HIGH-SCHOOL

Pick Six: Week 4’s top high school football games in Kansas

Brent Maycock
bmaycock@cjonline.com
Goddard receiver Jake Shope has had a huge season in a breakout year this year. Shope already has 29 catches for 496 yards and eight touchdowns.

WICHITA EAST (1-0) AT WICHITA SOUTH (2-0)

After originally having their seasons canceled altogether and then modified to a one-week suspension of play, both South and East have gotten out of the gates fast. Neither team has given up a point this season, combining for three shutouts. South has rolled past Wichita Southeast (52-0) and Wichita North (56-0), while East blasted North 80-0 two weeks ago before last week’s bye. Both will find out a lot more about themselves this week and whether they can step up and challenge Northwest in the GWAL. South quarterback TJ Neal has combined for 542 yards rushing and passing in the blowouts, accounting for 10 total touchdowns. East set school records for points in a game and margin of victory in its rout of North. The Blue Aces returned two punts for touchdowns and two fumbles for scores as well.

Prediction: Wichita East over Wichita South

OLATHE WEST (1-1) AT OLATHE NORTH (2-0)

Despite significant losses to transfer with the uncertainty of its season — including All-State back Arland Bruce IV — Olathe North keeps rolling right along. The Eagles whipped Olathe South 41-0 in their opener and romped past Free State 35-9 last week. Junior quarterback Noah Palmer had run for 288 yards and thrown for 141, while back Jacob Parrish and Aquantez Love have each ran for more than 155 yards. West suffered its first loss to No. 1 Lawrence last week, 42-14. Anthony Favrow has run for 283 yards and quarterback Alex Birge has thrown for 165 yards.

Prediction: Olathe North over Olathe West

GODDARD (3-0) AT ANDOVER CENTRAL (2-0)

The battle for the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail II title features two teams that have relied more on their offense than defense this season in combining for 5-0 records. Andover Central is averaging 43 points per game (its Week 2 game with Buhler was canceled for COVID) but is giving up 32.5 points a contest. Goddard is averaging 37 points per game and giving up 17.7 a contest. A healthy Kyler Semrad has been big for the Lions with the senior quarterback throwing for 834 yards and 12 touchdowns, connecting with Jake Shope 29 times for 496 yards and eight scores. Chase White has led Central with 517 yards and 5 touchdowns passing with Davin Simms (185 yards, 2 TDs) and Kyle Kohman (199 yards, TD) his top targets.

Prediction: Goddard over Andover Central

WICHITA COLLEGIATE (3-0) AT HESSTON (3-0)

After blasting its first two opponents by a combined 112-3, Collegiate finally got a test last week against Rose Hill. A big one. The Spartans fell down 14-0 and trailed 21-7 before rallying for a 34-31 overtime victory, getting the win on Jacob Chugg’s 6-yard run in OT. The Spartans rolled up 356 yards on the ground led by Wesley Fair’s 217. Fair has a team-high 450 for the season for an offense averaging 301 yards per game on the ground. Hesston has allowed just 376 total rushing yards this season and pulled out a tight 24-15 win over Pratt last week and a 44-39 win over Hillsboro two weeks ago. Ryan Eilert has thrown for 637 yards and four touchdowns with Ben Bollinger having 23 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Collegiate over Hesston

EUREKA (3-0) AT HUMBOLDT (3-0)

Humboldt has made deep Class 2A playoff runs each of the past two seasons, but graduation claimed All-2A back Conor Haviland and standout lineman Jacob Hull, among others. The Cubs have relied heavily on underclassmen this season in an undefeated start with sophomore Trey Sommer leading the team in rushing with 312 yards and junior quarterback Gavin Page accounting for 455 total yards. Eureka hasn’t had a game closer than 27 points and posted a 47-18 rout of a Neodesha team that Humboldt squeaked past 30-22 last week.

Prediction: Eureka over Humboldt

LEOTI (3-0) AT HODGEMAN COUNTY (3-0)

Leoti has already had three straight games against quality opponents and easily handled them all. After rolling past Hoxie 54-20 in the opener, the Indians drilled WaKeeney 50-0 and short-handed Hill City 48-0. Hodgeman County will be the best test yet with the Longhorns having outscored their first three opponents 176-12. Two of eight-man football’s best playmakers will be on display with Leoti’s Kayde Rietzke having thrown for 409 yards and eight touchdowns and run for 119 and two scores. Hodgeman County’s Isaac Salmans has thrown for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns and run for 276 yards and seven touchdowns. Leoti has five backs over 100 yards already and average 258.3 rushing yards per game and 432 overall.

Prediction: Leoti over Hodgeman County

SYLVAN-LUCAS (3-0) AT VICTORIA (3-0)

The winner of this game could emerge at St. Francis’ top challenger in the west in Eight-Man Division II. Sylvan-Lucas fought past Beloit-St. John’s 38-31 in its opener before easily handling Otis-Bison and Chase the past two weeks. Victoria, meanwhile, downed eight-man newcomer LaCrosse 42-14 in its opener before routing Chase and WaKeeney. Grant Schoenrock leads the Knights with 218 yards passing and 263 rushing with nine total touchdowns. Sylvan’s Tra Barrientes is one of the top linemen in eight-man.

Prediction: Victoria over Sylvan-Lucas

PREDICTION TRACKER

Last week: 3-3

Overall: 9-9

Maize South quarterback Chase White has led the Jaguar offense to 43 points per game in a pair of victories. Central faces its biggest test yet Friday against 3-0 Goddard.