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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
On a night when CJ Hamilton was honored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association for building Silver Lake into a football powerhouse, the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, defeating Perry-Lecompton 19-6 on the field named for the legendary coach.
Legendary Silver Lake coach CJ Hamilton was welcomed into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame Friday by former KSHSAA executive director Gary Musselman (left) and current executive director Bill Faflick. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Silver Lake spent all night in the red zone, while Perry-Lecompton ran just one play in their opponent’s territory all night. Yet the game remained in doubt until late in the fourth period because the Eagles just couldn’t deliver the knockout punch. The home team saw four drives end on fourth-and-goal situations at the 1, 9, 3 and 6-yard lines.
“I’ve got to be better in the red zone as a play caller, so that’s nothing on the kids,” said Silver Lake coach Logan Pegram. “There’s no reason we should be able to walk down the field and then get inside the red zone and not be able to move them. So that’s on the (offensive) line coach, and that’s me.”
The Silver Lake defense more than made up for the offense’s struggles in the first half. Defensive end Jayden Waterer was a one-man wrecking crew. The senior blocked a Kaw punt at midfield on the first drive of game, recovered the ball and returned it to the Perry-Lecompton 13-yard line. The Eagles took advantage of the short field to punch in a 2-yard touchdown run by Bryson Burgos.
Later in the first period, Waterer sacked the Kaw quarterback in the end zone for a safety.
On the ensuing possession, a long Silver Lake drive culminated with a Dayne Johnson touchdown on a jet sweep. The Eagles led 16-0 early in the second period and appeared on their way to a blowout.
The Kaws punted on their next possession, but were helped by Silver Lake penalties to continue the series at the Eagle 43-yard line. On the only play the Kaws ran in Eagle territory all game, quarterback Garrett Metcalfe connected with Kayden Baker on a bomb that gave the visitors their only score.
The Eagles did not reach the end zone again, but moved the ball freely up and down the field behind freshman quarterback Kip Kruger.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After graduating several talented senior off last season's 8-3 team and losing returning standout running back Kaden McKinney in the opening game for an extended period with an injury, Seaman football has had to rely on several newcomers to step up this fall.
Junior quarterback Cale Ketter threw for five first-half TDs in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Quentin Moravec rushed for 196 yards and two TDs in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
A couple of those first-year varsity starters, junior quarterback Cale Ketter and sophomore Quentin Moravec, filled that bill in a big way Friday night, leading the way as the Vikings picked up up their first win of the season in a 61-0 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.
Ketter completed 12 of 15 passes for 278 yards and five first-half touchdown passes while Moravec carried the ball 17 times for 196 yards and a pair of TDs.
Ketter set the stage for the night with his first-half TD barrage as the Vikings opened up a 34-0 first-half cushion.
"I counted up the first two and then I didn't lose track, but I just stopped thinking about it and just played ball after that,'' Ketter said.
Senior tight end Noah Kobuszewski caught a 78-yard TD pass in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Ketter, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, connected with junior Josh Brown for 18 and 32-yard scores and also hit senior Noah Kobuszewski for a 78-yard touchdown, junior Coy Barta for 27 yards and senior Jayden Evans for 39 yards as Seaman got back on track after losses to Piper and Shawnee Mission East to open the season.
"It feels great,'' Ketter said. "We had a rough couple of weeks, but we all know the team and I love these guys to death and we just keep coming back every week and getting better every week. Tonight's a great confidence boost and we've just got to carry it into next week.''
Moravec, 6-foot, 180, scored touchdowns on 39 and 44-yard runs and was just under the 200-yard mark for the night.
"I just want to thank the guys on the line for helping me through all of this,'' Moravec said. "I also want to thank Kaden for building me up to this point and getting me to where I am right now.
"I would not be in this situation without him. He taught me so much over the summer and I just want to thank all the coaches, the O-line, Kaden and everybody. I want to thank this whole organization.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn football team is back on the road for the second straight week as the Ichabods will face the Central Oklahoma Bronchos at 7 p.m. Saturday night in Edmond.
Washburn Rural product JC Heim (9) and L.J. Minner rank one-two in the MIAA in tackles after three games for WU. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods are 1-2 this season after dropping their final non-conference matchup of the season with Colorado School of Mines 41-27 in a game that took 7 hours, 39 minutes to complete due to multiple lightning delays.
After spotting the Orediggers a 34-7 halftime lead, Washburn scored 20 points in the second half.
"I was real proud of the guys for their focus during the lightning delays and during the up and down first half,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "I think that kind of speaks to our team leaders and our culture that we're going to keep playing and we're going to fight and be mentally tough enough to keep fighting and we're going to finish the game no matter what.''
The Bronchos are 1-1 this season and have been idle since a 27-24 over then No. 13-Pittsburg State on Sept. 6 with a bye week this past weekend.
WU sophomore JC Heim leads the MIAA in tackles with 43 and L.J. Minner Jr. is second with 35.
Minner has recorded double-digit tackles in each of his last six games, dating back to last season.
Quarterback Logan Madden, playing near his hometown of Arvada, Colo., completed 11 of 17 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in his first action as an Ichabod. Justin Lewis added 106 yards through the air on 9 of 20 passing with two scores of his own. Combined, the duo accounted for all four Ichabod touchdowns, throwing passes to eight different receivers.
Central Oklahoma moved up in one of two national polls Monday, with the Bronchos No. 8 in the D2Football.com Media Poll, up from 12th last week. The Bronchos remained at No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
Jaylen Cottrell leads the team in rushing with 181 total yards and 90.5 yards per game while averaging 10.1 yards per carry.
Jett Huff is 18 of 40 passing with three touchdowns and 106.5 yards per game.
Johnny Wilson leads the team with 13 total tackles adding three tackles for loss and one sack.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West junior soccer standout Diego Gonzalez-Talavera and Hayden sophomore volleyball star Hailey Schmidtlein have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2025-2026 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Gonzalez-Talavera and Schmidtlein over the past week:
Diego Gonzalez-Talavera, Topeka West
DIEGO GONZALEZ-TALAVERA, Topeka West
Gonzalez-Talavera was named the Most Valuable Player in the Salina South Invitational after the Chargers won the tournament championship with three straight wins, capped by a 3-2 victory over tournament host Salina South in last Saturday's championship game.
Gonzalez-Talavera's tournament performance was highlighted by four goals and an assist in an 8-0 first-round West win over Salina Central.
The Topeka West standout added a goal and an assist on Thursday as the Chargers improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the United Kansas Conference with a 4-2 home win over Seaman.
Hailey Schmidtlein, Hayden
HAILEY SCHMIDTLEIN, Hayden
Schmidtlein played a big role last Saturday as the Wildcats, top-ranked in Class 4A by the Kansas Volleyball Association, won the Baldwin Invitational with five straight wins to improve to a perfect 12-0 on the season.
Schmidtlein registered 40 kills in 11 sets on the day while hitting .377 with 51 digs and five blocks.
"Hailey is an incredible multi-sport athlete,'' Wildcat coach Corrinne McGreevy said. "She is a fierce leader and has great court awareness. I'm really proud of how she is playing and leading this team.''
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Topeka High football had ample opportunities to stretch its undefeated streak to three games Thursday night, but just couldn’t muster the offense needed to take advantage of an inspired defensive effort.
The Trojans fell to Wichita Southeast at Hummer Sports Park by a score of 6-0.
With their backs against the wall numerous times, the Trojan defense managed to shut out the visiting Golden Buffaloes. Twice Topeka High forced the visitors to fumble on the Trojans’ 3-yard line.
Topeka High's defense came up with several big plays, but it wasn't enough as the Trojans dropped a 6-0 decision to Wichita Southeast. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Trojans’ failure to capitalize left Topeka High coach Jason Filbeck at a loss.
“No part of it was how I wanted it, other than our defense was really good all night,” Filbeck said. “They did a great job. Took the ball away multiple times, got stops, even in bad field position. Down to the wire, our defense kept giving us chances, and we just did not execute on offense.”
Topeka High's defense did not allow a point Thursday, with Wichita Southeast's lone TD coming on an interception return as the Trojans dropped a 6-0 decision. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High entered the Thursday night tilt averaging 34 points per game. But the Trojans amassed just 127 yards from scrimmage against the Golden Buffaloes. The Trojans turned the ball over just once, but it was a backbreaker.
Eager to continue a drive that started on the Topeka High 3-yard line early in the fourth period, the Trojans faced third and 10 from their own 33. Quarterback Zane Smith looked for a receiver over the middle, but his pass was intercepted by Wichita Southeast’s William O’Bar, who veered to the right sideline and picked his way through the Trojans for a 40-yard touchdown return.
It was the only scoring play of the night. The Trojan defense stuffed the Golden Buffaloes on the two-point conversion, keeping the hope of a victory alive. But Topeka High’s next two drive deep into the opponents’ territory came up empty.
“(Wichita Southeast) brought some pressure and we had trouble running it early, which makes it hard,” Filbeck said. “But then, you know, we’ve got to catch balls. We have open guys and we’re just not connecting either the throw or the catch. You get to where you’re just running out of ideas because nothing seems to click. Nothing’s connecting, and that wound up being the story of the night.”
