The St. John High School football team found success throwing the ball in the first two weeks.
Central Plains did as well.
The Tigers (1-1) host the Oilers (1-1) Friday night at 7 in Central Prairie League action.
Senior quarterback Spencer Nusser leads St. John with five touchdowns through the air. He also has two touchdowns on the ground.
“He’s been doing a much better job,” St. John head coach Nick Garcia said. “This is his first year doing this. He’s making good choices with the ball, really settling in.”
Nusser has found a favorite target in 6-foot-7 receiver Dean Wade.
Wade had 80 receiving yards, including a 17-yard touchdown against Otis-Bison in Week 1, and caught 12- and 33-yard touchdown passes against Victoria.
“He’s been doing really well,” Garcia said of Wade. “It’s not only his size. He has good hands. He runs his routes well.
“As a safety, he made an acrobatic interception against Victoria. He kind of bent up like a pretzel, and he came up with the ball.”
Last season’s leading receiver, Zuriel Reyes, might be returning from an injury soon, according to Garcia.
“We have multiple guys who can catch the ball,” Garcia said. “Zuriel started practicing with us this week. He’ll be a game-time decision, but he will definitely be suited up on Friday.”
Reyes had 20 receptions for 609 yards and 10 TDs last year.
Central Plains has an effective quarterback, too.
Bryce Steiner has completed four touchdown passes thus far, and he has spread the ball around, hitting Colton Zink, Joe Barton and Layne Bieberle for scores. He also rushed for a TD.
Bieberle has emerged as favorite target for the Oilers, scoring on a pair of receptions. He has also returned a punt 47 yards and a kick 72 yards for touchdowns this season.
“(Steiner) and Bieberle, that’s their go-to guys,” Garcia said. “Bieberle has good hands. He’s a good receiver. Steiner is pretty elusive when he gets into the open field.”

Hoisington (0-2)
at Sunrise Christian Academy (0-2)
Hoisington has had a rough schedule so far.
The Cardinals lost to Class 5A Great Bend, 14-6, in the season and home opener.
Hoisington then traveled to La Crosse, which was last year’s 2A state runner-up, and lost 34-12.
“Our feeling is, it was a struggle, but we’re confident that our goals are still intact,” Hoisington head coach Jason Ingram said. “One of the struggles was what our intensity needs to be before the game.
“I think the kids know what that needs to be now.”
As quarterback, Hagan Hanzlick has completed only 6 of 24 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown three interceptions.
Hanzlick is the Cardinals’ leading rusher, totaling 159 yards.
Tailback Chance Demel has 74 yards and one touchdown on the young season.
“We’re working on our passing game,” Ingram said, “and covering the pass for our defense. We saw some things that we have to work on. We also know that our running game is important, so we’re just trying to clean it up.”
With losses to Kingman (52-34) and Douglass (22-20), Sunrise Christian Academy is also looking for its first win.
Quarterback Zack Howell leads the Buffaloes offense, completing 64 of 109 passes for 559 yards and six touchdowns. He has thrown two interceptions.

Thomas More Prep Marian (1-1)
at Larned (2-0)
Larned continued to make momentous strides one week after ending a three-season-long losing streak, beating Mid-Central Activities Association opponent Ellinwood last week, 42-20, to open the season with two straight wins.
The Indians will be playing host an MCAA team in TMP. Larned has shown a balanced attack on offense, with heavy doses of running back Brady Keith and quarterback Easton Palmer.
Keith has rushed for 402 yards and eight touchdowns, and Palmer has completed 25 of 38 passes for 394 yards.
The Monarchs beat Ellinwood 38-20 in Week 1 at home.
TMP is coming off a 28-7 loss to Clay Center.

Otis-Bison (2-0) at Hoxie (1-1)
Dylan Wissman continues to lead Otis-Bison.
Last week against Central Plains, Wissman rushed for 307 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-14 Cougars victory.
Wissman’s season totals after two games are 480 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Hoxie is coming off a 20-6 loss against Wallace County.
The Indians are led by Chase Kennedy, who has rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown this season.
Steven Yergey-Dible is their leading scorer, with three touchdowns and 71 rushing yards.

Macksville (0-2)
at Kiowa County (1-1)
Macksville’s offense has been struggling to put up points early in the season.
The Mustangs have scored 28 points combined in the first two weeks, while their defense is giving up 92.
Quarterback Tanner Tranbarger has been involved in all of Macksville’s TDs. He’s rushed for three scores in Week 1 and returned a kick 79 yards for the Mustangs’ only touchdown in Week 2.
Kiowa County beat Montezuma-South Gray last week, 40-14.

Ellis (0-2) at Ellinwood (0-2)
Ellinwood opened the season with a pair of MCAA games. The Eagles were tripped up on the road against Thomas More Prep Marian, 36-20, and last week in their home opener, they lost to Larned, 42-20.
Senior running back Patrick Ringering leads Ellinwood with 248 yards and three touchdowns.
Ellis is coming off a 56-0 loss at the hands of Plainville.
Ellis has only scored six points in the first two weeks.

Central Christian (0-2)
at Stafford (1-1)
Stafford secured its first win last week against Burrton, a 50-0 drumming.
Stafford running back Ethan Johnson rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season total up to 211 yards and four scores.
Central Christian has managed only six points thus far, scoring last week in a 36-6 loss to Attica.