For the fifth time in the last seven years, Holton and Frontenac will meet on the football field in a November playoff game this Friday night. The Wildcats have won three of the four previous games including a 42-6 victory last season with all those games in the quarterfinals. The 2021 clash in a semifinal game with the winner advancing to Hutchinson to play in the 3A Title game on Saturday, November 27th. 

Holton is 11-0 on the season and trying to make a championship game for the first time since 2015. The Wildcats have won their last nine games all by 20 points or more and pitched shutouts in three of their last four games, including wins against Perry Lecompton (41-0) and unbeaten Girard (36-0) last week. Girard is one common opponent in this matchup as they beat Frontenac for the CNC and district title in week 8 by a 13-6 score. Its been the only game decided by less than 14 points this year for the Raiders. The other same foe tonight is Rock Creek who Holton topped 41-21 in week seven and Frontenac pulled away in the second half to top the Mustangs last week 42-26. Holton hasn't played a road game since facing Rock Creek on October the 15th. 

Frontenac averages 235 yards rushing pre game and ran for yards against Rock Creek when Mario Menghini tallied 195 yards and two scores and Justice Compton ran for 113 and 3 scores. Both those backs along with quarterback Collin McCartney have registered more than 700 yards on the ground this season while McCartney has passed for 850 yards completing 42 percent of his passes with 8 TDs and 8 INT. Besides Girard, the only other loss for Frontenac this year came in week two against a 5A size school in Oklahoma (Coweta). The biggest strength for the Raiders is their front line with five seniors including Oklahoma State commit Landon Dean (6-5, 245), returning all-state selection Cruz Blair (6'1, 230) and Lane Franklin (6'2, 270). 

Holton has a mean of 352 yards per outing and averages more 8 yards per carry with four backs surpassing 600 yards. Wishbone junior backfield of Garyson Booth (891), Jayden Fletcher (803) and Jace Boswell (613) are joined by QB Matt Lierz, who has 689 yards rushing with 300 more passing while accounting for 18 touchdowns. The Wildcat defense has been a takeaway machine in the second half of the season with 22 turnovers created and also adding 22 sacks among 46 tackles for a loss. They had five takeaways last week including four in the first half against Girard and were led in tackles by senior Cayden Jackson with 15 stops as he paces the team in take downs this season.  Five other seniors start for the Holton defense including corners Jace Hallauer and Lucas Adcock as well as safety Jake Zeller and lineman Andrew Williams and Kaden Cattrell. 

Holton has not allowed a score in the first quarter of a game this year and may also have a slight advantage in special teams if they can beat the long trip and stay focused while continuing to match their intensity and energy from the past few weeks. Kickoff is 6:00 PM with live local and free coverage on KNZA 103.9 FM and online on www.mscsports.net