Rossville Bulldawgs

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(All games at 7 p.m.)

FRIDAY GAMES

 Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese and the Junior Blues will face a huge test Friday against defending Class 6A state champion Manhattan at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0 Centennial League) 

This figures to be one of the state's top matchups of the week, with Manhattan the defending Class 6A state champion and winner of 16 straight games dating back to 2021 while Washburn Rural is coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons and is off to a perfect start this fall. Washburn Rural notched a 51-15 non-league road win at Piper last Friday while Manhattan rolled to a 49-7 non-league win over Hays and has outscored its first three foes by a 137-45 margin. Friday's game will be the Centennial League opener for Washburn Rural.  

Hayden senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards on just 25 carries for the 3-0 Wildcats while scoring eight total touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]

HAYDEN (3-0, 0-0 Class 3A District 4) at JEFFERSON WEST (1-2, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)

Hayden, which has outscored its opposition by a 146-37 margin, stayed unbeaten with a 49-23 non-league win at Rossville last week and will open Class 3A district play Friday night. Senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards and seven touchdowns on just 25 carries and added an eighth touchdown on a pick six. Junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 24 of 43 passes for 358 yards and four TDs while junior Jensen Schrickel has 10 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff West is coming off a 50-14 loss to Sabetha.  

LYNDON (3-0, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-1, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2)

At Hummer Sports Park

Cair Paravel has posted back-to-back lopsided victories that ended by way of the 45-point spread rule, including a 62-8 win over Marais de Cygnes Valley last Friday. The Lions have outscored their past two opponents by a 122-20 margin. Lyndon is undefeated on the season, including a 70-24 romp past Frankfort last week. Friday's game opens Eight-Man Division II district play for both schools. Jase Pavlik completed 9 of 11 passes for 132 yards, 3 touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the CPLS win over Marais des Cygnes while Jesiah Bonura rushed for 69 yards and two TDs on just four carries and Evan Will had two carries for 65 yards and two TDs.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Three-set matches were the order of the day for Silver Lake's volleyball team in Saturday's 10-school Rossville Invitational, with the Eagles playing four three-setters on the day, including a win over rival Rossville in the semifinals.

But after coming out on top in three straight three-setters, the Eagles' good fortune ran out in the championship match against Tonganoxie, which outlasted Silver Lake, 25-17, 16-25, 25-23 to cap a perfect 6-0 day, including two wins over Lake.

Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson talks to her team during Saturday's Rossville Invitational. The Eagles went 4-2 on the day to finish second. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Silver Lake junior Alana Brewster goes up for a kill in Saturday's Rossville Invitational final against Tonganoxie. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"These girls don't give up on themselves and they know they've got it in them so we might go on a roller-coaster ride, but they know they can finish, they know their capabilities and their skill set so we just kept fighting to the end,'' said Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson, who team is 13-4 on the year.

Tonganoxie opened up 17-10 and 21-12 first-set leads over the Eagles in the final before closing out the eight-point win, but Silver Lake answered with a strong performance in the second set.

Silver Lake went up 3-0 on a service ace from junior Alana Brewster and took a 6-1 lead on a kill from sophomore Jaiden Wise.

Later in the set the Eagles broke a 12-12 tie with three straight points, including kills from Brewster and Wise and Silver Lake forced a third set with six straight points, getting a long service run from senior McKinley Kruger and a pair of kills from senior Makenzie McDaniel to close out the nine-point victory.

By Todd Fertig 

TopSports.news

Hayden weathered the elements and a stubborn Rossville team to improve to 3-0 Friday, going on the road to beat the Bulldawgs 49-23. 

Hayden senior Finn Dunshee (33) rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns and also had a pick-six in Friday's 49-23 win at Rossville. [File photo/TSN]

The Wildcats rolled over Olpe and Silver Lake in their first two games. Things were more challenging on the wet field at Rossville. 

The Bulldawgs pinned Hayden deep in its own territory for most of the first period, claiming a 3-0 lead midway through the quarter.

The Wildcats rallied to mount a 28-10 lead by halftime, but they knew they were in a fight. 

“(Rossville) coach (Derick) Hammes always does a great job getting his guys ready each and every week,” Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. “We told our kids all week long that this was going to be the best team we’ve played up to this point and would be the most physical team that we’ve played up to this point. None of it came as a surprise to me. Now some of our kids may have showcased that early on.”  

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

THURSDAY'S GAME

LIBERAL (2-0) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (0-2)

At Hummer Sports Park

Topeka High is coming off a 55-19 loss to reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan in the Trojans' Centennial League opener last Thursday while Liberal improved to 2-0 with a 47-14 win over Emporia. Topeka High scored its first touchdowns of the season in the Manhattan loss, with Isaiah Kincade catching a 70-yard TD pass from Zane Smith, Malachi Murph scoring on a 99-yard pick-six and Jayden Norman catching a 26-yard TD pass from CJ Ross. 

Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston has thrown for 12 touchdowns in two games for the 2-0 Vikings, including seven TDs in last week's 59-6 UKC win over KC-Turner. [File photo/TSN]

 FRIDAY GAMES

SEAMAN (2-0, 2-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (2-0, 2-0) 

Seaman posted its second straight lopsided United Kansas Conference decision last Friday, a 59-6 home win over Kansas City-Turner, while Shawnee Heights improved to 2-0 with a 26-25 UKC win at Lansing. Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston threw for seven touchdowns in the Vikings' win over Turner and now has 12 TD passes on the year, while Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Ryeki Tuley threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns on a 24 of 37 performance and also ran for a TD in the T-Birds' win over Lansing.

Hayden senior Finn Dunshee (33) rushed for 154 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Wildcats' 56-7 win over Silver Lake last Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden senior Jude Konrade (52) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a defensive touchdown in Friday's 56-7 win over Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

HAYDEN (2-0) at ROSSVILLE (1-1)

Hayden rolled to a 56-7 home win over traditional state power Silver Lake last Friday while Rossville dropped a 26-20 decision to Riley County, with the Falcons scoring the game-winning touchdown with three and a half minutes left at Rossville. Hayden senior Finn Dunshee rushed for 154 yards and three TDs on just eight carries against Silver Lake, scoring on runs of 7, 56 and 29 yards, while senior Jude Konrade scored a defensive touchdown on a 24-yard fumble return. Rossville rallied from a 12-0 deficit to knot the game at 20 before Riley County pulled out the win. 

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)

THURSDAY'S GAME

MANHATTAN (1-0, 0-0) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (0-1, 0-0)

At Hummer Sports Park

Topeka High dropped a 43-0 decision to 2022 Class 5A runnerup Maize last Friday and Carlos Kelly's Trojans face another tough test in their home-opener Thursday night, facing reigning 6A state champ Manhattan. The Indians opened their season with a 33-19 non-league win over Derby. Thursday night's game will be the Centennial League opener for both Topeka High and Manhattan.

 FRIDAY GAMES

SILVER LAKE (1-0) at HAYDEN (1-0) 

Both Silver Lake and Hayden are coming off big season-opening wins, with the Eagles avenging a 2022 playoff loss with a 40-24 win over Riley County while Hayden rolled to a 41-7 decision over traditional small-school power Olpe while giving veteran Wildcat coach Bill Arnold his 200th career win as a head coach. Senior standout Finn Dunshee ran for 196 yards, including 66 and 67-yard touchdown runs while junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier threw for 188 yards and three TDs on a 12 of 20 performance. Senior Blake Redmond scored four touchdowns in Silver Lake's win over Riley County, including an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.

KC-SCHLAGLE (1-0, 1-0) at HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0)

Highland Park, coming off a 6-3 season in 2022, opened its season with a win over Meadowlark Conference foe Kansas City-Wyandotte for the second straight season, rolling to a 33-7 win over the Bulldogs at Wyandotte. Kansas City-Schlagle opened its season with a 44-0 Meadowlark Conference win over Kansas City-Harmon.

Washburn Rural senior Jaren Heim (27) scored on a pick six in Friday's 26-25 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

DE SOTO (1-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-0)

Washburn Rural survived a tough non-league test from Wichita East last Friday at Rural, with senior JC Heim blocking a Blue Aces extra point attempt late in the game to preserve the Junior Blues 1-point lead in a 26-25 victory. Senior Jaren Heim had a pick-six in the game for Washburn Rural. De Soto opened its season with a 42-21 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing.

Editor's note:Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. TopSports.news will post regular prep roundups throughout the season.

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By CHARLES SPURLOCK

Special to TopSports.news

The 2023 cross country season began Saturday for Seaman, Topeka High and Topeka West in the Manhattan Invitational on a warm day on the Labor Day Weekend.

Seaman's Ryin Miller opened her sophomore cross country season with a second-place individual finish in Saturday's Manhattan Invitational. [File photo/TSN]

In the boys varsity race, Seaman led the three city schools with three top-20 finishers on the way to a fourth-place team finish.

Sophomore Brody Anderson finished fifth in a time of 17 minutes, 06.7 seconds, sophomore Jack Walker finished ninth in a time of 17:27.1 and senior Jack Pekarek finished 20th in a time of 18:09.5

Topeka West had two runners finish in the top 20, with Elijah Phelps 17th in 17:57.6 and Adrian Lehman 19th in 18:06.3

Topeka High’s top finisher was Levi McGee, who finished in 38th place (19:25.6).

In the girls varsity race, Seaman led the three local schools with three top-20 finishers while finishing fourth as a team.

Sophomore Ryin Miller finished second individually with a time of 19:29.1; while Stella Applehanz finished eighth in 21:15.2 and freshman Brynn Spencer 16th in 21:51.1.

Topeka West sophomore Payton Rice finished seventh in a time of 21:15.1.

Topeka High’s Juliahnna Savage finished 29th with a time of 22:58.7.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural improved to 2-0 on the season Friday night with a 28-14 non-league decision over De Soto at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.

Washburn Rural senior Packson Bettis (right) celebrates a tackle for a loss in Rural's 28-14 non-league win over De Soto. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Lafayette Thompson rushed for more than 100 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 28-14 win over DeSoto. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

The Junior Blues and Wildcats were knotted at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter before Rural opened up a 21-7 advantage at the half while taking advantage of two De Soto turnovers.

De Soto cut its deficit to 21-14 early in the fourth quarter before Washburn Rural added an insurance TD.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Down 16-0 just 1:35 into its 2023 season-opener, Rossville rallied to knock off '22 Class 1A state champion St. Marys 30-22 Friday night on the Bulldawgs' home field.

Camden Horak

Seth Catron

Derick Hammes' Bulldawgs gave up a rushing touchdown, a pick-six and a pair of 2-point conversions by the 10:25 mark of the opening quarter, but five-time state champ Rossville answered with 30 unanswered first-half points to take control.

Rossville cut its defict to 16-14 by the end of the first quarter, with senior quarterback Camden Horak scoring on a 1-yard rush at the 9:24 mark and junior Seth Catron scoring on a 15-yard run with 2:07 left in the quarter.

The Bulldawgs then tied the game on a safety midway through the second quarter and took the lead on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Horak to sophomore Jack Donavan (5:48 2nd quarter) and Horak hitting junior Kameron Badura for a 5-yard TD with just one second left in the first half to put Rossville up 30-16.

Sophomore Paxton Willett went four of four on extra points for the Bulldawgs.

The scoring pace slowed to a crawl after halftime, with the defensive units taking control.

The Bears scored their final TD with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter, ending the scoring for both teams.

Rossville will be at home next Friday to host Riley County.

HAYDEN 41, OLPE 7 --Coming off a 10-2  season a year ago, Hayden rolled to a 41-7 season-opening road win over traditional small-school power Olpe

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)

Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston (7) passed for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall for the 4-4 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]

TOPEKA WEST at SEAMAN

Trey Parker begins his first full season as Topeka West's head coach after serving as interim coach for the final three games of the 2022 season while Jared Swafford begins his third year at Seaman. West went 1-8 a year ago while Seaman is coming off a 4-4 season. Senior lineman Kyrece Robinson is a top returner for Topeka West while junior quarterback Max Huston, senior running back/defensive back Jack Bloom and senior wide receiver/defensive back Callen Barta are standouts for an experienced Seaman team. Huston passed for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while Bloom rushed for 483 yards and seven TDs and Barta caught 41 passes for 406 yards and three TDs. Seaman beat West 58-14 in the 2022 season-opener for both schools.

Washburn Rural senior linebacker JC Heim (25) is a returning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County pick. [File photo/TSN]

WICHITA EAST at WASHBURN RURAL

Both teams are coming off strong 2022 seasons, with Washburn Rural posting an 8-3 record under Steve Buhler, who is beginning his 11th year at the school, while Wichita East went 6-4 last season. Rural advanced to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs while East won its first-round playoff tilt before losing in the second round. Washburn Rural came from behind to beat the Blue Aces 49-42 in last season's opener. The Junior Blues return a key nucleus of players from last year's team, including TopSports.news All-Shawnee County picks Branton DeWeese (quarterback), Titan Osburn (wide receiver), Packson Bettis (defensive end) and JC Heim (outside linebacker). DeWeese passed for 1,884 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while Osburn had 32 catches for 668 yards and 12 TDS. Heim was in on 73 tackles and Bettis 61 tackles.

Shawnee Heights senior Allen Baughman rushed for 1,496 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, earning All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors. [File photo/TSN]

PIPER at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS

Shawnee Heights went 5-5 in the 2022 season while Piper is coming off a 7-4 campaign. Piper opened the '22 season with a 31-20 win over the T-Birds. Jason Swift's Shawnee Heights team returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense, led by star senior running back Allen Baughman, who was named the TopSports.news Co-Shawnee County offensive newcomer of the year after rushing for 1,496 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns a year ago. Other top players include senior linemen Christian Gonzales and Rykan Carver, linebacker Alex Dittman and receivers seniors Jayden Moore, Jacob Malcom and Jayden Holly, who all received All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practices at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2023 season Sept. 1.

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Considering some of the players Rossville graduated from the group that claimed two straight Class 2A state titles in 2020 and 2021, Derick Hammes' Bulldawgs' turned in a very respectable 5-5 record a year ago.

Derick Hammes has coached Rossville to five state football championships. [File photo/TSN]

But 5-5 isn't up to the Bulldawgs' extremely lofty standards and Rossville will be looking for much more this fall.

"Obviously it didn't feel like we want it to, so in that regard we feel like we've got to take a step forward,'' said Hammes, who has led Rossville to five state titles over the past nine seasons.

Hammes said he feels like this year's team, particularly this year's senior class, is determined to help the Bulldawgs return to the level of success they have grown accustomed to. 

"I think they're motivated to and that's always a challenge from year to year is that when you go into our gym we have all the banners and things like that and we tell our kids, 'Make your mark as a senior,' '' Hammes said. "And how we recognize that is pretty cool and I think each one of our senior class tries to make sure they live up to that and they try to make their mark and put something on our walls.''