By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even though Topeka High had been outsscored 164-14 over its first three games, the Trojans felt like they had been making progress.
That progress paid dividends Friday night, with the Trojans taking a 34-21 Homecoming victory over Centennial League rival Emporia at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka High junior Isaiah Kincade finds running room in the Trojans' 34-21 win over Emporia Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat passed for 216 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a TD in the Trojans' 34-21 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"We've grown a lot,'' said Topeka High junior standout Isaiah Kincade, who rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries and caught eight passes for 84 yards. "It seemed really rough but we always had to bounce back, we always had the next team to worry about and I think we were still able to improve.
"We were most definitely making progress. At first it seemed a little slow because those losses were hard but you learn from it and you press forward.''
The Trojans never trailed after jumping out to a 7-0 lead with 9:29 left in the first half on a 26-yard pass from senior quarterback Peyton Wheat to senior Elijah Kincade (Jaziah Mack kick).
The TD pass was part of a big night for Wheat, who passed for 216 yards on a 17 of 25 performance (one interception) and ran for 77 yards on 10 attempts, including a 25-yard touchdown.
"Our offensive line really stepped up, they showed growth,'' Wheat said. "Our receivers stepped up and I think as a team we got better and we came out and did the little things.
"We obviously had some mistakes that we can't continue to do but we've just got to go back to practice and take it day by day and continue to get better.''
The score was still 7-0 at the half after Topeka High missed a couple of golden scoring opportunities late in the half, but the Trojans boosted their margin to 14-0 midway through the third quarter on a Wheat's TD run (Mack kick) and went up 20-0 midway through the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run from junior BJ Canady after a 44-yard pass play from Wheat to sophomore Jayden Norman.
Emporia, which fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the Centennial League,scored all three of its touchdowns over the final 5:41 of the game, but Topeka High held the Trojans at bay, adding a 23-yard TD run from sophomore Tevante Ewing and a 61-yard scoring gallop from I. Kincade with 2:03 remaining to put the game out of reach.
"It was a little rough, but it was good to see I had some teammates blocking and I didn't have to do too much,'' Kincade said. "All I had to was run it and I was a little gassed, but I got there.''
In addition to getting big nights from Wheat and I. Kincade, Ewing ran for 104 yards on 14 carries.
Emporia junior quarterback Sheldon Stewart threw for a 30-yard TD to junior Cooper Rech and a 1-yard TD to senior Parker Leeds and also ran for a 4-yard score.
TOPEKA HIGH 34, EMPORIA 21
Emporia (1-3, 0-1) 0 0 0 21 -- 21
Topeka High (1-3, 1-1) 0 7 7 20 -- 34
Topeka High -- E. Kincade 26 pass from Wheat (Mack kick)
Topeka High -- Wheat 25 run (Mack kick)
Topeka High -- Canady 1 run (run failed)
Emporia -- Rech 30 pass from Stewart (Allemang kick)
Topeka High -- Ewing 23 run (Mack kick)
Emporia -- Stewart 4 run (Rech pass from Stewart)
Topeka High -- I. Kincade 61 run (Mack kick)
Emporia -- Leeds 1 pass from Stewart (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Emporia: Keys 12-56, Stewart 7-37, Trujillo 3-2. Topeka High: I. Kincade 15-104, Ewing 15-104, Wheat 10-77, Canady 1-1yard , Team 1-(minus)-1.
Passing -- Emporia: Stewart 9-21-0, 141 yards; Leeds 1-1-0, 6. Topeka High: Wheat 17-25-1, 216.
Receiving -- Emporia: Leeds 4-63, Dial 4-19, Rech 2-65. Topeka High: I. Kincade 8-84, Norman 5-79, E. Kincade 3-51, Ewing 1-2.
Punting -- Emporia: Allemang7-31.6. Topeka High: Wheat 3-31.0.
