Pick Six: Week 3’s top high school football games in Kansas

DERBY (1-1) AT CARROLL (2-0)

After getting smacked by Mill Valley in the season opener, Derby had a somewhat difficult time bouncing back against Newton last week. The Panthers led by just six early in the fourth quarter and by five after Newton hit a long touchdown pass before Lem Wash’s 8-yard touchdown run sealed a 43-31 win. Dylan Edwards ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns and Wash added 172 and three TDs on the ground as well. It doesn’t get any easier this week against Class 5A No. 4 Carroll, which edged Kapaun 31-28 last week after nipping Junction City 29-28 in the opener. Dusty Trail’s fourth-quarter touchdown run was the game winner and was his third score of the night.

Prediction: Derby over Carroll

HALSTEAD (2-0) AT HOISINGTON (2-0)

The No. 4-ranked teams in 3A (Halstead) and 2A (Hoisington) meet in what is likely the decisive game in the Central Kansas League title hunt. Halstead has shut out both opponents this year, including a 36-0 blanking of Nickerson last week. Lakin Farmer has run for 400 yards and six touchdowns in two games to lead the Dragon offense while Doug Grider’s 24 tackles lead the defense. Hoisington hasn’t missed a beat since reaching the 2A state semifinals last year, handling Pratt and Larned in its first two games.

Prediction: Halstead over Hoisington

MIEGE (0-0) AT AQUINAS (1-0)

Aquinas finally got its season started last week in the first of the private-school Eastern Kansas League round-robin affairs, blanking St. James Academy 28-0. Tank Young had 245 of the Saints’ 379 yards on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns as well. The defense held the Thunder to just 214 yards and 3 of 15 third-down conversions. Miege was off again last week and gets a big test in its season opener. The Stags have one of the top quarterbacks in the state in Timothy Dorsey.

Prediction: Aquinas over Miege

MAIZE SOUTH (2-0) AT HUTCHINSON (2-0)

Hutchinson has been a pleasant surprise this year already matching last year’s win total. The Salthawks nipped Garden City 21-20 last week on a fourth-quarter touchdown run. They’ll run into a Maize South defense this week that’s given up just six points in two games, that coming in last week’s 62-6 romp past Salina South. Colin Shields threw for 205 yards and Hunter Niemann ran for 152, the duo combining for six of the Mavericks’ eight touchdowns. Shields has thrown for 469 yards and seven touchdowns in two games and Niemann had 258 yards and five TDs on the ground.

Prediction: Maize South over Hutchinson

CHENEY (2-0) AT GARDEN PLAIN (2-0)

Garden Plain, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, has pulled out a pair of squeakers in its first two games of the year and figures to get its third straight test this week. After edging Conway Springs 14-13 in the opener, the Owls fought past Sterling 14-0 last week with Reed Adelhardt rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown. Cheney, meanwhile ripped Belle Plaine 54-7, erupting for 33 third-quarter points. Harrison Voth threw for 177 yards and Quincy Thomas had four touchdowns overall.

Prediction: Garden Plain over Cheney

HILL CITY (2-0) AT LEOTI (2-0)

After winning a shootout in Week 1 with Osborne, Hill City got defensive in Week 2 in its showdown with Ness City. The Ringnecks stopped Ness City on a go-ahead two-point conversion late and held on for a 7-6 victory. Hill City will need another big defensive effort to stay with No. 3 Leoti this week. The Indians are averaging 52 points per game behind standout quarterback Kayde Rietzke, who has thrown for 193 yards and three touchdowns and run for 119 yards and two scores. Leoti is far from a one-man show, however, with four backs already over 100 yards this season led by Tristen Porter (171, 3 TDs) and Jesse Gardner (162, TD). Hill City has leaned heavily on Jayce Hamel offensively with the senior back rushing for 319 yards and five touchdowns.

Prediction: Leoti over Hill City

PREDICTION TRACKER

Last week: 3-3

Overall: 6-6