Washburn Rural Junior Blues

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

In a monstrous clash that included four ties and a couple of lead changes between Class 6A powers Washburn Rural and Manhattan, Rural celebrated its Homecoming in classic fashion, ending reigning state champion Manhattan's 16-game winning streak with a 35-28 Centennial League win at Bowen-Glaza Stadium.

Washburn Rural's defense celebrates Friday's 35-28 Centennial League win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan, which had its 16-game win streak snapped. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Wilson Miller (2) is congratulated by his teammates after his third-quarter pick-six Friday night against Manhattan. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

"Manhattan and Junction City have been ruling the roost for a long time,'' Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "For us to be able to do this and to compete and win a game against a team like Manhattan, these kids have worked really hard for this moment.

"Our kids just keep battling and that's what we keep preaching to them. This is a very talented bunch of guys we've got and I think the more they get in these situations and are successful the better we're going to be. A win like this one kind of cements for the kids in their minds that they're good enough to compete with good teams in the state.'' 

Junior King Leonard set up the game-winning touchdown with Washburn Rural's third pass interception of the night, giving the Junior Blues the ball at the Manhattan 31-yard-line.

Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese gained 8 yards to the Indian 23 and then DeWeese found a wide-open Blake Recinos and the junior out-raced the Indian defense to the end zone for the game-winner with 25 seconds remaining.

"We scored on spot,'' Recinos said of the game-winning play. "We had a trips right spot and you just had a little out route and you've got to get up and make a play. That's as open as it gets in most cases. 

"All that was going through my mind is just get to the end zone. This was a true team effort.''

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 b

The annual Topeka City Girls Tennis Championships were in the home stretch Thursday before lightning and eventually rain caused the completion of the meet to be pushed back to Monday at Kossover Tennis Center.

The city meet is scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. Monday.

Shawnee Heights junior Jette Glasenapp was playing for the city championship in No. 1 singles Thursday when lightning and rain pushed back the tournament to Monday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Carolina Chedzoy was playing for the city title in No. 1 singles when the tournament was postponed because of inclement weather. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The No. 1 singles and doubles championships were well under way, with Shawnee Heights junior Jette Glasenapp facing Washburn Rural junior Carolina Chedzoy in the No. 1 singles final and Hayden senior Lauren Sandstrom and junior Emily Sheetz taking on Seaman senior Katie Krumins and sophomore Molly Gorman in the No. 1 doubles final.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After suffering heavy graduation losses from last year's Class 6A state championship team, including All-American Brooklyn DeLeye, and being without injured star senior Zoe Canfield for the early portion of the 2023 season, veteran Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick knew his Junior Blues were going to go through some growing pains this fall.

Washburn Rural senior star Jada Ingram (6) celebrates a kill with her teammates during Tuesday's 3-1 dual victory over Spring Hill. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

And while that has certainly been the case in an up-and-down start to the year, Bordewick said there's no doubt his Junior Blues are making progress, including a 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17 home dual victory over Spring Hill Tuesday night that pushed Washburn Rural above .500 at 5-4.

"We play such good teams and you still have to look at some of the things like missed serves or not being in the right spots, sometimes not pressing over on a block, but we have made a significant amount of progress, we really have,'' Bordewick said.

"It's just a totally different group. Even Jada (Ingram), she's not playing in the spot she's played in for three years, and all of us are in different spots and we don't have Zoe yet (at setter). Stella (Kelly) is doing a great job for being on the freshman team last year and being in varsity against really good competition and just progressivly gotten a lot better.''

+ By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Finn Dunshee

FINN DUNSHEE, Hayden

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior rushed for 170 yards on just 11 carries and scored three touchdowns as Hayden improved to 3-0 with a 49-23 road football victory at Rossville last Friday night. Dunshee scored on runs of 68 and 63 yards for the Wildcats and also returned a pass interception 50 yards for a touchdown.. 

 Payton Fink

PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

A junior cross country standout, Fink won the individual title in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Washburn Rural in a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 10.1 seconds. The defending city and Centennial League champion and fifth-place finisher in the 2022 Class 6A state meet, Fink won by a nine-second margin and led the Junior Blues to a runnerup team finish.

Jayden Moore

JAYDEN MOORE, Shawnee Heights

A 6-foot, 170-pound senior wide receiver/safety, Moore caught eight passes for 123 yards and a 15-yard touchdown in Shawnee Heights' 33-30 come-from-behind overtime United Kansas Conference football victory over Seaman Friday night at Heights. Moore, who helped the T-Birds improve to 3-0 on the season overall and in the UKC, also recorded four tackles on defense.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural had ruled the city's girls golf roost for a full decade, but Monday's city tournament belonged to Hayden and Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman, who earned the team and individual championships at Western Hills.

Hayden girls golf poses for a team picture after winning the city girls golf championship by a 322-335 margin over Washburn Rural Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman won the city girls golf title Monday at Western Hills on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden halted Washburn Rural's run of 10 straight city team titles by a 322-335 margin over the Junior Blues while Zimmerman won her first city individual title on the first hole (No. 1) of a sudden death playoff with Hayden sophomore Lauren Borjon after both players carded five-over-par 76s.

Zimmerman will play soccer in college at Emporia State and said Monday's win was a good start towards finishing off her high school golf career with a bang.

Kerry Zimmerman moves in to congratulate daughter Avery Zimmerman after her sudden death win in Monday's city girls golf tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Kerry and Avery Zimmerman exchange a hug after Avery won the city girls golf title in a playoff Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I'm so happy,'' Zimmerman said. "It just feels like all my hard work is finally playing off and I didn't have the best round last week so this week having a good round just makes me really happy. This is one of the most important ones.''

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

A change in racing strategy led to Washburn Rural cross country standout Payton Fink's first individual victory of the 2023 season in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Rural.

Washburn Rural junior Payton Fink (600) runs with Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce (310) and Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller (498) in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Instead of jumping out in front early, the Rural junior held back a little in the early stages of the five-kilometer event before taking control over the final mile en route to a nine-second win in 18 minutes, 10.1 seconds, one of three runners in the top 10 for the second-place Junior Blues.

"We talked about this before the race how the last meets I've kind of gone out too fast and then fallen behind so I just tucked myself behind and about the two-mile where all the uphills were I decided to make my move and tried my best to hold it,'' Fink said. 

Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce was the individual runnerup in 18:19.6 while Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller finished third in 18:36.6.

Fink said she felt comfortable with her new strategy.

"I felt really relaxed about the two-mile,'' Fink said. "My legs felt good, like they had something left in them, so it was nice to have a little left for the last mile.''

 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

Freshman Ty Weber didn't know exactly what to expect when he got called into Washburn University head football coach Craig Schurig's office a couple of weeks ago.

Ty Weber

But that meeting ended up providing the former Washburn Rural star linebacker with a fast track to the Ichabod starting lineup on the other side of the ball at tight end. 

"Coach Schurig called me into his office and I went in and honestly at first I was a little scared,'' Weber admitted. "I didn't know what I was getting called in for, but he told me, 'We have some injuries and we need somebody to play the spot.' He said he liked my physicality and he thought I'd be good for the position.

"He kind of explained to me what I needed to do and I got a crash course in it and that's how I came to be a tight end. He gave me the decision and I told him I would do whatever I could to get on the field.''

The quick switch ended up with the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder in Washburn's lineup for last Thursday's home game against Missouri Southern and he has continued to get more familiar with the position leading into Saturday night's MIAA contest at Lincoln (6 p.m. kickoff).

"It's been a process, but I've embraced it,'' Weber said. "I've enjoyed the process of becoming a tight end. Coach (Josh) Osborn has helped me a lot to move over and I love the physicality of the position and being able to catch the ball.''

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.