By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
CLASS 3A
ANDALE (12-0) vs. HAYDEN (12-0)
6 p.m. Friday at Hutchinson Community College
Hayden, the No. 1 Class 3A East seed, advanced to its third straight state championship game with a 46-0 home semifinal rout over No. 2 East seed Santa Fe Trail last Friday while No. 1 West seed Andale rolled to a 41-7 win over No. 2 seed Rock Creek.
The semifinal romps set up a second straight title game showdown between the two 12-0 state powers.
Hayden's closest game of the season was a 43-29 state quarterfinal win over Jefferson West while Andale's closest game of the year was last week's 34-point win over Rock Creek.
Andale scored a season-high 104 points in its season opener against El Dorado and the Indians have posted four shutouts while Hayden scored a season-high 70 points in a 70-7 playoff win over Columbus and has recorded five shutouts and limited opponents to seven or fewer points in 10 games.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika has completed 100 of 164 passes for 1,659 yards and 23 touchdowns with three interceptions while senior Kade Mitchell has rushed for 941 yards on 89 carries, caught 21 passes for 463 yards and has scored 21 total TDs. Mitchell did not play last week against Santa Fe Trail due to an injury, but is expected to play Friday.
Xander Blasing, Hayden
Jackson McGivern, Hayden
Jude Krentz, Hayden
Wildcat senior Jackson McGivern has carried the ball 70 times for 457 yards and 11 touchdowns while recording 79 tackles (50 solo) on defense with seven tackles for loss.
Senior Jude Krentz leads Hayden with 112 tackles (58 solo) and six tackles for loss while rushing for 399 yards on 66 attempts. Senior Xander Blasing has 84 stops (62 solo) and nine tackles for loss and has caught 24 passes for 296 yards while senior Makhi Kidd has caught 28 passes for 314 yards.
Junior Mason Becker has carried the ball 32 times for 438 yards, caught nine passes for 292 yards and is perfect on extra-point kicks on the year. Logan Power leads the Wildcats with five pass interceptions.
