CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
 
BISHOP MIEGE (7-5) VS. KAPAUN MT. CARMEL (11-1)
 
7 p.m. Saturday at Welch Stadium, Emporia
 

 
COLE'S RETURN AT QUARTERBACK LEADS BISHOP MIEGE TO STATE TITLE GAME

When Bishop Miege quarterback Landon Cole jogged onto the field for the regular-season finale at Blue Valley, it wasn’t just the return of a starter. It was the return of the team the Stags always believed they could be. 

After losing Cole on the sixth play of the season, Miege sputtered through a 2–5 start, searching for stability in an offense built around a player who wasn’t there. But once the junior returned, everything snapped into place. Cole threw for 265 yards in that comeback game, sparking a win over the Tigers and giving a weary defense a jolt of confidence. 

Five weeks later, the Stags are in a familiar place: preparing to play for the Class 4A state championship. 

Miege (7–5) will face Kapaun Mt. Carmel at 1 p.m. Saturday in Emporia, riding a five-game surge of momentum that includes playoff wins over Atchison, Tonganoxie, No. 1 Eudora and a mud-soaked, 37-7 sub-state victory at Labette County. 

“It means we are still at the level we think we are at,” head coach Jon Holmes said. “Losing our starting quarterback on the sixth play was tough, but the last five games have been the football team we thought we had all season. When Landon came back, everything turned.” 

Holmes said Cole’s return didn’t just stabilize the offense — it lifted the entire roster. 

“Early in the year our defense felt like they had to be perfect,” Holmes said. “Now if the other team scores, that’s OK, because our offense can pick them up. We’re a confident group on both sides of the ball.” 

Cole’s ability to extend plays and threaten defenses vertically has reshaped the offense. The junior has thrown for 1,250 yards and 17 touchdowns despite missing two months, complementing a balanced run game led by juniors Vinny George (697 yards, 9 TDs) and John Watskey (539 yards, 6 TDs). Receivers Jayden McDaniel and Michael Blount have combined for nearly 1,350 yards and 13 scores. 

“It’s nice to have Landon back,” Holmes said. “He runs our offense really well. He puts stress on the defense — sideline to sideline, RPO game, deep ball, everything. He’s really competitive and our guys believe in him.” 

The Stags’ defense, meanwhile, has surged with stars at every level. Senior Devyn Davis (22 TFL, 7 sacks) anchors the line, while senior linebacker Daniel Neenan (18 TFL) and freshman Lincoln Leonard (73 tackles) steady the middle. Holmes credited defensive coordinator Ben Heeney for installing creative looks that have helped Miege peak at the right time. 

But Saturday brings one of their toughest challenges yet. 

Kapaun Mt. Carmel — and its punishing run game — stands in the way of Miege’s bid for a 12th state championship and its first since 2022. Led by standout backs Ken Huff and Wyatt Sullenger, the Crusaders have powered through the postseason behind a physical ground attack and a disciplined, veteran defense. 

“Kapaun is a really good team with really good coaches — one of the best in the state,” Holmes said. “They’re tradition-rich like we are. They believe, they’re physical, and they don’t get out of position. It’s going to be an EKL-type dogfight.” 

Holmes said slowing the run game is the top priority. 

“We have to limit their rushing attack,” he said. “They have great backs, and when you think they won’t throw it, they do. We play Aquinas and Rockhurst — teams that want to run it — so hopefully that helps us.” 

This time last year, Miege walked off the field in Emporia heartbroken after falling to Andover Central in the state title game. Holmes said that memory has shaped this postseason run. 

“They were on a mission to come back and win it last year and they did,” he said of Andover Central. “We had those tears last year, and we need that same mindset. If you give up a score, fight back and answer. We’ve got 48 minutes to prove ourselves on Saturday.”  

BISHOP MIEGE STAGS (7-5)
 
COACH: Jon Holmes (14th year, 129-43)
 
STATE FINALS HISTORY: 11 state titles – 2022 (4A), 2019 (4A), 2018 (4A), 2017 (4A I), 2016 (4A I), 2015 (4A I), 2014 (4A I), 2009 (4A), 1977 (4A), 1975 (4A), 1972 (4A); 4 runner-up finishes – 2024 (4A), 2012 (5A), 1982 (5A), 1974 (4A)
 
2025 RESULTS

L,24-0 at St. James Academy
W,28-27 Blue Valley Southwest
W,21-12 Blue Valley West
L,35-0 at Rockhurst (Mo.)
L,43-14 at St. Thomas Aquinas
L,45-21 St. Pius X (Mo.)
L,24-20 Blue Valley North
W,41-34 at Blue Valley
W,57-7 at Atchison (P)
W,30-6 at Tonganoxie (P)
W,52-21 at Eudora (P)
W,37-7 at Labette County (P)
 
2025 STATISTICS
 
TEAM
 
Points scored: 321 (26.8 per game)
 
Points allowed: 285 (23.8 per game)
 
Total offense: 4,005 yards (333.8 per game)
 
Rushing: 1,712 yards (142.7 per game), 19 TDs
 
Passing: 2,293 yards (191.1 per game), 24 TDs, 15 INTs
 
INDIVIDUAL
 
Rushing: Vinny George (jr.) 148 carries, 697 yards, 9 TDs John Watskey (so.) 119 carries, 539 yards, 6 TDs; Michael Blount (jr.) 22 carries, 102 yards, 2 TDs; Khi Allen (so.) 25 carries, 100 yards.
 
Passing: Landon Cole (jr.) 94 of 159, 1,250 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs; Khi Allen (so.) 57 of 106, 736 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs; Will Scaletty (so.) 27 of 54, 254 yards, 0 TDs, 7 INTs.
 
Receiving: Jayden McDaniel (jr.) 46 catches, 712 yards, 8 TDs; Michael Blount (jr.) 49 catches, 640 yards, 5 TDs; Carlos Rodriguez (jr.) 30 catches, 256 yards, 1 TD; Jeremiah Johnson (sr.) 11 catches, 234 yards, 3 TDs; Vinny George (jr.) 9 catches, 102 yards, 2 TDs.
 
Tackles: Devyn Davis (sr.) 74 tackles (56 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 7 sacks; Lincoln Leonard (fr.) 73 tackles (55 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Daniel Neenan (sr.) 71 tackles (56 solo), 18 tackles for loss. 4 sacks; Carter O’Connor (so.) 57 tackles (42 solo), 6 tackles for loss; Jeremiah Johnson (sr.) 56 tackles (43 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Keenan Poulsen (so.) 50 tackles (38 solo); Jace Poirer (jr.) 45 tackles (28 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Jack Sutherlin (jr.) 31 tackles (23 solo), 7 tackles for loss; Jeremiah Wesley (so.) 28 tackles (19 solo), 8 tackles for loss; CJ Hess (jr.) 27 tackles (24 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Luke Olson (sr.) 22 tackles (17 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Pierce Butler (sr.) 20 tackles (15 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Freddy Blount (so.) 20 tackles (17 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Jaylen Johnson (so.) 3 sacks.
 
Takeaways: Jaylen Johnson (so.) 3 fumble recoveries; Jeremiah Wesley (so.) 2 fumble recoveries; CJ Hess (jr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; Jeremiah Johnson (sr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; Jace Poirer (jr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery.
 
Kicking: Joseph Jaksa (jr.) 4 of 10 FGs, 38 of 40 PATs.
 

KAPAUN’S RESET LEADS TO DOMINANT PLAYOFF RUN
 
To the neutral observer, it had to be one of the state’s best games this season, particularly because it involved two ranked teams.
 
Kapaun Mt. Carmel and St. James Academy traded big plays, clutch drives and engaged in a seesaw battle to the end, when St. James’ Brady Boydston blocked a Kapaun field-goal attempt to preserve a 38-35 victory.
 
To Kapaun’s Cal Purvis, it stunk.
 
“We had a tough Week 7 loss that lit a fire under our butts,” said Purvis, a senior running back and linebacker. “We were undefeated and got our heads a little too high. It made us realize we can’t get away with not giving everything we’ve got on every play.”
 
The steam from that loss has come from a Crusader locomotive in November. Since rebounding from the St. James game to defeat Wichita Heights 56-14 in its regular-season finale and clinch the Greater Wichita Athletic League title, Kapaun, No. 1 in Class 4A for much of the season, has steamrolled four playoff opponents by a combined score of 245-7.
 
“The St. James game definitely woke us up,” Kapaun junior quarterback Cole Rapp said. “We were doing so good at the beginning of the year I think we felt like we couldn’t lose. We learned that night if we don’t play like we should, we’re going to lose. You’ve got to play everybody.”
 
Kapaun has driven that point home all the way to a Class 4A championship game matchup against Bishop Miege on Saturday in Emporia. It will be the teams’ first meeting since the 1982 5A title game, when the Crusaders prevailed 37-10 for the eighth of their nine state championships.
 
Kapaun’s last state title came in 1987. After dropping the 2023 5A championship game to Mill Valley 62-37, the Crusaders will play in a state final for the second time in three years under coach Weston Schartz.
 
Like that team, which featured All-State running back Omari Elias, the Crusaders have primarily hammered away on the ground.
 
Junior Ken Huff leads the attack with 1,405 rushing yards and 19 rushing scores. Senior fullback Wyatt Sullenger has added 976 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Purvis (393 yards, 7 TDs) is one of five Crusaders who have run for at least 375 yards.
 
That’s aided the development of Rapp, a first-year starter at quarterback who has accounted for 22 touchdowns. Half of come through the air, where he’s 61 of 93 for 875 yards with just two interceptions.
 
Rapp fueled Kapaun’s rushing attack with 107 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-7 victory over Wamego in Friday’s semifinals.
 
“He’s been great,” said Purvis, who opened the victory over Wamego with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. “He’s done some things that are kind of unexpected for a first-year starter. He had some jitters early, but he’s been great especially in the option game. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”
 
Rapp’s running has helped Kapaun roll up 1,570 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns during the playoffs. Huff also enjoyed a monster game in the postseason, running for 290 yards and two touchdowns in Kapaun’s 62-0 victory over last year’s 4A champion Andover Central.
 
With victories of 63-0 over El Dorado and 64-0 over Wellington – which ended Kapaun’s 2024 season in the second round of the playoffs – the Crusaders’ postseason has been mostly comfortable. Not too comfortable to let up now, however.
 
“There’s definitely a sense of confidence,” Rapp said. “We’ve done a pretty good job of keeping our minds on the next game, not getting too high or too low, and just trying to stay focused on each week.”
 
KAPAUN MT. CARMEL CRUSADERS (11-1)
 
COACH: Weston Schartz (6th year, 52-15)
 
STATE FINALS HISTORY: 9 state titles – 1987 (5A), 1982 (5A), 1981 (5A), 1977 (3A), 1976 (3A), 1975 (3A), 1974 (3A), 1972 (3A), 1970 (3A); 5 runner-up finishes – 2023 (5A), 1985 (5A), 1984 (5A), 1983 (5A), 1971 (3A)
 
2025 RESULTS

W,27-14 at Andover
W,77-0 Wichita North
W,38-7 at Wichita East
W,43-42 OT Wichita Northwest
W,49-6 at Wichita Southeast
W,35-13 Bishop Carroll
L,38-35 at St. James Academy
W,56-14 at Wichita Heights
W,63-0 El Dorado (P)
W,62-0 Andover Central (P)
W,64-0 Wellington (P)
W,56-7 Wamego (P)
 
2025 STATISTICS
 
TEAM
 
Points scored: 605 (50.4 per game)
 
Points allowed: 141 (11.8 per game)
 
Total offense: 5,023 yards (418.6 per game)
 
Rushing: 4,074 yards (339.5 per game), 68 TDs
 
Passing: 949 yards (79.1 per game), 12 TDs, 3 INTs
 
INDIVIDUAL
 
Rushing: Ken Huff (jr.) 191 carries, 1,405 yards, 19 TDs; Wyatt Sullenger (sr.) 114 carries, 976 yards, 15 TDs; James Guyer (so.) 89 carries, 526 yards, 9 TDs; Cal Purvis (sr.) 57 carries, 393 yards, 7 TDs; Cole Rapp (jr.) 51 carries, 375 yards, 11 TDs.
 
Passing: Cole Rapp (jr.) 61 of 93, 875 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs.
 
Receiving: Alex Pondei (jr.) 16 catches, 288 yards, 2 TDs; Rocco Keller (sr.) 17 catches, 204 yards, 2 TDs; Ethan Burr (jr.) 7 catches, 154 yards, 2 TDs; Jackson Gosch (jr.) 10 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs; Reid Stuhlsatz (jr.) 3 catches, 84 yards, 2 TDs.
 
Tackles: Cal Purvis (sr.) 81 tackles (28 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; Mason Collins (sr.) 69 tackles (26 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Pete Keller (jr.) 66 tackles (25 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Preston Hamilton (sr.) 62 tackles (23 solo); Cole Tarantino (sr.) 60 tackles (24 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Owen Young (sr.) 53 tackles (26 solo), 5 tackles for loss; Gage Nye (jr.) 43 tackles (15 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Melvin Pougue (sr.) 39 tackles (8 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Jude Porter (sr.) 39 tackles (20 solo); Eli Koster (jr.) 26 tackles (14 solo); Raphael Oblinger (sr.) 25 tackles (9 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Aiden Flucas (jr.) 24 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Brody O’Donnell (jr.) 3 tackles for loss; Nathaniel Huff (fr.) 3 tackles for loss.
 
Takeaways: Owen Young (sr.) 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery; Preston Hamilton (sr.) 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery; Aiden Flucas (jr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Cal Purvis (sr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; Mason Collins (sr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; Raphael Oblinger (sr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery.
 
Kicking: Ethan DuPont (jr.) 1 of 1 FGs, 79 of 86 PATs.