CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

FRONTENAC (10-2) VS. ANDALE (12-0)

1 p.m. Saturday at Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson
 

FRONTENAC

Long before they reached high school, this year's senior class for Frontenac had big expectations surrounding them.

They came close to realizing them two years ago when as sophomores as the group not only took on starting roles but led Frontenac to a 10-1 record. The lone loss was a 14-6 heartbreaker to Hayden in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

After a somewhat disappointing 6-5 showing in 2020, that group is even closer to achieving their dream of bringing home Frontenac's first state championship since 1994. The Raiders turned in a complete performance to knock off previously undefeated Holton 32-13 in last Friday's state semifinals to earn their first championship game appearance since a runner-up finish to Holcomb in Class 4A Division II in 2017.

The challenge will be a great one with the title going through two-time reigning 3A champion Andale, which is 12-0 and winner of 37 consecutive games.

But Frontenac is right where most in southeast Kansas thought it could be.

Frontenac dropped only two regular-season games -- a 42-6 decision to Coweta (Okla.), a school five times its size, and a 13-6 decision to Girard. Since that last loss, the Raiders have won four straight playoff games by double figures, averaging 32.8 points per game during the postseason.

In the semifinal win over Holton, junior back Mario Menghini caught a pair of 68-yard touchdown passes from senior quarterback Collin McCartney and finished with 218 combined rushing and receiving yards with three touchdowns, including a go-ahead 17-yard touchdown run. Senior back Justice Compton added a pair of touchdown runs in the win as well.

Menghini, Compton and McCartney have been a three-headed monster in the Raider backfield, doing the bulk of their damage behind senior offensive linemen Cruz Blair and Landon Dean. All three have run for at least 750 yards an each has double-digit touchdown totals.

Dean also is the defensive anchor and is an Oklahoma State commitment.

Frontenac coach Mark Smith knows a thing or two about state championships as well. He was undefeated in his high school career as quarterback at Pittsburg Colgan, helping the Panthers to four straight state titles from 2000-2003.


FRONTENAC RAIDERS (10-2)

COACH: Mark Smith (10th year, 79-31)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 1 state title -- 1994 (2-1A). 4 runner-up finishes -- 1981 (2A), 1987 (2-1A), 1992 (2-1A), 2017 (4A Division II)

2021 RESULTS

W,20-0 Columbus
L,42-6 at Coweta (Okla.)
W,46-12 at Colgan
W,41-0 Iola
W,42-6 Burlington
W,49-14 at Anderson County
W,26-12 Prairie View
L,13-6 at Girard
W,26-6 Columbus (P)
W,31-6 at Galena (P)
W,42-26 at Rock Creek (P)
W,32-13 Holton (P)

2021 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 367 (30.6 per game) 

Points allowed: 150 (12.5 per game)

Total offense: 3,832 yards (319.5 per game)

Rushing: 2,772 yards (231.0 per game), 40 TDs

Passing: 1,062 yards (88.5 per game) 10 TDs, 8 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Mario Menghini (jr.) 123 carries, 942 yards, 11 TDs; Justice Compton (sr.) 139 carries, 872 yards, 10 TDs; Collin McCartney (sr.) 173 carries, 768 yards, 15 TDs

Passing: Collin McCartney (sr.) 62-141, 1,031 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs

Receiving: Mario Menghini (jr.) 19 catches, 345 yards, 3 TDs; Justice Compton (sr.) 16 catches, 247 yards, 2 TDs; Kaston Fields (sr.) 9 catches, 241 yards, 3 TDs

Tackles: Justice Compton (sr.) 69 tackles (33 solo), 7 tackles for loss; Brady Stanley (sr.) 66 tackles (38 solo), 11 tackles for loss; Landon Dean (sr.) 65 tackles (34 solo), 12. tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks; Payton Wilderman (sr.) 51 tackles (30 solo), 6 tackles for loss; Cruz Blair (sr.) 45 tackles (28 solo), 15 tackles for loss 5.5 sacks

Takeaways: Mario Menghini (jr.) 6 INTS; Justice Compton (sr.) 3 INTs; Brady Stanley (sr.) 2 INTs; Dawson Lapping (sr.) 2 INTs; Collin McCartney (Sr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Jack Lusker (jr.) 2 fumble recoveries

Kicking: Vinny Pile (so.) 24-38 PAT, 1-3 FGs

 

ANDALE
 
The beat goes on for Andale, which takes the state's current longest winning streak of 37 games into the Class 3A championship, where it knocked off Perry-Lecompton each of the last two seasons.
 
While the Indians still aren't halfway to Smith Center's astounding state-record, 79-game winning streak set from 2004-09, they've continued to pile up victories with a style reminiscent of the Redmen's most dominant era. Andale's ground-and-pound rushing attack, coupled with a fast, physical defense, have produced 12 victories this season by an average margin of just under 48 points.
 
The Indians, 5-1 in state title games since 2006, have five players with at least 339 rushing yards. Junior Cody Parthemer leads Andale with 984 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore Gage Prosser has rushed for 587 yards, while junior Riley Marx averages more than 10 yards per carry and has nine touchdowns.
 
Andale's ball-control ground game has taken the sizzle out of several good opposing offenses. The Indians have yielded just 68 points all season. Their closest game came last Friday in a 37-16 semifinal victory at Southeast of Saline, one the Indians put away with 23 fourth-quarter points.
 
Junior Kelby Eck leads Andale's defense with 59 tackles. Seniors Drew Bugner and Chase Retter each have three interceptions, with Retter's latest squandering a fourth-quarter scoring opportunity for previously unbeaten Southeast.
 
Andale's held 4A quarterfinalist Mulvane to six points in Week 2, and did the same in a 29-6 victory over 3A's then-No. 2 Wichita Collegiate in Week 8. The Indians also limited to Collegiate to 145 yards of total offense.
 
Since taking over for Gary O'Hair in 2017, Andale coach Dylan Schmidt has posted a 60-2 record in five seasons. He has not lost a regular-season game with the Indians.


ANDALE INDIANS (12-0)

COACH: Dylan Schmidt (5th year, 60-2)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 5 state titles -- 2006 (4A), 2007 (4A), 2014 (4A), 2019 (3A), 2020 (3A). 1 runner-up finish -- 2017 (4A Division I)

2021 RESULTS

W,57-6 Rose Hill
W,32-6 at Mulvane
W,61-6 at Wellington
W,58-0 Halstead
W,48-0 at Hesston
W,96-0 Wichita Trinity
W,65-6 at Clearwater
W,29-6 Wichita Collegiate
W,53-2 Hugoton (P)
W,51-0 Holcomb (P)
W,54-14 at Concordia (P)
W,37-16 at Southeast-Saline (P)

2021 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 641 (53.4 per game)

Points allowed: 68 (5.7 per game)

Total offense: 4,531 yards (377.6 per game)

Rushing: 3,619 yards (301.6 per game), 61 TDs

Passing: 912 yards (76 yards per game), 8 TDs, 1 INT

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Cody Parthemer (jr.) 143 carries, 984 yards, 15 TDs; Gage Prosser (so.) 64 carries, 587 yards, 2 TDs; Riley Marx (jr.) 50 carries, 509 yards, 9 TDs; Jonah Meyer (jr.) 55 carries, 389 yards, 11 TDs; Logan Spexarth (sr.) 45 carries, 339 yards, 3 TDs

Passing: Wyatt Spexarth (jr.) 32-56, 665 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT

Receiving: Noah Bruce (jr.) 9 catches, 214 yards, 2 TDs; Wesley Deschner (sr.) 4 catches, 164 yards, 2 TDs; Drew Bugner (sr.) 6 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs

Tackles: Kelby Eck (jr.) 59 tackles (17 solo), 5 tackles for loss; Tegan Orth (jr.) 54 tackles (25 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Ivan Lies (sr.) 50 taackles (10 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Easton Landers (sr.) 45 tackles (21 solo); Jonah Meyer (jr.) 43 tackles (12 solo), 8 tackles for loss; Riley Marx (jr.) 42 tackles (16 solo), 7 tackles for loss; Karson Butts (so.) 42 tackles (9 solo)

Takeaways: Drew Bugner (sr.) 3 INTs; Chase Retter (sr.) 3 INTs; Ivan Lies (sr.) 3 fumble recoveries; Easton Landers (sr.) 2 INTs; Logan Spexarth (sr.) 2 INTs; Bo Dome (so.) 2 fumble recoveries

Kicking: Mario Sullivan (so.) 21-23 PAT