By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden came up with big performances in all three phases of the game Friday night, advancing to the Class 3A state semifinals with a 64-19 road romp past Parsons.
The Wildcats, who improved to 11-0 on the season, will host familiar rival Holton, a 35-22 winner over Frontenac, next Friday night.
Hayden sophomore Kade MItchell had a pair of touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return, in the Wildcats' 64-19 Class 3A playoff win over Parsons. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's defense set the tone for the night when it forced a missed field goal attempt by Parsons after the Vikings recovered a Wildcat fumble on the opening kickoff at the Hayden 25-yard-line.
Hayden's offense then responded with a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 42-yard touchdown run from sophomore Kade Mitchell (Mason Becker kick).
Parsons got within a point at 7-6 after a 75-yard, seven-play drive that produed a 19-yard TD pass from Tra Mack to Cade Brown (kick failed) but Hayden answered with a seven-play, 80-yard scoring match, with senior Finn Dunshee scoring on a 6-yard run (Becker kick) that put the Wildcats up 14-6 with 1:48 left in first quarter.
After forcing a Parsons punt, Hayden drove 57 yards in 11 plays for a Dom Ridley 5-yard run (Becker kick) as the Wildcats went in front, 21-6.
Parsons got a 56-yard TD pass from Mack to JJ Kendrick (kick good), but Hayden's special teams came through with a 99-yard kickoff return from Mitchell (Becker kick) to give the Wildcats a 28-13 advantage.
Hayden forced a punt on the Vikings' next possession and Hayden recovered at the Parsons 7 and Ridley scored on a 1-yard plunge (Becker kick) to put Hayden in command at 35-13.
Wildcat senior Jensen Schrickel intercepted Mack on Parsons' next play from scrimmage and returned the ball to the Viking 9-yard-line and Hayden got a 3-yard TD from Ridley (Becker kick) to give Hayden a 42-13 haftime advantage.
Hayden made it a 50-13 game with 7 minutes left in the third quarter on a Broderick Desch 2-yd TD and a 2-point conversion.
After recovering a fumble on Parsons' 29, Jude Krentz scored from 5 yards out (kick good) and Hayden added another Ridley TD (kick good) for a 64-13 lead before Parsons got a 36-yard touchdown from Jahmarion Washington (kick failed) to account for the final score of 64-19.
Unofficially, sophomore quarterback Connor Hanika went 5 of 5 passing for 75 yards while Mitchell rushed for 102 yards on 11 rushes and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Ridley had 13 carries for 75 yds while Dunshee had 40 yards on just four attempts in his first action since a midseason knee injury.
Hayden took a 24-7 win over Holton in a district game in Week 7 while Holton ended Hayden's season a year ago in a semifinal contest, 48-17.
Max Huston threw for five touchdowns and ran for a TD in Seaman's 72-42 Class 5A playoff loss at Mill Valley Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
MILL VALLEY 72, SEAMAN 42 -- Seaman's outstanding postseason run came to an end as defending 5A state champ Mill Valley moved on with a 72-42 home victory over the Vikings.
Mill Valley (9-2) advances to play Blue Valley Southwest in a 5A semifinal next Friday night while Seaman ended its season 6-5.
Seaman and Mill Valley were tied at 7-7 and 14-4 but Mill Valley ran off 30 unanswered points to take a 44-14 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
The game turned into a scorefest the rest of the way, with Mill Valley outscoring the Vikings, 28-21.
Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston threw for five touchdowns and also ran for a 71-yard TD.
Hustin completed 23 and 30-yard TD passes to Holden Finley and had an 80-yard strike to senior Callen Barta, a 5-yard score to Bryer Finley and a 3-yard TD to Samson Tootle. Ethan Geiger was six of six on extra-point kicks.
BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST 38, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 10 -- One of the best seasons in Shawnee Heights school history came to an end Friday night, with the T-Birds dropping a 38-10 road decision to Blue Valley Southwest.
Shawnee Heights, which won eight games for the first time since 1994, ended the year with an 8-3 record while Blue Valley Southwest improved to 10-1.
Southwest will host defending 5A champ Mill Valley next Friday.
Southwest led 14-0 with 8:48 left in the second quarter and 17-3 at the half.
The T-Birds were within 17-10 before Southeast scored the final 21 points.
