RUSSELL (6-3) at HOISINGTON (7-2)
Hoisington owns a 24-22 all-time football playoff record. Coach Zach Baird is 5-3 in second-round playoff games. Russell (6-3) won a playoff game for the first time since 1973.
The Cardinals’ Flexbone offense averages 200-plus yards rushing with a balanced ground game — Tony Moore, 808 yards; Ian Smith, 550; Mason Alderdice, 499; and Teron Kraft, 397. The Cardinals start eight players both ways — keyed by 330-pound right guard Caiden Hoffman and 258-pound right tackle Cole Gilliland.
“This is what everyone gears for — the playoffs,” said coach Baird. “It’s a special time of their lives. We’ve got to go out and make plays. We hope our best football is ahead of us.”
The Cardinals started with two quick turnovers in a 42-18 playoff victory over Phillipsburg.
“It’s nice to see some adversity.” Baird said. “We dealt with it and woke up in a hurry. We executed later in the game.”
Moore has sparked the Flexbone offense, which requires good footwork and timing.
“What Tony Moore has done is unbelievable, for what we do offensively,” Baird said. “Tony is a smart kid. He can see something one time and learn from it.”
Russell quarterback Wyatt Middleton has thrown for 1,703 yards and 19 touchdowns. Jace Peerman has 406 yards and 10 scores and Jackson Cross has 538 yards and four scores. The Cardinals yielded six touchdown passes in losses to Pratt 37-13 and Hesston 21-14.
“Their quarterback has his eyes downfield and he’s accurate with the football,” Baird said. “They’ve got good athletic guys. It’ll be a good challenge.”
CARDINAL OFFENSE—QB Tony Moore (798 rushing; 537 passing); TB 8 Ian Smith (485 rushing); WB 2 Chase Steinert (174 rushing, 249 receiving); WB 4 Mason Alderdice (499 rushing); WR Leyton Haxton (147 receiving); TE 30 Gage Britt; LT 56 Jace Riese; LG 64 Elliott Copp; C 62 Logan Philbern; RG 76 Caiden Hoffman; RT 75 Cole Gilliland
CARDINAL DEFENSE—NG 76 Kaiden Hoffman; DE 75 Cole Gilliand; DE 61 Braxton Linsner; CB 4 Mason Alderdice; CB 3 Leyton Haxton; MLB 8 Ian Smith; MLB 24 Teron Kraft; OLB 30 Gage Britt; OLB 5 M.J. Aylward; S 11 Tony Moore; S Chase Steinert
RAWLINS CO. (7-2) at MACKSVILLE (9-0)
Friday’s second-round 6 p.m. showdown features a pair of talented dual-threat quarterbacks.
Macksville quarterback Ryan Kuckelman has passed for 902 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 856 yards and 18 scores. Tailback Hector Gomez has 17 touchdowns and 799 yards rushing. Receivers Lance Lickiss and Jason Cleveland each have seven receiving touchdowns.
“We’ve got a nice one-two offensive punch. The emergence of Hector Gomez has helped,” said Macksville coach Kyle Bright.
The Mustangs haven’t won two playoff games since 2008. Macksville is 17-17 all-time in the playoffs. The Mustangs won the 2007 Eight-Man 1 state football championships.
Atwood-Rawlins County is sparked by dual-threat quarterback Drew Withington with 720 yards rushing and 11 scores and 752 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Back Ryan Sramek has 10 touchdowns and 606 yards rushing. Hayden Reed has 540 yards and nine scores.
“They are a physical football team,” Bright said. “Their defense is super aggressive moving forward. We’ll have to play our best football.”
Atwood won three consecutive state titles in 1989 (Madison 26-7); 1990 Clifton-Clyde 66-34); and 1991 (Pittsburg Colgan 21-13).
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-5) at WAVERLY (8-0)
The Tigers, with seven players, enter as a huge underdog.
Tiger quarterback Davin Hamby has 1,117 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns after receiving laterals from Jimmy Gardner. Hamby has 598 yards passing and 10 scores. Gardner has gained 784 yards with 11 scores. Dakota Ryan is the top receiver.
Pawnee Heights captured the 2007 6-Man state football championship. The Tigers are 9-9 all-time in the playoffs.
Waverly passed their toughest test, 38-32 against Wetmore a few weeks ago. Quarterback Ben Meehan threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Brady Wallace, Luke Bartley and Brantley Peterson caught touchdown passes.
