CLASS 2A FOOTBALL STATE QUARTERFINALS PREVIEW
EAST
SABETHA (9-1) AT NEMAHA CENTRAL (10-0)
There are few better rivalries in the state than Nemaha-Sabetha, especially given that they often meet when the stakes are high. Their previous meeting this year decided the Big East League title with Nemaha Central holding on for a 20-18 victory.
The Thunder struck early in that contest with Carter Hajek hitting Caleb Strathman for a 74-yard score on the first play of the game. Nemaha scored on its first three possessions to build a 20-8 lead.
But the offense sputtered and turned it over twice in the second half and Sabetha nearly rallied for the win. Rushing for 274 yards in the game, the Bluejays pulled within two and saw two different potential game-winning field goal attempts sail wide as the Thunder held on.
Hajek is just 130 yards away from his third straight 2,000-yard rushing season and in last week’s 34-12 win over Council Grove went over the 7,000-yard mark for his career, joining a select group to hit that milestone. This year, he’s run for 1,870 yards and 34 touchdowns and thrown for 779 yards and 11 scores.
Sabetha’s ground game has been formidable all season long and keyed the Bluejays’ 28-16 win over Silver Lake. Will Voos ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the win and has run for 1,387 yards and 16 TDs this season, leading a ground game that’s totaled 2,733 yards and 37 scores.
Nemaha Central has ended Sabetha’s season in the playoffs each of the last three seasons on its way to three straight Class 2A state championship games.
OSAGE CITY (9-1) AT CANEY VALLEY (9-1)
After drubbing Riverton 48-7 just two weeks earlier, Caney Valley found itself in a pretty good hole in last Friday’s rematch, trailing 21-8 at the end of the first quarter and 28-16 at halftime. But the Bullpups came alive in the second half on both sides of the ball, erupting for 32 points in the second half while pitching a shutout of the Rams, storming back for a 48-28 victory.
The win moved Caney into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022 and one more win would secure the first state semifinal berth in program history.
Osage City is also looking for its first trip to the state semifinals and has lost in the quarterfinals each of the last two seasons to Nemaha Central, including a last-minute 33-27 loss last season.
The Indians have bounced back from the loss of standout starting quarterback Kasen Parsons to a knee injury and rolled past Atchison County 60-7 last week after shutting out Royal Valley to start the postseason. Reed Silver has solidified the quarterback spot, throwing for 661 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 528 yards and four scores in the last five weeks.
His complements in the offense have eased the transition as Dylan Theel has rushed for 470 of his 696 yards and scored eight of his 12 rushing touchdowns in the past five games. He’s also added three receiving TDs in that span. Quenten Stark has 757 yards and 13 TDs receiving this year.
Jace Buckley and Traxcyn Garton have been a dynamic 1-2 rushing combo for Caney, each with just over 1,200 yards on the ground with a combined 33 touchdowns.
Osage City won the last meeting with Caney in the 2017 playoffs after Caney beat the Indians in the 2016 playoffs.
WEST
PHILLIPSBURG (7-3) AT SOUTHEAST OF SALINE (10-0)
Defending champion Southeast of Saline has taken a licking but keeps on ticking off wins, running its winning streak to 23 straight victories, tied with Andale for the longest current streak in the state.
The Trojans were dealt a big blow when starting quarterback Gannon Jacobson was lost for the season in a Week 6 win over Hillsboro. But Tiernan Ptacek has stepped into that position and performed well, throwing for 785 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Southeast’s offense has run through Grady Gebhardt, both in the run and passing games. The senior back gashed Russell for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground last week as Southeast bounced back from an early 6-0 deficit for a 44-12 win. On the season, Gebhardt has run for 1,607 yards and 28 touchdowns and added another 587 yards and 10 TDs receiving.
Phillipsburg in enjoying its best season since going 13-0 and claiming the Class 2A state title in 2018. The Panthers started the season 1-2 with losses to Smith Center and TMP-Marian by a combined three points and suffered their only other loss to 3A quarterfinalist Pratt.
A strong ground game that features four backs with at least 400 yards has powered the Panthers, who’ve rushed for 3,555 yards and 54 touchdowns as a team. Blake Buresh leads the way with 1,262 yards and 24 TDs while Tanner Horinek has 892 yards and 12 scores.
GARDEN PLAIN (9-1) AT HOISINGTON (9-0)
Three of Hoisington’s deep playoff runs under coach Zach Baird have included quarterfinal victories over Garden Plain. The Cardinals will try to add another Friday at Elton Brown Field.
After rolling up 70 or more points for the third time this season in its postseason opener against Halstead, Hoisington defeated Hillsboro 46-6 last week as tailback Taylen Morales ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Russell transfer Brody Pfannenstiel added touchdowns on a 35-yard pass reception and 61-yard run.
Garden Plain, whose lone loss came to a Cheney team that Hoisington defeated 20-6 in Week 5, took down Beloit 31-14 last week for its seventh consecutive victory. Senior Emrick Hays led a three-pronged rushing attack for the Owls with 24 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown. Hays has paced a Garden Plain offense averaging just under 300 yards per game on the ground with his 1,331 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
While Hoisington tries to stay on track for its third 2A title-game appearance in six seasons, Garden Plain will try to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2011. The Owls’ lone playoff victory over Hoisington came in the 2007 3A quarterfinals, when they won 55-7 en route to an unbeaten run to their lone state title.