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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
In the previous nine head-to-head football meetings between Emporia and Topeka High, the Trojans have emerged victorious in every single meeting against the Spartans.
In Emporia’s prolonged drought, the Spartans haven’t been able to find a way to edge the Trojans, with Thursday night a carbon copy of the past decade as Topeka High came out on top, 28-20, as senior Tylan Alejos turned in a monster night.
Topeka High senior Tylan Alejos scores one of his four touchdowns on the night in High's 28-20 win over Emporia Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After two winless weeks, Topeka High was finally able to taste the sweet nectar of victory in front of the home Hummer Sports Park crowd for the first time in 2021.
Self-inflicted mistakes have haunted the Trojans the first two weeks, but Thursday the offense was able to overcome the mistakes.
“I feel like we are getting closer to where want to be as a team,'' Topeka High coach Carlos Kelly said. "We have a new coaching staff, along with a new nucleus of guys. It’s going to take time, but I am proud of the guys.
"Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, we are clicking and we have better chemistry together.”
Alejos, one of the most dynamic players in the city, had himself a career night, rushing for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries and catching two passes for 19 yards and a TD.
“It was a good team performance,'' Alejos said. "We came out a little sloppy in the beginning but we came out and executed in the second half. Our offensive line was way more aggressive tonight and it opened me up to have a good game.”
Added Kelly:
“We thought we could take advantage of Emporia by getting Tylan out in open space. He works so hard and tries so hard, which means a lot to the guys. Tylan needs to be Tylan Alejos and not anybody else. Tylan is a special player.”
Topeka High lineman Danny Saili (77) comes up with a defensive stop for the Trojans in Thursday's 28-20 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High’s defense forced a three and out on Emporia's game-opening drive, forcing the Spartans to punt the ball away.
Topeka High then marched right down the field, only to throw an interception to linebacker Bobby Trujillo in the end zone.
At 1:30 in the first, Emporia’s Cam Geitz eluded High's pass rush and found Kaden Woydziak for an 89-yard touchdown to put the Spartans up, 7-0.
Following that Emporia touchdown, Topeka quarterback Peyton Wheat threw his second interception of the night to Trujillo, leading to a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Derrick Keys.
Topeka High would fight back with a long drive, getting on the scoreboard with a 4-yard Alejos touchdown to decrease the deficit to 13-7.
After the Alejos touchdown at the 6:23 mark, the defenses were hitting back and forth.
After blocking an Emporia punt, the Trojans started at the Emporia 15-yard line. Wheat rolled out to the right out of the pocket and threw a 15-yard TD to Alejos with 0:08 to go in the half, putting High in front, 14-13.
Emporia’s Jaxson Dial opened up the second half with a pick six for a touchdown as the Spartans went back in front, 20-14, but Topeka High bounced back with a strong 14-play drive, taking 6:30 off the clock and finishing it off by Alejos punching it in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
Topeka High ended Emporia's ensuing possession with a blocked punt that gave the Trojans the ball deep in Spartan territory.
Alejos would then run it up the gut for his fourth touchdown of the night, giving the Trojans their final 28-20 margin.
Emporia had an opportunity at the Topeka High 9-yard line with 1:32 to go but High forced an incompletion and held on for the win.
Emporia (0-3, 0-3) will host the Highland Park Scots next Friday, while Topeka High (1-2,1-2) will host Manhattan.
TOPEKA HIGH 28, EMPORIA 20
Emporia (0-3, 0-3) 7 6 7 0 -- 20
Topeka High (1-2, 1-2) 0 14 14 0 -- 28
First quarter
Emporia -- Woydziak 89 pass from Geitz (Obermeyer kick)
Second Quarter
Emporia -- Keys 4 run (kick failed)
Topeka High -- Alejos 4 run (Thomas kick)
Topeka High -- Alejos 15 pass (Thomas kick)
Third Quarter
Emporia -- Dial 38 interception return (Obermeyer kick)
Topeka High -- Alejos 7 run (Thomas kick)
Topeka High -- Alejos 2 run (Thomas kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing -- Emporia: Keys 13-6, Geitz 12-(minus)-9, Trujillo 1-3. Topeka High: Alejos 32-223, Wheat 4-5, Ross 2-10, Brown 1-5.
Passing -- Emporia: Geitz 11-22-0, 230 yards. Topeka High: Wheat 7-19-3, 106.
Receiving -- Emporia: Leeds 4-34, Woydziak 2-132, Trujillo 2-34, Obermeyer 2-22, Jackson, 1-8. Topeka High: Williams 3-28, Brown 2-59, Alejos, 2-19.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A player scoring three goals in a game is normally a rare accomplishment in high school soccer.
For Washburn Rural standout Porter Schafersman, hat tricks are starting to become just another night at the office.
Schafersman, a senior captain, recorded his third straight three-goal game Thursday night at McElroy Field, leading the way as the Junior Blues improved to a perfect 6-0 on the season with a 5-0 Centennial League victory over Hayden.
Washburn Rural senior Porter Schafersman (right) advances the ball past Hayden junior Nick Padilla Thursday. Schafersman recorded his third straight three-goal hat trick as Rural improved to 6-0 with a 5-0 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Schafersman scored off corner kicks from senior Ashton Rake and sophomore Devon Rutschmann and also converted a penalty kick, all in the second half, as the Junior Blues broke open a tight game with four goals after halftime.
"I feel like we all know each other very well and we're comfortable with each other and we trust each other on the ball,'' Schafersman said.
And while Schafersman doesn't want to make a big deal of his goal-scoring flurry, he's definitely enjoying himself.
"It puts me in a good mood,'' Schafersman said. "I'm just happy we came out with the win.''
Hayden, which fell to 2-3, was still very much in the hunt at halftime, trailing 1-0 on a Rural goal from sophomore Benett Hallauer at the 22:04 mark of the opening half (Rutschmann assist), but the Junior Blues put the game away with three goals over the first 6:38 of the second half.
Washburn Rural senior Joe Morse scored Rural's fourth goal in Thursday's 5-0 win over Hayden at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Schafersman scored back-to-back goals to put Rural in front 3-0 with 34:01 remaining and then senior Joe Morse scored at the 33:22 mark off an assist from junior Easton Bradstreet before Schafersman added his third goal on a penalty kick with 7:30 left.
"We were doing lots of nice things (in the first half), but it felt like we were doing it at about an 80-percent pace,'' Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "We have very athletic guys, we're fast, so don't play at a slower pace. Let's really put pressure on people. We were doing a lot of the same things (in the second half), we just really had the energy, an A-plus kind of energy.
"Hayden always does a great job. They have a great keeper (senior Gabe Rankey) and they're always very organized. No. 3 on top (junior Jake Muller) is a good player.''
Senior Wyatt Arnold picked up his fourth shutout of the season in goal for the Junior Blues.
WASHBURN RURAL 5, HAYDEN 0
Hayden (2-3) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural (6-0) 1 4 -- 5
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Porter Schafersman 3, Benett Hallauer, Joe Morse. Assists: Devon Rutschmann 2, Ashton Rake, Easton Bradstreet. Shutout: Wyatt Arnold.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is scheduled to return to Topeka on Aug. 12-14, 2022 for the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.
Heartland Motorsports Park has hosted at least one national event since the facility opened in 1989, with the exception of 2020 when the Topeka event was canceled due to COVID-19.
HMP hosted its 2021 national event last month, with Brittany Force (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) capturing titles in the Camping World Series.
Brittany and John Force celebrate their wins in last month's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. The NHRA announced Thursday that the series will return to Topeka on Aug. 12-14, 2022. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
NHRA officials released the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series 22-race schedule on Thursday, with details on Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle schedules to be announced in the upcoming weeks.
The 22-race schedule will include the return of fan favorite events such as the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix, the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond and the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, which will serve as the traditional conclusion of the annual Western Swing.
The 2022 season kicks off in Pomona for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals Presented By ProtectTheHarvest.com.
For the first time in four seasons, the NHRA will host a specialty race amongst the stars of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro categories.
Fans will be treated to not one but two NHRA Allstar Shootout events in 2022, at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the prestigious Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend.
Then, teams will focus in on the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and set their sights on an NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world title.
For more information about the 2022 schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit NHRA.com.
2022 NHRA CAMPING WORLD DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE
NHRA Camping World Series Regular Season
Feb. 17-20 - Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 25-27 - NHRA Arizona Nationals, Phoenix
March 10-13 - *AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
April 1-3 - NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas
April 22-24 - Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil, Houston
April 29-May 1 - NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Charlotte, N.C.
May 13-15 - Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond, Va.
June 3-5 - NHRA New England Nationals, Epping, N.H.
June 17-19 - NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 23-26 - Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
July 15-17 - Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Denver
July 22-24 - NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma, Calif.
July 29-31 - Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle
Aug. 12-14- Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor, Topeka, Kan.
Aug. 18-21 - Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 31-Sept. 5 - *Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis
NHRA Camping World Countdown to the Championship
Sept. 15-18 - Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 23-25 - NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte, N.C.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 - NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis
Oct. 13-16 - Texas NHRA FallNationals, Dallas
Oct. 27-30 - Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Las Vegas
Nov. 10-13 - Auto Club NHRA Finals, Pomona, Calif.
*NHRA Allstar Shootout
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in this week's Kansas Volleyball Association state rankings, pacing three Shawnee County schools in the rankings.
Washburn Rural is top-ranked in this week's KVA Class 6A state rankings, posting a 10-0 record through Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
Rural, 10-0 after wins over Centennial League foes Hayden and Topeka West on Tuesday, is followed in the 6A rankings by Blue Valley North, defending state champ Blue Valley West, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Free State in the top five.
Shawnee Heights and Seaman earned the No. 6 and No. 7 spots in the 5A rankings.
St. Thomas Aquinas is top-ranked in 5A, followed by St. James Academy, Lansing, Mill Valley and Maize South.
Louisburg is No. 1-ranked in 4A, while other top-ranked teams are Smoky Valley (3A), Heritage Christian (2A), Pretty Prairie (1A Division I) and Hanover (1A Division II).
KANSAS VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION STATE RANKINGS
Class 6A
1. Washburn Rural; 2. Blue Valley North; 3. Blue Valley West; 4. Shawnee Mission Northwest; 5. Free State; 6. Wichita Northwest; 7. Hutchinson; 8 Blue Valley; 9. Blue Valley Northwest; 10. Olathe North.
Class 5A
1. St. Thomas Aquinas; 2. St. James Academy; 3. Lansing; 4. Mill Valley; 5. Maize South; 6. Shawnee Heights; 7. Seaman; 8. Basehor-Linwood; 9. Spring Hill; 10. Newton.
Class 4A
1. Louisburg; 2. Andale; 3. Bishop Miege; 4. Circle; 5. McPherson; 6. Clay Center; 7. Baldwin; 8. Nickerson; 9. Rose Hill; 10. Paola.
Class 3A
1. Smoky Valley; 2. Cheney; 3. Nemaha Central; 4. Beloit; 5. TMP-Marian; 6. Riverton; 7. Hiawatha; 8. Scott City; 9. Eureka; 10. Goodland.
Class 2A
1. Heritage Christian; 2. Garden Plain; 3. Smith Center; 4. Wabaunsee; 5. Jefferson County North; 6. Hillsboro; 7. Sedgwick; 8. Meade-Fowler; 9. Ellinwood; 10. Sterling.
Class 1A Division I
1. Pretty Prairie; 2. Central Plains; 3. Kiowa County; 4. Little River; 5. Lebo; 6. Victoria; 7. Centralia; 8. South Gray; 9. Sylvan Lucas; 10. Pratt-Skyline.
Class 1A Division II
1. Hanover; 2. Attica; 3. St. Francis-Cheylin; 4. Golden Plains; 5. Linn; 6. Dighton; 7. Wheatland-Grinnell; 8. St. Paul; 9. Beloit-St. Johns-Tipton; 10. Logan-Palco.
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Kevin Haskin
Musings at the mid-month:
-- Talk to anyone outside Kansas City about a downtown ballpark and parking gets mentioned first.
-- Talk to those inside Kansas City – I did so this week during a reunion of former Kansas City Kansan sports writers – and parking got mentioned first.
-- As much as anyone wants to dismiss that angle, parking is a concern.
-- The Royals once marketed heavily outside of KC. Now, not so much it seems.
-- Kansas City is a different, and more vibrant place, meaning people in Topeka, or any other place nearby enjoy it even more and still attend games.
-- I don’t go enough to really care, and I won’t feel any tax pinch.
-- Building downtown could make sense and it could be cool.
-- But given when both Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead were built, designers really did it right. Each have, with modifications, withstood the test of time.
-- Oh, whenever someone advocates shuttles, keep in mind how long shuttles can get bogged down in postgame traffic.
-- Drove with my daughter to the old Kansan building recently and took a picture. Paper went belly up years ago, but the façade remains.
-- A lot of great athletes and great teams in KCK back then.
-- Wyandotte High School graduate Rick Peterson would agree.
-- The Big 12 did what it had to do adding members and I should probably feign excitement about the new grouping, but how long will it last?
-- Especially when Kansas bats a wandering eye toward other leagues and openly acknowledges concerns about dwindling revenue streams.
-- No, I do not know whether the Jayhawks will gain admission elsewhere. Flunked tea reading, which really can’t be streamlined into a pass-fail option.
-- If KU can get into the Big Ten, then it’s proof basketball matters.
-- If it happens, send past and current coaches and ADs a thank you note. Except Jeff Long. He deserves nothing.
-- Rock Chalk could just as easily be a slogan that reflects KU’s steady positioning as a basketball favorite or, ahem, chalk.
-- Yet we tend to take the Jayhawks’ basketball preeminence for granted. Don’t.
-- Comments out of Kansas State, meanwhile, tend to ballyhoo the new Big 12 alignment.
-- This is K-State’s best option and the option is best if the dozen moving forward stick together.
-- Think about these three straight weekends the Wildcats will be on ESPN-plus.
-- Their matchups with Nevada and Oklahoma State absolutely should be cable network options.
-- But you can’t help but think a message is being sent here.
-- By the way, what exactly defines the plus in ESPN’s streaming option?
-- I’ll let you buffer on that answer.
-- Personal memories when I think about the four new Big 12 additions:
-- UCF. Nothing much, except that Wichita State celebrated a move to the AAC, only to watch now as members with strong football programs leave.
-- BYU: Steve Sarkisian as a player, quarterbacking the Cougars against K-State in the Cotton Bowl.
-- Cincinnati: Visiting ancient Nippert Stadium for both K-State and KU games, and now marveling that Cincy somehow gave the place a shiny makeover. That, and young Huggs.
-- Houston: Phi Slama Jama and before that, the Big E winning a big game in a big place, the Astrodome. Game of the Century it got dubbed in 1968 as Houston ended UCLA’s 47-game winning streak.
-- Reminds me that 50 years ago I sat in the den of my sister’s Topeka home, glued to football’s Game of the Century pitting Nebraska and Oklahoma.
-- The anniversary of the 1971 showdown will be celebrated Saturday when the two programs reunite.
-- Reading recollections this week, I can’t help but recall that K-State beat Oklahoma in 1969 and ’70, while the 1968 Kansas team shared the Big Eight title with OU and advanced to the Orange Bowl.
-- Also in ’68, both KU and K-State beat Nebraska. ABC then telecast the Sunflower showdown, a big deal in the age of limited TV for college football.
-- Shortly after Vince Gibson’s death, Pepper Rodgers told me he lamented the rules violations each turned in attempting to gain in-state superiority.
-- Eventually, those blows proved costly for both of the rebuilds.
-- I’ll think of Pepper and Vince on Saturday when watching Boomer and Big Red. And, I’ll be mindful that I miss the Big Eight.
-- FWIW, my sister’s old den now features a collection of golf treasures since the house is now owned by the crafty left-hander, Mark Elliott.
