over Rossville. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN[
NEMAHA CENTRAL (0-1) at SILVER LAKE (1-0)
Two-time defending Class 2A state champion Nemaha Central had its 26-game winning streak snapped by Marysville last Friday, with the Bulldogs taking a 16-8 win over the Thunder, while Silver Lake opened 2024 with a 33-26 overtime decision over rival Rossville in the annual War on 24. Silver Lake senior quarterback Dysen Schooler completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns and also kicked two field goals and three extra points while junior Dayne Johnson caught 11 passes for 149 yards and two TDs.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-0) at OSAGE CITY (1-0)
Cair Paravel Latin made its 11-man football debut last Friday, rolling to a 44-0 win at West Franklin. CPLS used a 21-point second quarter to open up a 28-0 halftime advantage and added its final two TDs in the fourth quarter. The Lions scored the only points they would need in the first quarter when senior Ben Roeder scored on a 4-yard run, the first of his three touchdowns. Roeder also returned a punt return 73 yards for a TD and scored on a 3-yard run. Chase Hastert had interception returns of 46 and 50 yards for TDs and Tobias Bonura added an 85-yard interception return for a TD. Osage City opened its season with a 41-0 romp past Olpe.
Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson scored three touchdowns last Friday as the Scots opened the season with a 52-0 win over KC-Wyandotte. [File photo/TSN[
HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0) at KC-SUMNER ACADEMY (0-1, 0-1)
Highland Park, 7-3 last season, opened its season with a 52-0 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Wyandotte while KC-Sumner dropped a 36-26 conference decision to KC-Washington. Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson carried the ball three times for 112 yards and two touchdowns and also returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a TD. Junior quarterback Dontrail Fox completed 6 of 11 passes for 140 yards and a TD while sophomore Joe Kincannon has three catches for 98 yards and a TD. Craige Sipple led the Scots with eight tackles, including two for loss.
SEAMAN (1-0) at SHAWNEE MISSION EAST (0-1)
Seaman, which is coming off a 6-5 season last fall, opened its 2024 campaign with a 35-18 United Kansas Conference road victory at Piper. The Vikings took a 7-0 lead on a TD pass from Max Huston to Conner Scholes and went up 14-3 at the 5:06 mark of the seocnd quarter on a run from Kaden McKinney. McKinney scored his second touchdown to give Seaman a 21-11 lead and the Vikings went up 28-11 before the Pirates got back within 10 points late in the third quarter. Seaman closed out the scoring with a touchdown pass from Huston to Bryer Finley. SM East opened its season with a 12-3 Sunflower League loss to Free State.
Washburn Rural junior quarterback John Hoytal threw for 234 yards and four TDs in last Friday's 42-21 win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (1-0) at BLUE VALLEY (1-0)
Washburn Rural opened its season with a 42-21 win over city rival Shawnee Heights while Blue Valley rolled to a 34-0 win over Eastern Kansas League rival Blue Valley Southwest. Both Washburn Rural and Blue Valley advanced to the Class 6A semifinals a year ago. Rural junior quarterback John Hoytal made his first career start against Shawnee Heights, completing 14 of 21 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 47 yards on 10 carries. Hoytal completed TD passes of 2, 42 and 7 yards to junior Kellan Roth and 16 yards to sophomore Brody Schwinn.
