EAST/SOUTHEAST WEEK 8 PICK SIX
OLATHE NORTHWEST (5-2) AT OLATHE WEST (6-1)
Since suffering a 52-33 shootout loss to Shawnee Mission Northwest in Week 3, Olathe West has been on a roll and has arguably one of the most impressive three-game stretches in the state this year the past three week.
West began its late-season surge with a 49-21 romp past a Gardner Edgerton team that had seemingly found its groove after a season-opening loss to Free State and also is the two-time defending Class 6A state champion. There was no letdown for the Owls the following week as they raced past Mill Valley 52-36, handing the Jaguars their first loss to a Kansas team this season.
Last week, the roll continued with a hard-fought 37-28 win over Shawnee Mission East, which has previously only lost to Mill Valley. Brody Hale accounted for 177 total yards and three touchdowns to lead the Owls while Josh Foland added 106 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.
Hale has enjoyed a big season, throwing for 1,368 yards and 19 touchdowns and also rushing for 284 yards and 4 touchdowns. Foland has run for 623 yards and 7 TDs and Sam Krzykowski has emerged as one of the top receivers in the state with 39 catches for 738 yards and 11 TDs.
Northwest saw its five-game winning streak come to an end last week as the Ravens couldn’t slow down Mill Valley in a 63-28 loss. The Ravens’ win streak included a solid 31-28 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest.
The bulk of Northwest’s offensive production has come from the ground game, led by Bryce Randall’s 775 yards and 8 touchdowns. Four other backs have over 100 yards and multiple TD runs and as a team Northwest has run for 1,653 yards and 20 scores, getting just 335 yards from the passing game.
West has already doubled its win total from a year ago when the Owls went just 3-6.
SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST (4-3) AT SHAWNEE MISSION EAST (5-2)
After going 5-5 last year, Shawnee Mission East went into last week having already matched last year’s win total and looking for a statement win against a red-hot Olathe West team. But one play into the game the Lancers lost standout quarterback Jack Reeves to a leg injury after a 37-yard run.
The Lancers put up a valiant battle behind backup quarterback Vince Kopp, who ran for all four of East’s touchdowns, but couldn’t quite get it done, falling 37-28 to the Owls. The only other loss East has suffered this season came to Mill Valley in Week 3.
Before going down with injury, Reeves was having a huge season having rushed for 1,274 yards and 19 touchdowns and thrown for 439 yards and 4 scores. Kopp had seen duty and thrown for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns and now has 6 rushing TDs. Thomas Vanice has run for 389 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Northwest sat 2-1 after handing Olathe West its only loss in a 52-33 win in Week 3. The Cougars then dropped their next two games to Olathe Northwest and Mill Valley before getting back above .500 with a two-game win streak.
Trai Woodruff has powered the Cougar offense, rushing for 926 yards and 17 touchdowns while also throwing for 325 yards and 2 scores. Demetric Tyler has complemented him in the backfield with 706 yards and 9 touchdowns and two other backs – Tyree Newton and Drew Wilson -- have over 270 yards and 4 TDs each.
The Sunflower League rivals haven’t met in the regular season since 2022 when Northwest took a 38-28 win. They did meet in the 2023 playoffs with Northwest also winning 17-14 and East hasn’t beaten the Cougars since 2018.
HIGHLAND PARK (4-2) AT KC WASHINGTON (7-0)
What could have been a showdown between Meadowlark Conference unbeatens in some way still is. While Washington has run the table in dominant fashion this year, Highland Park’s only losses have come via forfeits after the Scots received sanctions following an in-game brawl with Schlagle in Week 3. One of those forfeits went to Harmon, leaving the Scots a game back of Washington in the league standings.
When they’ve played, the Scots – who had an open date last week – have been explosive. Dontrail Fox has thrown for 465 yards and 6 touchdowns while not throwing an interception. Jojo Kingcannon has a combined 653 rushing and receiving yards with 7 touchdowns and G’honi Montgomery has rushed for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Few players in the state have been more explosive and productive this season than Washington’s Savion Stone. In an 82-44 win over Atchison, Stone erupted for 9 touchdowns (5 rushing, 4 passing) and 479 yards. He followed with 420 total yards and 7 touchdowns the next week against Wyandotte and on the season, Stone has thrown for 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns and run for 1,125 yards and 19 scores.
Camron Fields has added 739 yards and 10 TDs on the ground and 979 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving and two other receivers have at least 200 yards and 4 touchdowns.
A win would give Washington its first league title since it won the KC-Atchison League crown in 2019.
CHANUTE (4-3) AT LABETTE COUNTY (5-2)
What looked like could be a game for the outright Southeast Kansas Conference title, this week’s showdown got an added wrinkle.
Both Chanute and Labette were unbeaten in league play going into last week before Labette was upset 24-20 by Independence, which Chanute beat 27-20 in Week 5. That makes this week’s game a must-win for the Grizzlies if they want to earn at least a share of the league crown.
It’s been an otherwise solid season for Labette, which lost standout tailback Jamaal Jackson to an injury in the season opener after he was coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The Grizzlies have turned to Deontae Fields to be the workhorse back and he’s delivered with 564 yards and 6 touchdowns. Quarterback Aaron Wyrick has been a dual threat, throwing for 641 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushing for 4 touchdowns.
Labette’s only other loss came to Wellington in Week 4 and in Week 3 the Grizzlies got the program’s first-ever win over Pittsburg.
Chanute is coming off a 42-0 loss to Pittsburg last week, a loss that doesn’t count in the league standings with Pittsburg not eligible for the league title. That leaves the Blue Comets unbeaten in league games and able to clinch the crown with a win this week.
Chanute’s other losses have come to McPherson and Nemaha Central. Kris Harding II has thrown for 805 yards and 6 touchdowns and also has 348 yards and 6 TDs on the ground, complementing tailback Jalen Duncan, who has 354 yards and 4 scores.
FRONTENAC (6-1) AT NEODESHA (5-2)
Neodesha is enjoying its best season since the 2017 team went 5-2. Over the past seven seasons, the Bluestreaks hadn’t won more than three games before this year’s breakout campaign.
The Bluestreaks’ only losses have come to Tri-Valley League rival Caney Valley (22-6) and Parsons (27-6), the latter coming in Class 3A District 1 play. But with a win over Frontenac, which beat Parsons 28-14, Neodesha can force a three-way tie for the district title and have the seeding come down to points.
Tayte Leck has led the Neodesha offense, throwing for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for a pair of scores. He’s one of five Bluestreaks with over 100 yards rushing with the ground game led by Camryn White (387 yards, 4 TDs) and McCoy Cody (347 yards). Cole Ramey has four rushing TDs and is the leading receiver with 469 yards and 6 TDs.
Frontenac took its only loss in Week 2 to arch rival St. Mary’s Colgan, 29-13. The Raiders have put up at least 28 points in all six wins and scored more than 40 in three contests.
Frontenac rolled past Neodesha last year 56-14.
CANEY VALLEY (6-1) AT RIVERTON (4-3)
The Class 2A District 1 title is on the line with both Caney Valley and Riverton a perfect 3-0 in district play.
Riverton is riding a hot streak after starting the season 0-3 with losses to Baxter Springs, Girard and Frontenac, all 3A schools. The Rams got things turned around with a tough 37-27 win over Cherryvale to start district play and then blanked Galena 24-0 the following week.
Caney Valley’s only hiccup this season came in a 41-8 loss to Christ Prep Academy from Kansas City, a non-KSHSAA team. The Bullpup defense has been stout all year, allowing more than one touchdown in only one of the six victories, that coming in a 66-32 shootout with Fredonia.
The Bullpups are led by tailback Traxcyn Garton, who is over 1,000 yards this season.
Caney won 51-14 last year after Riverton had taken a 30-11 win in 2023.