By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Perennial playoff qualifiers Otis-Bison and Central Plains start 8-man district play along with Macksville, Ellinwood, St. John and Stafford Friday. The top two teams in each district qualifies for the 8-man state playoffs.
WALLACE CO. (1-3) at OTIS-BISON (3-1)
The Cougars, who have made 13 playoff trips, stunned previously-ranked Victoria 22-20 last week when they stopped a 2-point conversion. QB Anton Foust rushed for two TDs and passed to Maitland Wiltse for a score. Foust has thrown for 284 yards and five scores. Bahr has 573 yards and 10 TDs.
start QB-DE Anton Foust, RB-S Blake Bahr, RB-LB Daniel Scott, C-NG Landon Hoopingarner, LG Hunter Mitchell, RG-DE Luke Higgason, TE Clade Anderson, TE-DB Maitland Wiltse, LB Seth Hopingarner, LB Bevan Gradig, NG Kaden Schwartz.
“We have momentum going into district play,” said Otis-Bison football coach Travis Starr. “If we compete with Victoria, you’re got a pretty solid football team. We’ve got a pretty tough group. We showed that Friday. If you play hard and play well, you’ve got a chance. We had to take care of ourseelves before we could worry about next opponent.”
Last year, the Cougars lost two close district games 36-30 to Dighton and 28-20 to Wallace County.
“We lost three close games last year going into the last quarter. It stung a lot. We’ve talked about finishing ballgames. Our new season starts with Wallace County.”
CENTRAL PLAINS (3-1) at CANTON-GALVA (2-2)
Central Plains, the 2014 state champion, has earned five playoff trips. QB Myles Menges threw for four touchdowns with Alex Barton and Dalton beck each catching two scores in a 68-0 victory over Kinsley. Jerred Bieberle, Jacob McAtee and Dylan Lemieux scored TDs and Philip Donecker scored on a fumble return. Menges has thrown for 348 yards.
The Oilers start QB Myles Menges, C-DE Philip Donecker, RG-DE Lee Letourneau, LG Kealy Burris, E-DB Kade Beck, E-S Alex Barton, RB-LB Dalton Beck, RB Alex Hickel, RB-LB Jerred Bieberle, NG Dylan Lemieux and DB Devin Ryan.
SOUTH CENTRAL (3-1) AT MACKSVILLE (3-1)
Macksville has reached the playoffs 13 times and will seek its first trip since 2011. QB Kody Mead threw for eight touchdown passes in a 68-20 victory over St. John. If the Mustangs can beat South Central, they’ll be in good position for a playoff appearance. Mead has thrown for 684 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Mustangs start RB-WR Jacob Rein, QB-DE Kody Mead, E-DB Karson Waters, D-DB Kreed Parr, RB Luis Saenz, C-NG Kaleb Lickiss, LG-DE Clayton Cross, LB Nate Brandyberry and LB Brandon Ibarra.
South Central QB Chayde Snyder has thrown for 238 yards. RB Dalton Morehead has rushed for
PRATT (4-0) at HOISINGTON (3-1)
Pratt tailback Travis Theis is averaging 220 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns. Defending Class 4A-Div. 2 state champion Pratt is averaging 390 yards rushing and QB Landon Studer averages 40 yards passing with two TDs.
Hoisington is riding a 21-game home winning streak and beat Pratt 32-14 last year. RB Sean Urban (302 yards, 4 TDs), RB Wyatt Pedigo (267 yards, 3 TDs), and RB Rudy Gearhart (181 yards, 3 TDs) help the Cardinals aveerage 226 yards rushing.
LARNED (2-2) at NICKERSON (3-1)
Larned and Nickerson may feature an offensive shootout. Larned RB Anthony McConnell (633 yards, 10 TDs) averages 158 yards rushing and the Indians average 261 yards rushing per game. QB Carson Smith, WR Damontay Phillips and RB Wes Davis are reliable offensive threats.
Nickerson FB Peyton Kuhns averages 160 yards rushing and has scored 11 touchdowns. He scored six touchdowns against Haven. The Panthers average 303 yards rushing.
ELLINWOOD (1-3) at ST. JOHN (1-3)
Ellinwood has reached the football playoffs 12 times, but not since 2004. St. John owns 11 playoff trips, the last time in 2012.
St. John beat Ellinwood 22-20 on a game-ending safety last year. Ellinwod’s Kody Koetter and Drew Blake scored TDs and Blake rushed for 138 yards in a 32-22 loss to Ness City. Ellinwood starts RB-DB Drew Blake, RB-LB Kody Koetter, C-DE Bryce Baker, LG Jacob Herrman, RG Colby Prescott, QB Kyler Doll, TE-DB Nathan Monday, TE-DE Landon Ronl, NG Zeb Hughes, LB Ethan Hayes and S Ryan Niles.
St. John’s Keven Neri-Leon scored three touchdowns in a 68-20 loss to Macksville. LB Cashe McVey had six unassisted tackles. Tiger starters include QB-S Cashe McVey, RB-LB Neri-Leon, RB-MLB Eddy Ibarra, C Trevor Tanner, LG-DE Eddy Calleros, RG-DT Jace Brittain, OE-DE Conner Engel and E-LB Jorden Taylor.
WALLACE CO. vs. PAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-0) AT REXFORD
TB Kade Scott rushed for 237 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-6 victory over defending six-man champion Weskan last week. Tiger offensive starters are QB Trace Baker, TB Kade Scott, FB Dalton Hamby C Caleb Karst, E Jackson Henbest, E Gabe Oddo and E Shawn Peterson.
STAFFORD (1-3) AT CHASE (1-3)
Stafford has five playoff trips, the last time in 2014. Stafford QB Celab Hildebrand scored four touchdowns in a 48-24 loss to Oxford last week. Chase QB Lane Hinderliter and RB Dylan Miller are Chase’s leaders.
CENTRAL KANSAS LEAGUE
Pratt 4-0 4-0
Hoisington 2-0 3-1
Nickerson 3-1 3-1
S. Valley 3-1 3-1
Hesston 2-1 2-2
Larned 2-2 2-2
Kingman 2-2 2-2
Hillsboro 1-3 1-3
Halstead 1-3 1-3
Haven 0-4 0-4
Lyons 0-4 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Halstead at Hillsboro
Hesston at Smoky Valley
Larned at Nickerson
Lyons at Haven
Pratt at Hoisington
CENTRAL PRAIRIE LEAGUE
Victoria 3-1 3-1
Otis-Bison 3-1 3-1
Macksville 3-1 3-1
Cent. Plains 3-1 3-1
Ness City 2-2 2-2
Ellinwood 1-3 1-3
St. John 1-3 1-3
Kinsley 0-4 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Central Plains at Canton-Galva
Ellinwood at St. John
Logan-Palco at Victoria
So. Central at Macksville
Wallace Co. at Otis-Bison
Ness City at Kinsley
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Garden City 1-0 4-0
Hays High 2-1 2-2
Great Bend 1-1 2-2
Liberal 0-1 2-1
Dodge City 0-1 1-3
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Dodge City at Wichita South
Garden City at Liberal
Hays at Valley Center
Wichita West at Great Bend
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 16
Ellsworth 0-0 3-1
Hoisington 0-0 3-1
Larned 0-0 2-2
Lyons 0-0 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Larned at Nickerson
Lyons at Haven
Pratt at Hoisington
Salina Sacred Heart at Ellsworth
EIGHT-MAN 1-DISTRICT 5
Central Plains 0-0 3-1
Little River 0-0 3-1
Canton-Galva 0-0 2-2
Ellinwood 0-0 1-3
St. John 0-0 1-3
Goessel 0-0 1-3
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Central Plains at Canton-Galva
Little River at Goessel
Ellinwood at St. John
EIGHT-MAN 1-DISTRICT 6
So. Central 0-0 3-1
Attica 0-0 3-1
Macksville 0-0 3-1
Kiowa Co. 0-0 2-2
Skyline 0-0 0-4
Fairfield 0-0 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Fairfield at Kiowa Co.
South Central at Macksville
Skyline at Attica
EIGHT-MAN 2-DISTRICT 6
Dighton 0-0 4-0
Otis-Bison 0-0 3-1
Hodge Co 0-0 3-1
Greeley Co 0-0 3-1
Wallace Co 0-0 1-3
Triplains 0-0 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Dighton at Triplains
Hodgeman Co. at Greeley Co.
Wallace Co. at Otis-Bison
EIGHT-MAN 2-DISTRICT 7
So. Barber 0-0 3-1
PPrairie 0-0 3-1
Chase 0-0 1-3
Stafford 0-0 1-3
Bucklin 0-0 0-3
Ashland 0-0 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Bucklin at Ashland
Pretty Prairie at So. Barber
Stafford at Chase
6-MAN LEAGUE
Weskan 3-1 3-1
Pawnee Hts 4-0 4-0
Cheylin 3-1 3-1
Wheatland 3-1 3-1
G. Plains 2-2 2-2
Fowler 1-3 1-3
Natoma 0-4 0-4
W. Plains 0-4 0-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Fowler at Golden Plains
Pawnee Heights vs. Cheylin at Rexford
Western Plains at Natoma
Wheatland at Weskan
