It’s a rematch from week seven this season as Perry Lecompton (8-3) will again host Topeka Hayden (10-1) in 3A Sub State.  The Kaws handed the Wildcats their only loss of the season 22-21 in overtime as Hayden put together a late fourth quarter touchdown drive to tie the score at 14 and send the game to overtime, but failed on a two-point conversion in overtime. That win started what is now a five-game winning streak for Perry Lecompton who topped undefeated Prairie View last week in Sectionals by a score of 30-6.

Besides Hayden, all of the Perry wins have been by at least 12 points this season.  They avenged a week two loss against Holton in Regionals (35-21) and also have an 8-3 setback against Jeff West in which their defense pitched a shutout but allowed a scoop and score in defeat.  Perry is in Sub-State for the second time in school history.  In 2008 they advanced to the State Championship and fell to Hayden. 

The Kaws continue to show tremendous balance on offense with 141 yards rushing per game and 189 in the air while scoring 33 points and outing. Billy Welch has thrown for 1,981 yards while completing 67 percent of his passes this season and 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Thad Metcalfe has 1,241 yards rushing with a mean of almost six yards per carry and 12 rushing scores. Metcalfe has added 341 yards receiving and five touchdowns and passed for 86 yards as well. Dawson Williams and Parker Stone each have at least 30 receptions and have combined for 1,067 yards receiving.  Hayden Robb and Ryley Besler each have more than 100 tackles this season along with Metcalfe.  The Perry defense has 26 takeaways and has made 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season included 24 sacks while surrendering less than 15 points per game. 

After steam rolling past a trio of Centennial League teams that all won less than three games to start the season, Hayden won a tight 13-6 game against Jeff West in week five and then beat the Tigers again at home 14-6 in the quarterfinals. Last week after a scoreless first half, the Wildcats topped unbeaten Frontenac 14-6 to reach the state semifinals for the 15th time in school history and the fifth time in the last six years after losing in week 10 a year ago. Hayden is trying to reach the title game for the first time since 2016 and has allowed only 80 total points this season, with 21 of those coming in their lone loss in overtime to Perry this year.            

The Hayden win last week was costly as starting quarterback Johnny Holloway suffered a collarbone injury in the first half and did not return.  He is not expected to play this week with senior Cade Pavlik transitioning from the receiving spot to take snaps in Sub State at Perry. Holloway had thrown for 820 yards this season. Hayden has six athletes with more than 200 yards rushing led by Jack Konrade (619 yards) and Desmond Purnell (581 yards) and the team averages 331 yards of total offense per game.  Will Devader (467 rushing) and Diego Carr pace the stout Wildcat defense with more than 90 tackles each.  

This game will be broadcast live on KAIR 93.7 FM.  The winner will play in the 3A State Championship at 1:00 PM next Saturday, November 30th in Hutchinson against either Andale (11-0) or Cheney (9-2).