By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season Friday night, riding a 27-point second quarter to a 47-14 road victory at Emporia's Welch Stadium in the Trojans' Centennial League opener.
Topeka High junior quarterback Zane Smith had a big game Friday night as the Trojans improved to 4-0 with a 47-14 Centennial League road win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
After a scoreless first quarter, Topeka High got on the scoreboard just 43 seconds into the second period on a 25-yard run from Courtney Sanders (Jayden Norman kick).
The Trojans added to their advantage just over two minutes later when Zane Smith connected with Saron Carter for a 78-yard touchdown strike and Smith scored on a 9-yard run midway through the quarter (Norman kick) to put High in front 20-0 and Norman ended the second-quarter onslaugt with a 24-yard TD strike from Smith just 1:08 before halftime (Norman kick).
Carter scored on a 29-yard run early in the second half and Robert Dingle tacked on an 11-yard TD run midway through the third quarter (Norman kick) before Tevante Ewing ended the Trojans' scoring midway through the final stanza (Norman kick).
Emporia scored both of its touchdowns in the final quarter, including the Spartans' final TD with just 1:20 remaining.
Ewing rushed for 169 yards on 13 attempts while Smith completed five of eight passes for 191 yards and Carter caught two passes for 144 yards.
Topeka High will host city and Centennial League rival Washburn Rural next Friday at Hummer Sports Park.
TOPEKA HIGH 47, EMPORIA 14
Topeka High (4-0, 1-0) 0 27 13 7 -- 47
Emporia (0-4, 0-1) 0 0 0 14 -- 14
Topeka High -- Sanders 25 run (Norman kick)
Topeka High -- Carter 78 pass from Smith (conversion failed)
Topeka High -- Smith 9 run (Norman kick)
Topeka High -- Norman 24 pass from Smith (Norman kick)
Topeka High -- Carter 29 run (conversion failed)
Topeka High -- Dingle 11 run (Norman kick)
Emporia -- Crowell 1 run (B’Hymer kick)
Topeka High -- Ewing 1 run (Norman kick)
Emporia -- Crowell 1 run (B’Hymer kick)
Individual statistics
Rushing -- Topeka High: Ewing 13-169, Smith 2-22, Sanders 2-23, Carter 1-29, Dingle 1-11. Emporia -- Crowell 20-61, Gray 8-13, Telfer 5-15, LeBlanc 1-(minus)-3).
Passing -- Topeka High: Smith 5-8-1, 191 yards. Emporia: Gray 7-14-0, 69; Seidl 2-3-0, 40.
Receiving -- Topeka High: Carter 2-144, Ewing 2-23, Norman 1-24. Emporia -- Crowell 1-4, Arndt 3-32, Seidl 1-9, Kirk 2-2, Gardner 1-48, Franklin 1-14.
WAMEGO 31, HAYDEN 28 -- Brody Graber kicked a game-winning 27-yard field goal to cap Wamego's comeback in a 31-28 win over Hayden in a non-league game at Wamego.
Hayden, which fell to 3-1, led 7-0 after a 16-yard pass from Jett Wahlmeier to Jensen Schrickel (Mason Becker kick) and the Wildcats led 14-7 after Conner Hanika found Schrickel for a 50-yard score on a double pass (Becker kick).
Hayden led 14-7 at the half but Wamego (3-1) opened the second half with a 99-yard kickoff return from Jackson Supps.
Hayden broke the tie on a 7-yard TD run from Jackson McGivern (Becker kick) and after a Wildcat interception, Wahlmeier found Kade Mitchell for a 40-yard TD (Becker kick) to put Hayden in front by a 28-14 margin.
The fourth quarter started with Hayden still in front 28-14 but Wamego got a big spark on a 3rd and long play when sophomore quarterback Logan Fulton picked up an errant snap in the end zone and found Tate Warren down the sideline for a 21-yard first down.
Wamego then marched down the field for a 7-yard Warren TD to get within seven points and then the Red Raiders tied the game at 28 on a 12-yard Warren TD with 4:59 remaining after Wamego recovered a Hayden fumble.
After getting the ball back Wamego took the lead on Graber's field goal. Hayden completed two passes on its final drive before running out of time.
Unofficially, Wahlmeier passed for 156 yards and a touchdown while Mitchell rushed for 53 yards on 10 attempts and Schrickel caught four passes for 93 yards and two TDs.
Wamego's Warren carried the ball 28 times for 148 yards and Fulton passed for 232 yards.
Hayden will host Hiawatha next Friday.
SEAMAN 63, KC-TURNER 0 -- Seaman improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the United Kansas Conference with a 63-0 road romp past Kansas City-Turner.
Seaman will host Lansing in a UKC contest next Friday.
SILVER LAKE 26, ST. MARYS 20 -- Junior Jayden Waterer scored on a 1-yard run in the final minute and Silver Lake sealed the game with an interception on the final play as the Eagles took a 26-20 win over area and Big East rival St. Marys.
Now 3-1 on the season, Waterer scored after Silver Lake senior quarterback Dysen Schooler found junior Dayne Johnson for a pass reception to the Eagles' 1-yard-line.
Earlier in the night Schooler and Johnson hooked up for a 68-yard TD and Schooler also hit Brody Deiter for a 31-yard scoring strike.
Silver Lake will be on the road at Baldwin next Friday.
MISSION VALLEY 46, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 22 -- Cair Paravel fell to 1-3 on the season with Friday's 46-22 road loss to Mission Valley.
The Lions will be back in action next Friday, hosting Wabaunsee in a Class 1A district game at Yager Stadium.
LEAVENWORTH 34, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 27 -- Shawnee Heights fell to 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in the United Kansas Conference with Friday's 34-27 loss to Leavenworth at Wetter Field.
The T-Birds will face another tough test next Friday, going on the road to face De Soto.
LANSING 63, TOPEKA WEST 0 -- Topeka West remained winless on the season, falling on the road to Lansing, 63-0, to drop to 0-4 overall and in the United Kansas Conference.
The Chargers will be at Hummer Sports Park Thursday to host Basehor-Linwood in a UKC game.
ROSSVILLE 13, MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0 (Forfeit) -- Rossville picked up a 13-0 forfeit win in its Class 1A distacti opener Friday night when Maranatha Christian Academy informed Rossville officials that it would be unable to play the game due to a lack of healthy players.
The Bulldawgs will play a district game at Mission Valley next Friday.
