Victoria (5-4) at Central Plains (10-1)
Victoria’s 14-year playoff streak was ended in a three-way tiebreaker. QB Kollin Kisner, TB Tyler Knowles, FB Cooper Pfannenstiel and TE Cole Schmidtberger headline the Knights.
Central Plains features a munlti-faceted offensive show with QB Devin Ryan (1,650 yards, 32 TDs), All-CPL WR Alex Barton (815 yards, 17 TDs), RB Alex Hickel (530 yards, 12 TDs) and All-CPL RB Dalton Beck (457 yards, 8 TDs). All-CPL second team G-DE Brett Liebl headlines the line.
Hoisington (12-1) at Kingman (3-6)
Hoisington’s RB Sean Urban (1,034 yards, 9 TDs) leads a run-oriented offense that averaged 382 yards rushing. RB-ILB Jake Curtis, OL-ILB Eric Barrett, RB-ILB Wyatt Pedigo, RB-SS Rudy Gearhart and OL-DL Jared Curtis return.
Kingman returns nine offensive and seven defensive starters, led by second-team All-Central Kansas League OL Adam Meng and DL Jack Govert.
Macksville (4-5) at Ness City (7-3)
The Central Prairie League game should feature an offensive shootout.
Macksville leads with WR Karson Waters (920 yards, 14 TDs), WR Kreed Parr (434 yards, 7 TDs), QB Jacob Rein (603 yards) and RB Luis Sanez (363 yards, 5 TDs).
Ness City’s QB John Pfannenstiel (796 yards, 13 TDs) and RB Brennan Chacon (1,216 yards, 20 TDs) return with OL-DL Levi Crosswhite, OL-DL Trevor VanDegrift, DB Nate Gabel, LB Angel Guzman (56 tackles) and FS Andreas Rios.
Kinsley (0-9) at Ellinwood (3-6)
It’s a huge opener for both teams. Kinsley was competitive, losing 42-36 to South Gray and 44-34 to St. John last year. QB Kellen Herrman, WR Bryce Herrman and WR Tyler Gerhardt lead the offense.
Ellinwood returns LG-DE Bryce Baker, RB-DB Drew Blake, second-team All-CPL G-DE Kody Koetter WR Landon Robel and RG-DT Colby Prescott.
Larned (3-8) at Pratt (12-1)
Run-oriented Larned returns seven defensive and seven offensive starters from a surprising 3A playoff team that pushed Pratt last year. The Indians feature a nice mix of quality skill players and linemen.
All-state Pratt TB Travis Theis rushed for 1,975 yards and 24 TDs last season, including a 261-yard four-TD state title game against Topeka Hayden in a 48-14 victory. QB Landon Studer accounted for 1,500 yards last season.
Otis-Bison (6-3) at St. John (3-6)
Otis-Bison TB Blake Bahr (669 yards) is the featured back in the Cougars’ run-oriented offense. OL Landon Hoopingarner, OL Luke Higgason and WR Maitland Wiltse provide the Cougars with size and strength in the offensive line.
It’s the coaching debut for St. John coach Mike Joiner. The Tigers return four returning starters — Jace Brittain, Conner Engel, Keven Neri-Leon, and Cashe McVey.
Pawnee Heights (6-3)
at Ransom-Western Plains
Pawnee Heights will look to compliment TB Kade Scott (2,724 yards, 36 TDS) after he rushed for a 300-yard average last year. all-state C-LB Caleb Karst, RB-DL Dalton Hamby, RB-S Trace Baker and DL Gabe Oddo also return for a high-powered offense. Western Plains returns to football action after not competing last year.
Stafford (0-9) at Norwich (5-4)
Stafford’s one-two punch is QB Caleb Hildebrand and WR Nick Gift. Norwich’s RB-DB Carter Payne, OL-DL Bailey Luck and WR-DB Cody Bartel returns as starters.
