By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
KC-EAST, MO. (0-6) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (4-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park will be looking to bounce back with a big non-league victory Thursday night against winless Kansas City-East, Mo. after suffering back-to-back road losses at Wichita East and Meadowlark Conferference power Atchison. The Scots are coming off a 62-21 loss to Atchison and will be eyeing a big offensive game Thursday after being outscored 136-27 over its past two games. Highland Park has outscored its foes 201-136 on the eason while East has been outscored 353-43 on the year. Senior running back Jamon Wilson, junior quarterback Dontrail Fox and sophomore running back G'Honi Montgomery have turned in big years for the Scots.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
PERRY-LECOMPTON (2-4, 1-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (5-1, 2-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden is coming off a big 31-7 Class 3A District 4 road win at Holton last week and is in control of the District 4 race. Perry-Lecompton is also coming off a win, taking a 43-14 decision over Jefferson West. Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 54 times for 507 yards and caught 17 passes for 251 yards while scoring 15 total touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 62 of 95 passes for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns while senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 17 passes for 295 yards and scored seven TDs. Sophomore Mason Becker is 32 of 32 on extra point attempts while senior Jude Krentz leads the Wildcats with 53 tackles (30 solo).
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (6-0, 5-0) at SEAMAN (5-1, 5-0 UKC)
Friday's game is likely to decide the United Kansas Conference championship, with both the Bobcats and Vikings entering the night 5-0 in the conference. Seaman took a 59-34 UKC win at Shawnee Heights last week while Basehor-Linwood took a 44-6 non-league win over Tonganoxie. Seaman has won four straight games since a non-league loss to Class 6A Shawnee Mission East. Viking senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 75 of 121 passes for 1,365 yards and 17 touchdowns and has rushed for 381 yards and four TDs on 51 attempts. Junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 84 times for 574 yards and 10 TDs while senior Bryer Finley has caught 43 passes for 879 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior linebacker Cameron Brian leads Seaman with 60 tackles (31 solo), while recording five tackles for loss.
LANSING (3-3, 3-2) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-5, 1-4 UKC)
Shawnee Heights will be aiming to snap a four-game losing streak Friday night ater falling 59-34 to United Kansas Conference rival Seaman last Friday. Lansing is coming off a 47-28 UKC loss to Piper. Shawnee Heights junior quarterback Aiden Scott has passed the 2,000-yard passing mark in six games, completing 131 of 222 attempts for 2,109 yards and 21 touchdowns. Junior AJ Gallegos has caught 38 passes for 628 yards and eight TDs while junior Tyren Parker has 32 catches for 578 yards and seven TDs. Junior David Wakes has carried the ball 110 times for 514 yards and three TDs.
JUNCTION CITY (2-4, 1-1 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-3, 2-0 Centennial)
Washburn Rural is off to a 2-0 start in the Centennial League after winning the league title a year ago. The Junior Blues rolled to a 53-8 league win over Emporia last Friday while Junction City beat Topeka High in a league contest, 50-21. The Junior Blues' defense turned in a dominating performance against Emporia, including a pair of safeties, while junior quarterback John Hoytal hooked up with junior Kellan Roth for a pair of touchdown passes and junior TD Minikwu ran for a pair of TDs. Washburn Rural opened up a 14-0 first-quarter lead and led 32-0 at halftime.
TOPEKA HIGH (4-2, 1-2) vs. MANHATTAN (6-0, 2-0 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Manhattan has rolled to a perfect 6-0 start, including a 38-17 non-league decision over Wichita Northwest last Friday, while Topeka High will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses after starting the season 4-0. The Trojans dropped a 50-21 Centennial League game to Junction City last week.
TOPEKA WEST (1-5, 1-5) at LEAVENWORTH (3-3, 3-3)
Topeka West picked up its first victory of the 2024 season last Friday, taking a 32-20 United Kansas Conference decision over Kansas City-Turner as sophomore running back Damon Webb led the Chargers with 192 rushing yards and three touchdowns. West will face a tough test Friday against an improved Leavenworth team, which is coming off a 48-13 UKC loss to De Soto.
SILVER LAKE (5-1, 2-0 Class 2A District 3) at OSAGE CITY (6-0, 2-0 Class 2A District 3)
Silver Lake will put its four-game winning streak on the road against unbeaten Osage City in a key Class 2A District 3 game. The Eagles are coming off a 28-6 district win over Riley County while Osage City maintained its perfect slate with a 24-16 win over St. Marys. Senior quarterback Dysen Schooler and junior Dayne Johnson are in the midst of big 2024 seasons for Silver Lake.
OLPE (5-1, 3-0 Class 1A Distict 2) at ROSSVILLE (3-3, 3-0)
The Class 1A District 2 title will be on the line Friday when perennial small-school powers Olpe and Rossville clash on the Bulldawgs' home field. Rossville picked up its third straight win last week, a 71-24 district decision over Cair Paravel Latin, while Olpe is coming off a 34-14 win over Mission Valley. Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak had a hand in five touchdowns in the Bulldawgs' romp past CPLS.
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (0-6, 0-3) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-5, 0-3)
At Yager Stadium
Cair Paravel will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak and pick up its first Class 1A District 2 win against winless Maranatha Academy. The Lions dropped a 71-24 district game to Rossville last Friday while Maranatha fell 21-0 to Wabaunsee. Senior quarterback Jase Pavlik and senior running back Ben Roeder are top players for Cair Paravel.