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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAMES
Josiah Wilkie, Topeka West
LANSING (1-2, 1-1 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-3, 0-3 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West is coming off a 61-0 United Kansas Conference loss to Seaman while Lansing dropped a 40-15 non-league loss to Tonganoxie last week. Junior running back Damon Webb, senior wide receiver Gad Munganga and sophomore quarterback Josiah Wilkie are top players for Topeka West. Lansing junior quarterback Caden Garcia has completed 28 of 60 passes for 403 yards and 3 TDs while junior running back Jaxon Pollard has rushed for 362 yards and 8 TDs 59 attempts.
Kellan Roth, Washburn Rural
WASHBURN RURAL (2-1) at BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (2-1)
Both Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Northwest suffered their first losses of the season last week, with Rural dropping a 60-28 non-league decision to Missouri state champion Platte County and Blue Valley Northwest falling to St. James Academy, 21-7. Northwest junior quarterback Aidan Ihm has completed 46 of 70 passes for 604 yards and 7 touchdowns while senior running back LJ Bowens has carried the ball 40 times for 268 yards and 3 TDs. Senior quarterback John Hoytal and senior wide receiver Kellan Roth are both off to hot starts this fall for Washburn Rural.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
WAMEGO (2-1) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden will get the opportunity to avenge one of its two losses in the 2024 season Friday night against the visiting Red Raiders. Wamego is coming off a 34-8 win over Marysville last Friday while Hayden rolled to a 46-7 road win over Kansas-City Bishop Ward and has now outscored its three opponents by a 123-13 margin. Wamego junior quarterback Logan Fulton has completed 32 of 53 passes for 562 yards and 4 TDs. Seniors Connor Hanika and Kade Mitchell and junior Mason Becker have been key offensive threats for the Wildcats.
Ricardo Dowd, Topeka High
EMPORIA (2-1, 0-0 Centennial) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (2-1, 0-0 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Both Emporia and Topeka High will be opening Centennial League play Friday night. The Spartans have won their last two games by a 102-6 margin, including a 50-0 non-league romp past Coffeyville last week. The Trojans were shut out 6-0 by Wichita Southeast last Thursday. Topeka High will be looking for a big night from senior quarterback Zane Smith, while sophomore running back Ricardo Dowd has also been an offensive threat for the Trojans.
Cale Ketter, Seaman
KANSAS CITY-TURNER (0-3, 0-3 UKC) at SEAMAN (1-2, 1-1 UKC)
Seaman rolled to a 61-0 United Kansas Conference win over Topeka West last Friday while Turner dropped a 56-0 conference decision to Leavenworth. Seaman junior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 53 of 81 pass attempts for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns, including five against West. Junior running back Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 58 times for 426 yards and 6 TDs while junior Josh Brown has 16 pass receptions for 207 yards and 4 TDs.
Aiden Scott, Shawnee Heights
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-2, 1-1 UKC) at LEAVENWORTH (2-1, 2-1)
Shawnee Heights dropped a 35-22 United Kansas Conference decision to Basehor-Linwood last Friday while Leavenworth rolled to a 56-0 UKC win over KC-Turner. T-Bird senior quarterback Aiden Scott has completed 69 of 116 passes for 921 yards and 9 touchdowns. Senior David Wakes has 217 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 56 attempts while senior AJ Gallegos has caught 19 passes for 234 yards and senior Tyren Parker has 10 catches for 245 yards and 2 touchdows.
- Details
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
A 1-1 Centennial League soccer tie with Junction City was a disappointment to the Topeka High Trojans Tuesday night at Hummer Sports Park.
Senior Noah Storrer (6) scored Topeka High's lone goal in Tuesday's 1-1 Centennial League tie with Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High jumped on top at the 25:30 mark of the first period when Trojan senior Noah Storrer received a centering pass from Neri Diaz-Mayorga and crossed up the goalkeeper with a shot that ricocheted off the left post and in.
Senior Neri Diaz-Mayorga (29) had the assist on Topeka High's lone goal in Tuesday's 1-1 Centennial League tie with Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High clung to the 1-0 advantage for more than 55 minutes of game action. But the Trojans let the lead slip away with just 10:00 remaining in regulation. Junction City’s Biel Fenor received a long cross in front of the Trojan goal and blasted a shot that was deflected off a Topeka High defender into the net.
“An own-goal took the win away from us, and that hurt,” said Topeka High coach Derek Snook. “We were just trying to clear it, and it didn’t happen.”
With the lead snatched away, Topeka High battled the Blue Jays through two scoreless extra periods. Adding to the bad taste in the Trojans’ mouths was a penalty kick in the first extra period that slammed off the crossbar.
- Details
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Seaman hit the pitch on a wet and rainy Tuesday night against United Kansas Conference foe Piper and the Vikings captured its third win of the campaign, 3-1.
Cody Quy (1) scored Seaman's first goal in Tuesday's 3-1 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
Rylan Harris () scored Seaman's go-ahead goal in Tuesday's 3-1 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
The Pirates would get started quickly as Chri Htoo scored from just outside the top of the box at the 3:04 mark of the match.
Coach Ty Hurla talked about how he didn't have to say much to his players about going down early, they knew the task at hand.
“When they scored that first goal, it was more so on them (players) because it was so early. It’s one of those things where you can’t let that get into your head, keep up the energy, bring our efforts up… when it’s that early it’s on them, you have to figure that out yourself,’ Hurla said.
After that, both teams had great opportunities to score but both goalkeepers made saves to keep the score 1-nil headed into halftime.
The Vikings came out a different group in the second half, attacking Piper early and often and it paid off. Seaman forward Cody Quy evened the score with 33:35 left in the match off a free kick just outside the right side of the box.
Senior forward Rylan Harris didn’t let that tie stand for too long, taking it long down the left side of the Piper bench and hitting the back of the net just about two minutes later with 31:47 left in the match.
- Details
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
A United Kansas Conference soccer tilt on Monday night between Shawnee Heights and Topeka West featured both teams coming into the match with one combined loss.
While it’s still early in the year, this game could hold title implications later down the road and Shawnee Heights knew that coming in.
The T-Birds then went out and took advantage of the opportunity, riding a three-goal hat trick from senior Camden Granado to a 4-1 win over the Chargers at Hummer Sports Park.
Senior Camden Granado (left) had a three-goal hat trick to lead Shawnee Heights to a 4-1 road win over Topeka West Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
“Our guys have been thinking and working all season toward not just tonight but just the idea of league championship wins and give it up to Topeka West, what an effort playing down a couple of guys, they’re a great team,” Shawnee Heights head coach Nic Simons said. “We are embracing this idea that we’re never satisfied ... we are going to continue to have this championship mentality and I think our guys showed that, keeping their composure tonight and kept the pressure on and I think that’s what’s a great hallmark out of this group.
"They have learned their lessons early. We’ve scheduled (Washburn) Rural, (Lawrence) Free State, all of these good teams early so that we can be ready for a big stage like tonight.”
Granado said Monday was a statement win for the T-Birds.
“We had this match circled on our calendars for a long time and a couple of other matches before this. After we get past those first couple of matches, it’s all focused on this and coming out of this game with a win, knowing this game could determine the league,” Granado said.
The Chargers were issued two red cards in the game which made it 11 vs. 9.
Simons said when that happens, it changes the momentum and gameplan.
“It was super hard,” Simons said. “We talked to our guys before the game that this in many ways was like a playoff game… the first 25 to 30 minutes or so, it played out just like a postseason game. I think both teams were kind of playing like not to make a mistake rather than exploit opportunities.
"It was a shame that some stuff outside of our control changed the dynamic of the game. I don’t want anything to take away from what otherwise would’ve been an incredible game, come down to a photo type finish at the end. I got to give our guys a lot of credit because they held their composure in obviously a tough situation and I think for that, they earned the victory.”
The Chargers had allowed just four goals on the season but gave up three in the first half alone to the Thunderbirds.
Shawnee Heights moved to 6-1 on the campaign and are winners of six in a row.
After a free kick that hit a Chargers hand in the box, a penalty kick followed from Granado scoring the game's first goal with 19:36 left in the first half.
Almost five minutes after that, the T-Birds had a great presence, attacking in Topeka West territory and Nick Prater booted one in the back of the net, making it 2-nil.
Granado would strike again off his right foot into the left side of the goal off another penalty kick with 8:29 left in the first half.
Topeka West junior Diego Gonzalez-Talavera put the Chargers on the board with a penalty kick of his own with 34 minutes left in the match.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman girls golf is the three-time defending United Kansas Conference champion and has produced multiple Class 5A state medalists over the years, but entering Monday's City Championships at Western Hills the Vikings had never won a city team title in the 13-year history of the event.
Julie McLaughlin's Vikings made up for lost time on Monday as senior individual champion Elise Eckert powered Seaman to a 14-stroke victory over Hayden (341-355) while 11-time city champ Washburn Rural finished third (361).
Seaman girls golf poses for a team picture Monday at Western Hills after winning its first-ever city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is pretty special, this is something,'' McLaughlin said of the city title. "I had hoped last year we would make a run for it and we just came out and didn't play very well.
"We've come in second a few times and that was exciting, that was great, but this is something I've wanted to see them do for a long time now.''
Seaman senior Elise Eckert shot a two-under-par 68 to win the city girls golf title by eight strokes Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Eckert, a three-time 5A state medalist at Emporia before transferring to Seaman this fall, shot a sizzling two-under-par 68 to take the city individual title by an eight-stroke margin over Hayden senior Lauren Borjon.
"I felt pretty comfortable all day,'' Eckert said. "I started off my round with a double (bogey), so it was kind of rough, but I feel like I was able to quickly pick it up and get myself back in competition.''
Eckert said McLaughlin pointed out to the Vikngs that Seaman had never won the city meet, which made Monday's title run special.
"My coach went over that in the van before we came here,'' Eckert said. "It feels great to help them out with that. I like that I am able to be a part of this team, and with some good girls, too.''
Eckert said she was able to fit in quickly with her new team this fall.
"It didn't really take long because I knew most of the girls beforehand,'' Eckert said. "I had played with them before and they just really accepted me and it was amazing.''
Makenna Stuke finished fifth with an 89 to help Seaman win its first city team title Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Vikings also got top-10 finishes from Makenna Stuke, fifth with an 89, Chloe Schmidtlein, seventh with a 91, and Kaitlynn Frye, who tied for eighth with a 93.
Hayden senior Lauren Borjon shot a 76 Monday to finish second in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Izzy Glotzbach shot an 82 Monday to finish third in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Borjon's 76 was good enough for her second career runnerup finish in the city meet while her Hayden senior teammate, Izzy Glotzbach, finished third with an 82. Borjon also finished second in 2023, leading the Wildcats to the city team championship.
Senior Lauren Cox finished fourth with an 85 to lead Washburn Rural in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Third-place Washburn Rural was led by senior Lauren Cox, who placed fourth with an 85, while Kailyn Petersen was sixth with a 90 and Briley Miles and Ella Taggart tied for eighth with 93s.
Seaman also won the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, by a five-stroke margin over Baldwin.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in next Monday's UKC meet at Shawnee Country Club while Hayden and Washburn Rural will compete in next Monday's Centennial League tournament at Junction City.
TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
