Washburn Rural (2-1) at Blue Valley Northwest (2-1)
Washburn Rural will make the trip to Blue Valley Northwest in a non-league matchup on Thursday as both teams are coming off setbacks in week three as they lost to ranked opponents.
Blue Valley Northwest squared off with No. 5 (5A) St. James Academy last week and couldn’t get its offense going in a 21-7 loss to the Thunder as it suffered its first loss of the season. Prior to that matchup, the Huskies had scored a combined 80 points in its first two games and they will look to get back to that. The combo of quarterback Aidan Ihm and running back LJ Bowens will look to get the Huskies going. Ihm has 721 total yards so far this season, including 604 through the air and eight touchdowns. Bowens has more than 300 total yards and five scores, while sophomore receiver Baron Marshall has a team-high 247 yards.
As for Washburn Rural, the Junior Blues squared off with one of the top teams on the Missouri side in Platte County and suffered their first loss, 60-28, as the Pirates are the defending Class 5 state champions. Prior to the loss, the Junior Blues had racked up more than 80 points in their wins over Shawnee Heights and Blue Valley. They will look to continue that against Northwest and will be led by John Hoytal. The Rural quarterback threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns last week, and for the season he has more than 700 yards through the air and 10 scores. Nate Selm was his favorite target against Platte County as he had 156 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
Labette County (3-0) at Wellington (2-1)
Although this is a non-league matchup, Labette County and Wellington are more than familiar with each other as this will be the eighth straight matchup between the two programs. Wellington has won all seven of the previous matchups, including a 43-6 victory at Labette County a season ago.
Labette County will look to make more history again this Friday as the Grizzlies are coming off one of the bigger victories in program history under first-year coach Bradley Argabright. Labette County earned its first-ever win in 42 tries over Pittsburg in a 20-13 victory that came down to the final seconds as the two programs have met since 1965. Quarterback Aaron Wyrick came up big in the game with two touchdowns and the game-saving tackle at the 2-yard line as time expired. Deontae Fields has been one of the top performers offensively this season as well as the Grizzlies are out to their best start since 2003.
As for Wellington, the Crusaders are coming off an 18-14 victory over Clearwater. Wellington got out to a 12-0 lead, lost it, only to get it back on a 30-yard touchdown run from running back Jalik Armstrong with 621 left in the game. Armstrong has been big for the Crusaders so far this season as he has tallied more than 400 yards on the ground and six touchdowns through three games. Quarterback Colton Elmore, who is in his first year as a starter, has 512 yards through the air and five scores. Wellington's lone loss has been to the defending Class 3A state champion, Andale.
SM Northwest (2-1) at Olathe Northwest (2-1)
Shawnee Mission Northwest and Olathe Northwest are fresh off victories last week as both teams try and keep pace with league leader Mill Valley for the Sunflower League title race. Not only that, but both teams will lean on the rushing attack in a game that looks to be won up front.
Shawnee Mission Northwest will run its vintage option attack led by quarterback Trai Woodruff, who has put together three strong performances to start his season. The most recent one came in a victory over Olathe West as the senior quarterback rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the Cougars’ 52-33 win. Tailback Demetric Tyler was a nice compliment to Woodruff, who had 147 yards on the ground and three scores. The Cougars’ defense will also look to build off their five-turnover performance against Olathe West.
Olathe Northwest has won two straight since its week one loss to Shawnee Mission East, which includes a 38-17 victory over Lawrence last Friday. The Ravens have relied on their rushing attack as senior Bryce Randall has had a good start to the season with 537 yards on the ground to go along with six touchdowns, while 145 of those yards came against Lawrence. Quarterback Brody Comfort and junior running back Noah Harrell also scored for the Ravens. Olathe Northwest will also look to continue it strong defensive play as it has allowed just 21 points in the last two games.
No. 3 Ottawa (3-0) at Eudora (2-1)
Ottawa entered last season with three straight victories only to see that winning streak come to an end against Eudora and now the Cyclones are hoping history doesn’t repeat itself Friday on the road. They will travel to Eudora as both teams are undefeated in Frontier League play and the winner will take hold of the league title race. Both are also coming off impressive victories in week three.
Eudora put together its best game of the young season as the Cardinals jumped out to a double digit lead on Spring Hill and never looked back in their 24-14 victory. Greyson Moody had a big night on the ground of Eudora as he carried the ball 24 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns against a Spring Hill defense that had only allowed seven points in their first two games. The Cardinals will also rely on a defense that has given up just 14 points in their last two games.
Despite getting out to a slow start in a game that was littered with penalties, Ottawa’s offense caught fire as the Cyclones cruised to a 40-7 victory over then No. 5-ranked Paola. Despite losing all-state wide receiver Nate Sims for the season with an injury earlier in the year, Ottawa didn’t seem to lose a step as quarterback Hayden Hull had 152 yards through the air and three touchdowns in the win. The Cyclones have now outscored their opponents 130-20 on the season as they moved up to the No. 3 spot in the recent polls.
Blue Valley (1-2) at No. 5 St. James Academy (2-1)
The schedule has been a tough one for St. James Academy and Blue Valley to start the season as both teams have already faced and lost to No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas. As they move through the Eastern Kansas League schedule, it doesn’t get much easier as the two league powers will square off Friday at St. James’ new Marian Stadium.
Blue Valley faced off with St. James twice last season as St. James ended the Tigers’ run in the playoffs, 48-22, after defeating the Thunder 20-10 in the regular season. The Tigers will look to get some revenge as they look for their second win of the season after a one-point loss to Washburn Rural in week two, before falling to Aquinas last week. Quarterback Dan Sogard has led the Tiger offense as he has thrown for 647 yards and seven touchdowns compared to just one interception. Sogard also like to throw to several different receivers, but Jacob Lockett leads the team with 238 yards receiving and two scores.
St. James was hurt by injuries in week one, but backup quarterback John Hornback has taken the reigns of the Thunder offense as he has nearly 400 yards through the air and five touchdowns. In last week’s 21-7 win over Blue Valley Northwest, the Thunder leaned on their rushing attack — more specifically Jake House. The Thunder senior had 218 yards on the ground on 23 carries and had a touchdown. Hornback did have two passing touchdowns, both to senior wide receiver Preston Canzoneri. St. James’ defense also came through with three turnovers against the Huskies.
Tonganoxie (2-1) at Paola (2-1)
Since Tonganoxie joined the Frontier League in 2020, the Chieftains have had their way with Paola. Tonganoxie has downed Paola the last four seasons, but the Panthers are hoping to end that losing streak at home on Friday. The Panthers lost 42-28 in a high-scoring matchup a year ago.
Paola jumped out of the gate strong as the Panthers won their first two games of the season and moved up to No. 5 in the state rankings. That ranking was short-lived as the Panthers ran into No. 3 Ottawa and fell 40-7 in a game where more than 40 flags were thrown. A pair of sophomores have led Paola so far as quarterback Mason Stein and running back Bodhi Shay have helped a Panther offense put up more than 60 points in the two previous games in wins over Fort Scott and Louisburg.
As for Tonganoxie, the Chieftains bounced back from a loss to Spring Hill in week two and responded with a 40-15 victory over Lansing last week. Sophomore Bodee Maslak had a big night with 228 yards passing and two touchdowns, while senior Jacob Morenz was his favorite target with six catches for 163 yards. Junior running back Blake Riedel also had 100 yards on the ground and a touchdown.