By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAME
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (4-0, 4-0 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-4, 0-4 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Still looking for its first win of the 2024 season, Topeka West faces another tough United Kansas Conference test Thursday night, with league-leading Basehor-Linwood visiting Hummer Sports Park to face the Chargers. Topeka West is coming off a 63-0 UKC loss to Lansing while Basehor-Linwood took a 21-7 league win over De Soto. Bobcat junior quarterback Carson Dixon has completed 37 of 74 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns while senior Nick Doering has carried the ball 76 times for 425 yards and seven TDs.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
WASHBURN RURAL (1-3, 0-0 Centennial) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (4-0, 1-0 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High will be looking to extend its winning streak to five games while Washburn Rural, a Class 6A semifinalist last season, will be aiming to snap a three-game non-league losing streak to teams that are a combined 12-1 on the season. Washburn Rural, coming off a 49-23 loss to undefeated Blue Valley Northwest, will be playing its Centennial League opener Friday night while Topeka High opened league play last week with a 47-14 road win over Emporia. Topeka High senior Tevante Ewing rushed for 169 yards on 13 attempts while junior Zane Smith completed five of eight passes for 191 yards and Savon Carter caught two passes for 144 yards. Washburn Rural junior quarterback John Hoytal completed 23 of 32 throws for 235 yards against Northwest while junior receiver Kellan Roth hauled in 11 of Hoytal’s throws for 99 yards and a score. Sophomore Jadyn Baum exploded for an 80-yard touchdown run and junior TJ Minikwu blasted in from 10 yards out for another score.
HIAWATHA (1-3, 0-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (3-1, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden, the Class 3A runnerup a year ago, is coming off a 31-28 non-league loss at Wamego last Friday while Hiawatha opened Class 3A District 4 play with a 21-0 win over Jefferson West. Hayden will open district competition Friday night. Wildcat senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 41 of 57 pass attempts for 619 yards and seven touchdowns while junior running back Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 33 times for 296 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 13 passes for 220 yards and scored five touchdowns.
LANSING (3-1, 3-0 UKC) at SEAMAN (3-1, 3-0 UKC)
Friday's game will match up United Kansas Conference co-leaders Lansing and Seaman, who are both a perfect 3-0 in league play. Seaman is coming off a 49-0 win over Kansas City-Turner while Lansing rolled to a 62-0 win over Topeka West. Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 47 of 85 passes for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 40 times for 235 yards and five TDs while senior Bryer Finley has caught 21 passes for 382 yards and eight TDs. Lansing senior Reid Oakley has completed 46 of 93 passes for 798 yards while sophomore Jaxon Pollard has carried the ball 61 times for 379 yards and five TDs.
WABAUNSEE (1-3, 0-1 Class 1A District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-3, 0-1 Class 1A District 2)
At Yager Stadium
Cair Paravel will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak after opening Class 1A District 2 play last Friday with a 46-22 loss to Mission Valley. Wabaunsee is also 1-3 and 0-1 in the district after a 14-7 loss to Olpe last week. Cair Paravel will be playing its second home game of the season at Washburn University's Yager Stadium. Top players for the Lions include senior quarterback Jase Pavlik and senior running back Ben Roeder.
HIGHLAND PARK (4-0) at WICHITA EAST (2-2)
Highland Park will take a break from Meadowlark Conference competition to travel to Wichita East to face the Blue Aces, a Class 6A quarterfinalist last season. Highland Park is coming off a 48-0 win over Kansas City-Harmon, with the Scots stretching their shutout streak to four games while outscoring their opponents 174-0. Wichita East improved to 2-2 last Friday with a 48-0 romp past Wichita West. Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson has rushed for 358 yards on 25 attempts while compiling 911 all-purpose yards and scoring 11 touchdowns and scoring 68 points. Scot junior quarterback Dontrail Fox has completed 19 of 43 attempts for 349 yards and six TDs. Four Highland Park players have compiled 26 or more tackles.
ROSSVILLE (1-3, 1-0 Class 1A District 2) at MISSION VALLEY (3-1, 1-0 Class 1A District 2)
Rossville picked up a forfeit win over Maranatha Christian Academy in last Friday's Class 1A District 2 opener while Mission Valley opened district play with a 46-22 win over Cair Paravel Latin. Bulldawg senior quarterback Tayson Horak has completed 35 of 68 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 342 yards and four TDs on 49 attempts. Junior Jack Donovan has caught 11 passes for 146 yards and two TDs. Mission Valley senior Porter Deters has completed 22 of 41 attempts for 329 yards and four TDs and has carried the ball 45 times for 342 yards and seven TDs.
SILVER LAKE (3-1) at BALDWIN (0-4)
Silver Lake is coming off a 26-20 win over St. Marys in last Friday's Class 2A District 3 opener, opening up a 20-6 halftime advantage and holding off the Bears. The Eagles will take a break from district play to go on the road for a non-league contest at Baldwin. Silver Lake has won two straight games and has been successful in close games, posting 7, 6 and 6 point victories. Baldwin remained winless on the season with a 49-0 loss to Wellsville last week.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-3, 1-2 UKC) at DE SOTO (3-1, 3-1)
Both the T-Birds and Wildcats will be looking to bounce back from losses, with Shawnee Heights dropping a 34-27 United Kansas Conference decision to Leavenworth and De Soto suffering its first loss, a 21-7 UKC decision to Basehor-Linwood. Shawnee Heights junior quarterback Aiden Scott has completed 81 of 140 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns while junior David Wakes has carried the ball 78 times for 415 yards and three TDs. Junior AJ Gallegos has caught 24 passes for 297 yards and three TDs while junior Tyren Parker has caught 20 passes for 340 yards and four TDs.