Saturday, October 16, 2010

Week Seven Review

Three Up

Leavenworth
The Pioneers (right) finally snapped their 21-game losing streak that had stretched back to October of 2008. On top of that, if the team can win one of its final two games they will make the playoffs.

Olathe South
Olathe South has now won five straight games and their running game is firing on all cylinders. The Falcons could do some damage if they make the playoffs.

SM West
The Vikings hold the longest winning streak in the Sunflower League at six games. The team has claimed a share of its fourth Sunflower League crown in six years and can win the league outright with a win on Friday.

Three Down

SM North
The Indians' lone score against their most heated rival came in the fourth quarter against SM Northwest's reserves. Also, with Leavenworth's win, SM North now holds the longest losing streak in the Sunflower League at 14 games.

Olathe East
Olathe East's previously impeccable defense looked pedestrian on Friday, surrendering 312 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air to a 1-6 Blue Valley West team. The Hawks also struggled to control the lead, and didn't have the game until late in the fourth quarter.

Lawrence
The Chesty Lions' mid-season heroics looked like a thing of the past during their performance on Friday. The team is in a must-win situation against Olathe Northwest on Friday.

Individual Highlights

**John Schrock led SM East to victory completing 15-of-19 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 56 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries.

**SM Northwest's Stephen Mangelsdorf was nearly perfect in his team's 28-point victory, completing 11-of-13 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns, and also adding a rushing score.

**Olathe North's Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons (right) played at their state champion caliber Friday, combining for 334 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries.

Week Eight Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (6-1): The Hawks' victory was all too close for comfort and a similar lapse in the defensive secondary could prove costly in the playoffs.

2. Olathe North (6-1): The Eagles looked dominant on Friday, and it appears that Victor Simmons is coming out of his slump.

3. SM West (6-1): The Vikings didn't pass their first big game test against Olathe North; their game this week against SM East will be the team's second big game for proving their worth.

4. SM East (6-1): The Lancers' game against SM West is probably the team's biggest game of the season, for multiple reasons.

5. Olathe South (5-2): Olathe South is now playing like one of the top teams in the Sunflower League.

6. Lawrence Free State (4-3): The Firebirds tumultuous schedule continues this week against Olathe North.

7. SM Northwest (3-4): SM Northwest's easy slate to finish the season should give them a big boost of momentum heading into the playoffs.

8. Lawrence (3-4): A win Friday would set up a huge week nine matchup against Lawrence Free State for a playoff berth.

9. Olathe Northwest (2-5): The Ravens' loss against Lawrence Free State may have been the death knell on making the playoffs.

10. SM South (2-5): The Raiders have decent talent, but they just haven't been able to put things together this season.

11. Leavenworth (1-6): Take a breath of fresh air, Pioneers. You're finally out of the cellar (at least for this week).

12. SM North (0-7): Needless to say, things have not gone smoothly for the Indians this season; however, they have two very winnable games to end the season which could qualify them for the playoffs.

Photos courtesy the Leavenworth Times and the Kansas City Star

25 comments:

TheImpaler said...

One note: SMW has already clinched at least a share of the conference championship. With a win Friday, they will clince their first OUTRIGHT championship since 1988! Congrats Sunflower League teams on going 4-0 against non-district opposition including 3-0 v. the EKL which has pretty much owned the SL in recent years.

Anonymous said...

What is wrong with you??? Olathe East still ranked in 1st place? PLEASE!!!!!
Stop sniffing up the orange's butts and the real #1 is Olathe North no question!

Diablo del Sol said...

You dont sound biased at all. North was shut out by East, I fail to see how North could be above East.

Anonymous said...

Without Victor and Adonis Olathe North would be at the bottom of the league...

They are not as good as their fans think they are...

Anonymous said...

Without Brandon and Austin olathe east would be at the bottom of the league...


They are not as good as their fans think they are...

Anonymous said...

And that is Why West is better than those two teams now. More balanced with more talent from top to bottom.

Anonymous said...

SM West lost to Olathe north so they obviously aren't that much better then them. Plus the SME vs Olathe north game was much closer then when SM west played them. Every team east and west have both played east has played better against them aside from law high

Anonymous said...

With all due respect "o" North lost to "o" East 25 to 0. "o" East lost to the Lions while West dismantled the Lions. The first game of the year between "o" North and SMW was decided by 7 point, 29 to 22. What was the final score of the "o" North SME game? West is now being let by a new QB and much better running attack with the addition on Trey Burt as a hard running running back. If SMW and "o" North played today, I believe the outcome would be different. Especially the way Victor and Adonis being up and down. By the way, the Sunflower League championship is decided by the total record not including the first game according to the KSSAA hand book. The first game is treated like a pre season game. So at this time West is leading the Sunflower league.

TheImpaler said...

Honestly, OE, ON, SMW and SME have all been inconsistent and none of them can be said to be clearly superior right now. It's going to be an interesting playoff season. It's just a shame that due to the stupid districting that one of the SM Schools will not be seeded (although whichever one it is will probably get a game against SMNW at SMN stadium the first round, so not like really getting screwed). Clearly these are the 4 top teams in the East. Right now I'd say SMW has the most team speed, SME probably the most disciplined team, ON has the two biggest playmakers and OE the best defense. They say defense wins championships so, much as it pains me as a SMW fan, I'd agree with Eli at this point and make O East a slight favorite to get to Topeka. Regardless I think the champion is coming out of the West whether it's Dodge City or Heights or Junction or Manhattan.

8 Time State Champs said...

I am an Olathe North fan and i don't believe they should be listed #1. They should be #2 just because we beat SMW and SME. I think North has looked very average this year.

The goal at Olathe North is not to win the sunflower league it is to win State Chmapionships. SMW can have the sunflower league tital every year if ON wins State.

I don't think a team from the west wins the state tital unless SME is playing from the East.

Anonymous said...

No disrespect to the vikings at all who i believe have improved every week they have played and are a legite contender now the first week against the eagles was more lopsided then the score showed the jv team came in with about 8 minutes left in the game and they showed glimpses of there big play abilty against eagles jv if the starters had been left it it could be a 30 point spread between the two teams

Anonymous said...

Wow, thats not what the Eagle coach said.

Anonymous said...

That is very interesting that the JV played. Wests' JV beat Olathe North JV 36 to 7.

Anonymous said...

I agree with "8 time state champs" I am a SMW fan but really we do not have the full package to win state and I feel like ON and OE may have the biggest playmakers but I think if an east kansas school wins state it will be chip shermans lancers. They may have been innconsistant somepoints of the year but sherman has been in big games and he has shown he knows how to get even an average team ready to play a big game. Ex. SME vs SMNW last year and SME vs SMW last year. Now East lost the west game last year but really they played with a much superior SMW team the whole game. I hate to say it but LAncers win East Kansas and give it a great game in Topeka.

Anonymous said...

I agree with what the last guy said. Also SME has shown in recent weeks that they dont only have the passing game with schrock but also tailback Adam Lowe broke out last week rushing for almost 200 yards with 2 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving. Lancers will be dangerous come big game situations

8 Time State Champs said...

To clarify I DONT think SME can win state (ON/OE/SMW all would in my opinion). We are the EAST side of the state for you geography majors.

I think SME is close to just as good but they have not had any past success and I don't think they would win just like when SMW went to state a few years ago.

Anonymous said...

As per previous on my comment above on my disappointed on Sunflower ranking by the author....OE shut out ON 25-0 and yes the Eagles had their night off and every team are allowed to make a mistaken but in this case....overall between the Leavenworth and Lawerence game combined the Eagles racked up totals of 117 points and the opps only has 3 to compared with the Hawks they made only 83 points while the opps teams score 33 all together....DO THE MATH!!
You just basically mad at the Eagles is because that was the only team ever defeated the puke colored Vikings!
So stop kissing the oranges sorry butts!

-the Hawks hater and now Vikings too!

Anonymous said...

This is the repond to "8 Time State Champison"....
Clearly, you are so dumb and a traitor! As a Eagles fan, how can you say that? Even you mention that the Eagles defeated SME and SMW.....and obviously that the Eagles is the superior team of the Sunflower league, no question ask!
And what's more, the OE Hawks will not play against the SME and SMW they has a lot of sorry ass teams to destroy, but no the Hawks barely win against the Blue Valley West which only has 1 win!
You and the author is a complete jacka$$!

-the Hawks hater and now Vikings too.

8 time state champs said...

We lost 25-0 and NEVER even had a chance to score. East should be #1 until we beat them in the playoffs.

You will never meet a more passionate eagles fan and former player but I am real about how the Eagles are playing and who they played in the last 3 weeks.

Anonymous said...

This is the respond to the faker "8 Time State Chumps".
No, you and I both know that the Eagles would have won the OE/ON game. It was their mistake but to compares with the schdule that the Hawks playing or played against with were less competition than the Eagles had. Keep in your mind the Eagles will not be playing against the any 5A Blue Valley HS this year and the Hawks does and barely beat the BV West the most losing team of thr BV....PLEASE!!!
No game against SMW nor SME tell you a lot about the Hawks!

Playoff or not still the Eagles earns to be #1 and it is my last reponese to you since you're too stupid to understand on word "competition" and I find it too hard to believe that you were a fomrer player but maybe a waterboy!

-the Hawks hater and now Vikings too.

Anonymous said...

SME vs ON game was a great game that the lancers should have won if not for penalties. ON tacked on a touchdown with like a minute left to make the scoreboard look worse for east

8 time state champs said...

So if i am the water boy did you play? Did you were an EAGLE helmet or just watch from the stands like most everyone?

Anonymous said...

ON barely beat a reeling SMNW team they one because of their good play makers which they do that the best tandum of playmakers in the east by far but, if they can barely beat a SMNW team who doesn'thave any real play makers compaired to how they have been in the past? i think the author has it right

Anonymous said...

This is the respond to all those loser Olathe North haters.....Your mamma!
The Eagles went on their rages and murder the Firebirds 38 to 7! And please do compare it from Olathe East Vs Law Free State 17 to 0....see the difference???

Eagles is the superior of the Sunflower League ACCEPT IT!!!!!!

Yall know the fact that the Eagles has been #1 since they decapitated Leavenworth 76 to zip!

Now for the last time.....STOP KISSING UP THESE ORANGE ASSES!!!!!

-the Hawks hater and now Vikings too!

Anonymous said...

East won 25-0