Silver Lake Eagles

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 RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Undefeated Washburn Rural set up next week's Centennial League showdown with Manhattan with a 51-15 non-league road romp past Piper Friday night.

Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese had a big passing night in the Junior Blues' 51-15 non-league romp past Piper. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

The Junior Blues, who improved to 3-0, will host Manhattan, also 3-0, next Friday night at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.

Manhattan, the reigning Class 6A state champion, stayed unbeaten with a 49-7 win over Hays.

Washburn Rural built a 30-15 halftime advantage over the Pirates and added three second-half touchdowns, all on TD passes from senior quarterback Branton DeWeese.

DeWeese connected with senior Titan Osburn for a pair of touchdowns and also connected with senior Rylan Armstrong for the Junior Blues final score of the night.

Junior running back Jamon Wilson and the Highland Park football team are 3-0 on the season after Friday's 26-13 win over KC-Sumner. [File photo/TSN]

HIGHLAND PARK 26, KC-SUMNER ACADEMY 13 --Highland Park is off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season after Friday night's 26-13 Meadowlark Conference road victoryover winless Kansas City-Sumner Academy.

The Scots will return to action next Friday night, traveling to Kansas City-Harmon.

CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 62, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY 8 --Cair Paravel Latin won its second straight game Friday night, rolling to a 62-8 road victory over Marais des Cygnes Valley.

The game was stopped by way of the 45-point spread rule, CPLS's second straight mercy rule victory. as the Lions improved to 2-1 on the season.

The Lions will host Lyndon next Friday night at Highland Park.

SILVER LAKE 29, ST. MARYS 28 -- Silver Lake rallied from a 12-7 halftime deficit to earn a 29-28 Mid-East League decision at St. Marys.

Tanner Martin, Eli Barnes and Logan Cathcart all had big games for the Eagles, who bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Hayden.

Silver Lake, 2-1 on the season, will host Rock Creek next Friday.

DE SOTO 59, TOPEKA WEST 0 -- De Soto bounced back from a Week 2 non-league loss to Washburn Rural with a 59-0 United Kansas Conference victory over Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.

The Chargers, 0-3 on the year, will play a UKC game at Piper next Firday.

Related Stories and Videos

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

Hayden was good in last week's season-opener, rolling to a 34-point road win over traditional small-school power Olpe.

Bill Arnold's Wildcats were even better in Friday night's home opener, taking control early on the way to a 56-7 win over eight-time state champion Silver Lake.

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

Hayden senior Jude Konrade picked up a Silver Lake fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown in Friday's 56-7 Wildcat win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

"It's a good win, Silver Lake's a good team,'' Arnold said. "They've got a storied tradition over there and they expect to win each and every time they go out and I'm just real proud of our guys and the effort they put out tonight.

"I thought our execution and our pad level was no much better than a week ago. Silver Lake spreads you across the field and I thought we did a pretty good job of tackling in the open field tonight.'' 

The Wildcats scored on their first five offensive possessions of the first half and also threw in a defensive touchdown to open up a commanding 42-0 advantage with 3:29 left in the half before Arnold made wholesale changes for Hayden's final drive of the half.

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 senior star Finn Dunshee scored the Wildcats' first two touchdown of the night, on 7 and 56-yard runs, and the Wildcats made it 21-0 on a 17-yard run from sophomore Kade Mitchell before senior linebacker Jude Konrade made the score 28-0 after he scooped up a Silver Lake fumble and returned it 24 yards to paydirt with 4:17 left in the opening quarter.

By Todd Fertig 

TopSports.news

SILVER LAKE -- Seaman stormed through the Silver Lake volleyball quadrangular Thursday night, defeating Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake and Manhattan in straight sets to improve to 7-0 on the season. 

Seaman volleyball is 7-0 on the 2023 season after sweeping Thursday's quadrangular at Silver Lake. [File photo/TSN]

The Vikings sailed through their first two matches, then defeated Manhattan handily in the first set of the final match, 25-16. Manhattan stiffened in the final set, even holding a 20-17 lead late, but Seaman rallied to complete their perfect night, winning 25-22. 

“I think this night was a good test and it’s a really good deal if we can come in here and win them all in two,” Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. “These are really good teams, so our girls really worked hard and did that in tough situations.” 

Prior to the win over Manhattan, Seaman defeated Shawnee Heights 25-16, 25-19 and Silver Lake 25-17, 25-17. 

“Obviously, this is our goal. It’s what we’ve been working on all season,” Seaman senior Taylin Stallbaumer said. “It’s good playing rivalries. We know a lot of these girls on each team, so it brings a little bit of energy to want to beat them. It’s fun playing teams from our area.” 

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.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

 Allen Baughman

ALLEN BAUGHMAN, Shawnee Heights

Shawnee Heights' star senior running back carried the ball 34 times for 164 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as the T-Birds opened their 2023 season with a 42-0 United Kansas Conference home victory over Piper last Friday night, avenging an 11-point loss to the Pirates in '22. Baughman also caught two passes for 38 yards. 

Jackson Esquibel

JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights

The T-Bird senior, a state champion in track and multi-time state placer in cross country, opened his 2023 cross country season with the individual championship in last Thursday's Basehor-Linwood Bobcat Invitational at Wyandotte County Park, posting a five-kilometer time of 16:06.1 to best a field of 176 runners by 17 seconds.

JC Heim

JC HEIM, Washburn Rural

A senior running back/linebacker, Heim stood out on offense, defense and special teams as Washburn Rural held on for a 26-25 non-league victory over Wichita East last Friday night at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. Heim had a pass interception on defense, rushed for 39 yards on seven carries and blocked a Blue Aces extra point attempt late in the game to preserve Rural's one-point advantage. 

By Todd Fertig 

TopSports.news

Silver Lake senior Blake Redmond set the tone for a wild first half of football Friday night when he took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

The Eagles went on to hold on to defeat visitor Riley County, 40-24, with Silver Lake avenging a first-round loss to the Falcons in the 2022 Class 2A playoffs. 

Blake Redmond

Tanner Martin

The two teams lit up the scoreboard in the first 21 minutes of play, with Silver Lake clinging to a 26-18 advantage. By that point, Redmond had already found paydirt on a reception and a run from scrimmage to go with his kickoff return.  

But every time the Eagles seemed to distance themselves from the Falcons, the visitors responded.

A safety, followed by touchdowns on the ground and through the air by Riley County quarterback Eli Harmison kept the game close.  

“We prepared for what they were going to do, but we would like to take care of stopping the pass a little bit better,” said Silver Lake second-year head coach Logan Pegram. 

To open the second half, Riley County marched 67 yards in 7:30 to pull to within 26-24. But with the ball in the red zone and a chance to take the lead, Harmison was picked off by Silver Lake defensive back Eli Barnes to preserve the Eagle lead.  

Two plays later, Redmond added a fourth score of the game, racing 38 yards to pad the Silver Lake lead. 

On the game, Silver Lake senior quarterback Tanner Martin rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 133 yards and another score. 

“We have a lot of guys returning who have played multiple years, and it really does show when we’re out there,” Redmond said of the Eagles’ senior leaders. “It felt amazing coming in the locker room and celebrating being 1-0. Our first five games are going to be tough games, so it’s great to get off to a good start.” 

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.