REGIONAL PLAYOFF MATCHUPS TO WATCH ACROSS THE STATE 
 
CLASS 6A
 
EAST
 
FREE STATE (6-3) AT SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST (6-3)
 
If last week’s postseason openers were any indication, expect plenty of offense in Friday’s showdown between Sunflower League rivals that didn’t face each other during the regular season.
 
After enduring a two-game losing streak to end the regular season, Free State snapped bafck to life with a 61-47 shootout win over Olathe East after having previously beaten the Hawks 35-27 in Week 4. Maddon Brittingham turned in a record-setting performance for the Firebirds, rushing for a school-record seven touchdowns on a night where he finished with 283 yards on just 21 carries. Finn Moore added 218 yards on the ground and threw for 119 as Free State rolled up 620 yards of total offense.
 
Northwest, meanwhile, outlasted the Firebirds’ cross-town rivals, taking a 50-40 win over Lawrence behind a huge performance from Trai Woodruff. Woodruff ran for 308 yards and 6 touchdowns.
 
Both Moore (1,226 yards, 13 TDs) and Brittingham (1,069 yards, 17 TDs) are over 1,000 yards rushing while Woodruff has rushed for 1,442 yards and 26 touchdowns.
 
WEST
 
DERBY (6-3) AT JUNCTION CITY (7-2)
 
Derby and Junction City meet in the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season only this time it’s the Panthers that will be on the road. It’s been a different kind of season for Derby, which suffered its most regular-season losses since 2011 when the Panthers also lost three times, in what was then a nine-game regular season.
 
After falling by a point to Hays in the opener and losing to 6A unbeaten Maize in Week 4, Derby seemed to be firing on all cylinders and had climbed back into the 6A rankings before stumbling in the regular-season finale in a 24-20 loss to Bishop Carroll – the first loss to the Eagles since 2020. Derby bounced back that season to go on and win the 6A state championship.
 
Arieus Finley has run for 1,195 yards and 13 touchdowns this season to lead the Panther offense.
 
Junction City’s seven wins are its most in four years, going 7-3 in 2022. The Blue Jays’ only losses have come to Wichita Northwest and Hays, game in which they were either tied or led in the fourth quarter. Sandwiched in between those losses was an upset of then-unbeaten Manhattan.
 
Conrad Gomez has had a big season at quarterback for the Blue Jays, throwing for 1,767 yards and 26 touchdowns while getting picked off just twice. Lovell Autry leads the receiving corps with 48 catches for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns.
 
 
CLASS 5A
 
EAST
 
MILL VALLEY (7-2) AT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (8-1)
 
What possibly could these two do for an encore after last year’s epic playoff game?
 
After seeing its previous three Class 5A playoff appearances end at the hands of Mill Valley, Aquinas got revenge in the most probable of ways in last year’s quarterfinal showdown. Trailing 22-15 with under five minutes to play, the Saints faced a fourth-and-16 at midfield and opted to go for it.
 
Cal Arndt’s desperation halfback pass was batted away from intended target Michael Yankovich by a trio of Mill Valley defenders, but was snagged by Will Callahan just before it hit the turf to convert the first down. Aquinas went on to get a 15-yard touchdown run from Arndt to pull within one and after initially lining up for the tying PAT, the Saints went for two after a Mill Valley offsides penalty and Arndt plowed in for the game-winning conversion for a 23-22 Saints win.
 
Aquinas went on to win the state title.
 
This season, Aquinas’ only loss was a 36-35 overtime defeat to Rockhurst (Mo.) while Mill Valley has lost to Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North and Olathe West. Arndt has missed time late in the season with an injury but the Saints have rolled without him.
 
Mill Valley has been led by the duo of Blake Jay and Max Piva, who are each over 1,000 yards rushing with Piva leading the way with 1,533 yards and 14 touchdowns and Jay adding 1,193 yards and 19 scores.
 
WEST
 
BISHOP CARROLL (6-3) AT GREAT BEND (9-0)
 
Nobody has been able to slow down Great Bend, which is averaging 47 points per game. 

The unbeaten Panthers are coming off a 49-14 win over Newton in Week 9. Notre Dame commit Ian Premer ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries and quarterback Daxton Minton rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on just three attempts. Premer also caught a touchdown pass. Cooper Ohnmacht intercepted two passes for the Panthers. 

Bishop Carroll followed up a 24-20 win over Derby with a 14-0 shutout of Valley Center last week in Week 9. The Golden Eagles held the Hornets to 201 yards of offense. Pius Graf intercepted two passes for Carroll, which has bounced back from last season’s 2-7 campaign. Harrison King and Landon Steven each had a rushing touchdown last week. 

Premer has been unstoppable in his senior year. He’s caught 13 touchdown passes, rushed for 11 scores and has six interceptions on defense. 

Carroll’s losses came to Wichita Northwest, Oklahoma City’s Bishop McGuinness and Kapaun Mt. Carmel.

The winner will face the Hays vs. Hutchinson winner in next week’s quarterfinal. The Panthers and Golden Eagles haven’t met since playing each other in back-to-back years in 2018-19, with Carroll winning both of those matchups.  
CLASS 4A
 
EAST
 
PIPER (5-4) AT OTTAWA (6-3)
 
After going through a four-game losing streak early in the season, Piper has righted the ship by reeling off four straight wins, all by 31 or more points including last week’s 59-6 rout of Schlagle to start the postseason. Two of Piper’s four losses were one-score games with 5A unbeaten Basehor-Linwood (27-21) and 5A one-loss Leavenworth (29-22).
 
The Pirates have nice balance on offense with Roman Byers rushing for 1,024 yards and 18 touchdowns and Leeum Healy throwing for 1,192 yards and 10 scores.
 
Ottawa began the season with the look of a team more than capable of winning a state championship, returning the bulk of last year’s playmakers. But injuries have decimated the Cyclones. Kansas commit Nate Sims went down with a season-ending knee injury early in Week 2 and tailback Julius O’Bryan was lost for the season in Week 3.
 
Quarterback Haydon Hull has also missed three games with injury but is back.
 
Ottawa beat Piper 31-7 in last year’s playoff opener, holding the Pirates to less than 50 yards of total offense.
 
WEST
 
ANDOVER CENTRAL (5-4) AT KAPAUN MT. CARMEL (8-1)
 
Andover Central began its title defense with a solid 35-7 win over Abilene. The task is much tougher this week for the Jaguars, taking on 4A’s No. 1 team.
 
Kapaun’s lone loss was 38-35 to Class 5A No. 34 St. James Academy, a game where the Thunder blocked a game-tying field goal on the final play of the game after the Crusaders had just missed on a game-winning touchdown pass the play before.
 
Earlier in the season, the Crusaders rallied from 28 points down to beat Wichita Northwest in overtime.
 
After graduating an outstanding senior class from its title team a year ago, Andover Central has had an up-and-down season, opening with a 34-0 loss to Hutchinson before winning three straight. The jaguars went 1-3 to close the regular season, but all four losses this season are to 5A programs.
 
Jaxson Green has run for 1,536 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead Central and Max Olson has added 980 yards and 7 TDs through the air. Kapaun has been led by Ken Huff, who’s run for 935 yards and 14 touchdowns.
 
 
CLASS 3A
 
EAST
 
JEFFERSON WEST (7-2) AT PRAIRIE VIEW (8-1)
 
Coming off its first postseason victory since 2019, Jefferson West will look to keep its breakthrough season going on the road. West’s seven wins this season equal the number of wins the Tigers posted in the last four seasons combined and are the most in a season since that 2019 team went 8-2.
 
Schwinn-ing has been the key to winning for West. First-year head coach Justin Schwinn has energized the program while his sons have keyed a prolific passing attack. Freshman Brixton Schwinn stepped right in at quarterback and has thrown for 1,814 yards and 23 touchdowns with older brother Brody not surprisingly his favorite with 43 catches for 797 yards and 15 touchdowns. Crayton Holman has been big at receiver as well with 45 catches for 575 yards and 7 touchdowns.
 
West doesn’t get much from the ground game with just 793 yards rushing this season. Prairie View, however, is the complete opposite, getting all but 349 of its 3,935 yards of total offense from its ground attack.
 
Parker Schwarz is having another huge season on the ground, rushing for 2,307 yards and 36 touchdowns – his second straight year over 2,300 yards. In his career, Schwarz has run for 7,289 yards and 99 touchdowns. Josh Goodwin has added 594 yards and 10 TDs rushing this season and the Buffaloes’ lone loss came to 3A unbeaten Pioneer League rival Santa Fe Trail.
 
WEST
 
HUGOTON (8-1) AT PRATT (8-1)

Hugoton has been a surprise team in Class 3A this season. 

The Eagles emerged as a possible contender after starting 6-0 including a thriller win over Scott City. Hugoton dropped a 20-14 decision to unbeaten Holcomb. The Eagles took a 35-20 win over Wichita Collegiate last week behind a huge game from quarterback Miguel Hernandez, who rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns. 

Hernandez and Isa Guardado have formed a strong 1-2 punch in the Eagles’ rushing attack. 

Pratt fell to Hoisington 34-8 in the season opener before launching an eight-game win streak. Pratt beat Chaparral 42-14 in Week 9. 

Cresten Pore has thrown for 893 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Greenbacks. Cade Liggett has 830 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. 

Hugoton and Pratt haven’t played since 2021 when Pratt took a 44-7 win.  
CLASS 2A
 
EAST
 
SABETHA (8-1) AT SILVER LAKE (7-2)
 
Though both members of the Big East League, Silver Lake and Sabetha did not play during the regular season. They last met in the 2023 playoffs when Sabetha traveled to Silver Lake and won a wild 45-34 shootout in the second round of the playoffs behind a huge rushing night from Colin Menold, who ran for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Few starters remain on either team from that game, but their philosophies are still very much the same.
 
Sabetha almost exclusively leans on the run with 2,494 of the Bluejays’ 2,914 yards coming on the ground. Will Voos leads the way with 1,233 yards and 14 touchdowns.
 
Silver Lake, meanwhile, is considerably more balanced. Freshman Kipton Kruger has flourished at quarterback, throwing for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns with Dayne Johnson on the other end of 56 of his completions for 852 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Eagles have also run for 1,142 yards as a team led by Bryson Burgos’ 609 yards and 8 TDs.
 
WEST
 
HAVEN (7-2) AT PHILLIPSBURG (6-3)

Both teams are ready for new opponents after playing the same team in Weeks 8 and 9.

Haven cruised to a 34-6 win over Kingman in Week 8, then picked up a closer 44-31 victory over the Eagles last week. Phillipsburg is coming off back-to-back blowouts over Minneapolis, winning 66-7, 49-0. In the 66-7 win, Panther running back Blake Buresh ran for 225 yards and five touchdowns on 20 carries. Haven’s Cole Brawner rushed for 280 yards and five touchdowns last week for the Wildcats.

Phillipsburg’s smash-mouth attack is led by Buresh (1,033 yards, 19 TDs), Tanner Horinek (821, 11 TDs), Colin Springer (497, 7 TDs) and Kaid Schwenn (393, 3 TDs). The Panthers are averaging 8.4 yards per carry and rushing for 354 yards a game.

Haven quarterback Brogan Wray has passed for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. Brawner has rushed for 1,582 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Phillipsburg rebounded from a 1-2 start after back-to-back losses against Smith Center and TMP-Marian. The Panthers’ only other loss came to Pratt. Haven’s losses were to Garden Plain and Chaparral.

It will be the first meeting between the schools.
 
 
CLASS 1A
 
EAST
 
RIVERSIDE (7-2) AT CENTRALIA (8-1)
 
For the second straight week, Centralia takes on a team it met during the regular season. After beating Twin Valley League rival Onaga 54-20 to start the playoffs, the Panthers will host Riverside for the second time in three weeks.
 
Two weeks ago, it was a barn-burner with Centralia pulling out a 14-7 victory. The Panthers got a 17-yard touchdown pass from Quentin Alderfer to Grady Becker to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead and then turned an ensuing Riverside turnover into another TD, a 1-yard run by Degan Ronnebaum.
 
The Panthers wouldn’t score again and Riverside got within a touchdown on a blocked punt that Gavin Schoenfelder recovered in the end zone. But the Cyclone offense never got anything going and had six turnover on downs in the game.
 
Riverside’s only other loss came to 1A No. 1 Jackson Heights in the season opener while Centralia’s lone loss came to Missouri power Mid-Buchanan.
  
WEST
 
HUTCHINSON TRINITY (7-2) AT REPUBLIC COUNTY (8-1)
 
It’s been a historic season for Republic County, which has posted its most wins since the consolidation of Belleville and Hillcrest-North Central after the 2005 season. The Buffaloes won their first district title with a 7-0 overtime win over Sacred Heart in the season finale and then won its first-ever playoff game last week with a 42-20 win over Oakley.
 
In order to keep the historic season going, Republic County’s offense will have to be on point against a Hutchinson Trinity defense that’s been stingy all season. The Celtics’ 20-0 shutout of Plainville last week was their third in the last four games and they’ve given up more than one touchdown in just three games, including their only two losses to Inman and 1A unbeaten Sterling.
 
Kash Henke and Nick Kendall have been a strong 1-2 punch for the Buffaloes with Henke rushing for 689 yards and 6 touchdowns and throwing for 638 yards and 9 scores and Kendall adding 515 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, including the overtime winners against both Sacred Heart and Troy.
 
Trinity’s offense has been led by Drew Dechant, who has thrown for 1,164 yards and 16 touchdowns and also run for 510 yards and 7 TDs. He also has picked off three passes on defense.
 
 
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION I
 
EAST
 
LITTLE RIVER (8-1) AT LYNDON (8-0)
 
Undefeated state champion in 2023, Lyndon is back among the title contenders this season after going through a rebuilding season last year following the graduation of a stellar senior class off the championship squad.
 
The Tigers have only had one game go the distance this year, a 54-44 win over Frankfort in Week 2, a game the Tigers led by 26 in the fourth quarter before Frankfort came up with some late scores to make the final score closer.
 
In its other seven games (the Tigers had an open date in Week 3), Lyndon has posted four shutouts and allowed just 30 points, 18 of those coming in a 68-18 win over Chase County. 
 
Little River, however, will be the ultimate test for Lyndon’s defense with the Redskins averaging just under 57 points per game, scoring 50 or more in every game except their 22-20 loss to Ell-Saline. Little River is balanced offensively with four backs having rushing for at least 400 yards and 8 touchdowns, led by Jaren Garrison’s 549 yard and 12 TDs. Jaxson Konen has thrown for 654 yards and 14 TDs and run for 420 yards and 8 scores and Logan Schubert and Jhet Ewertt have combined for 22 rushing TDs.
 
James Marcotte and Lucas Griffin have carried the load for Lyndon with Marcotte rushing for 958 yards and 18 touchdowns and Griffin rushing for 710 yards and 14 touchdowns and throwing for 965 yards and 13 TDs.
 
WEST
 
OXFORD (7-1) AT HILL CITY (8-1)

Both the Wildcats and Ringnecks have reeled off long win streaks this season.

Oxford started 6-0 before running into No. 1 South Central and taking a 66-20 loss to the Timberwolves. The Wildcats bounced back with a 54-42 win over Sublette in Week 9.

After losing 30-20 to rival WaKeeney-Trego in Week 1, the Ringnecks have won eight straight.

Hill City has put up 504 points on the season and outscored opponents 180-8 over the last three weeks. Senior quarterback Tate Balthazor has thrown for 1,007 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 918 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tyler Ashbaugh has rushed for 944 yards and 19 touchdowns. Jaxson Smith is the Ringnecks’ leading receiver with 14 catches for 360 yards and eight touchdowns.

Logan Gaither leads Oxford with 1,184 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
 
 
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION II
 
EAST
 
FRANKFORT (5-4) AT MARMATON VALLEY (8-1)
 
Even though this is the second straight regional playoff meeting for the two programs, both are vastly different teams than they were a year ago.
 
Frankfort graduated a trio of first-team All-Eight-Man II selections, leaving quarterback Wes Anderson as the lone truly proven offensive weapon. The leading passer in Division II each of the past two seasons, Anderson hasn’t put up the same kind of numbers, but has still had a solid season with 1,467 yards and 20 touchdowns passing while also leading the Wildcats in rushing with 525 yards and 13 TDs, both career-highs.
 
Marmaton Valley, meanwhile, graduated four-year starting quarterback Brayden Lawson and leading receiver Jaeden Granere. The Wildcats shifted Tyler Lord to quarterback to replace Lawson and he’s had a huge year, throwing for 1,074 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 1,010 yards and 21 scores. Cooper Scharff has added 778 yards and 18 TDs on the ground and Todd Stevenson has 10 TD catches.
 
Frankfort survived 38-36 on the road last week against Thunder Ridge with Anderson scoring the game-winning TD and two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter after also making a game-saving tackle on a Thunder Ridge two-point conversion try on the previous possession.
 
Three of Frankfort’s four losses have come to 1A II No. 1 Hanover, 1A II No. 3 Axtell and 1A I No. 3 Lyndon. Marmaton Valley’s lone loss came to Reno County Homeschool in a 93-38 loss.
 
WEST
 
ARGONIA-ATTICA (6-3) AT WALLACE COUNTY (9-0)

Wallace County is one of three undefeated teams left in the Eight-Player Division II ranks. 

The Wildcats have outscored opponents 358-48 in eight games, receiving a bye last week. They have notched three straight shutouts (Stanton County 40-0, Logan-Palco 50-0, Wheatland-Grinnell 50-0). 

Wallace County’s closest games were a 32-28 win over Oberlin-Decatur and a 24-12 victory over Dighton. The Wildcats have been led by Kemper Benisch, Gage Cox and Braylon Rains this season.

Argonia-Attica lost to Central-Burden in Week 2, then won three straight before taking back-to-back losses to Hutchinson Central Christian and Cunningham. They rolled to a 68-28 win over St. John. Carson Vineyard caught three touchdowns and ran for another. 

Maddex Hemberger has thrown for 1,073 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Titans. Vineyard leads the team in rushing with 682 yards and 17 touchdowns. Vineyard also has 502 receiving yards with 10 TDs.  
EAST
 
OTIS-BISON (3-5) AT MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY (5-2)
 
Otis-Bison will make the 200-plus mile trip east to open the postseason after both teams had first-round byes last week.
 
The Cougars’ record is a bit deceiving with three of the five losses coming to ranked six-man teams Cunningham, South Barber and Tescott and the other two coming against Ashland-Bucklin, which combined this year after low numbers forced them to give up their eight-man schedules.
 
Both of Marais des Cygnes Valley’s losses came to Peabody and the four of the Trojans’ wins have come against Chetopa and Southern Coffey County.
 
Otis-Bison is led by Gavin Alloway, who has rushed for 537 yards and 13 touchdowns while Maddox Firebaugh has thrown for 641 yards and 10 scores. Marais des Cygnes Valley lost standout Dalton Lingenfelter early in the season to injury but Landon Reed has thrown for 1,062 yards and Ricky Traver has rushed for 861 yards and 12 touchdowns.
 
WEST
 
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (5-4) AT CHEYLIN (4-4)

Both teams are looking for winning seasons and playoff runs after finishing at .500 last season.

Pawnee Heights shook off back-to-back losses to South Barber and Ingalls by rolling to an 83-6 win over Triplains/Brewster last week. Cody Holste scored six touchdowns. He rushed for two touchdowns, caught a TD pass, scored on an interception return and also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns.

On the season, Holste has rushed for 629 yards and 13 touchdowns while Alexis Ibarra has 618 yards rushing with 13 scores. Cheylin has regrouped from an 0-3 start.

The Cougars have won three straight and advanced with a 66-57 win over Golden Plains last week.