Cair Paravel Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lenny Njoroge has posted some big wins in his high school cross country career and there definitely could still be more to come.
But Saturday's city boys championship at Washburn Rural was special not only for the Topeka West senior, but for his school as well.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge won his first city cross country title and the Chargers' first since 1993 in Saturday's city meet at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Njoroge, who posted his fourth straight individual win, clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 30 seconds en route to becoming the first Topeka West boys runner to win a city championship since former Charger great Winston Tidwell in 1993.
"City titles are nice, I'm telling you,'' Njoroge said. "They're fun and you're representing your school and especially because we haven't won one in a lot of years, it feels special.''
Njoroge won by 18 seconds over Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel (15:48.1), with T-Bird senior Kory Sutton third in 15:54.1.
For the second straight week, Esquibel pushed Njoroge early in the race, which the West star said was a benefit.
"It helps a lot so I don't have to run by myself the first mile,'' Njoroge said. "I like him pushing me.''
Washburn Rural runners nailed down the next three spots and placed all of their top five in the top 14 individually as the Junior Blues topped Shawnee Heights for the team championship by a 38-53 margin.
Washburn Rural boys cross country poses with the championship trophy after winning the city team title Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The top 20 medalists in Saturday's city boys cross country championships at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Davin Johnson finished a team-high fourth (16:01.6) for the Junior Blues while senior Easton Dial was fifth (16:30.8) and senior Grayson Fink sixth (16:36.4).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After finishing third in last year's city meet as as a freshman, Washburn Rural's Payton Fink had her sights set on a title Saturday at Rural and delivered a wire-to-wire win, leading the Junior Blues to a successful defense of their team championship.
Fink jumped out in front early en route to a decisive 30-second victory in a five-kilometer personal-record time of 18 minutes, 10.9 seconds to lead five Junior Blues in the top seven as Rural took the team title by a 21-35 margin over Seaman.
Washburn Rural sophomore Payton Fink won her first city individual cross country title Saturday, leading the Junior Blues to the team crown. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's girls cross country team poses with its team trophy after winning the city championship by a 21-35 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I've been working for this for awhile and it just feels great to finally be here,'' Fink said. "Honestly, I just wanted to come out and see what I could do. I didn't really expect to PR today but obviously a PR is always great.''
Seaman got a runner-up individual finish from freshman Ryin Miller (18:40.7) and a fifth from senior Bethany Druse (19:31.2), but Rural rode its depth to the championship, with sophomore Rylee Ismert finishing third (18:54.3), senior Madeline Carter fourth (18:55.4), freshman Vilde Tronstad sixth (19:44.9) and junior Sydney Laster seventh (19:54.9) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
"Our team is incredible,'' Fink said. "We have so many girls that are just up there strong, work hard every practice and we all do our workouts together. Everyone is in great shape for a good end of the season.''
"That's the kind of day we hoped for and they all just came out and did it,'' Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund said.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel has put together an outstanding distance career for the T-Birds, winning a pair of state medals in cross country and posting a state title and a runnerup finish in track.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won his first city individual cross country title Saturday at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Esquibel added something new in Saturday's city boys championship at Kanza Park, winning his first city individual title.
Washburn Rural's Brooks Kehoe (740), Max Gutierrez (763) and Hayden Keller (765) helped the Junior Blues win their 17th straight city cross country title Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Washburn Rural, which rolled to its 17th straight city boys team title by a 35-63 margin over Seaman.
Esquibel clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 16.7 seconds en route to winning by more than 33 seconds over Seaman sophomore standout Brody Anderson.
"It's my last time at Hummer and I've ran this course since freshman year so I just wanted to see what time I was capable of here and give it my all for myself and build confidence going into the big meets,'' Esquibel said.
"You have goals when you start the season and this is a big meet for me, running a 12-second (personal record), I believe it was. That really just kind of set the tone for the type of shape I'm in and the type of confidence that I have in myself.
:"My supporting cast is just great. They always push me to my limits.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
WASHBURN RURAL (3-2, 0-2 Centennial) at TOPEKA HIGH (1-4, 1-1 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber (32) is coming off a 20-tackle performance against Junction City last Friday. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from losses, with Washburn Rural coming off a 24-6 Centennial League loss to Junction City last Friday and Topeka High dropping an 81-13 non-league decision to Wichita Northwest. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat has completed 60 of 125 passes on the season for 978 yards and three touchdown while sophomore Jayden Norman has 30 receptions for 497 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Norman caught nine passes for 158 yards and a TD against Northwest. Washburn Rural struggled at times offensively against Junction City after an early touchdown, but senior linebacker Ty Weber registered 20 tackles (13 solos), Wyatt Conklin was in on 10.5 stops and Jaren Heim 10 tackles (seven solo).
Hayden sophomore Jett Wahlmeier completed 12 of 14 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in last Friday's 44-28 district win at Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
ROYAL VALLEY (1-4, 0-1 district) at HAYDEN (5-0, 2-0 district)
Hayden remained unbeaten with a 44-28 Class 3A district win at Perry-Lecompton last Friday while Royal Valley dropped a 48-15 district decision to Holton in its district opener. Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 12 of 14 passes for 188 yards against Perry-Lecompton and has completed 46 of 60 passes on the season for 744 yards and six touchdowns while sophomore Jensen Schrickel has 15 catches for 308 yards and three TDs. Finn Dunshee has carried the ball 31 times for 417 yards while JC Cummings has 40 carries for 345 yards. Schrickel has scored 67 total points.
MADISON (4-1, 2-0 district) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-3, 0-2 district)
At Highland Park
Cair Paravel Latin is coming off a 57-20 Eight-Man Division I district loss to undefeated Burlingame last week while Madison remained unbeaten in district play with a 40-26 win over Lyndon. Cair Paravel junior Evan Will has completed 35 of 54 pass attempts for 347 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts while Jase Pavlik is 25 of 38 passing for 400 yards and seven TDs. Jachin Bonura has caught 14 passes for 205 yards and six TDs while Jesiah Bonura has 14 catches for 194 yards and three TDs.
Highland Park senior Mackey James (33) leads the Scots with 50 tackles, including 33 solo stops. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park senior quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson has rushed for 389 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 660 yards and nine TDs. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (4-1, 4-0 Meadowlark) at ATCHISON (5-0, 4-0 Meadowlark)
The winner of Friday night's game will be in the driver's seat to win the Meadowlark Conference championship. Atchison posted a 55-6 league win over Kansas City-Washington last week while Highland Park is coming off its first loss of the season, a 59-22 non-league loss at Lincoln College Prep. Highland Park senior Tre Richardson has carried the ball 54 times for 1,031 yards and 16 TDs and caught 21 passes for 555 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson has completed 35 of 51 passes for 660 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 389 yards on 33 attempts with four TDs. Mackey James has been in on 50 tackles (33 solo).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the biggest cross country meets of the year rapidly approaching, Topeka West cross country star Lenny Njoroge is comfortable with every aspect of his career.
And that continues to show in Njororoge's results, with the West senior notching his fourth individual win in five races on the year in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge clocked a winning time of 15:45.96 in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel finished second in the Seaman Invitational, leading the T-Birds to the boys team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Njoroge, who has not finished lower than second this fall, captured Saturday's title in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 45.96 seconds, leading a one-two-three individual finish by city runners.
"This year I feel so comfortable,'' Njoroge said. "I'm in good shape and during that race I was just trying to cruise and push the pace when I could.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls the opened the championship month of the 2022 cross country season with a decisive win in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park.
Individual runner-up Ryin Miller led the way as the Vikings put all of their top five runners in the top 11 spots en route to a 34-59 team victory over city rival Washburn Rural.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finished second in Saturday's Seaman Invitational cross country meet, leading the Vikings to the girls team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Madeline Carter finished third in Saturday's Seaman Invitational, pacing the Junior Blues to a runner-up team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller, a freshman, clocked a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 02.61 seconds to finish second behind Piper senior Grace Hanson, who won the race in 18:27.88.
Seaman also got a sixth-place finish from senior Bethany Druse (20:26.48) while senior Leah Spurlock (20:38.61), sophomore Stella Appelhanz (20:51.54) and junior Savannah Sampson (20:54.95) finished ninth, 10th and 11th.
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker added a 13th-place finish in 21:25.65.
"We ran well and I'm real happy about that,'' Seaman coach Rick Brading said. "Ryin Miller had a great day Leah Spurlock had a really good day today as our third runner.''
Brading was happy with the balance the Vikings displayed in Saturday's win.
"Our girls understand that as each individual runner runs better our team score's going to be better,'' Brading said. "Plus, kids compete against their own teammates, so that helps us.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for a pair of TD passes in last week's 28-25 loss to unbeaten Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
JUNCTION CITY (3-1, 0-0 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-1, 0-1 Centennial)
Washburn Rural suffered its first loss of the season last Friday, a 28-25 Centennial League decision at unbeaten Manhattan, while Junction City improved to 3-1 with a 28-21 non-league win over perennial Class 5A power Bishop Carroll. The Blue Jays will be making their league debut on Friday. Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for a pair of touchdown passes against Manhattan while senior running back Ma'kenttis Adams scored on a 76-yard touchdown run.
ROSSVILLE (2-2, 1-0 district) at SILVER LAKE (2-2, 0-0 district)
The Bulldawgs and Eagles will square off in the annual War on 24, regarded as one of the state's premier rivalries. Rossville opened Class 2A District 3 play with a 49-8 romp past previously-unbeaten Atchison County last week while Silver Lake is coming off a 44-28 loss to Mid-East League opponent Rock Creek. Junior quarterback Camden Horak and senior Braiden Hensley had big nights for the Bulldawgs against Atchison County, connecting on four touchdown passes. Rossville opened its scoring with a 48-yard TD pass from Horak to Hensley and also hooked up on 20, 58 and 13-yard TD strikes.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) has rushed for 781 and 10 touchdowns for the 3-1 T-Birds. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
DE SOTO (3-1, 3-0 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-1, 3-1 UKC)
Shawnee Heights ran its winning streak to three games with a 27-0 shutout over Basehor-Linwood last Friday. The T-Birds have now outscored their past three opponents by an 87-30 margin since a season-opening loss to Piper. Allen Baughman, a junior running back, carried the ball 29 times for 284 yards and three touchdowns against Basehor-Linwood and has 781 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. De Soto's lone loss was a 28-21 loss to Washburn Rural in Week 2. The Wildcats are undefeated in United Kansas Conference competition, including a 57-16 win over Leavenworth last week.
Senior Tre Richardson has rushed for 896 yards and 15 TDs and has 453 receiving yards and eight TDs for 4-0 Highland Park. [File photo/TSN
HIGHLAND PARK (4-0) at LINCOLN COLLEGE PREP (4-1)
Highland Park remained unbeaten overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 74-0 romp past KC-Harmon last Thursday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson scored all six times he touched the ball as the Scots put the game out of reach with a 50-0 first quarter. Richardson has rushed for 896 yards and 15 touchdowns on 45 attempts, caught 13 pases for 453 yards and eight TDs and also passed for a TD. Highland Park, off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1995, will step outside its conference and state on Friday to face a Lincoln Prep team that is 4-1 after a 14-13 win over Van Horn, its third straight victory.
HAYDEN (4-0, 1-0 district) at PERRY-LECOMPTON (1-3, 0-1 district)
Hayden opened Class 3A District 4 competition last Friday with a 52-14 home win over Jefferson West last week while Perry-Lecompton opened district play with a 49-18 loss to Holton. The Wildcats put the Tigers away early, scoring the first 37 points by the 8:04 mark of the second quarter and leading 44-7 at the half. Senior JC Cummings opened Hayden's scoring with a 16-yard run and also scored on a 58-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier. Junior Finn Dunshee scored on a 29-yard pass from Wahlmeier and a 53-yard run. Hayden also got touchdowns from seniors Braydn Rose and Dylan Foster and junior Broderick Desch.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden continued its impressive start to the 2022 football season Friday night, improving to 4-0 with a 52-14 home romp over Jefferson West in the Class 3A District 4 opener for both schools.
Hayden senior JC Cummings takes a handoff from sophomore Jett Wahlmeier in Friday's 52-14 district win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden quarterback Jett Wahlmeier (7) talks to Wildcat coach Bill Arnold during Friday night's 52-14 Class 3A district win over Jefferson West at Hayden. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The Wildcats put the game away early on, scoring the first 37 points by the 8:04 mark of the second quarter and leading 44-7 at the half.
Senior JC Cummings opened Hayden's scoring with a 16-yard run and also scored on a 58-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier.
Junior Finn Dunshee scored on a 29-yard pass from Wahlmeier and a 53-yard run.
Hayden also got touchdowns from seniors Braydn Rose and Dylan Foster and junior Broderick Desch.
Jefferson West (0-4) scored both of its touchdowns on long pass plays.
SEAMAN 50, LANSING 32 -- Seaman bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 50-32 United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing on Homecoming night at Seaman.
Seaman's Gabe Hernandez got the Vikings off to a good start when he batted a Lansing pass in the air and intercepted at the goal line for a touchdown at the 9:21 mark of the first quarter.
Lansing tied the game later in the quarter on a 25-yard pass from Dalton Jorgensen to Lexton Grafke but the Vikings broke the tie with 18 seconds left in the first on a 1-yard run from Bryson Vawter.
Lansing cut its deficit to 14-10 on a 25-yard Casey Watkins field goal early in the second quarter but Seaman answered with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Max Huston to Adonis VanLeeuwen to boost its lead to 21-10.
Lansing got a 35-yard pick six from Ian Patton and converted the 2-point conversion to cut Seaman's lead to 21-18 with 4:13 left in the half, but Huston scored from 4 yards out with 23 seconds left in the half to give the Vikings a 28-18 halftime lead.
Huston opened the third-quarter scoring with a 4-yard TD run to put Seaman up 35-18 and Lansing got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Seaman also got a pair of second-half scores from Jack Bloom on 1-yard and 12-yard runs to take a 50-25 advantage before the Lions scored a TD in the final minute.
Huston completed 14 of 26 passes for 184 yards while Vawter carried the ball 29 times for 155 yards and Bloom had 132 yards on 12 attempts.
Jorgensen passed for 221 yards on an 18 of 40 night, but Seaman picked off the Lansing quarterback three times.
ROSSVILLE 49, ATCHISON COUNTY 8 -- Rossville opened Class 2A district play with a statement win, with the Bulldawgs rolling to a 49-8 District 3 decision over previously-unbeaten Atchison County at Rossville.
Junior quarterback Camden Horak and senior Braiden Hensley had big nights for the Bulldawgs, connecting on four touchdown passes.
Rossville opened its scoring with a 48-yard TD pass from Horak to Hensley and also hooked up on 20, 58 and 13-yard TD strikes.
Horak also scored on a 32-yard run while Kade Perine had a 1-yard TD and Tayson Horak scored Rossville's final TD on a 75-yard run.
Cedric Leistenschneider kicked five extra points while Perine had a 2-point conversion run.
With Friday's win Rossville evened its record at 2-2.
MANHTATTAN 28, WASHBURN RURAL 25 -- Manhattan outlasted Washburn Rural 28-25 Friday night at Cico Park in a key Centennial League battle between two of the top Class 6A teams in Kansas.
Manhattan improved to 4-0 overall while Washburn Rural fell to 3-1. The Indians are now 2-0 in the Centennial League while Washburn Rural is 0-1 with a key matchup with Junction City looming next Friday.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams takes off on a 76-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of Friday's 28-25 Centennial League loss at Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Ty Weber and the Washburn Rural defense celebrate a big play in Friday's 28-25 Junior Blue loss at Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams put the Junior Blues in front with a 76-yard touchdown run in the opening minute, but Manhattan answered with a long touchdown pass from Keenan Schartz to Jaxon Bowles.
The Indians missed the extra point to leave Rural with a 7-6 lead but Manhattan got a scoring run from DeAndre Auckland and a 2-point conversion to go in front by a 14-7 margin.
A Dayten Smoot field goal and a TD pass from Branton DeWeese to Titan Osburn put Rural back in front 17-14 late in the opening half but Schartz scored with a half-minute remaining to give Manhattan a 21-17 halftime advantage.
An Auckland TD midway through the third quarter boosted Manhattan's advantage to 28-17 before Washburn Rural got a scoring pass from DeWeese to Amr Sabbarini and a 2-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter.
Washburn Rural had a late opportunity to pull out the win but Manhattan's third interception of the night clinched the win.
LYNDON 28, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 24 --Cair Paravel Latin took a 24-22 lead in the fourth quarter but Lyndon answered to pull out the 28-24 Eight-Man Division I District 2 decision.
Friday's game between Cair Paravel, in its first year as a full Kansas State High School Activities Association member, and undefeated Lyndon was close throughout, with a tie and four lead changes.
Lyndon, now 4-0 and 1-0 in district play, went on top 8-0 with a 27-yard run from Jalen Massey and a Massey conversion run, but Cair Paravel (2-2, 0-1) answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Evan Will to Jesiah Bonura and a Will conversion run to knot the game at 8-8 in the second quarter.
The Tigers took a 14-8 halftime advantage on a 29-yard TD pass from Jackson Biggs to Evan Feuerborn (conversion failed) but Cair Paravel led 16-14 entering the fourth quarter after a 4-yard Will rush and a 2-point conversion pass from Simon Everhart to to Ty Gossard.
Lyndon regained the lead on 44-yard pass from Biggs to Ethen Raney (Feuerborn run), but CPLS took the lead a final time on a 5-yard Will pass to Jachin Bonura and a 2-point conversion pass from Will to Bonura before the Tiger scored the game-winning TD on a 10-yard Biggs passs to Ben Detwiler.
Will completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns and added 47 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
Jesiah Bonura caught seven passes for 50 yards while Jachin Bonura caught seven passes for 17 yards and Everhart four catches for 62 yards.
Noah Collins led Cair Paravel with seven solo tackles.
ROCK CREEK 44, SILVER LAKE 28 --Rock Creek improved to 3-1 on the season with a 44-28 home Mid-East League victory over Silver Lake Friday night.
Silver Lake fell to 2-2 on the season.
The Eagles will open Class 2A District 3 play at home next Friday against arch-rival Rossville, which is 1-0 in the district and 2-2 overall.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
THURSDAY NIGHT
KANSAS CITY-HARMON (0-3, 0-3) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson has had a hand in 20 touchdowns for the 3-0 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 63-36 win over KC-Sumner last Friday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns, giving him 20 on the season and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass. Richardson and quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson combined for more than 400 rushing yards against Sumner. Highland Park will be facing a Harmon team that has been outscored 207-0 in its first three games, including a 72-0 loss to Atchison last week. The Scots are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since Nick McGrain's team won its first four games in 1995. Game time: 7 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT
JEFFERSON WEST (0-3) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchdowns last Friday night in the Wildcats' 55-34 win over Rossville. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden opens Class 3A District 4 competition Friday night after remaining unbeaten with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last week. Sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchowns and 31 points for the Wildcats against Rossville. Schrickel returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier, a 12-yard run on a reverse and kicked seven extra points. Senior JC Cummings rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries, including a 98-yard touchdown run, and junior Finn Dunshee added 83 yards on seven attempts. Jefferson West has been outscored 111-28, including a 57-0 loss to Sabetha last week. Game time: 7 p.m.
EMPORIA (1-2, 0-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-3, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High is coming off a 27-0 road loss at Liberal last Friday while Emporia is dropped a 56-24 decision to Salina Central. Emporia played Liberal in Week 2, dropping a 53-0 decision. The Spartans willl be playing their Centennial League opener while the Trojans fell at Manhattan in their second game of the season, 59-7. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat and sophomore receiver Jayden Norman are key offensive weapons on offense for the Trojans. Game time: 7 p.m.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0) at MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0)
At Cico Park
Washburn Rural remained unbeaten with a 37-10 win over Piper last Friday while Manhattan topped Hays, 31-21. Senior Ma'kenttis Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team. Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries. Junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards. Game time: 7 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Locked in a three-point game at halftime Friday night, Washburn Rural dominated the second half on the way to a 37-10 non-league win over Piper at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
Rural, which improved to 3-0 on the season, led by just a 13-10 count at the half but broke the game open with 21 third-quarter points while the Junior Blue defense pitched a second-half shutout.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese (5) celebrates a touchdown with Ma'kenttis Adams (2) in Friday's 37-10 Junior Blue win over Piper. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural's defense, gang-tackling a Piper ball-carrier, pitched a second-half shutout in the Junior Blues' 37-10 win Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Piper jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 77-yard fumble return but Rural pulled even on a 1-yard plunge by freshman TJ Minikwu.
Rural went in front to stay on an 11-yard touchdown pass from junior Branton DeWeese to junior Titan Osborn (extra point blocked) before Piper cut its deficit to 13-10 with a 20-yard field goal.
Senior Ma'kenttis Adams opened the second-half scoring with a 19-yard TD run and and DeWeese connected with senior Lukas Hanks for a 2-point conversion to give Rural a 21-10 advantage.
DeWeese then connnected with Osburn for a 46-yard TD strike (conversion failed) and Adams capped a big night with a 58-yard touchdown run.
Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team.
DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Osburn caught three passess for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards.
Washburn Rural travels to Manhattan next Friday for a key Centennial League game.
HIGHLAND PARK 63, KANSAS CITY-SUMNER ACADEMY 36 --Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns -- now 20 on the season -- and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass as Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the league with a 63-36 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Sumner Academy at Hummer Sports Park.
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.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note:Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to
----------------------------------------------
Junior running back Allen Baughman turned in a career-best performance to lead the way as Shawnee Heights picked up its first win of the season Friday night at Wetter Field, with the T-Birds rolling to a 46-23 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing.
Baughman, a 5-foot-8, 180-pounder, carried the ball 22 times for 222 yards and five touchdowns for the T-Birds, who evened their record at 1-1 overall and in the UKC.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) finds a huge hole to run through against Lansing Friday night. Baughman rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which finished with 343 total offensive yards, got a pair of field goals from senior Carson Christian.
Shawnee Heights senior Jaye Jones makes a diving interception in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing Friday night. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Alex Dittman is mobbed by his teammates after scoring a defensive touchdown in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The T-Birds also turned in a solid performance on defense, including interceptions from senior Jaye Jones and juniors Alex Dittman and Jayden Moore, who also forced a fumble.
Senior Sean Wunder was in on eight tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, while senior Ben Penrod was also in on eight stops and junior Christian Gonzales six. Junior Taylen LeClere-Bryant recovered a fumble for the T-Birdss.
Shawnee Heights will travel to Seaman next Friday, with the city rivals meeting for the first time as UKC members.
WASHBURN RURAL 28, DE SOTO 21 --Washburn Rural rallied from behind for the second straight game, improving to 2-0 with a 28-21 road win at De Soto.
Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns on a 15 of 31 performance while senior Ma'Kenttis Adams rushed for 150 yards on 26 carries.
Junior Titan Osburn had three catches for 97 yards and a pair of touchowns while senior Lukas Hanks caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown and senior Amr Sabbarini had four grabs for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ty Weber was in on a whopping 24 tackles while junior JC Heim blocked a punt and senior Wyatt Conklin recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Washburn Rural will play its home-opener next Friday against Piper.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's probably about time for Ryin Miller to re-evaluate her goals for the 2022 cross country season.
The Seaman freshman has started off her high school career with a pair of outstanding performances, including her first individual championship in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park while helping lead the Vikings to the team title by 27-45 margin over Lee's Summit West, Mo.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finishes off her win in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational, helping lead the Vikings to the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller burst on the high school cross country scene with a third-place individual performance in the season-opening Manhattan Invitational on Sept. 3, blowing away her pre-race goal.
"I was shooting for like 15th place, so third definitely boosted my confidence,'' Miller said.
And Miller, who ran a five-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 32.6 seconds at Manhattan, took another big step forward on Saturday, knocking another 90 seconds off her personal-best with a winning time of 19 minutes, 01.22 seconds.
"My goal was to shoot for like 21 (minutes), so I'm definitely surprised,'' Miller said about her start to the season.
Miller ran second to Lee's Summit West senior Ella Cronhardt in the early stages of Saturday's race before taking the lead abut a mile and a half in en route to a 29-second victory.
"I was just going to stay where I could see her and within about like five feet,'' Miller said.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, the goal for Topeka West senior cross country star Lenny Njoroge is always going to be to win.
But Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park was one day when Njoroge could be proud of a second-place finish.
Lincoln Prep junior Isaac Rivera (left) and Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge finished one-two in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For one thing, it took an outstanding performance, by Lincoln College Prep junior Isaac Rivera, to beat him, and even in defeat, Njoroge ran the best five-kilometer time of his career.
Rivera clocked a 5K time of 15 minutes, 09.82, while Njoroge, running only his second race after missing the 2021 season with a broken leg, finished second in 15:24.61, 39 seconds in front of the third-place finisher.
"He ran a heck of a race, he's impresssive,'' Njoroge said of Rivera.
Njoroge admitted that the Missouri runner caught him somewhat by surprise.
"At the start of the race I was just like, 'OK, it's a home meet, it's probably going to just be me (out front),' and then the gun goes off and we get to 400 meters and I see somebody right next to me and I'm like, 'Where did he come from?' '' Njoroge said.
Njoroge and Rivera ran together for a good chunk of the race before Rivera pulled away late, but Njoroge wasn't disappointed with his performance.
"I felt awesome,'' said Njoroge, who doubles up in soccer for Topeka West. "As Donnie (Palmer, West coach) said I'm in the best shape of my life right now. And I'm having the best time of my life, too. It's incredible.
"I'll take this and move on.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
HAYDEN (1-0) at SILVER LAKE (1-0)
Hayden senior JC Cummings (38) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown in last Friday's 21-7 Wildcat victory over Olpe. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden is coming off of a 21-7 season-opening win over two-time defending Class 1A state champion Olpe, ending the Eagles' 26-game winning streak, while Logan Pegram made his debut as Silver Lake's coach with a 28-21 road win over Riley County. Hayden got pass interceptions from seniors JC Cummings and Dylan Foster while Cummings and senior Ethan Florence ran for touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier hit sophomore Jensen Schrickel for a TD pass. Junior quarterback Tanner Martin accumulated more than 250 total yards and had a hand in all four Silver Lake touchdowns in the Eagles' season-opening win.
LANSING (0-1, 0-1) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-1)
Shawnee Heights fell 31-20 to new United Kansas Conference member Piper in its season opener on the road, while Lansing dropped a 27-21 UKC decision to De Soto. Piper built a 24-0 advantage over Heights before surviving a late T-Bird rally. Heights junior Allen Baughman rushed for 92 yards on 17 carries while senior Nick Freeland completed six of 11 passes for 45 yards and junior Jayden Moore caught five passes for 65 yards. Defensively, junior Alex Dittman was in on eight tackles and senior Jaye Jones was credited with seven stops.
LEAVENWORTH (1-0, 1-0) at TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West standout senior quarterback Malachi Berg (left) and the Chargers will be looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West will be looking to bounce back from last Thursday's 58-14 United Kansas Conference loss to Seaman while Leavenworth is coming off a 61-0 UKC win over Kansas City-Turner. West senior quarterback Malachi Berg went 17 of 29 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns while senior Xavier Alexander carried the ball 17 times for 102 yards and senior Kamen Jones caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Emporia State senior Hannah Woolery, a former Cair Paravel Latin standout, set one school record and tied another as the No. 14-ranked Hornets soccer team rolled to a 5-1 victory at Minot State on Sunday afternoon.
Former Cair Paravel Latin soccer standout Hannah Woolery (10) set one Emporia State school soccer record and tied another in Sunday's 5-1 win at Minot State . [Photo courtesy of Emporia State Athletics]
Woolery, who had a goal and three assists in the victory, broke a tie with Adie Hayden (14 assists from 2001-04) for Emporia State career assists records and now has 17 assists at ESU.
With Sunday's three assists, Woolery tied Wendy Dunn (three assists vs NWMSU on Sept 5, 2004 and vs Mo. S&T on Oct. 15, 2004) for the Hornets' single-game assist record.
Mackenzie Dimarco scored her 39th and 40th career goals on Sunday and is now Emporia State's career leader for goals..
The Hornets will take on Washburn at 6 p.m. Friday in Topeka for the first Turnpike Tussle of the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note:Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to
----------------------------------------------
Hayden's football team got the test it expected from two-time defending Class 1A state champ Olpe in Friday night's season-opener, but the Wildcats combined some timely offense with stingy defense to end the Eagles' 26-game win streak with a 21-7 win at Hayden.
Hayden senior JC Cummings (38) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown in Friday's 21-7 Wildcat victory over Olpe. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden's defense brings down Olpe quarterback Truman Bailey in Friday's 21-7 Wildcat win at Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden got a pair of interceptions from seniors JC Cummings and Dylan Foster and also recovered a fumbled punt before taking a 7-0 halftime lead on a 20-yard touchdown run from Cummings to cap a three-play scoring drive with 31 seconds left in the opening half.
The Wildcats boosted their lead to 14-0 on their first drive of the second half, with sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier hitting sophomore Jensen Schrickel on a deep post pattern for the TD.
Hayden finished its scoring with an 83-yard scoring run from senior Ethan Florence with 8:56 left in the game.
Olpe used a long 14-play drive to get on the scoreboard late in the game on a 2-yard quarterback sneak from Truman Bailey.
Unofficially, Wahlmeier passed for 118 yards on a 10 of 12 performance with one interception while Hayden rushed for more than 230 yards.
Hayden's defense limited Olpe to 77 rushing yards while Bailey passed for 86 yards with two interceptions.
WASHBURN RURAL 49, WICHITA EAST 42 -- Both offenses ruled the night, combining for 91 points, but it was a late defensive stand that allowed Washburn Rural to escape with a hard-earned 49-42 non-league road win.
Washburn Rural trailed on four diffferent occasions, including 42-33 late in the contest, but the Junior Blues scored the final 16 points to pull out the victory.
Junior JC Heim blocked a punt and senior Walker Thompson pounced on the ball in the end zone to give Rural an early 6-0 advantage.
Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese hit senior Lukas Hanks for a touchdown pass and junior Titan Osborn caught a 2-point conversion pass to put Rural in front 14-8 at tne end of the first quarter.
The game was knotted at 22 at the half and the scorefest continued in the second half.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news finished its tour of preseason football practice at all 10 Shawnee County high schools on Friday and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2022 season Sept. 1-3.
-------------------------------------------
Cair Paravel Latin football coach Doug Bonura knows his team faces a big challenge in its first season as a full member of the Kansas State High School Athletics Association.
But its a challenge that Bonura and his Lions are excited to face.
Cair Paravel Latin football coach Doug Bonura talks to his team, 11-0 last season, during Thursday's practice session. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Cair Paravel, which is coming off a perfect 11-0 record and a Kansas Christian Athletic Association state championship, make the jump to KSHSAA this fall and will compete in the Eight-Man Division I ranks in District 2.
"We're going up against some really good programs and it's going to be a great test to see where we are, if we have been able to move in the direction we want to be able to compete,'' Bonura said. "In our district we have Madison-Hamilton, Burlingame, Chase County, and then Lyndon, which has come down out of 11-man, and all those teams have been deep in the playoffs over the years, so we're going against solid programs and we play (defending Eight-Man Division II state champion) Axtell out of the gate.
"We recognize that there's no gimme here and our boys are excited. We really don't know what to expect fully but we know it's going to be a lot of hard work and it's going to be competition.''
Cair Paravel graduated star quarterback Carter Brian and star tight end/defensive end Noah Hastert, who have moved on to play college football after earning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors last fall.
The Cair Paravel Lions go through a drill at Thursday's practice session. The Lions are coming off an 11-0 season entering their first season competing in KSHSAA Eight-Man Division I. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Lions' cupboard is far from bare.
"We lost a lot of athleticism and leadership from last year, but the nice thing was that it was a small (senior) class, so we're returning 11 starters,'' Bonura said. "Really, for all these guys it's just another year for them after playing last year.
"The big question for us this year is going to be quarterback -- who is going to step up and take that position -- but then as far as our backs I think we're just reloading this year.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Logan Pegram and Washburn Rural's Brad Johnston, who are taking over retiring Kansas coaching legends C.J. Hamilton and Kevin Hedberg, are part of a group of 19 new varsity head coaches who have been announced by Shawnee County high schools for the 2022-2023 school year.
Brad Johnston will take over as Washburn Rural's tennis coach in 2022-2023, replacing Kevin Hedberg who retired after 32 years at the school. [File photo/TSN]
Logan Pegram
Alex Hutchins
Pegram, a former Silver Lake standout, takes over as the Eagles' head football coach for Hamilton, the state's winningest football coach, who retired after 47 years at the school, while Johnston is the new Washburn Rural girls and boys tennis coach, replacing Hedberg, who led the Junior Blues to five state team championships in 32 seasons and coached a total of 43 years at Seaman and Rural.
Joining Johnston as a new head coach for Washburn Rural is former Hays boys basketball coach Alex Hutchins, who is taking over as the Junior Blues' boys basketball coach from Kevin Muff.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
More than 29,000 reader votes have been received since TopSports.news kicked off its Best of the Best Coaches project in late June.
Voting will conclude Friday night before TSN honors Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in a series of Best of the Best lists.
Current Washburn Rural boys and girls golf coach Jared Goehring has led the Junior Blues to five Class 6A state championships. [File photo/TSN]
Former Hayden and current Rockhurst coach Kathy Strecker won six state cross country team titles with the Wildcats. Hayden Schools]
![Derick Hammes has coached Rossville to five state football championships, including the past two straight. [File photo/TSN]](/images/Hammes2_2.jpg)
Derick Hammes has coached Rossville to five state football championships, including the past two straight. [File photo/TSN]
Former Silver Lake coach Loren Ziegler led the Eagles to five girls state basketball titles. [Silver Lake Schools]
More than 240 current and former county coaches have received Best of the Best votes in 14 different sports, including 24 men's basketball coaches and 23 baseball and football coaches.
