2025 Pick Records

Brandon

Last week: n/a
Overall: 110-28
2024 Record: 153-32

Justin

Last week: n/a
Overall: 115-21
2024 Record: 158-26

Kryndon

Last week: n/a
Overall: 106-30
2024 Record: 145-40

Jake

Last week: n/a
Overall: 101-23

Boz

Last week: n/a
Overall: 105-19

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Riverside at Centralia – 103.9 KNZA
Axtell at Rural Vista – 92.1 KMZA
Jefferson County North at Rossville – 93.7 KAIR
Holton at Frontenac – Holton Channel
Sabetha at Silver Lake – Silver Lake & Sabetha Channels
Olpe at Jackson Heights – Cobra Channel

Regional Round Playoff Games

Class 8M-II

(5-4) Frankfort at (8-1) Marmaton Valley

Frankfort managed to get past their first-round opponent in Thunder Ridge, 38-36. It was the second time this season the Wildcats had matched up against them, winning the regular season contest as well, 44-36. Frankfort went up in the first quarter, 8-0 with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wes Anderson to Peyton Adams, with Anderson converting the two-point conversion attempt. Both teams scored 14 points apiece in the second quarter, driving it to a Frankfort-led 22-14 half. The Longhorns tied the contest in the third quarter 22-22 to head into the fourth, where both teams would score two touchdowns, but Frankfort would come out converting both two-point conversions. Frankfort tied it at 36-36 before making the conversion to win 38-36. Wes Anderson and Henry Ketter both had 10 carries for 50 yards rushing, while only Ketter added a rushing score. Anderson also tossed for 244 yards for four touchdowns, going 13 of 19 on completions, with his leading receiver in Peyton Adams snagging eight catches for 148 yards and three scores. Anderson finished with 294 yards of offense, four touchdowns, nine tackles, an interception on defense, and made the tackle on the Longhorns' last two-point try. 

The Marmaton Valley Wildcats are an impressive 8-1 on the season with their only loss coming against Reno County in week four, 93-38. The Wildcats destroyed the Hartford Jaguars 48-0 in their week nine playoff game. Senior quarterback Tyler Lord completed 8 of 14 passes for the Wildcats for 47 yards. Lord also led the ground game with 12 carries for 200 yards rushing with four rushing touchdowns. The Wildcats also had a kickoff returned for a touchdown by Todd Stevenson. Marmaton Valley finished with 292 yards of offense and ended the game swiftly. The defense came away with an interception and six tackles for loss against the Jaguars. Tyler Lord leads the team in rushing with 1,010 yards on the season for 21 touchdowns as well, passing for an additional 1,074 yards with 17 scores to complement. 

These two teams met for the first time in program history in the regional round of the playoffs as well. Frankfort won 46-0.

Brandon’s Pick: Marmaton Valley
Justin’s Pick: Frankfort
Kryndon’s Pick: Marmaton Valley
Jake’s Pick: Marmaton Valley
Boz’s Pick: Frankfort

(8-1) Axtell at (8-1) Rural Vista – 92.1 KMZA

Axtell blew past their first-round opponent in the St. John’s Tipton Bluejays 50-0 last Thursday and have now won two straight after having their 58-game winning streak come to an end against Hanover. The Axtell offense has stayed balanced through all nine games this season, having 1,056 yards rushing and nearly 1,000 yards passing as well. Wyatt Detweiler has led the way for this Axtell team with 513 yards rushing off 72 carries for 16 touchdowns. Behind Detweiler have been Shaughnessy, Lybarger, and Schmit, all rushing for at least 150+ and a handful of scores. Detweiler is the team lead in passing with 957 yards on the season, completing 67 of 84 passes, having thrown no picks, and 16 touchdowns. Axtell has led an explosive charge on every side of the field with six total special team scores, two kickoffs returned for touchdowns from Detweiler alone, while Colin Shaughnessy has returned one kickoff and two punts for scores. Axtell is led by Lybarger on defense with seven interceptions. 

Rural Vista has one of its best teams put on the gridiron in some time, with their only loss coming against the top-ranked 8M-l, Little River. The Heat have won seven straight since the week two loss and just destroyed Crest 51-0 last week. Rural Vista had 247 yards total in the game and was led by one of the best running backs in all 8M right now in Kole Riedy, with 216 yards on eight carries with four scores. Riedy this season has the Heat with 1,838 yards on the season, averaging 204.2 yards per game and 11.6 yards a carry. Riedy also has 32 rushing touchdowns on the season to lead the team. 

Last season was the first all-time meeting for both teams, and it was also in the regional round. The only difference from this year and last year is that it’s now Axtell on the road and Rural Vista hosting. The Eagles came out victorious last season, 54-0.

Brandon’s Pick: Axtell
Justin’s Pick: Axtell
Kryndon’s Pick: 
Jake’s Pick: Axtell
Boz’s Pick: Axtell

(6-3) Burlingame at (9-0) Hanover

The Burlingame Bearcats are a very battle-tested 6-3 but did enter the postseason after back-to-back regular season losses to Reno County and Rural Vista. The Bearcats were able to bounce back last week with a 54-8 victory over Waverly. Burlingame is led by Danny Cain at quarterback, who leads the team in both passing and rushing as a senior leader. The Bearcats have outscored their opponents 351-198 this season and are just slightly out of being top five ranked in the 8M-ll classification. 

The Hanover Wildcats have remained the #1 ranked team in the class of 8M-ll after taking down the Axtell Eagles 26-18 two weeks ago, snapping the Eagles 58 58-game winning streak. Hanover started their postseason journey last week with a 58-6 blowout against the Osborne Bulldogs in the first round. Hanover’s defense only surrendered 147 total yards of offense to Osborne’s offense, while also coming away with three turnovers. The Wildcats scored rapidly with 44 points in the opening quarter and put the game away before it truly started. Quarterback Kadrick Cohorst threw for over 100 yards and three touchdown passes. The running game was dominated by Cooper Bruna, who rushed for three scores.

This will be the fifth all-time meeting between Hanover and Burlingame. Last season, the Wildcats were eliminated by the Bearcats just 36-24 in the regional round. Before that, Hanover and Burlingame hadn’t matched up since 2015, when Hanover won 58-12 in sectionals. Both Matt Heuer and Hanover are 3-1 against Burlingame all-time.

Brandon’s Pick: Hanover
Justin’s Pick: Hanover
Kryndon’s Pick: Hanover
Jake’s Pick: Hanover
Boz’s Pick: Hanover

(6-3) Lebo at (6-3) Linn

Lebo hasn’t had a losing season since Brian Hadley, the first year he entered the Wolves Program, and since then Lebo hasn’t won less than six games in a season. Lebo lost their first game of the season to the Madison Bulldogs, then won their next three straight games. Lebo lost back-to-back to Burlingame and Rural Vista before winning their last three straight. The Wolves opened the playoffs with a 50-8 win over St. Paul. Lebo has outscored their opponents this season 338-167. 

Linn destroyed Wakefield 68-12 last week to bounce back after their last regular-season game against Hanover, which the Bulldogs lost 52-12. Two of the Bulldogs' losses this season are to the #1 and #2 teams of 8M-ll in both Hanover and Axtell. In the victory for the Bulldogs last Friday, Linn had held the Bombers to 33 yards passing and 139 yards rushing. Linn came away with five total fumble recoveries, while the Linn offense only turned the ball over once. Linn led 46-12 by the end of the first half and 54-18 going into the fourth quarter, before ending 68-18 with 14 points in the fourth. Linn has outscored their opponents this season 362-246.

This is the first all-time meeting between the two teams.

Brandon’s Pick: Linn
Justin’s Pick: Linn
Kryndon’s Pick: Linn
Jake’s Pick: Linn
Boz’s Pick: Linn

Class 1A

(6-3) Troy at (9-0) St. Marys-Colgan

Troy opened the playoffs last week with a 30-8 win at Jayhawk-Linn. The Trojans led 16-8 after the first quarter and would keep Jayhawk-Linn off the board the rest of the game. Kaston Jasper completed 26-of-39 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Engemann had three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown while Caden Rosenberger had seven receptions for 77 yards. Marucs McKittrick led the defense with six tackles including 1.5 sacks.

St. Marys-Colgan is the #4 ranked team in Class 1A and is undefeated at 9-0 as they opened their playoff run with a dominant 63-0 win last week against Doniphan West. The Panthers led D-West 49-0 at halftime with Klayton Adamson going off for 10 carries for 266 yards and seven touchdowns, all in the first half.

The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was 2016 when Troy captured the 2-1A title as Troy defeated St. Marys-Colgan 28-0.

Brandon’s Pick: Colgan
Justin’s Pick: Colgan
Kryndon’s Pick: Colgan
Jake’s Pick: Colgan
Boz’s Pick: Colgan

(8-1) Jefferson County North at (8-1) Rossville – KAIR 93.7

The Chargers of JCN bounced back last week in the first round of the playoffs after being shutout in the regular season finale against Jackson Heights. JCN beat McLouth 30-14 in what was the second meeting in three weeks for JCN and McLouth. JCN led McLouth 8-6 after the first quarter and would extend it out to 22-6 at halftime. Will Elias threw for 96 yards and two touchdowns while adding 104 rushing yards and another score. Merrick Noll finished with 24 carries for 117 yards. Rex Fuhrman and Nic Cahill each added a receiving touchdown.

Rossville hammered Mission Valley last week in the first round of the playoffs 71-0. It was the Dawgs’ sixth straight win after their lone loss against Nemaha Central. Rossville rushed for 340 yards against Mission Valley led by Jack Donovan with four carries for 133 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Canaan Mitchell had three total touchdowns with Andre Johnson, Conner Bush, and Landen Lewis also finding the endzone via the run game.

JCN and Rossville have met twice in the playoffs in the 2000’s. Rossville beat JCN 30-14 in the first round of the playoffs back in 2000 and in 2006 in the first round in which Rossville won 27-13.

Brandon’s Pick: Rossville
Justin’s Pick: Rossville
Kryndon’s Pick: Rossville
Jake’s Pick: Rossville
Boz’s Pick: Rossville

(7-2) Olpe at (9-0) Jackson Heights – Cobra Channel

The Olpe Eagles have now won back-to-back games after losing to #3 Rossville 36-22. The Eagles beat Pleasanton 59-14 in their opening home playoff game last week. Both of Olpe’s losses have been to top-ranked teams in #3 in 1A Rossville and #4 in 2A Osage City. Olpe had 386 yards of offense in their win last week, with 355 yards coming from the ground game. The Eagles had two different backs go for 100+ yards and three touchdowns in Redeker and Lienemann. Olpe put up a quick 25 points in the first quarter and 32 total points in the first half against Pleasanton before putting the game away 59-14. 

Jackson Heights destroyed Southeast-Cherokee 58-0 last week in the first round of the playoffs. The Cobras had six different players score touchdowns. Drake Mellies finished with 37 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown, complemented by 89 yards passing and one passing score. Jackson Heights had nine different ball carriers as well, with seven of them rushing for 25+ or more, combining for 278 total yards on the ground and six rushing touchdowns. Drake Mellies leads Jackson Heights with 1,248 yards passing and 18 passing touchdowns, going 63 of 99 on the season passing. Mellies also leads the team in rushing with 70 carries for 1,095 yards with 21 rushing scores. The electric freshman Tatum Eisenbarth is behind Mellies with 43 carries for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cobras are on pace to break their point record from last season, averaging 50.9 points per game this season

Jackson Heights and Olpe have only battled seven total times in history, all within the last ten years as well. Olpe is 7-0 against Jackson Heights, including three playoff victories. Jackson Heights has been shut out by the Eagles in their last four meetings. Olpe has outscored Jackson Heights 232-38 through their seven matchups.

Brandon’s Pick: Jackson Heights
Justin’s Pick: Jackson Heights
Kryndon’s Pick: Jackson Heights   
Jake’s Pick: Jackson Heights
Boz’s Pick: Jackson Heights

(7-2) Riverside at (8-1) Centralia – 103.9 KNZA

Riverside was solid on both sides of the ball last week as they opened the playoffs with a 34-0 win at home against Wabaunsee. Riverside has been elite on the defensive side of the ball this season as they’ve given up just 5.6 points per game. They’ve posted five shoutouts including four straight from weeks 4-7. Offensively, the Cyclones are averaging 29.4 points per game.

Centralia beat up on Onaga in the first round last week, winning 54-20. The Panthers have won seven straight games since their only loss back in week two against Mid-Buchanan (MO). Centralia has been impressive on both sides of the ball this season, scoring just north of 30 points per game while allowing just 12.2 points per game to the opposition. 50% of their total points allowed this season was in the loss to Mid-Buchanan.

We get a rematch from the regular season finale just a couple of weeks ago in which Centralia beat Riverside at home 14-7 to claim the district championship. Centralia is 5-0 against Riverside dating back to 2011. The matchup in 2011 was in the second round of the playoffs with the Panthers winning 52-18.

Brandon’s Pick:
Justin’s Pick: Centralia
Kryndon’s Pick: Centralia
Jake’s Pick: Riverside
Boz’s Pick: Centralia

Class 2A

(7-2) Council Grove at (9-0) Nemaha Central

Council Grove bounced back after their loss in the regular season finale to Silver Lake to beat Central Heights in the playoff opener last week 67-0. Junior quarterback Luke Stewart went bananas completing 19-of-22 passes for 370 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Mason Samuels was his top target that night as he finished with six receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns. The Braves only two losses this season are against Silver Lake and Osage City who have a combined three losses.

The #2 ranked Nemaha Central Thunder made quick work of West Franklin last week in the playoff opener winning 80-0. They scored 74 points in the first half. Carter Hajek totaled six touchdowns with three rushing and three passing. He finished with 111 passing yards and 91 rushing yards. The Thunder offense is averaging 48.6 points per game this season as they’ve scored 141 points in their last two games.

Nemaha Central hosted Council Grove last season in the sub-state championship game in which the Thunder won 21-6 to advance to the state title game.

Brandon’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Justin’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Kryndon’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Jake’s Pick: Nemaha Central
Boz’s Pick: Nemaha Central

(8-1) Sabetha at (7-2) Silver Lake – Sabetha & Silver Lake Channels

Sabetha left little doubt in their playoff opener last week as they blanked Humboldt at home 48-0. The Bluejays defense has given up just six points in their last three games as they’re giving up just 6.2 points per game with 20 points allowed against Nemaha Central and 16 points against Holton. The Bluejays’ only loss was against the Thunder in week seven 20-18 as they had multiple opportunities to knock off NC. They’ve allowed seven points or less in seven of their games this season with four shutouts.

After losing their first two games of the season against Rossville and Nemaha Central, the Eagles of Silver Lake have won seven straight games including last week in the first round of the playoffs 29-8 at home against St. Marys. The Eagles rushed for 148 yards against St. Marys and averaged nearly five yards per carry with Dom Monhollon leading the way with 72 yards and a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Kip Kruger completed 12-of-15 passes for 162 yards. Dayne Johnson had four catches for 106 yards.

These two teams met in the second round of the playoffs back in 2023 with Sabetha winning the game 45-34. They also met in the sub-state championship game back in 2017 with the Bluejays winning 17-14. Sabetha would go on to win back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018 in Class 3A.

Brandon’s Pick: Sabetha
Justin’s Pick: Sabetha
Kryndon’s Pick: Silver Lake
Jake’s Pick: Sabetha
Boz’s Pick: Sabetha

(4-5) ACCHS at (8-1) Osage City

Atchison County had one of the surprise wins in the first round of the playoffs last week as they went on the road and beat 3-seed Eureka 31-0. The Tigers rushed for 198 yards and averaged over five yards per carry led by Max Bottorff with 18 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Tigers quarterback Cody Falk completed 6-of-8 passes for 40 yards with a touchdown pass to Riley Kesinger. The win for ACCHS snapped a four-game losing streak with that stretch against all Big East opponents in Sabetha, Royal Valley, Jefferson West, and Nemaha Central.

The #4 ranked Osage City Indians ended Royal Valley’s season last week with a 35-0 win at home in the playoff opener. Dylan Theel rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns while Reed Silver rushed for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown. Osage City is playing Silver at quarterback with Kasen Parsons out the last few weeks with a season ending injury.

This is the first all-time meeting between Atchison County and Osage City.

Brandon’s Pick: Osage City
Justin’s Pick: Osage City
Kryndon’s Pick: Osage City
Jake’s Pick: Osage City
Boz’s Pick: Osage City

Class 3A

(7-2) Jefferson West at (8-1) Prairie View

Jeff West bounced back in a big way last week after losing in the regular season finale to Hayden as they beat Anderson County 45-6. Freshman quarterback Brixton Schwinn continued his impressive first season of varsity action completing 16-of-28 passes for 345 yards and five touchdowns. His older brother Brody has been his favorite target all season and that was no different against Anderson County as Brody had five receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Crayton Holman had a big night as well finishing with 5 receptions for 117 yards and two scores.

The Prairie View Buffaloes opened the playoffs last week with a 48-6 win at home against Burlington. Prairie View totaled 453 rushing yards last week and averaged 11 yards per carry. Leading the way was senior Parker Schwarz with 27 carries for 285 yards and three touchdowns. The Buffaloes have won seven straight games since their only loss of the season back in week two against Santa Fe Trail 35-20. Prairie View is averaging 48 points and 398 rushing yards per game this season. Schwarz has rushed for 2,307 yards (12.2 yards per carry) and 36 touchdowns.

This will be the first all-time meeting between Jefferson West and Prairie View.

Brandon’s Pick: Jefferson West
Justin’s Pick: Jefferson West
Kryndon’s Pick: Jefferson West
Jake’s Pick: Jefferson West
Boz’s Pick: Jefferson West

(5-4) Holton at (8-1) Frontenac – Holton Channel

Holton continues their 29th straight post-season with a long road trip to southeast Kansas to battle Frontenac. The Wildcats have put together their best two games of the season including a 54-12 win at Baldwin last week. Holton scored touchdowns on their first seven drives of the night in route to 430 yards rushing and got three touchdowns each from Korban Wilson and Alec Frazier who combined for 300 yards on the ground.

The Wildcats still haven't completed a pass since week two and haven't called one for a few weeks, but they remain balanced in the wishbone with Andrew Shupe and Wilson each over 820 yards for the season, QB Frazier with 745 and the fullback Cael Frazier with 560. 

Frontenac under second year Coach Leon Miller has just one loss which came in week two against Pittsburg Colgan 29-13. It's also the only opponent the Raiders have allowed to score more than 14 points all season. Frontenac beat Bishop Ward 56-6 last week to begin their 14th consecutive playoff run. Last year Frontenac was 9-0 before an upset home loss against Big East foe Perry Lecompton. Frontenac has become more of a tough, run-first team with only four senior starters and multiple backs sharing the load.

It's the 7th post season matchup in the last 11 years between Holton and Frontenac in the 3A Regionals. Holton is 4-2 against the Raiders including a 35-22 win in their last matchup two years ago.

Brandon’s Pick: Frontenac
Justin’s Pick:
Kryndon’s Pick: Frontenac
Jake’s Pick: Holton
Boz’s Pick: Holton