WESTERN KANSAS WEEK 2 PICK SIX
CHOCTAW, OKLA. (1-0) AT HAYS (1-0)
Fresh off a thrilling victory at Class 6A powerhouse Derby, Hays is gearing up for another momentous occasion.
The Indians will finally get a true home field advantage, officially breaking in their football stadium Friday on the campus of the brand new Hays High School facilities.
Another test awaits, this time against an unfamiliar foe.
Hays, which was runner-up in Class 5A last year, will host Oklahoma's reigning Class 6A Division II champions in the Choctaw Yellowjackets.
It continues a loaded non-conference schedule for the Indians, who rallied to knock off Derby on a touchdown and two-point conversion with five seconds left. Following this week’s test, they will meet Manhattan on the road in Week 3.
Senior quarterback Zane Viegra passed his first test as a starter, coming up clutch late. Trailing by a touchdown, Viegra capped a 16-play, 96-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Basgall. The Indians then went for the win, and Viegra connected with senior Parker McGuire on a two-point conversion that lifted Hays to a 22-21 victory at Panther Stadium.
Hays standout running back Holden Lind rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. Viegra finished with 11 of 25 through the air for 131 yards with one TD and two interceptions. McGuire, who suffered a leg injury while making his game-winning catch, had three receptions for 47 yards.
Defensive lineman Tanner Geist recorded 14 tackles – two for loss – for the Indians.
Choctaw captured its first state title since 1960 with a 26-25 win over Muskogee in the 2024 championship game.
The 1-0 Yellowjackets, who returned several key contributors from the title team, opened with a 44-23 win over Monterey on Aug. 29.
Choctaw has a senior quarterback in Landon Gaston, who earned the full-time job this year after splitting time the previous two seasons. One of his top weapons is 6-foot-7 tight end Titus Hawk, who has several Division I offers.
GOLDEN PLAINS (1-0) AT INGALLS (1-0)
Looking to establish itself as a title contender in the Six-Player ranks this year, Golden Plains started strong with a 53-6 win over Moscow.
Dylan Wark rushed for 150 yards and five touchdowns on 15 carries for the Bulldogs, who reached the state semifinals last year before falling in an 82-45 shootout to eventual champion Weskan.
Wark and Diego Perez are senior leaders for the Bulldogs. Perez handled most of the passing duties in the opener, completing 5 of 7 throws for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Ingalls opened with a 48-0 shutout over Triplains/Brewster. It went 9-2 last season but lost a pair of all-state players in Breck Averhoff and Langston Nothern. Logan Simon returned at quarterback and completed all 3 of his passes in the opener for 121 yards with two touchdowns, both to Keegan Nothern.
Ingalls won the battle of the Bulldogs last year, topping Golden Plains 52-21.
GREAT BEND (1-0) AT OLATHE SOUTH (1-0)
Great Bend’s star power was on full display in the Panthers’ season-opening 42-7 win over McPherson.
Great Bend junior Cooper Ohnmacht, a Division I recruit, starred in all facets. He returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown, blocked a field goal and converted 6-of-6 extra points after filling in for Great Bend’s injured kicker.
Notre Dame commit Ian Premer caught a 45-yard touchdown pass and also had a rushing TD for the Panthers. Senior quarterback Daxton Minton threw two TD passes and ran for a score.
Olathe South’s campaign also got off to a dominant start. The Falcons cruised to a 63-7 victory over Shawnee Mission West .
The Falcons are looking to bounce back from last year’s 3-6 season that started with four straight losses. Great Bend took a 26-14 win over South on the way to a 9-1 season.
Michael Allen is in his first year as head coach at South. Key players for the Falcons include quarterback Gage Lee, receiver Anthony Harris and defensive end Jordan Berry.
HOXIE (0-1) AT WAKEENEY-TREGO (1-0)
After losing 10 seniors off last year’s undefeated state title team in Eight-Player Division I, Hoxie saw its 13-game win streak snapped with a 52-46 loss to a young Osborne team last week.
The new-look Indians returned just two starters from last year in Mat Bretz and Jovan Kachel. They figure to get another test this week against Wakeeney-Trego, which picked up a solid 30-20 win against Hill City in Week 1.
Trego returned five starters on both sides of the ball off last year’s team that went 4-5, including senior quarterback Ashton Wynn.
Jack Conness ran for a pair of touchdowns in the Hill City and also caught a TD pass in the Hill City win. Westyn Windholz intercepted two passes for the Golden Eagles, returning one for a touchdown.
Hoxie has won the last three matchups with Trego, including a 50-0 win last year.
RUSSELL (1-0) AT OAKLEY (1-0)
Russell won a wild 29-22 opener over TMP-Marian, outlasting the Monarchs after Walker Middleton scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Oakley won a tight one as well, pulling out a 20-14 victory over Norton.
Both teams went 3-6 in 2024 and a win Friday would go a long way in bouncing back with a winning season.
Russell quarterback Trey Zorn threw for three touchdowns and Kolton Jones rushed for 132 yards on 12 carries in the TMP win.
Jorgan Schiltz had 110 yards and a touchdown on just five carries in Oakley’s opener.
Russell blanked Oakley 35-0 in last year’s matchup.
SMITH CENTER (1-0) AT PHILLIPSBURG (1-0)
Phillipsburg opened with a promising performance against Plainville, notching a 33-18 victory.
The Panthers are looking to build off a 6-4 campaign in 2024 that was highlighted by big wins over Norton, Smith Center and Plainville.
Phillipsburg returned quarterback Colin Springer and running back Tanner Horinek, an explosive threat who is a state hurdles champion.
Traditional powerhouse Smith Center is looking to bounce back from a rare losing season after going 4-5 last season. The Redmen locked down Chapman, 16-6, last week.
Smith Center held the Irish to just 100 yards of offense. The game was tied at 6 heading into the fourth quarter before the Redmen scored the last 10 points.
Senior lineman Kharson Montgomery and senior quarterback Parker Hutchinson are leaders for Smith Center.
Phillipsburg won last year’s matchup with the Redmen, 26-6.