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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Belle Kennedy began her college soccer career for Washburn University with high potential and high hopes, but the former Washburn Rural star knew she couldn't take anything for granted.
Through the opening six games of the 2022 season things couldn't have worked out much better for either Kennedy or WU, with Kennedy starting all six games and tying for the team lead with four goals while Davy Phillips' Ichabods have posted a 5-0-1 record entering Friday's 6 p.m. road contest at Fort Hays State.
Former Washburn Rural soccer star Belle Kennedy is off to a quick start as a true freshman for Washburn University, tying for the team lead with four goals as the Ichabods have gone 5-0-1 to open the 2022 season. [File photo/TSN]
"I thought there was a chance that I could play (early),'' said Kennedy, the two-time Class 6A midfielder of the year for Rural. "But I think the chances of me playing were dependent on how hard I would play or how much I would push through compared to other people.
"It's always a case of he's (Phillips) going to play his best players to start off and you want to be out there, so in order to be out there you have to be the best. You can't lay off of anything.''
Through preseason camp Kennedy had an inkling she might be in position to earn a starting spot but didn't know for sure until she got the word just before Washburn's Aug. 25 season-opener against Oklahoma Baptist.
"I had a major hope and through practices I think I could kind of figure out how (Phillips) was putting teams together and all of that, but still, on the day of the game, I had no clue whether I was going to start or not,'' Kennedy said. "Eventually, when I found out I was happy and worked as hard as I could.''
The fact that her first college start came at Yager Stadium with a lot of friends and family members watching was an added bonus.
"It was amazing, the most amazing part of my start,'' Kennedy said.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The scoring didn’t come as early as Shawnee Heights wanted, but the T-Birds’ second-half offensive surge boosted them past Seaman, 3-2.
![Shawnee Heights' Levi Longstaff (right) tries to find a lane against Seaman's defense Thursday night in the T-Birds' 3-2 win. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]](/images/2024/08/LeviLongstaff_2.jpg)
Shawnee Heights' Levi Longstaff (right) tries to find a lane against Seaman's defense Thursday night in the T-Birds' 3-2 win. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
The rivalry was renewed on Thursday night as the new member of the United Kansas Conference, Seaman, hit the road to take on Shawnee Heights at Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Class 5A Shawnee Heights opened its season against four straight 6A schools with winning records and wasn't able to pick up any wins.
After Thursday night’s victory, the T-Birds have won two in a row against UKC programs (Turner and Seaman).
“We’ve truly been battle-tested,” Shawnee Heights coach Nic Simons said. “I think the lessons that we’ve learned from playing those high-quality 6A teams have been valuable to us. We’ve learned not to give up a single inch. I think the mentality that we’ve gained helped us pull one out tonight against a great Seaman team.”
The T-Birds put together a responsive and gutsy performance.
When Seaman gained momentum late in the second half, Shawnee Heights didn’t fold under the pressure from a fired-up Vikings squad.
“I thought we were threatening tonight,” Simons said. “I’d give our performance a great grade against a tough Seaman team. I thought at times we looked slow, but other then that, I was happy with the way we played tonight.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior Devon Rutschmann has had a lot of memorable soccer games in his career, but none that rivaled Thursday's performance at Hayden.
Rutschmann scored a career-high five goals and also threw in an assist as the Junior Blues rolled to an 8-0 Centennial League win over the Wildcats.
Washburn Rural junior Devon Rutschmann (10) splits Hayden defenders Tagen Rodriguez (left) and Noah Haverkamp (right) in the Junior Blues' 8-0 win at Hayden Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Devon Rutschmann, who had five goals and an assist, delivers a corner kick in Rural's 8-0 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural senior star Easton Bradstreet, who had scored 13 goals over the first five games of the year, was held without goal for the first time this season, but Rutschmann took up the slack and a lot more as the Junior Blues improved to 6-0-0
"They double-teamed him, maybe even triple-teamed him at times,'' Rutschmann said. "We would get him the ball and he'd get it right back to me and there was no one really there at times, so it worked.
"I had way more opportunities than the last couple of games.''
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Just 14 games into his time at KU, and standing 4-10, Lance Leipold is linked to the Nebraska opening.
• Look, I am fast becoming an ardent admirer. And I actually told a few friends to tap the brakes after the opening win over an FCS program from the Ohio Valley.
• But Leipold seems to be building something special.
• Dang, though. Nebraska looking at a KU coach? With a few rumors also swirling about Chris Klieman as a darkhorse?
• That signals a revolutionary reversal of fortune, though this revolution for Nebraska football has been going on for about a quarter-century.
• For quite a while now, the N on the helmet has stood for nothing.
• Big Ten allocations can be invested more effectively without coaching terminations.
• Scott Frost could do worse than find a position as an NFL assistant.
• Bill Callahan has earned praise there as an offensive line coach. Gary Gibbs spent eight seasons with the Chiefs.
• And then there’s Ron Prince, who … never mind.
• How far can Jalon Daniels, his deep backfield and an improving receiving corps take KU?
• Yeah, it’s early. But the September game I thought would be pivotal is over and KU won at West Virginia.
• By 13 points. In overtime. After digging a 14-0 deficit after one quarter.
• Made me quit grumbling about the white top-red pant uniform scheme.
• Actually, I don’t go ape poop gaga over alternative uniforms. I realize it thrills players and fans, so that’s cool.
• As far as KU, I am more excited to see stadium reconstruction.
• Thing about Leipold is he could be the coach who finally drives demand for suites, a decent component for measuring the appeal of a college football program.
• Still think Leipold must coach the Jayhawks to a winning season before he fields other offers, but maybe not in this day of rapid perception.
• KU just might post a winning record. The Big 12 is wide open.
• K-State is actually going to show off a helmet makeover Saturday.
• Pennant-waving Willie will adorn the white lids.
• Between that wardrobe change and four newcomers added to the Ring of Honor, I’m a bit startled.
• I had thought Bill Snyder had a clause in his retirement papers giving him perpetual control of some football matters.
• The K-State defense is one stubborn crew. Playmakers on every level and lots of interchangeable parts.
• That helps with Adrian Martinez’s transition, which warrants an incomplete grade so far.
• In fairness to Martinez, his receivers need to play better, an all too familiar refrain at K-State.
• None of them are better than Washburn’s James Letcher.
• Gene Taylor has probably noticed. The K-State AD is following the Ichabods and his son Jared, a transfer quarterback from Northern State.
• Big trap game coming up before K-State begins Big 12 play in prime time on Fox.
• No. 6 Oklahoma better not take Nebraska too lightly in Lincoln after the Huskers’ coaching move.
• What’s that? Sure, K-State better not take Tulane for granted, either.
• Nebraska, Missouri, Texas A&M … do you want more proof the money isn’t always greener?
• I expect Texas and Oklahoma will provide it.
• Told my wife I wanted to start over.
• We deserve a honeymoon as sweet as Jerome Tang’s.
• Haven’t seen him coach yet but planting himself into K-State’s student section and ending the F-KU chant is regal stuff.
• So is his purple campus couch.
• I was itching to use regal in honor of the queen. Or is it honour?
• Enough on nobility, which is something the N on Nebraska’s helmet no longer represents.
• Back to Tang. It sure seems he can pack all his magnetism into delivering better results for the Cats.
• Recruiting better talent is a nice start.
• Not making any bold predictions just yet on K-State hoops. Reluctant to even do that with KU football.
• However, it’s fascinating what can happen when coaches introduce and commit to disciplined structure.
• Not all of them do, including a string of four straight KU football failures.
• Too much was made about Russell Wilson’s arrival in Denver and not enough about the son of Paul Hackett.
• I’d like to think I looked as good at 50 as Arrowhead Stadium, but I’ve never had a manicure, so no.
• Conference realignment does not apply only to major colleges.
• We also see the effects with high school football, including the end of an interminable losing streak for Highland Park.
• Argue the merits of changing leagues all you want, but I find some joy in the Scots being 2-0.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
ROSSVILLE (1-1) at HAYDEN (2-0)
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and also had a pick-six on defense in the Wildcats' 43-10 wn at Silver Lake last Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden improved to 2-0 with a 43-10 at Silver Lake last Friday night while Rossville is coming off a 36-15 Mid-East League win over Riley County. Hayden scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams, all in the first half. Junior Finn Dunshee rushed for 151 yards and a 76-yard touchdown and also scored on a 33-yard interception return while senior JC Cummings rushed for 104 yards and a TD and sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored on a 48-yard punt return and an 82-yard pass reception from sophomore Jett Wahlmeier and also picked off a pass. After having its 26-game winning streak snapped a week earlier, two-time defending Class 2A champion Rossville bounced back with a big win. Senior Kade Perine led the Bulldawgs with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Rossville never trailed after jumping out to a 14-0 first-quarter advantage. Rossville coach Derick Hammes is a former assistant coach at Hayden and was part of the Wildcats' undefeated 4A state championship team in 2004.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-1, 1-1) at SEAMAN (2-0, 2-0)
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Piper last Friday. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Seaman has outscored its first two United Kansas Conference opponents by a 128-14 margin, including a 70-0 win over Kansas City-Turner last Friday. Shawnee Heights picked up its first win in a 46-23 home UKC decision over Lansing. T-Bird junior Allen Baughman rushed for 222 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns. Friday will be the first meeting for the longtime city rivals as members of the UKC, with Seaman joining the league this school year. Junior Jack Bloom leads a balanced Seaman rushing attack with 159 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries while senior Bryson Vawter has 147 yards and four touchowns on 17 attempts. Sophomore quarterback Max Huston is 9 of 14 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
PIPER (1-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (2-0)
Washburn Rural is 2-0 on the season after last Friday's second straight come-from-behind victory, a 28-21 non-league win over De Soto. Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns while senior Ma'kenttis Adams carried the ball 26 times for 150 yards, junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns and senior Amr Sabbarini had four catches for 53 yards and a TD. Senior Ty Weber registered 24 tackles for the Junior Blues.
ST. MARYS (1-1, 1-1) at SILVER LAKE (1-1, 1-0)
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from their first losses of the season, with Silver Lake dropping a 43-10 decision to Hayden and St. Marys falling to Rock Creek, 41-20. Silver Lake junior quarterback Tanner Martin passed for 258 yards and a touchdown last week against Hayden while Trenton Rollenhagen caught three passes for 121 yards, including a 64-yarder. Friday will be a big night for the Silver Lake football family, with the Eagles honoring coaching legend CJ Hamilton, who retired following the 2021 season as the winningest coach in Kansas. Silver Lake's football stadium is named CJ Hamilton Field.
KANSAS CITY-SUMNER ACADEMY (1-1, 1-1) at HIGHLAND PARK (2-0, 2-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior Tre Richardson has had a hand 14 touchdowns in two games, leading the Scots to a 2-0 start to the season. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 2-0 in the Meadowlark Conference with a 48-29 road win at Kansas City-Schlagle last Friday. Highland Park senior Tre Richardson continued his monster 2022 season, scoring eight touchowns against Schlagle and has now had a hand in 14 TDs in just two weeks for the Scots. Highland Park will be facing a Sumner Academy team that is 1-1 in the league and overall after a 47-20 loss to Atchison last week. The Sabres opened the season with a 21-0 win over KC-Washington while Highland Park opened with a 60-47 win over KC-Wyandotte in Week 1, with the Scots snapping their 65-game, eight-year losing streak.
