SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS WEEK 4 PICK SIX
 
WICHITA NORTHWEST (3-0) AT KAPAUN MT. CARMEL (3-0)
 
The marquee matchup in the Greater Wichita Athletic League will unfold at the Stryker Complex, with Kapaun entering at No. 1 in KSHSAA Covered’s Class 4A rankings and Northwest sitting No. 2 in 6A.
 
Kapaun is coming off an impressive 38-7 victory over Wichita East last week. The Crusaders stormed to a 28-0 halftime lead behind touchdown runs from quarterback Cole Rapp, fullback Cal Purvis and tailback Wyatt Sullenger. Rapp added a touchdown pass to wide receiver Rocco Keller.
 
Northwest passed its first road test a week ago, scoring 21 fourth-quarter points in a 31-21 victory over Junction City. The Grizzlies ran for 322 yards, with senior Johnmichael Fountain gaining 131 yards on six carries and senior Augie Fast adding 95 yards on six attempts.
 
Kapaun defeated Northwest twice during the 2021 season when both teams competed in Class 5A. But the Grizzlies have taken the last three meetings, including a 48-24 victory last season in which Northwest quarterback Jaylen Mason accounted for 331 yards and five touchdowns. The Grizzlies won a 42-35 shootout two years ago at Stryker.
 

DERBY (2-1) AT MAIZE (3-0)
 
Maize has spent most of September flipping the script on its 2024 season, when it lost its first four games before rallying to win the next five.
 
The last hurdle on the Eagles’ avenge tour figures to be the most daunting.
 
Derby has settled in at No. 3 in 6A, bouncing back from a 22-21 loss in its opener to 5A No. 3 Hays with dominating victories over Campus and Salina South. Junior Arieus Finley ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 57-21 victory over Salina South as Derby rolled up 612 total yards.
 
Maize, which entered the 6A rankings this week at No. 5, was equally impressive a week ago, ripping off 28 first-quarter points in a 56-19 victory at Hutchinson. Senior quarterback Brayden Myovela ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and the Eagle defense scored on an interception return and fumble recovery to fuel the 200^th career victory for Maize coach Gary Guzman.
 
Derby and Maize staged a trio of classic showdowns from 2020-22, with each game decided by one point. Derby has won the last two meetings, including a 59-7 romp a year ago. Maize turned the offense over to Myovela a week later, and has won eight of its last nine games since that point.

 
VALLEY CENTER (2-1) AT ANDOVER CENTRAL (2-1)
 
The common thread for Valley Center and Andover Central entering their Week 4 matchup is a loss to Hutchinson, though both teams would likely prefer to draw from what has occurred in their other games.
 
Valley Center opened its season with a victory over last year’s Class 5A semifinalist Eisenhower, then rebounded from its loss to Hutch last week with a 35-14 victory at Maize South. Senior quarterback Connor Thatcher had a big night, completing 17 of 18 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Thatcher has passed for 732 yards and seven touchdowns this season, with sophomore Spencer Crumrine and junior RayJ Logan combining for 35 receptions for 548 yards and six scores.
 
Andover Central lost 34-0 to Hutch in its opener, but has bounced back with victories over Newton and Arkansas City. Junior Jaxson Green ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 35-14 victory at Ark City, and has 68 carries for 469 yards and five TDs so far.
 
Central has dominated the series, winning 12 of 13 meetings, including a 24-0 victory last year on its way to the Class 4A title. The Hornets’ lone victory came in 2020, when they won 14-12.

 
ANDALE (3-0) AT WICHITA COLLEGIATE (2-1)
 
Andale, No. 1 in Class 3A, brings a 16-game winning streak into its final Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV test of the season and will try to win its 12^th straight against Collegiate.
 
The Indians have scored a whopping 234 points in their first three games, including 189 in the first halves. Quarterback Sam Harp ran 63 yards on the first play from scrimmage in Andale’s 53-13 victory at Rose Hill last week, and finished with 11 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns. The Indians limited Rose Hill to 47 yards and forced five turnovers.
 
Collegiate rebounded from a season-opening loss at Wellington to defeat Rose Hill and El Dorado. The Spartans only got to play one half last week due to inclement weather in a 42-0 victory over El Dorado. Quarterback Isaac Vanderburg passed for 97 yards and three touchdowns for Collegiate.
 
Andale has shut out Collegiate three times and held the Spartans to a single score five other times in its 11-game series winning streak. Harp ran for two touchdowns and passed for two in last year’s 47-6 victory.

 
DOUGLASS (2-1) AT HAVEN (3-0)
 
No team in Kansas produced a more eye-catching result last week than Douglass, which defeated two-time reigning Class 1A champion Conway Springs 44-3 to earn its first victory against the Cardinals since 1996.
 
The Bulldogs will now try to prevent Haven from starting 4-0 for the second consecutive season.
 
Douglass bounced back from a 24-14 loss to 1A No. 5 Marion to stun Conway Springs behind 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns from junior Carter Green. Quarterback Kane Ast has played well since returning from an ACL injury that sidelined him midway through the 2024 season. He ran and passed for a touchdown in last week’s signature win.
 
Haven is one of the last two unbeatens in the Central Kansas League along with Hoisington. The Wildcats handed Smoky Valley its first loss last week, using three first-quarter touchdowns by Cole Brawner to win 38-6. Haven, which defeated Douglass 37-0 last season, has yielded just 25 points in its first three games.

 
PRATT (2-1) AT CHAPARRAL (3-0)
 
After finishing 1-8 a year ago, Chaparral is unbeaten through three weeks for the first time since 2022. The Roadrunners’ schedule heats up with four of their remaining five opponents having winning records.
 
Chaparral’s offense has used a committee approach to average 33 points so far. Junior quarterback Daniel Schmidt has passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns, with his 16 completions spread among nine receivers. Sophomore Vohn Williams leads a balanced rushing attack with 161 yards and two touchdowns. The Roadrunners are averaging 210 yards on the ground.
 
Pratt shook off a season-opening loss at Hoisington to defeat Halstead and Larned, scoring 41 points in each victory. Senior Cresten Pore passed for 149 yards and two touchdowns last week against Larned, while sophomore Cade Liggett has averaged 105.7 rushing yards in the Greenbacks’ first three games.
 
The game will be the first non-league test for each team. Pratt rolled to a 49-10 victory over Chaparral a year ago, limiting the Roadrunners to 142 total yards.