By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(Kickoffs at 7 p.m., unless noted)
THURSDAY'S GAME
Class 2A
GALENA (4-4) at SILVER LAKE (6-2)
6 p.m. kickoff
Silver Lake, the No. 5 Class 2A East seed, will host No. 12 seed Galena in a Halloween Night battle to open the post season. Silver Lake finished second in 2A District 3, ending its regular season with a 29-12 win over Council Grove (5-3) as senior quarterback Dysen Schooler threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a 31-yard TD. Galena ended its regular season with a 36-20 win over Baxter Springs.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Class 6A
TOPEKA HIGH (4-4) at JUNCTION CITY (4-4)
The Trojans and Centennial League rival Junction City will square off for the second time in four games in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs. Topeka High was installed as the No. 9 West seed after a 49-24 non-league loss at Pittsburg Friday night while Junction City is the No. 8 seed in the West after a 38-0 league win over Emporia. Junction City took a 50-21 win over Topeka High in Week 6 of the regular season, also at Junction City.
WASHBURN RURAL (3-5) at MAIZE (4-4)
Washburn Rural is the No. 10 seed in Class 6A West and will travel to Maize to face the No. 7 West seed. The Junior Blues are coming off a 56-14 Centennial League road loss at unbeaten Manhattan Friday night. Washburn Rural will be facing a Maize team that has won four straight games, including a 50-0 win over Salina South in Week 8.
Class 5A
TOPEKA WEST (1-7) at SEAMAN (6-2)
Topeka West and Seaman will face off for the second time this season, with the Vikings taking a 53-6 United Kansas Conference win over the Chargers in Week 3. UKC champion Seaman is coming off a 42-28 conference loss to De Soto on Friday while West dropped 58-21 UKC decision to Piper. Seaman is the No. 3 Class 5A West seed while Topeka West is the No. 14 seed.
PITTSBURG (6-2) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (6-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park ended up as the No. 8 seed in Class 5A East and drew a tough opening round opponent in No. 9 seed Pittsburg, also 6-2. The Purple Dragons ended their regular season with a 49-24 home non-league decision over Topeka High. Highland Park capped its regular season on Thursday night with a 38-28 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Washington.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (2-6) at SPRING HILL (7-1)
Shawnee Heights picked up its second win of the season Friday night, taking a 69-30 United Kansas Conference road decision over Kansas City-Turner, while Spring Hill edged Louisburg, 14-13. Spring Hill is the No. 5 Class 5A East seed whlile Heights is the No. 12 seed. Junior quarterback Aiden Scott completed 23 of 28 passes fo 387 yards and six touchdowns against Turner while Parker Busenitz had seven catches for 142 yards and two TDs and Tyren Parker has six catches for 121 yards and two TDs.
Class 3A
HIAWATHA (2-6) at HAYDEN (7-1)
After wrapping up the Class 3A District 4 championship a week earlier, Hayden closed out a 7-1 regular season with a 43-0 road win over Jefferson West Friday night. Hiawatha will be facing Hayden for the second time this season, with the Wildcats taking a 49-0 home district decision in Week 5. Hayden is the No. 3 East seed while Hiawatha is the No. 14 seed, dropping a 34-20 district loss to Perry-Lecompton Friday night.
Class 1A
WABAUNSEE (3-5) at ROSSVILLE (5-3)
In a strange scheduling quirk, Rossville will play Class 1A District 2 foe Wabaunsee for the second straight week. Rossville, which has won five straight games, rolled to a 55-14 win over the Chargers last Friday night in the Bulldawgs' regular-season finale. Rossville is the No. 4 1A East seed while Wabaunsee is the No. 13 seed. Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak passed for four touchdowns, including three to Andre Johnson, and also ran for a TD while Conner Bush ran for a pair of TDs in the Bulldawgs' win over Wabaunsee Friday night.