By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's football team is in the midst of a dream 2023 season, and the Junior Blues aren't ready to wake up yet.
Steve Buhler's Junior Blues outscored Wichita East 21-0 in the second half to pull away for a 35-14 Class 6A quarterfinal win Friday night at Bowen-Glaze Stadium, improving to 11-0 on the year while advancing to a home sub-state matchup next Friday with Derby, a 23-21 winner over Manhattan.
JC Heim (25), who scored three touchdowns, and Washburn Rural celebrate Friday night's 35-14 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Wichita East. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural celebrates after being presented with the Class 6A sectional trophy after Friday night's 35-14 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"We've just got to keep playing,'' Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "These guys have been talking about this for a long time. We made a run to this game last year and felt like we could have played a little bit better against Derby last year and these guys just took it and ran. They knew this is where they wanted to be and they've worked hard to get here.''
Washburn Rural, which edged Wichita East 26-25 in the season-opener, was locked in a 14-all halftime deaclock with the Blue Aces Friday night before the Rural defense came up with defensive stands at the end of the first half and a pair of stops in the second half and pulled away down the stretch on three JC Heim touchdown runs.
"We just keep building and every time we go back to work that next Monday we have to stay disciplined and keep going,'' Heim said. "We just need to keep this train going.''
Washburn Rural junior Lafayette Thompson scored Friday's first touchdown on a 70-yard reception from Branton DeWeese. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rural drew first blood midway through the opening quarter after forcing a Wichita East fumble, with senior Branton DeWeese connecting with junior Lafayette Thompson for a 70-yard touchdown on the Junor Blues' second play from scrimmage (Wilson Miller kick).
Wichita East, which finished its season 8-3, tied the game on a 29-yard run from senior Rayvelle Leak with 2:33 left in the first quarter (Cohen Richardson kick) but Washburn Rural regained the lead on a 6-yard TD pass from DeWeese to senior Titan Osburn with 11:30 left in the first half (Miller kick).
East pulled even for a second time when senior quarterback Daeonte' Mitchell scored from a yard out (Richardson kick) at the 3:56 mark of the second quarter and the Aces reached the Rural 1-yard-line late in the first half before senior Jaren Heim threw Mitchell for a 5-yard loss to end the threat.
"They just compete,'' Buhler said of the Rural defense. "That's the whole bunch of them and we've got a bunch of seniors on that defensive side and this time of year means a lot to the seniors. They've invested a lot in four years and this group's competitive. They're not going to give an inch and practices are that way.''
Washburn Rural senior Jamond Lane forces a Wichita East fumble in the Junior Blues' 35-14 Class 6A playoff win over the Blue Aces Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Rural defense came up with another big stop on East's first drive of the second half after the Aces reached the Junior Blue 6-yard-line and Rural responded with a 16-play, 89-yard drive to take the lead for good, with JC Heim scoring from 12 yards out (Miller kick) with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Wichita East threatened again on its ensuing possession but Rural's defense rose to the challenge once again, stopping the Aces, who lost Mitchell to an injury on the final play of the third quarter, less than a yard away from the goal line early in the fourth quarter before JC Heim rambled 95 yards to put Washburn Rural in control 28-14 with 9:08 left to play (Miller kick).
"Give credit to the offensive line,'' Buhler said. "That hole he ran through on that long run was massive. They did a really good job of popping him through.''
After King Leonard's second interception of the night, Heim scored from 6 yards out (Miller kick) and the Rural celebration was on.
Heim finished with 178 yards and his three touchdowns on 12 carries while DeWeese passed for 160 yards and a pair of scores.
Heim, a star linebacker for the Junior Blues, has also taken on a more signifcant role for Rural's offense in recent weeks.
"We know he's going to give us 100 percent, plus physically he's just a very gifted young man,'' Buhler said. "He is so special. He sets the tone in everything he does.''
"I love it,'' Heim said of playing running back. "I love the physicality of it. Obviously in college I think I'd prefer to play linebacker, but hey, if they need me at running back I'll play running back. Whatever's the best for the team.''
East's Leak led all rushers with 123 yards on 22 carries while MItchell threw for 174 yards before leaving the game with his injury.
Next up for Washburn Rural is a sub-state matchup with Derby, whch ended the Junior Bues' season in the state quarterfinals in 2022.
The Panthers advanced with a 23-21 win at Manhattan, ending the Indians' state title reign.
WASHBURN RURAL 14, WICHITA EAST 14
Wichita East (8-3) 7 7 0 0 -- 14
Washburn Rural (11-0) 7 7 7 14 -- 35
Washburn Rural -- Thompson 70 pass from DeWeese (Miller kick)
Wichita East -- Leak 29 run (Richardson kick)
Washburn Rural -- Osburn 6 pass from DeWeese (Miller kick)
Wichita East -- Mitchell 1 run (Richardson kick)
Washburn Rural -- JC Heim 12 run (Miller kick)
Washburn Rural - JC Heim 95 run (Miller kick)
Washburn Rural -- JC Heim 6 run (Miller kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Wichita East: Leak 22 123, Mitchell 15-39, White 2-3, Ransom 3-1. Washburn Rural: JC Heim 12-178, DeWeese 8-38, Minikwu 10-20, Thompson 6-10, Team 2-(minus)12.
Passing -- Wichita East: Mitchell, 16-25-1, 174 yards; Ransom 0-2-1, 0. Washburn Rural: DeWeese 12-22-1, 160.
Receiving -- Wichita East: M. White 9-55, A. White 4-37, Robinson 2-44, Ransom 1-38. Washburn Rural: Thompson 2-82, Roth 3-30, Osburn 3-28, Hayes 2-14, Recinos 1-6, JC Heim 1-0.
Punting -- Wichita East: Blanson 2-31.0. Washburn Rural: DeWeese 1-42.0; Creager 2-32.0.
