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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls cross country team entered Saturday's Class 5A regional at Kanza Park as a heavy favorite and lived up to that billing, with the Vikings placing all of their top five runners in the top 10 on the way to a decisive 22-46 victory over Lansing in the team standings.
Seaman's girls won the team title in Saturday's Class 5A regional cross country meet at Kanza Park by a 22-46 margin over Lansing. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finished second individually in Saturdays Class 5A cross country regional, helping lead the Vikings to the team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I felt really good about it,'' Seaman coach Rick Brading said. "We had a couple of kids who were kind of running all by themselves and that's a hard way to run. And then this is a place where you go out too fast, so a couple of them suffered a little from going out really hard, but in the end we had good performances.
"Kids ran well and we kind of ran where I thought we would be.''
:Freshman Ryin Miller (18:36.38) senior Bethany Druse (19:41.27) and sophomore Stella Appelhanz (19:51.90) finished second, third and fourth behind individual champion Grace Hanson of Piper while the Vikings also got an eighth-place finish from senior Leah Spurlock (20:06.08) and a 10th from junior Savannah Sampson (20:40.25).
Sophomore Anna Becker added a 14th-place finish (21:11.44) and junior Elinor Stallbaumer a 25th-place finish (22:13.40).
"We wanted to take a positive experience into the state meet and it has been,'' Brading said. "I think the kids feel good about it because you run fast here.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka schools swept the boys titles in Saturday's Class 5A cross country regional at Kanza Park, with Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge posting a 30-second individual win and Shawnee Heights placing three runners in the top eight places en route to winning the team title by a 53-61 margin over Lansing.
Shawnee Heights won the boys team championship in Saturday's Class 5A cross country regional at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge and Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel finished one-two in Saturday's Class 5A cross country regional at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Njoroge, who also plays soccer for the Chargers, continued his dominant season, posting a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 17.04 seconds while earning his third 5A state berth in as many tries.
"I felt so good,'' said Njoroge, a two-time state placer. "I was ready, I felt prepared. We only had one (soccer) game this whole week so I had time to recover and relax.
"Coming into this race I was really ready and happy.''
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel (15:47.09) and senior Kory Sutton (16:04.25) finished second and third behind Njoroge and senior Andrew Emerson (16:55.86) added an eighth-place finish as the Heights trio powered the T-Birds to the eight-point win in the team race.
Evan Carter finished 13th (17:16.88) and Landon Staniec 27th (18:29.42) to round out the T-Birds' top five.
"I'm real excited about how our team's developed and I hope we can get top-five at state,'' Esquibel said.
Sutton was also thrilled with the T-Birds' team win Saturday.
"That was the goal. That's what we were all looking to do today,'' Sutton said. "I felt like everybody did their part, everybody did well. We've been working towards doing well at regionals and then hopefully doing the best we can next week and compete with some of the top teams.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville head football coach Derick Hammes picked up his 100th win at the school Friday night as the Bulldawgs rolled to a 50-6 Class 2A district road win over Maur Hill-Mt. Academy.
Derick Hammes picked up his 100th win as Rossville's head football coach in the Bulldawgs' 50-6 win over Maur Hill-Mt. Academy Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Hammes, who has led the Bulldawgs to five state championships, reached the century mark at Rossville in his 10th season and is now 100-19.
Rossville improved to 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the district in Friday's rout, building a 19-0 first-quarter advantage and a 43-6 lead at the half.
Sophomore Tayson Horak got the night off to a quick start for the Bulldawgs, returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchown. Junior Cedric Leistenschneider added the extra point to give Rossville a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game.
Rossville added two more touchdowns in the opening quarter, with junior quarterback Camden Horak scoring from 3 yards out and sophomore Seth Catron scoring on a 46-yard run.
The Bulldawgs continued to pour it on in the second quarter, outscoring Maur Hill 24-6 in the period.
Senior Braiden Hensley scored on a 5-yard run, C. Horak hit senior Aryon Klesath for a 25-yard TD pass and and T. Horak scored on a 4-yard run.
Hensley ran for 2-point conversions after each of Rossville's three second-quarter touchdowns.
Catron scored Rossville's final TD of the night on a 12-yard run in the third quarter and Leistenschneider tacked on the extra point.
Rossville, which finished second in 2A District 3 will open postseaon next Friday night at home against 5-3 Minneapolis.
The Bulldawgs are the two-time defending 2A state champs.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
After losing four straight to state contending 8-man teams, Cair Paravel Latin ended its football season on a high note with a 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy Friday night at Highland Park.
The Lions rapidly put 62 points on the scoreboard on their Senior Night, needing just 24 minutes to get the win at the halftime break.
Cair Paravel junior quarterback Evan Will went 7 of 7 passing for 117 yards and three TDs in Friday's 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
![Senior Jachin Bonura carried the ball three times for 118 yards and caught five passes for 100 yards in Cair Paravel's 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]](/images/aa-images/CPLSFB1.jpg)
Senior Jachin Bonura carried tJunior Noah Collins had a 37-yard pick-six in Cair Paravel's 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Cair Paravel junior Jesiah Bonura finds running room in the Lions' 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Cair Paravel sophomore Ben Roeder (26) and junior Noah Collins (33) close in on a Maranatha Academy ball-carrier in Friday's 62-12 Lion win. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
“Our guys came out and executed the way we wanted them to,” Cair Paravel Latin coach Doug Bonura said. “We were able to get a lot of guys in the game tonight and learn on the spot. They responded well after losing last week, which was a rough one for us. Being able to come back and play the way we wanted to play was great to see.
“But with all of that being said, I’m disappointed that we’re not going to the playoffs.”
In its first full year as a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Cair Paravel Latin received an un-warm welcome. The Lions were delivered a juggernaut of a schedule for nearly the entirety of the 2022 campaign.
“This year was a bit of a disappointment because we have a tremendous team with a lot of talent,” D. Bonura said. “This year was good and humbling for us. Our district has several teams who are top-20 in the entire state. We learned so much about this year and we look forward to taking those lessons into next year.”
Out of the Lions’ eight regular season games played, only three of the teams that Cair Paravel has played has had a losing record. Cair Paravel Latin has won all of its games against those three teams with a losing record.
In its three games won, Cair Paravel Latin has outscored the opposition, 178-28. The Lions do what they’re supposed to do, blow out the teams that they’re supposed to beat.
On Friday night, Cair Paravel Latin was able to execute the game plan flawlessly against a wounded Maranatha Academy squad.
The Lions 40-point first quarter was impressive.
In fact, it took Cair Paravel under four minutes to put up 24 points on the scoreboard and it was evident that the Lions would roll over the Eagles in the beginning portion of the game.
Lion senior running back Jachin Bonura had an eye-opening game on Friday night, touching the pigskin eight times for 218 yards and four touchdowns.
Cair Paravel junior quarterback Evan Will had a quick but perfect night. Will went 7-7 for 117 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Lions were stout. Seven sacks, two interceptions, 14 tackles for losses and a defensive touchdown. Noah Collins’ pick-six was for 37 yards.
The game started and ended in a blink of an eye. Similar to Cair Paravel’s season. A dominating home performance to cap off a season filled with lessons was important to this young and aspiring Lions group.
“Our guys competed in every game this year,” D. Bonura said. “We played the way we wanted to. We are going to have to work on our technique going forward and polish a lot of things for us to move in the direction we want to go in.”
Cair Paravel Latin finished its season with a 3-5 overall and 1-4 district record.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 62, MARANATHA ACADEMY 12
Maranatha Academy (0-7, 0-4) 6 6 – 12
Cair Paravel Latin (3-5, 1-4) 40 22 – 62
Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 46 run (2-pt is good)
Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 48 pass from Will (2-pt is good)
Cair Paravel – Collins 37 interception return (2-pt is good)
Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 27 pass from Will (2-pt is good)
Cair Paravel – Roeder 38 run (2-pt conversion is good)
Maranatha Academy – Higginbotham 26 pass from Nelson (2-pt is no good)
Maranatha Academy – Higgenbotham 13 pass from Nelson (2-point is no good)
Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 47 run (2-pt is no good)
Cair Paravel – Je. Bonura 47 run (2-pt is good)
Cair Paravel – Gossard 9 pass from Will (2-pt is no good)
Individual statistics
Passing: Cair Paravel Latin – Will 7-7, 117 yards; Pavlik 2-2, 24. Maranatha Academy – Nelson 8-16, 105 yards; Smail 1-4, 7.
Rushing: Cair Paravel Latin – Ja. Bonura 3-118, Pavlik 3-26, Je. Bonura 1-47, Roeder 1-38. Maranatha Academy – Nelson 8-(minus)-54, Higginbotham 6-45, Smail 4-17, Wiley 4-(minus)-3.
Receiving: Cair Paravel Latin – Ja. Bonura 5-100, Will 2-24, Gossard 1-9, Helmbold 1-8. Maranatha Academy – Higginbotham 4-63, Smail 4-34, Dean 1-5.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It would be hard to say whether or not Homecoming week was a distraction for Shawnee Heights' football team Friday night.
But it was a fact that the T-Birds had trouble getting in synch and staying in synch in a 24-19 United Kansas Conference loss to Leavenworth at Wetter Field.
"That's the good and the bad of Homecoming,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "You've got everybody here and it's a great night and a great atmosphere but you've just got to get that tunnel vision, Your job is go out there and go get a win and maybe that (the festivities of Homecoming) kind of made it so we weren't right-on perfect every time.''
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 24-19 UKC loss to Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leavenworth senior quarterback Eddie McLaughlin rushed for 154 yards, passed for 176 yards and scored three TDs in the Pioneers' 24-19 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jayden Moore hauls in a pass in Friday's 24-19 UKC loss to Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leavenworth, now 3-5 overall and in the UKC, entered the game on a five-game losing streak, but the Pioneers drew first blood and then came from behind three times, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run from standout senior quarterback Eddie McLaughlin with 1:02 remaining.
McLaughlin was a thorn in the T-Birds' side all night long, running for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries and completing 11 of 16 passes for 176 yards in the Leavenworth win.
"He's awfully good,'' Swift said of McLaughlin. "He's a phenomenal quarterback, a three-year starter and he's been doing this for three years.''
Leavenworth took a 6-0 lead on a 2-yard run from junior Xavier Strickland with 53 seconds left in the first quarter, but Shawnee Heights (4-4, 4-3) took a slim 7-6 advantage on a 6-yard TD run from junior Allen Baughman and an extra point from senior Carson Christian at the 5:22 mark of the second quarter.
It took the Pioneers just three plays to regain the upper hand, with McLaughlin scoring the first of his three straight Leavenworth touchdowns on a 47-yard run to put his team up 12-7 at the half.
An interception by Heights senior Jayden Berry thrwarted a Leavenworth scoring threat to open the second half and Baughman carried the ball seven times for 77 yards on the T-Birds' ensuing possession, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Nick Freeland with 4:07 left in the third that put Heights back in front 13-12.
Four plays later McLaughlin scored on a 51-yard run to put Leavenworth up 18-13 at the 2:01 mark of the third stanza.
A 7-yard Baughman TD gave Shawnee Heights its final lead of the night at 19-18 lead with just 2:30 to play, but McLaughlin struck one last time, picking up 32 yards on two carries to put Leavenworth in scoring position before scoring the game-winning TD with 1:02 left.
Heights had one last chance to pull out the win but after picking up a first down at its 42-yard-line, Freeland threw an incomplete pass and was sacked as time ran out.
Baughman finished the night with 164 rushing yards on 25 attempts, including 134 yards in the second half.
The T-Birds should find out their playoff opponent on Saturday and will begin Class 5A postseason next Friday.
LEAVENWORTH 24, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 19
Leavenworth (3-5, 3-5) 6 6 6 6 -- 24
Shawnee Heights (4-4, 4-3) 0 7 6 6 -- 19
Leavenworth -- Strickland 2 run (pass failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 6 run (Christian kick)
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 47 run (run failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Freeland 1 run (run failed
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 51 run (run failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Baughman 7 run (run failed)
Leavenworth -- McLaughlin 3 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 22-154, Strickland 11-68, Finn 1-3. Shawnee Heights: Baughman 25-164, Freeland 5-40, P. Busenitz 4-18, Malcom 3-3, Holly 1-2.
Passing -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 11-16-2, 176 yards. Shawnee Heights: P. Busenitz 4-5-0, 32 yards; Freeland 5-10-0, 26.
Receiving -- Leavenworth: Ramey 4-54, McCannn 2-67, Daniel 2-24, Finn 2-22, Strickland 1-9. Shawnee Heights: Holly 3-29, Moore 2-17, Armbruster 2-6, Malcom 1-7, Baughman 1-(minus)-1.
Punting -- Leavenworth: McLaughlin 2-47.5. Shawnee Heights: Malcom 4-40.0; P. Busenitz 1-18.0.
