By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ELLSWORTH (6-2, 1-1) AT LARNED (5-4, 2-0)
Crafty Larned coach A.B. Stokes will have a box full of trick plays prepared for Ellsworth after stunning the Hoisington Cardinals 29-22. RB Anthony McConnell (927 yards, 12 TDs) scored on 66- and 73-yard runs and WR Damontay Phillips scored on a 54-yard run and completed a 68-yard TD pass to Brock Skelton.
Ellsworth QB Zach Schneider (610 yards passing, 6 TDs; 779 yards rushing, 5 TDs), RB Jordan Base (252 yards, 5 TDS) have led the Bearcats, who captured the NCAA title.
HODGEMAN COUUNTY (7-1, 4-0) AT OTIS-BISON (7-1, 4-0)
The Cougars is assured of a 14th playoff trip, but guarantees a home game with a victory. QB Anton Foust (579 yards, 12 TDs) threw for four touchdowns against Triplains in a 64-0 victory. RB Blake Bahr (752 yards, 16 TDs) is a big-play threat.
The Cougars 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.
HOISINGTON (5-3, 1-1) AT LYONS (0-8, 0-2)
Punchless Lyons has been shut out three consecutive weeks and has gone scoreless five times. Hoisington will clinch a sixth consecutive playoff trip and a trip to Cimarron Tuesday. TB Sean Urban (975 yards, 11 TDs) rushed for 179 yards and scored two TDs against Larned. RB Wyatt Pedigo (551 yards, 7 TDs) and RB Rudy Gearhart (352 yards, 5 TDs) will fight for first-half scores.
WESKAN (6-2) AT PAWNEE HEIGHTS (7-0)
6-MAN SEMIFINAL
The Tigers dominated Weskan with a stunning 51-6 victory Sept. 22 at Ransom. Weskan beat the Tigers 36-18 in last year’s 6-man title game. Tiger TB Kade Scott has been unstoppable with 1,322 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Pawnee Heights has captured $1,000 for its athletic department. A grand prize winner receives a new custom mascot outfit. Mascot Mania’s “Final 5” will conclude with the winning high school announced at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 on KAKE-TV.
ELLINWOOD (1-7, 0-4) AT CANTON-GALVA (4-4, 2-2)
Ellinwood is riding a seven-game losing streak in its final season of 8-man football. Eagle Drew Blake scored two touchdowns and Jacob Herrman scored a TD in a 66-18 loss to Little River last week. Canton-Galva’s Dylan Wood rushed for 196 yards and five touchdowns and Landon Everett threw a touchdown pass in a 46-0 rout over Goessel last week.
ST. JOHN (2-6, 1-3) AT LITTLE RIVER (6-2, 3-1)
The Tigers gained 13 yards against Central Plains. Tiger starters have featured QB-MLB Eddy Ibarra, WR-S Cashe McVey, RB-LB Keven Neri-Leon, C Trevor Tanner, LG-DE Eddy Calleros, RG-DT Jace Brittain, OE-DE Conner Engel and E-LB Jorden Taylor.
Little River’s Hunter Thomas rushed for 209 yards and three scores and Graham Stephens scored four touchdowns in a 66-18 win over Ellinnwood.
GOESSEL (2-6, 2-2) AT CENTRAL PLAINS (7-1, 4-0)
The No. 3-state ranked Oilers have dominated since beating Otis-Bison 36-12, winning by an average score of 60-2 with four shutouts. Goessel gained 18 yards last week in a 46-0 loss to Canton-Galva.
RB Dalton Beck scored four touchdowns and Alex Hickel scored twice in a 56-0 rout over Ellinwood. QB Myles Menges completed a TD pass to Alex Barton.
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.
FAIRFIELD (0-8, 0-4) AT MACKSVILLE (6-2, 3-1)
Macksville is required to show up and roll winless Fairfield, which has been outscored by an average score of 60-12. Macksville will play Central Plains (7-1) in its first playoff trip since 2011. TB Jacob Rein rushed for five touchdowns rushed for 208 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-22 win over Attica-Argonia. QB Kody Mead added a touchdown run. Mead has thrown for 1,136 yards and 24 touchdowns. Rein has rushed for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kaleb Lickiss intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble forced by Nate Brandyberry.
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.
STAFFORD (4-4, 3-1) AT PRETTY PRAIRIE (6-2, 3-1)
Stafford is a heavy underdog against perennial playoff qualifier Pretty Prairie. Stafford’s QB Caleb Hildebrand scored two rushing TDs and scored on a 70-yard kickoff return in a 29-12 victory over Bucklin. RB Justice Manning (536 yards, 4 TDs) rushed for two TDs and TB Caleb Hilebrand (736 yards, 13 TDs) averages 14 tackles per game. Stafford has made five playoff trips, the last time in 2014.
Pretty Prairie QB Samuel Livingston has rushed for 21 TDs and 1,010 yards and thrown for 10 TDs and 477 yards. RB Lane Bearce has nine TDs with 527 yards.
