WEEK 4 – Some teams have had the opportunity to play district opponents in the first few weeks but now it’s week four and everyone seems to be getting a taste of a district match up – From 8-Man to Class 4A – we got you covered on the Friday Night Fever brought to you by GN Banks!

2021 Pick Records

Jonny

Last week: 15-4
Overall: 41-15
Justin

Last week: 15-4
Overall: 44-12
Brandon

Last week: 16-3
Overall:  46-10

Games to be Broadcast

Holton at Sabetha - 103.9 KNZA / Holton & Sabetha Channel
Valley Heights at Centralia  – 92.1 KMZA
KC Harmon at Atchison – KAIR 93.7 FM

Week 4 Games

8-Man Division I

(1-2) Doniphan West at (0-3) Washington County (D3/TVL)

Doniphan West suffered a setback last week falling to Johnson-Brock 52-28. The Mustangs got down 24-14 after the first quarter and never could recover turning the ball over three times which proved to be the difference. Trent Spiker threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while Kole Franken racked up 121 yards on the ground. Spiker is banged up though and is expected to be a game-time decision on whether the senior leader will play tonight.

Washington County meanwhile continued their rough start to the year getting shut out on the road at Canton-Galva last week 50-0. The Tigers though may have played one of the toughest schedules to start the season so the 0-3 start is suspect.

Washington County did get the best of Doniphan West last season in a shootout winning 82-60 in a game where the Mustangs finished with just 10 total players.

Jonny’s Pick: Washington County
Justin’s Pick: Doniphan West
Brandon’s Pick: Doniphan West

(1-1) Clifton Clyde at (1-1) Burlingame (D3)

Clifton Clyde had their game cancelled last week and haven’t played since September 10th which was a 14-6 loss to Little River. The Eagles will play three of their last five on the road including the game tonight at Burlingame.

Burlingame checks in at 1-1 also but they didn’t play in week one which was cancelled when they were scheduled to play at Madison. The Bearcats picked up their first win last week with a 57-6 victory at Hartford.

Clifton Clyde is 1-2 all-time against Burlingame with the lone win coming last season, 62-12.

Jonny’s Pick: Clifton-Clyde
Justin’s Pick: Clifton Clyde
Brandon’s Pick: Clifton Clyde

(2-1) Valley Falls at (0-3) Maranatha (D3)

Valley Falls is looking to rebound after suffering their first loss of the season last week to Chase County 52-6. The Dragons mustered just 112 total yards of offense with the lone score coming on a run by Samuel Drinkard. Valley Falls heads into week four with three running backs over 160 yards on the year led by Zac Evans who has 215 yards and three touchdowns along with Drinkard and Dylan Cervantez. The Dragons now get Maranatha who is 0-3 allowing 71 points per game including 100 to Hartford in week one. The Eagles fell to Cair Paravel last week 60-6 and have lost each game by at least 30 points.

It will be the fourth meeting between the two schools with Maranatha holding a 2-1 series lead but Valley Falls winning last season 52-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Valley Falls
Justin’s Pick: Valley Falls
Brandon’s Pick: Valley Falls

8-Man Division II

(2-1) Linn at (0-3) Onaga (D3/TVL)

Linn won their second straight game last week with a 78-30 win at Wetmore. Kevin Alvarado has helped led the Linn turnaround with 497 yards rushing so far this season. He’s also completed 54% of his passes for 317 yards with 6 touchdowns and no interceptions. Linn as a team is averaging more than 217 rushing yards per game but the defense has surrendered 34 points per game.

Onaga dropped to 0-3 last week after losing 28-22 in overtime at Frankfort. The Schedule has not provided any favors for the Buffaloes as they’ve played Clifton Clyde, Hanover and Frankfort. Zac Fisher has led Onaga in the ground game with 388 yards in three games and as a team, they average 226 yards per game.

The last meeting between these two teams was 2018, with Onaga getting the win 60-36.

Jonny’s Pick: Onaga
Justin’s Pick: Onaga
Brandon’s Pick: Linn

(0-3) Blue Valley at (3-0) Frankfort (D3/TVL)

Frankfort remained perfect after a narrow 28-22 overtime win at home against Onaga last week. The Wildcats built a first half lead but Onaga held them scoreless in the second half to force overtime. Ethan Armstrong with the overtime touchdown for Frankfort. Armstrong accounted for three touchdowns in the game.

Blue Valley is still looking for their first win of the season after a 68-0 loss at the hands of Hanover last week. The Rams have been outscored 190-14 so far this season.

Frankfort has won 10 of the 13 meetings between the two including seven straight in the series, including last season, 56-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Frankfort
Justin’s Pick: Frankfort
Brandon’s Pick: Frankfort

(3-0) Axtell at (3-0) Hanover (D3/TVL)

In one of the marquee matchups tonight, not just in 8-man but in all of Kansas. The defending 8M-II state champs in Hanover host Axtell in a battle of 3-0 teams. Axtell is coming off a dominate victory last week over Rock Hills, 62-14. The Eagles led 46-6 at halftime and their defense allowed just 111 total yards of offense. Junior quarterback Isaac Detweiler has 460 passing with eight touchdowns and 238 rushing yards with nine TDs so far this season.

Hanover is the defending state champs and they have been nothing short of dominate as well so far this season as they defeated Blue Valley last week, 68-0. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 182-36 and that includes posting two shutouts in weeks one and three. Hanover quarterback Braelen Stallbaumer has thrown for 11 touchdowns and only one interception while Keagan Dimler has led the ground game averaging 114 yards per game.

Hanover is 16-3 all time against Axtell but are just 2-2 over the last four meetings. Hanover won both matchups last season including 52-6 in the playoffs.

Jonny’s Pick: Hanover
Justin’s Pick: Hanover
Brandon’s Pick: Hanover

(0-3) Wetmore at (1-2) Pike Valley (Non District)

Wetmore is still looking for their first win of the season as they fell to 0-3 last week after losing to Linn 78-30. The Cardinals are allowing over 50 points per game, and they are currently in the middle of a stretch playing three consecutive road games.

Pike Valley is 1-2 overall this season as they picked up their first win last week 52-6 over Southern Cloud. Pike Valley played two tough games out of the gate with Hanover and Thunder Ridge.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams as they were scheduled to play last season, but the game was cancelled.

Jonny’s Pick: Pike Valley
Justin’s Pick: Pike Valley
Brandon’s Pick: Pike Valley

Class 1A

(2-1) Troy at (0-3) Pleasanton (Non District)

Troy is off to a 2-1 start after gong on the road last week and taking down Wabaunsee 10-6. The Trojans did not give up a single rushing yard and held Wabaunsee all-state selection Cade Oliver to just 4-of-12 passing for 24 yards recording five sacks. Cam Anderson also threw for 132 yards and a touchdown while Gavin Fuemmeler ran for 63 yards. Anderson has now thrown for 487 yards so far this fall with 224 going to Jerrit Norris. 

The Trojans now get Pleasanton who are 0-3 and have only scored 12 total points through the first three weeks. The Blu-jays fell to Uniontown last week 30-6 and have faced a tough schedule so far with their other two losses coming to Lyndon and Christ Prep

It is just the second meeting between the two schools after last season Troy edged out Pleasanton 30-20.

Jonny’s Pick: Troy
Justin’s Pick: Troy
Brandon’s Pick: Troy

(2-1) Wabaunsee at (2-1) Jackson Heights (D2)

Jackson Heights is back home following their first loss of the season last week falling at Centralia 36-12. The Cobras made two huge mistakes early giving Centralia the ball twice in the first three minutes and the Panthers capitalized scoring two touchdowns three minutes in. The Cobras battled back and trailed just 21-13 at the half, but Centralia wore down Jackson Heights in the second half.

The Cobras now get Wabaunsee who may be without their star quarterback Cade Oliver who got hurt in the second half of last week’s 10-6 loss to Troy.

The Cobras are 5-3 all-time against Wabaunsee after winning last year 33-21.

Jonny’s Pick: Jackson Heights
Justin’s Pick: Jackson Heights
Brandon’s Pick: Wabaunsee

(1-1) Valley Heights at (2-1) Centralia (D2/TVL/92.1 KMZA)

Valley Heights bounced back last week for their first win of the season, defeating Horton 62-7. Valley Heights controlled the pace of the game leading 28-7 at halftime and cruising the rest of the way. Trenton L’Ecuyer put together an all time performance with nine carries and 277 yards with five touchdowns. They’ll get a Centralia team that is currently inside the top-5 in Class 1A according to Kpreps.

The Panther have won two straight since their week one loss to Rossville including last week’s 36-12 win at home against Jackson Heights. They led 21-12 at the half then took nearly nine minutes off the clock with their first drive in the third quarter that ended with eight points and the game was pretty much out of reach at that point. Panthers rushed for 333 yards and Jared Blaha ran for 159 yards and a touchdown.

Panthers have dominated the series with Valley Heights winning 10 of 11 meetings including last season, 28-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Centralia
Justin’s Pick: Centralia
Brandon’s Pick: Centralia

(2-1) Jeff County North at (0-3) Horton (D3/NEKL)

The Chargers of JCN have won back to back games since dropping the opener to Pleasant Ridge. They won the rivalry tilt with Oskaloosa last week, 36-0. Both of their wins have been shutouts as they’re only allowing eight points per game through the first three.

Horton played one of their better games of the year last week which the score doesn’t indicate in a 62-7 loss to Valley Heights. The Chargers trailed just 8-7 with four minutes to go in the half, but Valley Heights scored three quick touchdowns before the half and Horton never recovered.

JCN has won seven of the nine meetings between the two Charger schools including a 72-8 win a year ago.

Jonny’s Pick: JCN
Justin’s Pick: JCN
Brandon’s Pick: JCN

Class 2A

(2-1) Silver Lake at (0-3) Oskaloosa (D3)

Oskaloosa is still searching for their first win of the season as they lost 36-0 against Jeff County North last week. The Bears have been outscored 116-14 in their three games so far this season. Oskaloosa’s schedule will not ease up in the next two weeks with Rossville next week and Silver Lake tonight.

The Eagles of Silver Lake took their first loss of the season last week against Riley County, 22-14. It was just their third loss in 23 total meetings with Riley County and all three have come within the last three seasons. There two wins this season have come by just a combined seven points. The Eagles are led by quarterback Daigan Kruger as he is averaging nearly 220 passing yards per game with six touchdowns.

Silver Lake is 11-0 all time against Oskaloosa while winning last year’s matchup 96-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Silver Lake
Justin’s Pick: Silver Lake
Brandon’s Pick: Silver Lake

(0-1) McLouth at (3-0) Rossville (D3)

McLouth was able to get on the field for the first-time last week as their first two games were cancelled due to Covid issues. The Bulldogs were shutout at ACCHS 58-0 dropping them to 0-3 all time against the Tigers.

Rossville remains the #1 team in Class 2A as they defeated St. Mary’s last week 44-20 improving to 3-0.

Rossville has won all three meeting against McLouth including last season, 56-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Rossville
Justin’s Pick: Rossville
Brandon’s Pick: Rossville

(0-3) Mission Valley at (2-1) Pleasant Ridge (D3)

The Rams of Pleasant Ridge got back on track after a loss in week two and beat Maur Hill last week, 42-28. The Pleasant Ridge defense held Maur Hill to just 22 yards while handing the Ravens their first loss of the season.

The Mission Valley Vikings are 0-3 after losing last week at Osage City, 45-8. They’ve been outscored 132-30 so far this season with 22 of those 30 points coming in week two in a loss to Pratt.

Pleasant Ridge and Mission Valley have split the two meetings with Mission Valley winning the game last season, 37-8. Pleasant Ridge won the match-up back in 2008.   

Jonny’s Pick: Pleasant Ridge
Justin’s Pick: Pleasant Ridge
Brandon’s Pick: Pleasant Ridge

(3-0) ACCHS at (2-1) Nemaha Central (D4)

ACCHS is 3-0 for the first time since 2012 and has pitched back-to-back shutouts after giving up just seven points in week one. In a 58-0 win against McLouth last week, Kieran Courter delivered four carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He delivered a pair of catches for 20 yards with a touchdown. He had a 50-yard punt return touchdown, an 83-yard kick return touchdown and made two PATs. He is the first in school history to rush, receive, return a kick, punt for a touchdown and kick an extra point in school history.

KPreps had Nemaha Central at #2 in Class 2A this week as the Thunder improved to 2-1 last week with a 19-7 win at Sabetha. Nemaha Central led 13-0 at halftime and had to hold off Sabetha in the second half. Zac Kramer accounted for all three touchdowns while Sam McWilliams ran for nearly 100 yards.

Nemaha Central is 12-1 all time against ACCHS and the Tigers lone win in the series came in the first matchup between the two back in 2004.

Jonny’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Justin’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Brandon’s Pick: Nemaha Central

(0-3) Riverside at (0-3) St. Marys (D4)

Riverside is starting to become low on numbers with just 14 guys at practice this week for various reasons following a 55-0 loss to Hiawatha last week. The Cyclones are still hanging tough with head coach Bryce Paden praising his senior guys for stepping up and continuing to lead despite the tough year.

Unfortunately, the task doesn’t get any easier this week against probably the best 0-3 team in the state in St. Marys who has a 3-point loss to Riley County, a 1-point loss to Silver Lake and had a lead on Rossville last week before a 44-20 loss.

Riverside did win this meeting a year ago in a thriller 20-14 in what has been the only meeting.

Jonny’s Pick: St. Marys
Justin’s Pick: St. Marys
Brandon’s Pick: St. Marys

(1-1) Republic County at (2-1) Maur Hill (D4)

Maur Hill took their first loss of the season last week at the hands of Pleasant Ridge, 42-28. That was after two straight wins to start this season against Council Grove and Oskaloosa. Mark Harris has 588 passing yards and 3 touchdowns for the Ravens so far this season while Drew Caudle leads the receiving core with 234 yards.

Republic County is coming off their first loss of the season last week against Minneapolis, 20-6. Their week one game was cancelled and in week two they picked up their lone win against Ellsworth.

This is just the second meeting between these two schools as Maur Hill won the lone matchup last season, 41-8.

Jonny’s Pick: Maur Hill
Justin’s Pick: Maur Hill
Brandon’s Pick: Maur Hill

Class 3A

(1-2) Perry Lecompton at (1-2) Bishop Ward (D3)

Perry Lecompton played much better last week with guys out but still fell to a very good Holton squad 28-7. The Kaws trailed 21-7 at the half and drove the ball well at times but could not find a way to sustain a drive with the only score coming on a 17-yard run by Gunnar Ball.

Fortunately for the Kaws all hands are on deck tonight against Bishop Ward who is 1-2 following a 20-10 loss last week in a game that was ended in the third quarter by the referees. Ward’s only win came against Sumner Academy back in week one 28-6.

Perry Lecompton is 7-2 all-time against Bishop Ward pitching a shutout last year, 71-0.

Jonny’s Pick: Perry Lecompton
Justin’s Pick: Perry Lecompton
Brandon’s Pick: Perry Lecompton

(3-0) Holton at (1-2) Sabetha (D4/Big7/Channels+KNZA)

Sabetha is looking to bounce back after a tough game last week falling to state-ranked Nemaha Central 19-7. The Bluejays trailed 13-0 at the half but Christian McAfee led Sabetha on a 21-play, 96-yard scoring drive that took up 11 minutes of the third quarter to pull within 13-7, but the Thunder scored a touchdown late and ran off the rest of the clock to seal it. McAfee was outstanding in his first snaps at quarterback this season rushing for right around 100 yards on the night. The Bluejays did remain turnover free and forced two Thunder turnovers which has coach Garrett Michael pleased heading into week four.

Holton improved to 3-0 with a 28-7 win at Perry Lecompton. The Wildcats led 21-7 at halftime and never trailed while rushing for 364 yards led by junior fullback, Jace Boswell with 116 yards on just 13 carries. The Wildcats had another impressive goal-line stand holding an opponents out of the endzone with multiple snaps inside the five-yard-line. 

Holton had lost four straight against Sabetha before winning last year against the Bluejays 45-21 with this game likely to fly by with two disciplined teams that love to run the football and control the time of possession.

Jonny’s Pick: Holton
Justin’s Pick: Holton
Brandon’s Pick: Holton

(2-1) Hiawatha at (1-2) Rock Creek (D4)

For the first time in four years, Hiawatha has posted back to back wins and is two points from being 3-0 as one of the suprise teams in the area. The Redhawks followed up their upset win against Perry Lecompton with a  dominating 55-0 beat down of Riverside last week for a 2-0 start to Big 7 play. The Hawks had numerous big plays in all three facets of the game, including Athlete of the Week, Ashton Rockey who scored on offense, defense (pick-six) and started the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown on special teams. Hiawatha led 34-0 at half and coasted to the win and now looks to build on the momentum and confidence as they open district play at Rock Creek. 

The Mustangs are 1-2 but have played a tough schedule with a tight loss to Silver Lake and also losing to #1 ranked Rossville before getting a last minute contest scheduled last week and beating Louisburg 35-28. New quarterback Dalton Whitworth had a huge game last week completing 19-29 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for a 27-yard score.   Ethan Burgess has 319 receiving yards so far this year and a trio of touchdown catches.

Rock Creek posted a 51-12 victory against Hiawatha in the schools first meeting a year ago.

Jonny’s Pick: Rock Creek
Justin’s Pick: Rock Creek
Brandon’s Pick: Rock Creek

(2-1) Royal Valley at (0-3) Jefferson West (D4/Big 7)

Royal Valley had a tough time on Saturday falling to a Christ Prep team 51-0 that had Iowa and other major college programs scouting players on their team. The Panthers were minus a couple key starters and had a pair of turnovers as well while falling behind 21-0 after just one quarter. The Panthers have now been shutout the last two games after a 16-13 week win victory against Riverside. Albeit a short trip, this is the third straight week for RV to play on the road.

Jeff West played better last week but still fell short against Chanute 37-8. The Tigers trailed 23-0 at the half and received just a lone touchdown pass from Kaden Stones to Sam Broxterman in the loss. Stones did run for 68 yards and threw for 153 with 75 of those yards going to Austin Anderson.

These Big 7 foes have gone 2-2 against each other the past four years and have a even record of 7-7 dating back to 2004.

Jonny’s Pick: Royal Valley 
Justin’s Pick: Royal Valley
Brandon’s Pick: Royal Valley

(0-2) Marysville at (2-1) Chapman

Marysville had their game last week cancelled with Rock Creek due to Covid-19. The Bulldogs are still searching for their first win of the season as they’ve lost to both Beloit and Wamego.

Chapman bounced back and got their second win of the season last week after losing to Holton. The Fighting Irish defeated Abilene 56-21.

Marysville is 11-6 all time versus Chapman. The two teams last faced off in 2019 with Marysville getting the win, 34-22.

Jonny’s Pick: Chapman
Justin’s Pick: Chapman
Brandon’s Pick: Chapman

Class 4A

(0-1) KC Harmon at (2-1) Atchison (KCA League/KAIR 93.7)

Atchison has won two straight since their opening season loss to St. Josepth Lafayette. They won at Highland Park in week two and beat KC Wyandotte last week, 38-16. Jesse Greenly is one of the state's top rushers with 530 yards on the ground in three games for Atchison.

KC Harmon had their first two games of the season cancelled but got on the field for the first time last week and lost 52-0 against KC Turner.

Atchison is 10-0 all time against KC Harmon and won the game last year between the two, 48-0.
Jonny’s Pick: Atchison
Justin’s Pick: Atchison
Brandon’s Pick: Atchison