WESTERN KANSAS WEEK 7 PICK SIX
GREAT BEND (6-0) AT HAYS (5-1)
The Western Athletic Conference rivals are set for one of the state’s marquee matchups.
No. 2-ranked Great Bend has dominated its competition during a 6-0 start while No. 3-ranked Hays is 5-1 against a loaded schedule. Both teams have plenty of starpower.
Notre Dame commit Ian Premer is coming off a four touchdown performance (three TD catches and a pick-six) in the Panthers’ 55-6 win over Liberal. The Panthers have another Division I prospect in junior Cooper Ohnmacht, a receiver and defensive back who has excelled in all phases.
Great Bend quarterback Daxton Minton has thrown for 981 yards and 17 touchdowns with just one interception while Conner Holladay has helped provide balance with 476 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The Panther defense is anchored by linebackers Trenton and Kale Kern.
Hays senior running back Holden Lind has been sensational for the Indians, already rushing for 1,026 yards with eight touchdowns. A powerful line paves the way, led by Division I recruit Gus Corsair at guard. Senior quarterback Zane Viegra has thrown for 550 yards and six TDs. D-lineman Tanner Geist is the Indians' top defensive playmaker.
Great Bend leads 44-43-1 in the all-time series but the Indians have won five of the last six. Great Bend beat Hays in the regular season last year to clinch the Western Athletic Conference title but the Indians returned the favor in the playoffs, handing the Panthers their lone loss. Hays went on to reach the Class 5A state title game before falling to Aquinas.
The Indians are undefeated so far at their stadium at the new Hays High School facilities.
HOLCOMB (6-0) AT HUGOTON (6-0)
After Hugoton outlasted Scott City on a late hail mary in Week 5, Holcomb notched a 32-7 win over the Beavers last week to set up a battle of unbeatens that will ultimately decide the district title.
Hugoton has been a breakout team in 3A, racing out to its first 6-0 start since 2009. The Eagles had a pair of 100-yard rushers in last week’s 35-7 win over Cimarron. Miguel Hernandez ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries while Isa Guardado finished with 123 yards and three scores on 17 carries.
The highlight of the Eagles’ season so far was the dramatic finish in the 17-14 Scott City win when Hernandez found Adrian Adigun in the back of the end zone for the game-winning 29-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left.
Holcomb’s versatility has kept defenses off guard. Sophomore Cooper Cranston has been dynamic at quarterback but can also shift to running back and receiver when the Longhorns bring in freshman Ryan Wickwar at QB. Senior Korbin Johnson is another key weapon, leading the team with 303 receiving yards, and sophomore running back Chasyn Cosner is coming off a three-touchdown game.
Cranston has rushed for 845 yards and seven touchdowns and thrown for 521 yards and 7 TDs. On defense, he’s snatched six interceptions.
Hugoton is looking for its first win over Holcomb since 2019.
KINSLEY (4-1) AT SUBLETTE (5-1)
Kinsley and Sublette both took a loss against Meade in district play for their only blemishes of the season.
Sublette dropped a 48-40 heartbreaker to Meade in overtime but bounced back with lopsided wins over Elkhart (60-0) and South Gray (50-22).
Kinsley will be looking to rebound after taking a 54-30 loss to the Buffaloes last week.
Sublette quarterback Drake Webber has thrown for 1,000 yards on the season. Kade Morales, Joel Loya and Jonathan Froese are his top targets.
Kinsley is led by the rushing attack of Josh Stuckey (765 yards, 13 TDs) and Woodrow Lancaster (710 yards, 16 TDs).
LITTLE RIVER (5-1) AT CENTRAL PLAINS (5-1)
Little River had been ranked No. 2 in the KSHSAA Covered Eight-Player Division I rankings but the Redskins fell out of the rankings after being knocked off by Ell-Saline, 22-20, last week.
Central Plains took over the No. 2 spot after rolling to a 58-8 win over Canton-Galva to move to 5-1. The lone loss for the Oilers, state runners-up last year, was a 22-20 setback against Victoria, ranked No. 2 in Eight-Player Division II.
The Oilers have one of the top quarterbacks in the eight-man ranks in Brodie Crites, who threw three touchdowns last week. Rylan Siemsen is the Oilers’ top receiving threat while Richard Stroud gets the bulk of the carries on the ground. The offensive and defensive lines are anchored by Landon Daniels.
Little River relies on a balanced rushing attack on the ground led by Jaxson Konen (309 yards, 5 TDs), Logan Schubert (307 yards, 7 TDs), Jaren Garrison (258 yards, 8 TDs) and Jhet Ewertt (226 yards, 7 TDs).
The Redskins and Oilers split its two meetings last year. Little River won a 68-40 shootout in the regular season but Central Plains took a come-from-behind 38-32 win in the state quarterfinals on the way to a state runner-up finish.
SYLVAN-LUCAS (6-0) AT LINCOLN (6-0)
The Mustangs and Leopards are gearing up for their first true tests after dominant respective 6-0 starts.
Lincoln is putting together its best season in program history. The Leopards have outscored opponents 313-40 on the season.
They are led by quarterback Jeremiah Miller and receivers Xavier Miller and Ben Bell. The Leopards are coming off a 64-6 rout of Lakeside.
Sylvan-Lucas has outscored opponents 322-48 and beat Clifton-Clyde 44-8 last week. Zayne Maupin is the Mustangs' top playmaker.
Lincoln won last year’s matchup 46-22. The Leopards will be in search of their first-ever playoff win in a couple of weeks.
WALLACE COUNTY (6-0) AT LOGAN PALCO (5-1)
Wallace County is 6-0 for the first time since 2015.
The district title will be on the line when the Wildcats face Logan-Palco, which has won four straight.
Wallace County is coming off a 40-0 win over Stanton County for its third shutout of the season. Key players for the Wildcats include Kemper Benisch, Gage Cox and Braylon Rains.
Logan-Palco is looking to make noise down the stretch before the schools end their co-op agreement next year and move down from Eight-Player Division II to the Six-Player ranks.
The Trojans are coming off a 56-14 win over Greeley County. Logan-Palco is led by the rushing attack of Case Ashmore (613 yards, 8 TDs), Taden Gottschalk (535 yards, 11 TDs) and Carson Knipp (448 yards, 8 TDs).