Team Grades

Team grades were assessed on a team-by-team basis. For this reason, total wins didn't necessarily necessitate a higher grade. I awarded three A's, three B's, five C's, and one D. In my opinion no team had a bad enough season to earn an F, but also, no team earned an A+ grade the way Olathe North did last season.

A

Olathe North (11-2): The Eagles (right) weren't as dominant this season as they were last year, but they claimed a share of the Sunflower League crown, advanced to the state championship game, and finished with at least 10 wins for the eighth time in since 2000.

SM East (8-2): This season could probably go down as the best in SM East history. Sure, they lost in the first round of the playoffs, but the team played at levels that hadn't been seen in program's history.

A-

Olathe East (10-2): It was business as usual for the Hawks. Olathe East recorded their eleventh straight winning season (the longest active streak in the SL) and made their third Sub-State appearance since 2000.

B+

Olathe South (7-4): After a rough 0-2 start the Falcons really got their act together, winning seven of their next nine games. Their upset of SM East in Regionals was a nice victory and the team played Olathe North much tougher in Sectionals than they had during the regular season.

B

Lawrence (3-6): There were alot of questions surrounding the LHS program after their tumultuous 1-8 season in 2009, but alot of those were answered with an optimistic 2010. The Chesty Lions showed more offensive diversity, and even pulled the upset of the year when they handed Olathe East its only loss of the regular season. The program looks to be headed in the right direction.

SM Northwest (6-5): The Cougars could have had a higher ranking had they not gotten off to such an awful start at 0-3 to begin the season. SM Northwest did benefit from playing in an easy district, but they took care of business and even upset SM West in Regionals. They were a few plays away from upsetting Olathe East in Sectionals as well.

C+

Lawrence Free State (5-5): The Firebirds seemed to have their usually crop of talent and speed but for some reason this year's group just didn't produce the same results on the field. The Firebirds never seemed to come away with wins in their biggest games this season. The 16-point lead they blew against Olathe East in Regionals epitomized the season well.

SM West (7-3): The Vikings had no trouble beating the teams they were supposed to beat, but their three biggest games all resulted in losses. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the season was that SM West should have broken a three-year old playoff drought when they faced SM Northwest in Regionals, but a few second half mistakes sent them home packing.

C

Leavenworth (1-8): I'll give the Pioneers an average grade for the season because, after all, we expect about one win a year from Leavenworth. The team showed a little fight late in the season when they beat Wyandotte and took SM North down to the wire, which was something we didn't see from the team last season.

C-

Olathe Northwest (3-6): Until the Ravens can start competing with the other Olathe schools they won't earn much respect. Coming off a solid 2009 campaign it seemed like Olathe Northwest had a solid foundation to build on in 2010. That didn't necessarily pan out as they failed to qualify for the playoffs.

SM North (2-8): SM North started the season 0-7 and at one point harbored a 14-game losing streak. The saving grace was the easiest 6A district in the state. The Indians' two wins came against teams that were a combined 3-15. SM North didn't do much to impress but their appearance in the playoffs keeps them above a D grade.

D

SM South (2-7): Despite graduating a strong senior class it looked like the Raiders were on track for an okay season--but those hopes quickly went down the drain. The worst part was that SM South really wasn't as bad as their record showed, they just were just never able to put it all together for four quarters.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

6A State Championship Review

Wichita Heights 48, Olathe North 14
Olathe North's defense got an early preview of what they would be facing all day when Wichita Heights' Dreamius Smith (right) took the Falcons' opening play 58 yards for a touchdown. The run was called back because of an illegal block, but four plays later quarterback Matt Reed completed the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run. Wichita Heights added two more touchdowns in the first quarter on an 85-yard run from Smith and an 18-yard pass from Reed to Daniel DeShazer. Olathe North looked to have gotten back on track in the second quarter, but consecutive possessions failed to produce any points following Eagle drives into Falcon territory. Towards the end of the half Reed added another score for Wichita Heights from three yards out. The score gave Wichita Heights a 28-0 lead at the half.

Any hopes Olathe North had of making a miraculous comeback were squashed in the third quarter. Smith added touchdown runs of 30 and 10 yards for the Falcons, to help his team build a comfortable 42-0 lead. Olathe North's day was summed up pretty well when, trailing 35-0, Victor Simmons fumbled the ball a yard short of scoring a touchdown. The ball rolled out of bounds in the endzone and counted as a touchback, giving Wichita Heights the ball back. Olathe North's first score came late in the third on a 79-yard pass from Simmons to Adonis Saunders.

Wichita Heights would add one more score on a 60-yard run from Smith at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Fittingly, Olathe North's final score came on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Simmons to Saunders with minutes remaining in the game.

The loss marked just the second time in 10 state championship appearances that Olathe North has failed to come away with the title. The 34-point loss was the worst the Eagles had suffered since their 49-0 loss to Blue Valley on Nov. 11, 2005.

Box Score

Olathe North (11-2) 0 0 7 7 — 14
Wichita Heights (13-0) 21 7 13 7 — 48

Scoring summary

First quarter
WH: Matt Reed 18 run (David Hoyer kick), 9:32
WH: Dreamius Smith 85 run (Hoyer kick), 5:18
WH: Daniel Deshazer 18 pass from Reed (Hoyer kick), 2:53

Second quarter
WH: Reed 3 run (Hoyer kick), 3:52

Third quarter
WH: Smith 30 run (Hoyer kick), 9:52
WH: Smith 10 run (kick failed), 1:15
ON: Adonis Saunders 79 pass from Victor Simmons (Daniel Gutierrez kick), 26.0

Fourth quarter
WH: Smith 60 run (Hoyer kick), 11:10
ON: Saunders 18 pass from Simmons (Gutierrez kick), 1:48

Individual Statistics

Rushing— Olathe North, Simmons 23-53, Saunders 12-35, Wilson 6-17, Gentry 2-5. Heights, Smith 17-286, Reed 15-127, Deshazer 7-50, Jones 5-27, Iheme 8-25, Moreland 1-4.
Passing— Olathe North, Simmons 5-7-138-0. Heights, Reed 2-7-32-0, Smith 0-1-0-0.
Receiving— Olathe North, Saunders 2-97, Gentry 2-48, Swartz 1-(-7). Heights, Deshazer 1-18, Iheme 1-14 .

News and Notes

**Stay tuned for the release of my Sunflower League 2010 Elite 11 Team in the coming week. The Elite 11 Team encompasses my opinion of the top 11 playmakers in the Sunflower League, including my Sunflower League MVP, Offensive POY, and Defensive POY. I will also name my Sunflower League Coach of the Year, Game of the Year, and various other nuggets from a great season of football.

Olathe North loses in 6A Championship Game

Saturday, November 27

6A State Championship Game

Wichita Heights 48, Olathe North 14

*Game recap to be posted later this weekend.

6A State Championship Preview

Olathe North (11-1) vs. Wichita Heights (12-0)

When: Satrurday (Nov. 27) at 1:00 p.m.

Where: Washburn University's Yager Stadium, Topeka, KS

CJ-Online Computer Spread: Wichita Heights by 20.4

Players to Watch

Olathe North

For the past 12 weeks Olathe North has relied on its two Kansas commits, running back Adonis Saunders and quarterback Victor Simmons, for the majority of their offensive production. Saunders has rushed for 1,512 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Saunders has added 1,375 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Defensively Kyle Swartz was perhaps the best defensive player in the Sunflower League this season, evidence by his 130 tackles. The Eagles wildcard could be Tanner Gentry who leads Olathe North in sacks with nine, and plays the role of the Eagles biggest deep pass threat.

Wichita Heights

Wichita Heights has a running game attack that rivals any the state of Kansas has seen over the last decade. The main threat it running back Dreamius Smith (above, left) who will be joining Saunders and Simmons at Kansas next year. Smith has rushed for 1,551 yards and 33 touchdowns. Next in line is fellow running back Daniel DeShazer (above, right), who is committed to wrestle at Oklahoma next season. He has rushed for 1,073 yards and 14 touchdowns. At quarterback is junior Matt Reed, who has rushed for 957 yards and 13 touchdowns, and you can't forget about the Falcons' Marquel Moore who has added 527 yards and nine touchdowns of his own. I'll save you the time on the math--combined those four have rushed for 4,108 yards and 69 touchdowns in 12 games. On defense Wichita Heights is led by their two top pass rushers Zerrance Brickhouse (13 sacks) an Dominique Henderson (nine sacks), as well as the Wessel brothers Evan (eight interceptions) and Trevor (four interceptions).

What to Expect

If you like watching teams that run the football alot, this may very well be the game of the year for you. Also, let's not forget, this isn't your typical three yards and a cloud of dust type of running contest. Both squads have amazing team speed (you could make a good case that these are the two fastest 6A clubs) and big play capabilities--especially considering the three division prospects the game will be featuring.

It's hard to see Wichita Heights covering the 20 point computer spread, regardless of how well they play. Olathe North has the confidence to win after they dismantled Wichita Heights 37-3 in the title game last season and it should show through. Really, it wouldn't be a surprise to see this game go either way.

Photo courtesy the Wichita Eagle

Olathe North vs. Wichita Heights Matchup

Olathe North

Location: Olathe

Enrollment: 1,317
League: Sunflower

*State Championship Appearances: 10

State Championships: 1996, '97, '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '09

Top Recruits: Adonis Saunders (Kansas commit), Victor Simmons (Kansas commit), Kyle Swartz

Eagle Football

Offense Type: Zone Read Option

Points Scored Per Game: 31.8

Points Allowed Per Game: 11.6

Key Stats

**The Eagles rely heavily on Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons (above) for the majority of their offensive production. The two have combined to rush for 29 touchdowns and over 2,800 yards.

**Olathe North has appeared in the 9 state championship games. Their record in those games is 8-1.

Wichita Heights

Location: Wichita

Enrollment: 1,213

League: Wichita City

*State Championship Appearances: 2

State Championships: None

Top Recruits: Dreamius Smith (Kansas commit), Daniel DeShazer (Oklahoma-wrestling), Evan Wessel

Falcon Football

Offense Type: Triple Option
Points Scored Per Game: 50.8

Points Allowed Per Game: 11.4

Key Stats

**The Falcons are an offensive juggernaut. Three times this season they scored over 70 points, and they average "half-a-hundred" per game. Defensively they are also stout, having produced five shutouts.

**Running backs Dreamius Smith (above) and Daniel DeShazer have both topped 1,000 yards rushing, while dual-threat quarterback Matt Reed has added over 700 yards rushing of his own. In terms of rushing touchdowns, the numbers are crazy. Smith has scored 29 rushing touchdowns, while DeShazer has added 17, and Reed 13. Reed also has six touchdown passes.

*State championship appearances include this year

Photos courtesy the Wichita-Eagle

Sub-State Review

Olathe North 13, Olathe East 6

While this season wasn't as smooth of sailing as last year for Olathe North, the Eagles avenged their week three loss and are headed back to the 6A championship game. We knew both sides played good defense and in this game it really showed. After a scoreless first quarter, Olathe North was able to get on the board when Adonis Saunders (right) scored on a 59-yard run. Olathe East answered on their next possession with a 19-yard touchdown run from Brandon Willingham. The Hawks, however, showed one of their achilles heels of the season when they let Olathe North get through and block the extra point, keeping the Eagles up 7-6. Later in the quarter Olathe North kicker Daniel Gutierrez made a 27-yard field goal to put Olathe North up 10-6 at haltime.

The third quarter, much like the first, was a defensive struggle in which neither team scored. In the fourth quarter Olathe North added another Gutierrez field goal to push the lead to 13-6. Olathe East, faced with one last possession, didn't go away quietly. The Hawks were able to drive to the Olathe North 14-yard line and looked to be in position to score. Olathe East quarterback Trent Kuhl fired a pass to the endzone, but Olathe North once again made a big defense play when Dominick Wilson jumped in front of the pass and intercepted it at the Olathe North one-yard line.

Wichita Heights 42, Dodge City 38

Wichita Heights (12-0) didn't let a 28-0 first quarter defecit get them down. The Falcons, led by Kansas commit Dreamius Smith, were able to mount a comeback that was completed in the fourth quarter when Height's quarterback, Matt Reed, found receiver Evan Wessel in the back of the endzone for a late touchdown. The victory sets up another Olathe North vs. Wichita Heights battle in the 6A championship game. Last season Olathe North beat Wichita Heights 37-3 for the 6A title.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Sub-State Score

Friday, November 19

Olathe North 13, Olathe East 6

*Game review to be posted later this weekend.

Sub-State Preview

Olathe East (10-1) at Olathe North (10-1)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Where: ODAC

CJ-Online Spread: Olathe North by 4.4 points

Players to Watch

Olathe East

The Hawks will be getting the majority of their offensive production from their two running backs, Brandon Willingham (1,658 yards rushing, 22 TDs) and Austin Fulson (855 rushing yards, 13 TDs). The team has relied heavily on the offensive production of those two as well as stellar defensive play to get to the Sub-State round. Willingham and Fulson (above) also headline the defense along with leading tackler Vince Gerstner (86 tackles) and defensive back Junior Williams whose two interceptions helped to shut down SM Northwest last Friday.

Olathe North

You would be hard-pressed to find a faster and more athletic quarterback/running back combo than Olathe North's Victor Simmons and Adonis Saunders. The two Kansas commits have combined to rush for 2,734 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season. The emergence of receiver Tanner Gentry at the tail end of the season has given the Eagles a big play threat through the air, and that added dimension has made Olathe North even more difficult to defend. On the defensive side of the ball Kyle Swartz has been a menace, collecting over 100 tackles and consistently making big plays whenever Olathe North seems to need them.

What to Expect

Everyone remembers the week three matchup between these two and how Olathe East manhandled Olathe North 25-0. Nine weeks have passed since that game and both teams appear much improved.

For Olathe North, this game will be all about revenge. The early season loss broke Olathe North's 15-game winning streak and served as a piece of humble pie for the defending state champs. Since that game Olathe North has gone 8-0 and outscored their opponents 310-79.

For Olathe East it's been a different story. The Hawks won their week four game, but then lost a stunner to Lawrence, 27-21, in week five. The team was forced to make comebacks against Blue Valley West in week seven and Lawrence Free State in Regionals. While their record matches that of Olathe North, Olathe East certainly hasn't played as dominantly since the last time the two squads faced off.

This game is really going to come down to the type of attitude each team brings to the table. If Olathe North gets too caught up in trying to avenge their earlier loss they may end up hurting their own performance. The Eagles are a talented group--but their play has yet to match that of the level they performed at last season, and last year's group nearly lost in the Sub-State round to Blue Valley. If this group of Eagles doesn't stay focused on what they themselves can control in the game they may find themselves doing the unthinkable and losing to Olathe East twice in the same season.

Olathe East could use a "walk quietly but carry a big stick" mentality in this game. Sure, the Hawks stuck it to an overconfident Olathe North team in week three, but that was nine weeks ago. Olathe North has been on fire ever since while Olathe East has shown significant struggles, most recognizable by having to make combacks in several wins, and losing a game. The computer spread is picking Olathe North in this game and the Eagles' can almost taste consecutive state titles. If Olathe East at all feels like they will have as easy of a victory as they did in week three they will be in for a big surprise. The Hawks best option for success in this game will be sticking with their bread and butter--solid run production and great defense--and establishing themselves early.

This game lacks a true underdog like we've seen in recent years but make no mistake, this should be a great one. The two clubs have a combined record of 20-2 this season (and one of those losses was Olathe North's in the head-to-head game), and you could make the case that these were the two fastest and most athletic units in the Sunflower League this season. Both Olathe North's Pete Flood and Olathe East's Jeff Meyers have made it to this round in the past, and advanced, so both sides are familiar with what it takes to win this game.

In a game that seems so close on paper alot of things can happen to swing the momentum and eventually the victory in the way of one team. The most common determining fators in the winners of big games are big plays, and turnovers. You could bet the team that does the most of the former, and the fewest of the latter will be successful. But who knows? We never saw that 25-0 shutout coming earlier this season.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Sunflower League Extra

This year's Sub-State matchup between Olathe East and Olathe North is also a competition between arguably the the top two programs in the Sunflower League. Certainly Olathe North has been the most prestigious SL school of the past decade, and Olathe East, based on the numbers, could make a strong argument for the second spot. Here is a comparison of the two programs, including head-to-head results since 2000.

Olathe East vs. Olathe North Comparative History since 2000 (11 seasons in total)

2000

Olathe North 57, Olathe East 8

2001

Olathe North 30, Olathe East 0

2002

Olathe North 35, Olathe East 14

Sub-State: Olathe North 12, Olathe East 10

2003

Olathe East 28, Olathe North 27

2004

Olathe North 26, Olathe East 0

2005

Olathe East 35, Olathe North 7

2006

Olathe East 13, Olathe North 7 (OT)

2007

Did not play

2008

Olathe East 14, Olathe North 13

Regionals: Olathe North 22, Olathe East 15

2009 (photo above)

Olathe North 28, Olathe East 14

2010

Olathe East 25, Olathe North 0

Sub-State: TBD

Series Wins

Olathe North: 7

Olathe East: 5

Simone Award Finalists*

Olathe North: Darren Sproles, Maurice Mack, Jim Bouknight, Dustin Moomau, James Franklin
Olathe East: Andre Jones, Derek Miller, Dee Bell

*2010 candidates still pending

Overall Wins and Losses

Olathe North: 110-19 (.853)

Olathe East: 91-26 (.777)

State Championship Appearances

Olathe North: 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '09

Olathe East: 2005

Sub-State Appearances

Olathe North: 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '07, '09, '10

Olathe East: 2002, '05, '10

Sectional Round Review

The Good

**Olathe East and Olathe North (right)--the two prohibitive favorites throughout the season--will be meeting in the Sub-State round for the opportunity to advance to the state championship.

**The last time Olathe East and Olathe North met in the Sub-State round was in 2002. That game proved to be one of the best of the 2000s, with Olathe North claiming victory, 12-10, after Olathe East botched a last second field goal attempt.

The Bad

**The heavy winds and rain played more of a role on Friday than what most people wanted to see in a playoff games. While football is a game to be played in the elements, there's a reason all major BCS games (and usually the Super Bowl) are played in locations with favorable weather.

The Ugly

**Olathe North and Olathe South combined for 160 yards of total offense on Friday. By comparison, during the regular season the two teams combined to average 737 yards of total offense per game.

**ODAC. The playing field was ripped to shreds during Friday night's game and it won't be the most favorable playing surface come this Friday.

Individual Highlights

**Olathe South running back Nick Sands surpassed 1,500 rushing yards on the season after recording 108 yards on 29 carries.

**SM Northwest's James Gregory played possibly the game of his career Friday (given the situation), recording 101 rushing yards on 25 carries, and catching a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The Remaining Four

Olathe East (10-1): The Hawks handled Olathe North 25-0 in week three, but beating a good team twice is never an easy thing to do.

Olathe North (10-1): The Eagles can gain revenge on their rival and punch a ticket to the their tenth state championship game with a win Friday.

West Kansas 6A

In a battle of unbeatens, Wichita Heights (11-0) is hosting Dodge City (11-0) for a trip to the title game. Wichita Heights is coming off a 18-15 victory over Junction City, while Dodge City defeated Manhattan 41-20 this past week.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Game Scores and Notes

Sectional Round Playoff Review

Olathe East 14, SM Northwest 7

For the second week in a row Olathe East failed to score any first half points. Fortunately for the Hawks, SM Northwest's offense was equally as unproductive and the teams went into the half tied at 0. In the third quarter the stalemate finally broke. SM Northwest quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf was intercepted by Olathe East's Junior Williams who returned the interception to the SM Northwest 12-yard line. Several plays later Brandon Willingham was able to punch in a score from a yard out. The touchdown put Olathe East up 7-0. SM Northwest responded with a touchdown of their own. Mangelsdorf found James Gregory on a 15-yard touchdown pass to even the score. In the fourth quarter Olathe East's Austin Fulson made perhaps the biggest play of his career, breaking lose on a run and going 89 yards for a touchdown. The score came with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth, but Olathe East was able to ride the 14-7 lead to the finish.

Olathe North 17, Olathe South 0

Had we known Olathe North would be held to a mere 72 yards of total offense before this game began it seems logical that Olathe South would have come out victorious. Olathe South's costly turnovers and poor field position, however, proved to be their downfall in the end. Olathe North struck first when they started their third drive on the Olathe South 27-yard line. Following a few run plays and a fortunate bounce on a fumble by Adonis Saunders, Dominick Wilson (above) gave Olathe North the lead on a one-yard touchdown run. The 7-0 lead held through halftime. Midway through the third quarter Olathe South botched a shotgun snap, and Olathe North recovered the ball at the Olathe South seven-yard line. Olathe South's defense held, but Olathe North's Daniel Gutierrez connected on a 21-yard field goal to put Olathe North up 10-0. The Eagle's final score came in the fourth quarter when Kyle Swartz intercepted an Olathe South pass, and then several plays later punched the ball in on a one-yard touchdown run.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Sectional Scores

Friday, November 12

Olathe East 14, SM Northwest 7
Olathe North 17, Olathe South 0

*Game reports to be posted later in the weekend.

Thursday Report

Sectional Round Playoff Matchups

All game times 7 p.m. on Friday

SM Northwest (6-4) at Olathe East (9-1)

Where: CBAC

Last Meeting: Olathe East defeated SM Northwest 28-0 on September 12, 2008.

Who to Watch For

SM Northwest

I named dropped Kenny Mings in yesterday's post, and I will do so again here. Mings is SM Northwest's best all-around weapon and perhaps the biggest reason why they upset SM West in last week. Stephen Mangelsdorf (right) has developed into one of, if not the best signal callers in the league over the past six weeks and he's the cog that usually gets the Cougars offense going. Also, you can't mention SM Northwest without bringing up Drew Goodger. The 6-foot-5 Goodger is among the top defensive lineman and tight ends in the league.

Olathe East

Without Brandon Willingham Olathe East probably wouldn't have come back to win against Free State last week. Willingham, the league's leading rusher, is a highlight reel waiting to happen and you can almost mark him down for 100+ rushing yards and two or more touchdowns per game. Willingham's running mate is Austin Fulson who might make more contributions on both sides of the ball than any player in the league. Quarterback Trent Kuhl hasn't thrown for many yards this season (because he hasn't had to) and Olathe East would probably prefer it stays that way. If Kuhl doesn't do alot of passing, it probably means Olathe East is doing well, and likely winning.

What to Expect

On one side you have a team (SM Northwest) with no inhibition. The Cougs started the season 0-3, won two games, got beat by Olathe North, and then swept an easy district and pulled an upset in Regionals. SM Northwest has no pressure in this game and they will likely play a pretty free spirited game, with Mangelsdorf getting his fair share of passes in. Olathe East could be described as the opposite. The Hawks narrowly escaped with a win last week and the last thing the Hawks want is another close game--because there are no guarantees that Willingham will go off for three second half touchdowns again.

Historical Stat

The Sectional Round game hasn't treated Olathe East well. Since 2002, the Hawks have advanced to an 11th game six times, losing in four of those games, including twice (2003 and 2004) when they were heavy state title favorites.

Olathe South (7-3) at Olathe North (9-1)

Where: ODAC

Last Meeting: Olathe North defeated Olathe South 30-7 in week two.

Who to Watch For

Olathe South

Nick Sands is second in the league in rushing yards at 1,470, while Jake Crist has added 676 yards on the ground to compliment Sands. Make no mistake, the Falcons are going to run the football, and run it alot. The Falcons are led defensively by Tanner Ginavan who now leads the league in tackles with 112. Dylan Hanson and Dylan DeVries are also great at stopping the run.

Olathe North

Olathe North will be leaning on its two biggest playmakers, Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons, to get the offense going much the way they have throughout the entire season. But the Eagles are also loaded with speed and skill at other positions. Dominick Wilson is always capable of making a big play, and Tanner Gentry has been the go to receiver for Olathe North this season. Kyle Swartz and Sam Todd make the majority of the tackles for the Eagles on defense and they will both have to play well to curtail Olathe South's run game which is much improved since the team's week two matchup.

What to Expect

Olathe North had no problem dispatching Olathe South earlier in the season, but it seems unlikely that that Falcons will go down without much of a fight again. Olathe South seems to have found an new wind of confidence and it was evident in their victory last week versus SM East. Of course the same could be said for Olathe North. The Eagles' tandem of Saunders and Simmons is nearly impossible to stop when the two are clicking, and they have the speed to run free if Olathe South's linebackers can't keep them contained within the hashes. Only once in Olathe North's history has a team failed to make the state championship game the year after claiming a state title (the Eagles have won eight titles)--this year's Eagles know that and they will be doing all in their power to advance to the Sub-State game.

Historical Stat
Since the 1996, Olathe North and Olathe South have combined to make the 6A state championship game in 11 of the the 14 seasons.

Photo courtesy the Shawnee-Disptach

Sunflower League Extra: Sectional Round Edition

Eli's First and Ten

1. The smack talk between the Olathe South and Olathe North folks has been pretty intense ... it would be interesting to see what level it would be at if Olathe North plays Olathe East (right) in the Sub-State round.

2. You can call SM Northwest this year's darkhorse. Who would of thought the Cougs would make Sectionals after their disappointing 0-3 start to the season?

3. The Sunflower League's top three rushing offenses still remain in the playoffs--this doesn't seem like a coincidence to me.

4. Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons combined to rush for 339 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries. Those totals equate to 12.5 yards per carry. Sickening numbers, regardless of the defense.

5. If this year's Sectional matchups look familiar there's a reason for it. In 2007 the Sectionals featured the exact same four teams. Olathe East, Olathe North, and SM Northwest all sat at 9-1, while Olathe South was 7-3. Who came out on top? The team with the worst record--the Olathe South Falcons who went on to lose to Hutchinson in the state championship game.

6. With their Regional victory Olathe East claimed their ninth win of the season. The nine wins marks the sixth time the Hawks have reached that win total in the past eight years, which is more than any other Sunflower League team during that stretch.

7. We're nearing the announcement of the 2010 Simone Award candidates. While Gardner-Edgerton's Bubba Starling seems to be the clear favorite at this point in time, watch out for a Sunflower League invite or two. Brandon Willingham (1,617 rushing yards and 21 TDs) will most certainly be in the discussion.

8. The player with the ability to impact a game the most? Perhaps that title belongs to SM Northwest's Kenny Mings. His prowess on offense, defense, and special teams made him a nightmare for SM West last week, and he could cause similar headaches for Olathe East.

9. During the summer Olathe South head coach Jeff Gourley predicted that Nick Sands would rush for 2,000 yards. Sands currently sits at 1,470 yards rushing (147 ypg), 530 yards short of that plateau. It's highly unlikely Sands will reach those numbers unless Olathe South makes it to the state title game--but we'll keep it in mind just in case.

10. The team with the most pressure to perform? It's either Olathe East or Olathe North. The Hawks hold the top seed and are playing a four-loss SM Northwest team, while Olathe North is working on defending a state title.

Stat Leaders (among those still playing)

Passing Yards

Stephen Mangelsdorf, SM Northwest: 1,345

Frankie Suerer, Olathe South: 424

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 376

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 299

Rushing Yards

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 1,617

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 1,470

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 1,413

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 1,268

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 749

Jake Crist, Olathe South: 676

Receiving Yards

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 413

AJ Spencer, SM Northwest: 296

Tanner Gentry, Olathe North: 276

Tackles

Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 112

Kyle Swartz, Olathe North: 96

Dylan Hanson, Olathe South: 93

Sam Todd, Olathe North: 79

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 77

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 76

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 74

Greg Fry, Olathe South: 68

Interceptions

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 4

Taylor Sheffield, Olathe South: 3

Derec Olson, SM Northwest: 2

*SM Northwest player statistics do not include last week's game

Stats courtesy Mid-Statesports.com

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Regional Round Review

The Good

**Three of the first round games turned out to be quite thrilling, with SM Northwest and Olathe East both making substantial comebacks to claim victory.

**The Sunflower League's top four rushers (Brandon Willingham, Nick Sands, Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons) will be playing for another week.

The Bad

**While second-stringer Robby Moriarty (above) played great in John Schrock's absence, it would have been nice to see what SM East could have done with Schrock--their starter for the first eight weeks--at the helm.

**Only three weeks remain on the 2010 Kansas high school football schedule.

The Ugly

**SM West's first round loss marked the third year in a row in which the Vikings have been dropped in the opening round of the playoffs.

**Lawrence Free State will have an entire off season to think about the 16-0 halftime lead they lost at the hands of Olathe East.

Individual Highlights

**Brandon Willingham recorded 33 carries for 190 yards and three second-half touchdowns in Olathe East's 20-16 victory.

**This is not an individual highlight, but it's worth noting that of Olathe North's seven touchdowns, five came on plays of 35 yards or more.

**SM Northwest's Kenny Mings returned a blocked kick 65 yards for a touchdown, caught a key 17-yard pass that led to SM Northwest's final score, and intercepted a SM West pass at his team's one-yard line which sealed the victory.

The Remaining Four

Olathe East (9-1): The Hawks' second half was spectacular but they can't afford any more first half let downs from here on out.

Olathe North (9-1): For the past several weeks the Eagles have been playing the best football of any team left in the 6A East bracket and they will be a tough out for any team.

Olathe South (7-3): It's been hard to gauge the Falcons this season but their win Friday was impressive. A win against Olathe North would be something else.

SM Northwest (6-4): Perhaps the easiest district in the state wasn't such a detriment after all? The Cougars made big plays when they needed to on Friday.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Game Scores and Notes

Regional Round Playoff Review

Olathe East 20, Lawrence Free State 16

Olathe East looked bound for their third straight opening-round playoff loss trailing Lawrence Free State 16-0 at halftime. Free State's offense played a stellar opening half . In the first quarter they jumped to a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal from Antonio Schoneich. Their offense really started clicking in the second quarter starting with a four-yard touchdown run by Dylan Perry that gave them a 10-0 lead. Later in the quarter Perry added another four-yard touchdown run. The Firbirds' conversion attempt failed, but they still had a 16-0 lead. Just before the half things almost got more lopsided when Olathe East fumbled the ball away to Free State at the Hawks' own eight yard line. Fortunately for Olathe East, cornerback Junior Williams intercepted a Perry pass in the endzone to hault the onslaught.

Something clicked at halftime for Olathe East. On the Hawks' first offensive play of the second half Brandon Willingham (above) took a carry 59 yards for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion pulled the Hawks within eight points of Free State. Both sides turned the ball over on their next possessions before Willingham scored a big one in the third quarter, busting lose on a "Simone-esque" 53-yard touchdown run. Olathe East failed on the two-point try, but had closed the game to a 16-14 score. Free State fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Olathe East made quick work of a scoring drive with Willingham punching in his third touchdown of the day, this time from three yards out to give the Hawks a 20-16 lead. The score proved to be the decisive one.

Olathe North 48, SM North 21

Olathe North made some big plays early, as usual, but credit SM North for not backing down at the challenge. Olathe North's first score came on a two-yard run from Dominick Wilson. The Eagles added another touchdown when Victor Simmons scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. Things looked like they were headed for ugly, but SM North was able to respond with a nice drive that was capped off with a four-yard touchdown run from Kyle Goodburn. Olathe North scored their third touchdown on their next possession on a four-yard run from Adonis Saunders to go ahead 20-7. SM North was able to answer with several big plays on a drive that was closed out by Mitch Padden from one yard out, pulling SM North within seven. Simmons took a carry 54 yards into the endzone on the Eagles next possession. That score was matched by two-yard touchdown pass from Goodburn to Mason Perez seconds before the half. Olathe North led 27-21.

SM North wasn't able to hang with Olathe North in second half, however. The defending Class 6A champs scored first on a 67-yard run from Saunders. They followed that up with a 54-yard touchdown run from Simmons, and finally a 50-yard toss pass from Kyle Swartz to Brandon Davis to go ahead 48-21.

Olathe South 28, SM East 24

This game proved to be the biggest seesaw battle of the night. SM East looked right on course with their aerial success in the first quarter when Robby Moriarty connected with Elliot Faerber on a 63-yard touchdown pass. Olathe South responded in the second quarter with a drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run from Nick Sands (below) to pull ahead, 7-6. SM East got the last punch in during the half when their kicker Chase Woofter connected on a 24-yard field goal to give the Lancers a 9-7 haltime edge.

Olathe South established the second half attitude on their first possession of the third quarter, going 47 yards on an eight play drive that was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Sands. The touchdown put Olathe South ahead 14-9. SM East answered the score with a one-yard touchdown run from Jeff Cole, and a successful two-point conversion to jump ahead 17-14. It looked like the Lancers may have been able to hold that lead but Olathe South scored another touchdown on a two-yard run from Sands on their next possession. That score gave Olathe South a 21-17 lead, but SM East struck quickly yet again.

Moriarty led the Lancers down the field and Cole was able to punch in another touchdown from two yards out. Olathe South, keeping up with the flow of the game, drove down and scored a touchdown on a one-yard run from Frankie Seurer. With just over four minutes remaining it looked like "now-or-never" time for SM East. Moriarty was able to lead the team in Falcon territory, but a failed fourth down conversion turned the ball over. Olathe South's Jake Crist then busted loose on a 47-yard run into SM East territory that effectively ended the game.

SM Northwest 14, SM West 10

At halftime it looked like SM West was finally going to be able to shed the playoff victory drought that has plagued the program since 2007. The Vikings had established a comfortable 10-0 lead despite the absence of their top two running backs Tre Burt and Will Livingston due to injures. Defensively the Vikings had looked amazing, holding SM Northwest to a mere 14 yards of total offense in the first half. Armani Williams had scored from one yard out in the first quarter, and kicker Mark Whitrock stayed perfect on field goals with a 32-yarder in the second quarter. The second half was, however, a complete dichotomy for the Vikings.

Holding the 10-0 lead, SM West took a drive into SM Northwest territory early in the third quarter. The drive stalled, but they appeared to be in range for a Whitrock field goal. The ensuing field goal try was blocked by SM Northwest's Drew Goodger, who also managed to recover the fumble and begin advancing the ball. He then lateralled the ball to the speedy Kenny Mings who took it 65 yards to the house. SM Northwest was trailing by three, but they had all the momentum in the world. SM West fumbled on a drive early in the fourth quarter which resulted in a SM Northwest drive that started at the Vikings' 43-yard line. Seven plays later SM Northwest quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf found Goodger on a six-yard touchdown pass. The score gave the Cougars a 14-10 lead with six minutes left. SM West managed to get as close as the SM Northwest 30-yard line but failed to score when Mings picked off a Williams pass at the one-yard line.

Photos courtesy the Kansas City Star

Friday Night Scores

Friday, November 5

Olathe East 20, Lawrence Free State 16
Olathe North 48, SM North 21
Olathe South 28, SM East 24
SM Northwest 14, SM West 10

*Game recaps will be posted later this weekend.

Thursday Report

Regional Round Playoff Matchups

All game times 7pm on Friday unless otherwise noted

SM West (7-2) at SM Northwest (5-4)

Where: SM South District Stadium

Last Meeting: SM West defeated SM Northwest 37-13 in week two.

Who to Watch For

SM West

The favored Vikings go as their running game goes. Junior running back and starter Tre Burt injured his ankle in the Vikings' week eight loss against SM East, and did not play last week against BV North. The Vikings other go-to running back is senior Will Livingston, who rushed for 273 yards and one touchdown in Burt's absence Friday. Whether or not Burt is back for Friday's game won't change the fact that SM West has the horses to pound the football, and intends to do so. Defensively the Vikings are led by safety Denzell Simpson (above making tackle), who leads the Sunflower League in tackles with 98.

SM Northwest

SM Northwest has their fair share of playmakers as well. Quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf has played exceptionally in the later half of the season, and he has a bevy of athletes to distribute the ball to including Kenny Mings, Antoine Smith, and James Gregory. Also, don't forget about defensive end/tight end Drew Goodger, who is easily one of the best pass rushers in the league.

What to Expect

It's hard to imagine SM West winning by 24 points the way they did earlier in the season. SM Northwest has really clicked as a unit and they have a good deal of confidence following their 3-0 run to end the season. This game also involves a rivalry to some degree, and neither team wants a loss to their rival to be last of their high school career. Expect a hard fought battle, and a closer game than what we saw in week two.

Historical Stat

The last time either one of these teams won a playoff game was in 2007, despite a combined three playoff appearances in four chances since then.

SM North (2-7) at Olathe North (8-1)

Where: ODAC

Last Meeting: Olathe North defeated SM North 42-0 on October 2, 2009

Who to Watch For

Olathe North

No doubt about it, Olathe North is loaded across the board. The Eagles superior athleticism is enough to handle most teams, but they are also a fundamentally sound group. Leading the charge are the Eagle's two KU commits, Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons. The two have combined to rush for 2,327 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. On the defensive side of the ball big hitter Kyle Swartz (right) leads the team with 88 tackles and a sack.

SM North

The Indians' most recognizable name is Kyle Goodburn, who has led the team from his quarterback position to the tune of 690 passing yards and five touchdowns this season. Defensively SM North's most dominant player is cornerback Mason Perez, who quietly leads the Sunflower League in interceptions with six.

What to Expect

Olathe North is a heavy favorite in this game. SM North reaped the benefits of a very easy district to reach the playoffs and the team nearly lost to Leavenworth last week in the qualifying game. For Olathe North, this game is the start of the road to what they hope will be their second straight title, and ninth in school history.

Historical Stat

It was SM North who upset Olathe North, 7-6, on September 4, 2003, effectively ending Olathe North's 38-game winning streak.

Lawrence Free State (5-4) at Olathe East (8-1)

Where: CBAC

Last Meeting: Olathe East deafeated Free State 17-0 in week six

Who to Watch For

Olathe East

The Hawks' most prominent figure is running back Brandon Willingham who has recorded 1,522 all-purpose yards on offense and 19 touchdowns. Olathe East's secret weapon however is running back/linebacker Austin Fulson, a kid who is as underappreciated as any player in the Sunflower League (and I'm guilty of not giving him enough publicity this season). Fulson ranks eighth in the SL in rushing yards at 747, including 12 touchdowns, and he ranks ninth in tackles at 66, including four sacks.

Lawrence Free State

Free State's quarterback position is becoming alot like Olathe North's running back spot--it doesn't matter who lines up at the position, they're going to produce. This year's quarterback Dylan Perry has done just that, and he is a mere 36 passing yards short of breaking the 1,000 yard mark in both passing and rushing this season. Running back Preston Schenck also has big play ability and a knack for scoring touchdowns. On the season Schenck has scored six rushing touchdowns, two touchdowns on interception returns, a touchdown on a fumble return, a touchdown on a kick return, and a touchdown on a punt return.

What to Expect

Well, we thought we'd see fireworks the last time these two teams played, but all we got was a 17-0 defensive slugfest. Both offenses certainly have the potential to explode, but it seems unlikely given the stout body of work Olathe East has produced this season. One thing is for sure--if Perry isn't able to make any big plays Free State is going to have a very difficult time winning this game. The common theme in their losses has been low production out of Perry.

Historical Stat
These teams are 2-2 versus eachother since Jeff Meyers' infamous prediction that Olathe East would beat Free State in the Sectional Round of the 2006 playoffs.

Olathe South (6-3) at SM East (8-1)

Where: SM North District Stadium

Last Meeting: Olathe South defeated SM East 34-30 on October 9, 2009.

Who to Watch For

SM East

The Lancers lost arguably the league's top quarterback when John Schrock went down with a collar bone/shoulder injury in week eight. Fortunately for the Lancers their number two option isn't so bad. Robby Moriarty now has the reigns at the position--he started at quarterback for the Lancers last season and threw for 765 yards. The Lancers have the league's most potent passing attack thanks to their quarterback play and their top receivers, Elliot Faerber, Krey Bradley, and Grant Ellis. Defensively, Josh Mais and Seth Hartman make the majority of the tackles from their linebacker positions.

Olathe South

Olathe South's headline player is senior Nick Sands who is second in the league in rushing with 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Falcons also feature top offensive talent in Kendall Harland and Frankie Suerer. Tanner Ginavan is the headliner on defense, leading the team and ranking second in the league in tackles with 95.

What to Expect

Both teams are going to work to employ their styles on offense. SM East loves passing the ball, and then setting up running back Adam Lowe on on quick hitters when the defense is in pass-defense mode. Olathe South is just the opposite. The Falcons average 286 yards per game on the ground and they have yet to completely master their rushing attack. Which defense will better prepped to stop the other? The answer to that question may define the winner.

Historical Stat

These two teams met in the Regional Round of the 2005 playoffs, with Olathe South overcoming a halftime deficit to win 16-7.

Photos courtesy Facebook, the Kansas City Star

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings -Final

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East
Week Nine: 27 carries, 179 yards, 3 TDs

Willingham (right) ended the regular season with yet another big game on the ground. His three rushing touchdowns put him at 18 for the season, and he now sits just 72 yards short of the 1,500 yard mark.

2. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North
Week Nine: 25 carries, 171 yards, 2 TDs; 1 defensive interception

Saunders played extremely well on both sides of the ball against Olathe Northwest. His interception in the game provided a preview of what Kansas coaches envision Saunders doing at the next level.

3. Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State
Week Nine: 26 carries, 187 yards, 4 TDs

Perry only completed three-of-nine passes for nine yards but he didn't need to do any more than that. As usual, his speed was too much for the opponent and he found a way to manufacture four rushing touchdowns.

4. John Schrock, Quarterback, SM East
Week Nine: Injured, Did Not Play

Schrock's injury still has some question marks surrounding it, and the length of time he is out for remains in question. With Schrock SM East can beat anyone--we'll see how well they can play without him.

5. Victor Simmons, Quarterback, Olathe North
Week Nine: 21 carries, 162 yards, 2 TDs

Simmons makes it back onto the list after several weeks on the honorable mentions scroll. He had a big game Friday and this was about the point in time last season where Simmons really lifted his game to the next level. Let's see if he does it again.

Honorable Mention: Austin Fulson, Stephen Mangelsdorf, Will Livingston

Final Regular Season Power Rankings
*Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis
**See previous post for commentary on Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (8-1)
2. Olathe North (8-1)
3. SM East (8-1)
4. SM West (7-2)
5. Olathe South (6-3)
6. Lawrence Free State (5-4)
7. SM Northwest (5-4)
8. Olathe Northwest (3-6)
9. Lawrence (3-6)
10. SM South (2-7)
11. SM North (2-7)
12. Leavenworth (1-8)

Stat Check

Passing Yards
John Schrock, SM East: 1634, 9 TDs
Stephen Mangesldorf, SM Northwest: 1,345, 13 TDs
Brad Strauss, Lawrence: 1,321, 10 TDs
Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 964, 7 TDs
Alex Forslund, SM South: 852, 6 TDs
Armani Williams, SM West: 814, 10 TDs
Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 690, 5 TDs
Corey Kipp, Olathe Northwest: 512, 3 TDs
Frank Suerer, Olathe South: 409, 4 TDs
Judson Cole, Leavenworth: 368, 3 TDs

Rushing Yards
Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 1,428, 18 TDs
Nick Sands (right), Olathe South: 1,332, 14 TDs
Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 1,260, 16 TDs
Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 1,067, 7 TDs
Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 1,022, 13 TDs
Will Livingston, SM West: 788, 7 TDs
Tre Burt, SM West: 782, 7 TDs
Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 747, 12 TDs
Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 672, 6 TDs
Adam Lowe, SM East: 620, 5 TDs

Receiving Yards
Elliot Faerber, SM East: 650, 5 TDs
Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 494, 3 TDs
Krey Bradley, SM East: 442, 2 TDs
Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 413, 6 TDs
Shawn Laurent, SM South: 388, 3 TDs
Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 370, 5 TDs
Grant Ellis, SM East: 356, 1 TD
Austin Flory, Lawrence: 342, 3 TDs
Jordan Chapman, SM West: 305, 3 TDs
AJ Spencer, SM Northwest: 296, 2 TDs

Tackles
Denzell Simpson, SM West: 98
Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 95
Kyle Swartz, Olathe North: 88
Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 85
Josh Mais, SM East: 79
Dylan Hanson, Olathe South: 75
Seth Hartman, SM East: 74
Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 70
Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 66
Sam Todd, Olathe North: 66

Interceptions
Mason Perez, SM North: 6
Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 3
Grant Ellis, SM East: 3
Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 3
Taylor Sheffield, Olathe South: 3
Dylan Smith, SM West: 3
Ryan Theis, SM North: 3 (1 TD)

Kick Return/Punt Return Touchdowns
Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 1 KR TD
JaQuan Brunt, SM East: 1 KR TD
Kendal Harland, Olathe South: 1 PR TD
Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 1 PR TD
Cordi Pascal, SM West: 1 KR TD
Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 1 KR TD, 1 PR TD
AJ Spencer, SM Northwest: 1 PR TD

Field Goals
Mark Whitrock, SM West: (7/7)
Nick Prologo, Olathe Northwest: (5/6)
Daniel Gutierrez, Olathe North: (5/8)
Sean Jones, SM West: (3/3)
Jared Douglas, Olathe South: (3/4)
Anthony Rosen, Lawrence: (2/2)
Alex Allen, SM Northwest: (2/3)

Photos courtesy the Kansas City Star