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

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

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

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings

Player Ratings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East

Week Eight Stats: 21 carries, 213 yards, 2 TDs

Willingham (right) has firmly established himself as the most consistent of the top running backs in the Sunflower League. His 1,249 yards rushing leads the league in that category, and his production should only increase this week, and into the playoffs.

2. John Schrock, Quarterback, SM East

Week Eight Stats: 14-of-27 passing, 184 yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD

Schrock played a great game against SM West and he made several big completions on third downs that really helped SM East to win the game. The only down side--Schrock left the game

late with an injury that has been reported by some as "season ending." There is no official word on the injury.

3. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North

Week Eight Stats: 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD

Saunders didn't have the best game of his career on Friday, and he didn't need to. Olathe North thoroughly dominated Free State and Saunders' one touchdown was enough to give the Eagles a 28-0 halftime advantage.

4. Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State

Week Eight Stats: 6-of-21 passing, 84 yards, 1 TD; 19 carries, 81 yards

Perry struggled against a talented Olathe North defense on Friday. His 165 yards of total offense were solid, but he threw a crucial first half interception that really put his team in a hole which they weren't able to overcome.

5. Stephen Mangelsdorf, Quarterback, SM Northwest

Week Eight Stats: 16-of-21 passing, 163 yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD

Mangelsdorf's team had another easy victory against Leavenworth but regardless he continues to put up impressive numbers. His 76% passer completion rate and four touchdowns were as good as anyone in week eight.

Honorable Mention: Victor Simmons, Austin Fulson, Tre Burt, Nick Bandy

Week Nine Power Rankings

*Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

**See previous post for commentary on Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (7-1)

2. Olathe North (7-1)

3. SM East (7-1)

4. SM West (6-2)

5. Olathe South (6-2)

6. Lawrence Free State (4-4)

7. SM Northwest (4-4)

8. Olathe Northwest (3-5)

9. Lawrence (3-5)

10. SM South (2-6)

11. Leavenworth (1-7)

12. SM North (1-7)

Stat Check

Passing Yards
John Schrock, SM East: 1634, 9 TDs
Stephen Mangesldorf, SM Northwest: 1,261, 13 TDs
Brad Strauss, Lawrence: 1,187, 10 TDs
Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 955, 7 TDs
Armani Williams, SM West: 729, 9 TDs
Alex Forslund, SM South: 716, 6 TDs
Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 663, 5 TDs
Corey Kipp, Olathe Northwest: 512, 3 TDs
Frank Suerer, Olathe South: 384, 4 TDs
Judson Cole, Leavenworth: 368, 3 TDs

Rushing Yards
Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 1,249, 15 TDs
Nick Sands, Olathe South: 1,172, 13 TDs
Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 1,089, 14 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 835, 9 TDs
Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 905, 5 TDs
Tre Burt, SM West: 782, 7 TDs
Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 641, 11 TDs

Adam Lowe, SM East: 555, 5 TDs
Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 544, 6 TDs
Will Livingston, SM West: 515, 6 TDs

Receiving Yards

Elliot Faerber, SM East: 561, 4 TDs

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 450, 3 TDs
Krey Bradley, SM East: 405, 2 TDs
Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 362, 4 TDs
Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 361, 5 TDs

Austin Flory, Lawrence: 343, 3 TDs
Grant Ellis, SM East: 317, 1 TD

Shawn Laurent, SM South: 310, 3 TDs

Jordan Chapman, SM West: 305, 3 TDs

Gabe Guild, SM South: 251, 2 TDs

Tackles
Denzell Simpson, SM West: 84

Kyle Swartz, Olathe North: 79

Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 77
Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 75
Josh Mais, SM East: 68

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 61

Seth Hartman, SM East: 61

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 60

Drew Boyce, Olathe Northwest: 58

Sam Todd, Olathe North: 58

Interceptions

Mason Perez, SM North: 5

Nick Bandy (right), Olathe Northwest: 3
Grant Ellis, SM East: 3
Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 3

Taylor Sheffield, Olathe South: 3

Ryan Theis, SM North: 3
Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 2
DeAndre Graves, SM West: 2
Derec Olson, SM Northwest: 2
Dylan Pepper, SM West: 2
Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 2
Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 2 (2 TDs)

Kick Return/Punter 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

Field Goals
Mark Whitrock, SM West: (5/5)
Nick Prologo, Olathe Northwest: (5/6)

Daniel Gutierrez, Olathe North: (5/7)

Sean Jones, SM West: (3/3)

Jared Douglas, Olathe South: (3/4)
Anthony Rosen, Lawrence: (2/2)
Alex Allen, SM Northwest: (2/3)

Stats courtesy Mid-Statesports.com

Photos courtesy OEHawksfootball.com, the Kansas City Star

Week Eight Review

Three Up

SM East

The Lancers broke a 15+ year losing streak to SM West, claimed a share of the Sunflower League title, and sealed a spot in the playoffs with their big win.

Olathe Northwest

Olathe Northwest (featuring Leonard Parks, right) finally eked out a close win over a quality opponent and in doing so kept their playoff hopes alive.

SM North

SM North took out the frustration of their 14-game losing streak on Wyandotte, coming away with a 42-0 victory and a shot at making the playoffs with a win this Friday.

Three Down

SM West

SM West's streak of consecutive wins against their rival SM East came to an end Friday; more pertinent is that SM West needs to beat a feisty Blue Valley North team on Friday to make the playoffs.

Lawrence

Lawrence came up a yard short of grabbing a late lead over Olathe Northwest and they have lost three straight games since their upset victory over Olathe East.

Lawrence Free State

Free State has played the most difficult schedule in the Sunflower League, but yet, they haven't managed to win any of their big games since their week one win over Olathe south.

Individual Highlights

**Olathe North's Tanner Gentry ran the ball twice for 75 yards and a touchdown, and caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

**Brandon Willingham led Olathe East with 19 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and he threw a nine-yard touchdown pass.

**SM Northwest quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf completed 16-of-21 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns and he also rushed for a touchdown.

Week Nine Power Rankings

1.Olathe East (7-1): Olathe East got back on track against Blue Valley Northwest and now they face Olathe South for the district title.

2. Olathe North (7-1): The Eagles had no problems dispatching a solid Free State club and the team is peaking at the right time.

3. SM East (7-1): The Lancers are on cloud-nine right now and this may be the best season in Lancer football history.

4. SM West (6-2): The Vikings have gone from a six game win streak to a do-or-die district finale against Blue Valley North.

5. Olathe South (6-2): Olathe South now holds the league's longest winning streak at six games, and with a playoff spot in hand they have nothing to lose against top ranked Olathe East on Friday.

6. Lawrence Free State (4-4): The Firebirds are in good position to make the playoffs despite their bad loss this past week.

7. SM Northwest (4-4): SM Northwest can use their game this week against Wyandotte as a tune-up for the playoffs.

8. Olathe Northwest (3-5): Olathe Northwest kept their playoff hopes alive with their win over Lawrence but beating Olathe North is a tall order.

9. Lawrence (3-5): Lawrence can make the playoffs if they beat Free State by 14 points and Olathe Northwest loses.

10. SM South (2-6): The Raiders' disappointing season could end on a bright note if they somehow managed to upset SM East.

11. Leavenworth (1-7): Leavenworth can make the playoffs with a win against SM North on Friday.

12. SM North (1-7): SM North began 2009 with two wins, lost 14 straight, and now has a chance to end 2010 with two wins in a row.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Thursday Report

Week Eight Matchups

All game times 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Olathe East (6-1) at Blue Valley Northwest (1-6) (Thursday Night Game)

Olathe East didn't put on their best performance of the season last week, and it was a similar lapse to their loss against Lawrence earlier in the season. The Hawks can't afford any more of those from here on out. Blue Valley Northwest is a team known for throwing together late-season heroics, and they were fairly competitive last week in their loss to Olathe South.

Lawrence Free State (4-3) at Olathe North (6-1) (Thursday Night Game)

Olathe North has had the luxury of playing their most competitive opponents at home this season, and that trend continues this week as they host Lawrence Free State. The Firebirds' offense (with the help of Henry Vaeono, above) had its way with Olathe Northwest last week, but Olathe North's defense is at another level--and the Eagles match up speed-wise with the Firebirds. The Free State offense has also proven ineffective against top defenses (combining for a mere 20 points against SM West and Olathe East). This game will be a huge confidence booster for the winner as playoff time nears.

SM Northwest (3-4) at Leavenworth (1-6)

Can Leavenworth make it two in a row? And just how long can Stephen Mangelsdorf continue his hot streak for SM Northwest? We'll get answers for both questions in this matchup between the two District 1 teams with 1-0 records. The crazy thing is that if Leavenworth were to somehow pull an upset in this game they would basically be guaranteed a playoff spot.

SM South (2-5) at Blue Valley North (2-5)

Both of these teams need a victory or else their playoff hopes for 2010 will be flushed down the toilet. With that being said, expect both coaches to pull out all the stops in attempt to claim a victory. SM South was competitive against SM West last week and it could be a good sign for the Raiders as they take on an opponent that is equal record wise.

Lawrence (3-4) at Olathe Northwest (2-5)

Much like the aforementioned game, the loser of this contest will not make the playoffs. If Lawrence wins they will be facing Free State in week nine with playoff implications on the line--which would make the rivalry more meaningful than it has been in years. Olathe Northwest has a tall order, should they beat Lawrence. They would have to play at Olathe North in week nine and win to keep their playoff chances intact.

SM North (0-7) at Wyandotte (2-5)

Leavenworth collected their first win of the season against Wyandotte last week, and there's no reason why SM North shouldn't do the same this week. SM North is starving for a victory (they currently hold a 14-game losing streak). A win would satisfy that need, and probably also set up a week nine matchup against Leavenworth for a spot in the playoffs.

Blue Valley West (1-6) at Olathe South (5-2)

Blue Valley West gave Olathe East a scare last week, and now they will travel to Olathe South to see if they can close out a victory. The Falcon's have quietly churned out five-straight wins and look to be right on target for making the playoffs--that is, assuming they don't take Blue Valley West lightly. Also, the game is being played at ODAC, an unfamiliar field for Blue Valley West, and so that may give the Falcons an added edge.

Game of the Week

SM East (6-1) at SM West (6-1)

There is no high school football archive on the web that goes back far enough to tell us the last time SM East beat SM West. We know it hasn't happened since 1998, which is about as far back as any archives go. Even in years when SM East was the favorite--like 2001 when the Lancers went 6-5 and the Vikings went 3-6--SM West has managed to claim victory. The rivalry trophy, the "Nut Cup" hasn't graced SM East's campus in so many years that most Lancers don't even know it exists. This year's game is perhaps the most evenly matched contest we've seen between the two teams in the past decade, and it should be a great game. Metro Sports will be broadcasting the game live to the metro on Friday night.

Photo courtesy the Lawrence Journal-World

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East
Week Seven: 24 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD

Willingham certainly didn't have his most stellar game of the season, and it was actually fellow running back Austin Fulson whose late touchdown put the Hawks ahead for good. Regardless, Willingham holds the top spot for another week, but it is being challenged.

2. Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State
Week Seven: 13-of-24 passing, 184 yards, 3 TDs; 19 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD

Perry (above) played arguably his best game of the season on Friday. His three first half touchdown passes virtually sank any hopes Olathe Northwest had of pulling the upset, and his 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the exclamation point on the victory.

3. John Schrock, Quarterback, SM East
Week Seven: 15-of-19 passing, 209 yards, 2 TDs; 9 carries, 56 yards, 3 TDs

Schrock jumps a spot in this week's ratings after another performance in which he really willed SM East to victory. Obviously Schrock has a great supporting cast, but his five touchdowns were as good as we've seen from anybody all season.

4. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North
Week Seven: 11 carries, 151 yards, 1 TD

At 10.74 yards per carry, it would be really interesting to see what kind of numbers Saunders could produce if he received the amount of carries James Franklin did last year. In actuality, it's his big plays that have taken away from his carry totals.

5. Stephen Mangelsdorf, Quarterback, SM Northwest
Week Seven: 11-of-13 passing, 133 yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD

I debated whether to promote Victor Simmons back onto the list after his big game on Friday--but that would mean that Mangelsdorf would be dropped. After his seemingly perfect passing game against SM North there is no way he could be taken off the list. Mangelsdorf's production has been excellent and the team hasn't suffered a drop off from Matt Nowak last season.

Honorable Mention: Victor Simmons, Tre Burt, Austin Fulson

Week Seven Power Rankings
*Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis
**See previous post for commentary on Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (6-1)
2. Olathe North (6-1)
3. SM West (6-1)
4. SM East (6-1)
5. Olathe South (5-2)
6. Lawrence Free State (4-3)
7. SM Northwest (3-4)
8. Lawrence (3-4)
9. Olathe Northwest (2-5)
10. SM South (2-5)
11. Leavenworth (1-6)
12. SM North (0-7)

Eli's Week Eight Q & A
Submit your Sunflower League questions to Eli at eunder@ku.edu

Q: Why don't Sunflower League teams play more out of conference games since only 6 games count towards the league title? - Ben

The answer I will provide is based mostly on here say. I've never officially read out any rules or regulations for the governing of the league, but I've collected bits and pieces about the scheduling through the years. It is also important to note that in beginning in 2008 the Sunflower League made "league games" consist of the last seven games against SL opponents in even years, and the first seven in odd years. Prior to 2008, there were only six "league games."

Back to the out-of-conference issue--prior to the 2004 season the Sunflower League was an 11-team league. To my knowledge, team schedules rotated so that they would play all of the other 10 league opponents every two years. So, most team's had their five league opponents, and three district games (all of which included at least one Sunflower League team so that every team would play a minimum of six Sunflower League opponents), and one out-of-conference game of their choice. That explains why teams played schools the likes of Rockhurst and Lee's Summit in the late 90s and early 2000s.

In 2004 Olathe Northwest was added at the varsity level in the Sunflower League, which bumped it to a 12-team league. The rotation was then worked out so teams would play all of the other 11 teams every four years. As far as I've ever known, the Sunflower League simply instituted a full six game slate of pre-district opponents so that there wouldn't be a situation in which out of conference games would interfere with a team getting their six league games in.

Once again, don't take this as gospel--it's simply what I have collected through the years. I think it would be great if out-of-conference games were allowed again in the Sunflower League. It really prohibits the league's reputation when the only non-Sunlower or EKL opponent for any team is the state championship opponent. If Sunflower League teams were able to branch out and play opponents from other leagues and states I think the overall level of play in the league would increase.

Stat Check

Passing Yards

John Schrock, SM East: 1450, 8 TDs

Stephen Mangesldorf, SM Northwest: 1,098, 10 TDs

Brad Strauss, Lawrence: 961, 9 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 871, 6 TDs

Armani Williams, SM West: 712, 8 TDs

Alex Forslund, SM South: 625, 5 TDs

Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 567, 3 TDs

Corey Kipp, Olathe Northwest: 512, 3 TDs

Frank Suerer, Olathe South: 325, 4 TDs

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 282, 1 TD

Rushing Yards

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 1,036, 13 TDs

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 994, 10 TDs

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 988, 13 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 754, 9 TDs

Victor Simmons (right), Olathe North: 733, 4 TDs

Tre Burt, SM West: 730, 7 TDs

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 570, 9 TDs

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 509, 6 TDs

Adam Lowe, SM East: 491, 4 TDs

Will Livingston, SM West: 462, 6 TDs

Receiving Yards
Elliot Faerber, SM East: 506, 3 TDs

Krey Bradley, SM East: 376, 2 TDs

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 362, 4 TDs

Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 345, 5 TDs

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 334, 3 TDs

Jordan Chapman, SM West: 300, 3 TDs

Shawn Laurent, SM South: 278, 2 TDs

Grant Ellis, SM East: 250, 1 TD

Austin Flory, Lawrence: 230, 2 TDs

AJ Spencer, SM Northwest: 217, 1 TD

Tackles

Denzell Simpson, SM West: 79
Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 77

Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 70

Josh Mais, SM East: 58

Dylan Hanson, Olathe South: 57

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 54

Seth Hartman, SM East: 53

Drew Boyce, Olathe Northwest: 52

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 52

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 51

Interceptions

Grant Ellis, SM East: 3

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 3

Mason Perez, SM North: 3

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 2

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 2

DeAndre Graves, SM West: 2

Derec Olson, SM Northwest: 2

Dylan Pepper, SM West: 2

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 2

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 2 (2 TDs)

Kick Return/Punter 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

Field Goals

Mark Whitrock, SM West: (5/5)
Nick Prologo, Olathe Northwest: (4/5)
Daniel Gutierrez, Olathe North: (4/6)
Sean Jones, SM West: (2/2)

Anthony Rosen, Lawrence: (2/2)

Alex Allen, SM Northwest: (2/3)

Jared Douglas, Olathe South: (2/3)

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal-World

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

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings

Player rating are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East

Week Six: 30 carries, 142 yards, 2 TDs

Willingham holds claim to the top spot after another excellent week of production. The senior was a workhorse carrying the ball 30 times and scoring two touchdowns. Both scores were essential in Olathe East's 17-0 victory.

2. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North

Week Six: 23 carries, 253 yards, 3 TDs

Saunders had the best game of his career on Friday. The 253 yards rushing were a personal best for Saunders, and it was an effort reminiscent of North's career rushing leader James Franklin from last season. Saunders' average yards per carry sits at 10.3 on the season, a number practically unheard of at any level of competition.

3.Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State

Week Six: 8-of-20 passing, 87 yards; 18 carries, 12 yards

Contrary to Saunders career highs, Perry (right) may have played to career low levels. He was never able to get anything going on the ground and that lack of success carried through to the passing game. Perry must play well for Free State to have success in districts.

4. John Schrock, Quarterback, SM East

Week Six: 15-of-26 passing, 179 yards; 2 rushing TDs

Schrock, despite his gaudy passing numbers, continues to score touchdowns on the ground. This past week he scored two more rushing touchdowns to lift SM East to victory. His aerial assualt is what gets the team in position for the short scores.

5. Stephen Mangelsdorf, Quarterback, SM Northwest

Week Six: 13-of-24 passing, 200 yards, 2 TDs

Mangelsdorf makes his debut on the list after nearly leading SM Northwest to an upset victory over Olathe North. Mangelsdorf's numbers should only continue to get better as he leads his team through what should be a 3-0 district run.

Honorable Mention: Victor Simmons, Brad Strauss, Tre Burt, Austin Fulson, Armani Williams

Week Seven Power Rankings

*Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

**See previous post for commentary on Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (5-1)

2. Olathe North (5-1)

3. SM West (5-1)
4. SM East (5-1)
5. Olathe South (4-2)

6. Lawrence Free State (3-3)

7. SM Northwest (2-4)
8. Lawrence (3-3)

9. Olathe Northwest (2-4)

10. SM South (2-4)

11. SM North (0-6)

12. Leavenworth (0-6)

Eli's Sunflower League First and 10

1. Best passer in the league? Don't overlook Lawrence sophomore Brad Strauss whose 104 passer rating is 17 points higher than any other quarterback in the league.

2. SM West, a team normally heralded for its defensive work, ranks first in the league in scoring at 35 points per game.

3. Olathe Northwest's Nick Bandy, Shawnee Mission Northwest's Kenny Mings, and SM East's JaQuan Brunt have been the three best all-around playmakers this season--coming soon to a highlight reel near you.

4. The league's top 10 kickers (statistically) have combined to miss 21 extra points this season, a brutally high number.

5. The league's leading tackler, SM West's Denzel Simpson, may also be the most ferocious hitter in the league.

6. Free State's Dylan Perry has run the ball 103 times and not fumbled once. By comparison, the league's other top four rushers have combined for 10 fumbles.

7. Leavenworth has lost 21 straight games. Their last win? September 19, 2008 against SM North, a team who currently holds a 13-game losing streak.

8. Would the real Victor Simmons please stand up? The Olathe North quarterback/defensive back may be the league's best athlete, and we miss his highlight reel runs from earlier in the season.

9. Olathe East's key to success this season has come on the defensive side of the ball. They're only giving up 164 yards per game, 61 yards better than the next best defense.

10. Several Sunflower League teams will get a chance to prove their worth against EKL opponents during the next three weeks--this week marks the first out-of-conference games of the season for any team.

Stat Check

Passing Yards

John Schrock, SM East: 1,241, 6 TDs

Stephen Mangelsdorf, SM Northwest: 965, 7 TDs

Brad Strauss, Lawrence: 849, 9 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 687, 3 TDs

Armani Williams, SM West: 622, 6 TDs

Alex Forslund, SM South: 540, 5 TDs

Korey Kipp, Olathe Northwest: 512, 3 TDs

Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 476, 2 TDs

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 268, 1 TD

Frank Seurer, Olathe South: 221, 4 TDs

Rushing Yards

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 880, 12 TDs

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 837, 10 TDs

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 815, 6 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 658, 8 TDs

Tre Burt, SM West: 608, 7 TDs

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 543, 3 TDs

Austin Fulson (right), Olathe East: 441, 6 TDs

Jake Crist, Olathe South: 422, 3 TDs

Charles Jackson, Lawrence: 421, 4 TDs

Will Livingston, SM West: 417, 6 TDs

Receiving Yards

Elliot Faerber, SM East: 454, 3 TDs

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 345, 4 TDs

Krey Bradley, SM East: 322, 2 TDs

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 319, 3 TDs

Jordan Chapman, SM West: 300, 3 TDs

Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 249, 3 TDs

Shawn Laurent, SM South: 248, 2 TDs

Grant Ellis, SM East: 225, 1 TD
Anthony Buffalomeat, Lawrence: 212, 2 TDs

Aaron Gile, Lawrence: 197, 1 TD

Tackles

Denzel Simpson, SM West: 71

Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 66

Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 62

Dylan Hanson, Olathe South: 53

Brock Burrows, SM North: 50

Josh Mais, SM East: 50

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 44

Seth Hartman, SM East: 44

Nate Davis, Lawrence Free State: 43

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 43

Interceptions

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 3

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 2

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 2

Grant Ellis, SM East: 2

DeAndre Graves, SM West: 2

Mason Perez, SM North: 2

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 2

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 2 (2 TDs)

Ryan Theis, SM North: 2

Kick/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

Field Goals

Nick Prologo, Olathe Northwest: (4/5)

Daniel Gutierrez, Olathe North: (4/6)

Sean Jones, SM West: (2/2)

Mark Whitrock, SM West (2/2)

Alex Allen, SM Northwest: (2/3)

Jared Douglas, Olathe South: (2/3)

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy the Kansas City Star

Week Six Review

Three Up

SM West

The Vikings (featuring running back Cordi Pascal, right) still have a little catching up to do on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense was once again stellar scoring 55 points in the team's rout of Lawrence.

Olathe South

The Falcon's have quietly won four straight games after starting the season 0-2. The team could raise some eyebrows in district play.

SM South

The Raiders broke their losing streak with a good showing against Leavenworth. Granted, everyone seems to do well against the Pioneers, but it was a step in the right direction.

Three Down

Lawrence Free State

The Firebird's offense was completely shut down on Friday at Olathe East. Free State is notorious for getting stronger as the season goes on, but they have now lost two straight games.

Olathe Northwest

It was yet another solid effort that resulted in a loss for the Ravens. Olathe Northwest just doesn't seem to have that extra bit of strength to claim any of these close games.

Lawrence

The Chesty Lions weren't able to carry over the dramatics from their week five victory. Perhaps the most disheartening thing about the team's 34-point loss was the injuries; the team had already lost four starters to injury, and they can probably now make that five with receiver Aaron Gile's broken wrist.

Individual Highlights

**SM West's Jordan Chapman caught two lengthy touchdown passes, one of which went for 66 yards, and the other 50 yards.

**Adonis Saunders had a career game for Olathe North, carrying the ball 23 times for 252 and three touchdowns.

**SM Northwest's Stephen Mangelsdorf completed 13 of 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in nearly leading his team to a comeback victory.

Week Seven Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (5-1): Olathe East's defense showed why it ranks as tops in the league by forcing a goose egg on Friday night.

2. Olathe North (5-1): The Eagles haven't been playing with the same intensity and focus since their week three loss; we'll see if they buck that trend in district play.

3. SM West (5-1): The Vikings play their second consecutive Thursday night game this week which will give them an extra prep day for rival SM East in week eight.

4. SM East (5-1): The Lancers are finding ways to win close games, something they hadn't been able to do well in past years.

5. Olathe South (4-2): The Falcon's get to host Blue Valley district opponents for the next two weeks before taking on Olathe East.

6. Lawrence Free State (3-3): When the regular season is all said and done, Free State will have probably played the most difficult schedule of any team in the league.

7. SM Northwest (2-4): The Cougs showed alot of heart in their two point loss against Olathe North; now comes a three week cakewalk into the playoffs.

8. Lawrence (3-3): It's hard to say whether or not Lawrence will be able to overcome the injury bug that has ransacked its roster.

9. Olathe Northwest (2-4): The Ravens now roll into what could probably be considered the most difficult 6A East district consisting of Lawrence, Free State, and Olathe North.

10. SM South (2-4): The season can be viewed as a success if the Raiders can win another game and match last season's win total.

11. SM North (0-6): SM North's losing streak will probably get a bit worse before it gets snapped.

12. Leavenworth (0-6): The Pioneers are facing the most pedestrian opponent they have faced in the last two and a half years in Wyandotte--the losing streak could finally end!

Photo courtesy the Lawrence Journal World

Week Five Review

Three Up

Lawrence

Props to the Chesty Lions (right) for forgetting about their dreadful 2009 season when they went 1-8. This year's team has a new attitude and they played a great game at home on Friday in upsetting Olathe East.

SM Northwest

The Cougars are back on track, or so it seems. Kenny Mings has emerged as one of the league's top playmakers and quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf has done a great job distributing the ball.

SM East

The Lancers have beefed up their run game in recent weeks after previously relying heavily on the passing game. This will benefit the team come district and potentially playoff time.

Three Down

Olathe East

Olathe East had been on fire leading up to their game with Lawrence. The team's four lost fumbles proved too much to overcome in their loss.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth has been a hapless group this season, and their 76-point loss to Olathe North was awful, especially considering the 62-point beatdown they received the week before.

Olathe Northwest

The Raven's have improved quite a bit from last season to this one, but they still haven't proven that they have what it takes to be considered a legitimate threat amongst the Olathes.

Individual Highlights

**SM East's John Schrock became the first quarterback to surpass the 1,000 yard passing mark, throwing for 180 yards which puts him at 1,062 yards for the season.

**Free State's Dylan Perry (right) had another game which filled the box score, rushing for 176 yards and two touchdowns and passing for 101 yards.

**Lawrence High's quarterback Brad Strauss threw for three touchdowns, giving him eight passing touchdowns this season, good for tops in the Sunflower League.

Week Six Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (4-1): My initial inclination was to drop the Hawks a spot, but I didn't see how Olathe North should jump Olathe East when just two weeks ago the Hawks shutout the Eagles.

2. Olathe North (4-1): The Eagle's 76 points marked the highest scoring output by any Sunflower League team this season.

3. SM West (4-1): SM West is a different animal in the second half of games. They dropped 34 second-half points on SM North, and made fourth quarter comebacks the previous two weeks.

4. SM East (4-1): After another solid win on the road at Free State it's looking like SM East is fielding the best team the school has had in years.

5. Lawrence Free State (3-2): Free State's two losses have been very close and they could just as easily be 5-0 right now.

6. Olathe South (3-2): After a third consecutive win the Falcons are starting to look more and more like the team they were hyped to be in the preseason.

7. SM Northwest (2-3): The Cougars had a nice showing on Friday, easily taking care of business against SM South.

8. Lawrence (3-2): The Chesty Lions pulled the biggest upset of the season so far with their win over previously undefeated Olathe East.

9. Olathe Northwest (2-3): The Raven's just can't seem to get over the hurdle with their Olathe opponents.

10. SM South (1-4): The Raiders have been playing poorly lately and their 51-12 loss to SM Northwest was brutal.

11. SM North (0-5): SM North had a bad day giving up 41 points and scoring zero despite a fairly competitive first half.

12. Leavenworth (0-5): Giving up 138 points in two weeks is downright ugly.

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy the Lawrence Journal-World.

Game Scores and Notes

Week Five Game Results

Lawrence 27, Olathe East 21

Lawrence was able to capture their biggest win in years with a combination of forcing turnovers and precision offense. Treshawn Root put Olathe East on the board first in the second quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run. Lawrence quickly responded with a one-yard touchdown run from Charles Jackson. The game was tied 7-7 at the intermission. Early in the third quarter Brandon Willingham broke loose for a 27-yard touchdown score and it looked like Olathe East would start to take over. But, Lawrence put together a demoralizing 17 play 76-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass from Brad Strauss to Aaron Gile. Willingham responded with an 84-yard touchdown run to put Olathe East up 21-14. Lawrence answered that touchdown with another drive that ended with a touchdown pass--this time a 22-yarder from Strauss to Anthony Buffalomeat. Olathe East fumbled the ball away close to their own endzone (their fourth lost fumble of the game) on their next possession. Lawrence once again showed their passing prowess when Strauss hit Chris Gaston seconds later on a 17-yard touchdown pass. The score gave the Chesty Lions a 27-21 lead, and their biggest win in years.

Olathe North 76, Leavenworth 0

Olathe North scored 11 touchdowns and Leavenworth scored zero. That sentence pretty much sums up the week five matchup between these two teams. Nine different Eagles were in on the scoring, including Adonis Saunders who scored two first quarter touchdowns on runs of 18 and 49 yards. The loss marks the second game in a row in which Leavenworth has surrendered over 60 points.

Olathe South 21, Olathe Northwest 13

Olathe South scored the game's first 14 points and then did a stellar job of holding off Olathe Northwest's run game to claim the victory. Nick Sands scored both the early touchdowns for the Falcons, on runs of one and eight yards. Olathe Northwest responded before the half when Justin Pamatmat churned in a four-yard touchdown run. Nick Prologo put the Raven's within four points when he booted a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter, but the lead was never overcome. Olathe South's Frankie Seurer took an option keeper 64 yards to put his team up 11 in the fourth quarter. Another Prologo field goal was all Olathe Northwest was able to add late in the game.

SM East 28, Lawrence Free State 21

After a scoreless first quarter SM East put together a major 18-play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Jeff Cole. Free State's Dylan Perry responded with a 19-yard touchdown run, and the half ended with Free State on top 7-6. Adam Lowe's 60-yard run at the start of the third quarter set up John Schrock for a one-yard touchdown run and a two pointer conversion which gave the Lancers a 14-7 advantage. SM East added another touchdown on a two-yard run from Cole to gain a 14 point edge. Perry responded with a 64-yard touchdown run, to which Schrock scored another rushing touchdown to keep SM East comfortably ahead. A late touchdown run by Henry Vaeono put the Firebirds within a touchdown late.

SM West 41, SM North 0

It was all SM West on their homecoming, and for the third week in a row their scoring explosion came in the fourth quarter. Armani Williams connected with Jordan Chapman on a 69-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that gave the Vikings a little breathing room before halftime. They scored again in the third quarter on a one-yard run from Tre Burt to go up 14. The onslaught came in the fourth quarter when the Vikings rolled out four touchdowns to push the lead to 41 points.

SM Northwest 51, SM South 12

SM Northwest forced a safety early, and then went on to score six unanswered touchdowns. The score was 44-0 before SM South made an entry in the scoring column. The Cougars scored five of their seven touchdowns on runs, with the other two coming on passes of three and 52 yards by Stephen Mangelsdorf.

Photo courtesy Mike Odrowski

Thursday Report

Week Four Matchups

All games times 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

SM South (1-2) at Olathe South (1-2) (Thursday night game)

After a difficult two game stretch to begin the season Olathe South may finally be settling into their offense--which is a scary thought for the Raiders. SM South played poorly in their 28-7 loss at Lawrence last week, and while their offense should do better against the Falcons it's hard to say if they will be able to shut down Jake Crist (right), Nick Sands and the Olathe South running game. Olathe South's 396 rushing yards last week are a hint as to what the Falcon's approach may be in this game.

Leavenworth (0-3) at Olathe East (3-0)

Olathe East goes from playing a team with a 15-game winning streak in week three to playing Leavenworth, a team with an 18-game losing streak in week four. It's quite the change around in opponents. The only concern Olathe East could have going into this game is letting their guard down and not playing to their potential--regardless, this will be Olathe East's first game to prove themselves as the "top dog" in the Sunflower League.

SM West (2-1) at Olathe Northwest (2-1)

If I had to evaluate both of these school's performances this season I would say Olathe Northwest is playing at a consistently high level given their quality of talent, while SM West still hasn't put everything together for an entire four quarters. The Vikings appear to be the better team on paper, but another lackadaisical effort could prove costly this week against a motivated Olathe Northwest team.

Lawrence (2-1) at SM Northwest (0-3)

Will this be the week SM Northwest finally claims a victory? The Cougars are head and shoulders better than the two other winless teams in the league (Leavenworth and SM North) and they have a solid core of skill position seniors in Stephen Mangesldorf, Drew Goodger, and Kenny Mings. But, Lawrence is saying "not so fast my friend!" The Chesty Lions have looked impressive in their two wins and they are easily capable of sticking loss number four to the Cougars.

Lawrence Free State (2-1) at SM North (0-3)

This game could get ugly if the Indians don't come prepared to play some defense. Free State is operating the league's top ranked offensive at 397 yards and just under 40 points per game. SM North on other hand is giving up just under 34 points per game, and ranks second worst in the league in total defense. The past few seasons have shown us that it's hard to stop Free State's offense once it gets rolling, and it very well may on Friday. Kyle Goodburn and Kendall Kelly must step it up early for SM North if they have any chance in this one.

Game of the Week

SM East (3-0) at Olathe North (2-1)

Most didn't expect SM East to have more wins than Olathe North by the time of their week four meeting, but that's where we stand. SM East handled their first three opponents with ease, winning by a combined score of 99-37. Meanwhile, Olathe North is coming off their first loss in 16 games. Both teams have alot to play for, espcially SM East whose fanbase is amped at the prospects of knocking off the heavyweight Olathe North (a Facebook page has even been started to build up more hype for the game). A key matchup to watch? SM East leads the Sunflower League in passing at 239 yards per game, while Olathe North ranks second against the pass on defense and has only given up 10 completions. Whoever controls this aspect of the game could very well determine the winner.

Photo courtesy OSfootball.com

Game Scores and Notes

Week Three Game Results

Olathe East 25, Olathe North 0

Olathe North's 15-game win streak came to a stop with a thump, courtesy of Brandon Willingham (right) and the Hawks from Olathe East. Willingham led Olathe East's charge, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Fellow running backs Austin Fulson and Treyshawn Root combined for another 89 yards and a touchdown. The reality of the Hawk's dominance set in in the third quarter, when they began an 18 play, 86-yard drive that was finalized with a Willingham touchdown run from two yards out. The loss was Olathe North's first since November of 2008.

Lawrence 28, SM South 7

A strong defensive effort from Lawrence helped the team collect their second win of the season, surpassing last season's one win campaign. The Chesty Lions smothered SM South's offense, holding the Raiders to a mere 95 yards of total offense. Lawrence's offensive production wasn't too shabby either--the team was led by Charles Jackson's 15 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Olathe Northwest 35, Leavenworth 0

Olathe Northwest didn't skip a beat in Korey Kipp's first start as their quarterback on Friday. The junior passed for 78 yards and three touchdowns on seven completions. Olathe Northwest's Nick Bandy also had a solid game, recording two interceptions, a rushing touchdown, and 101 yards of total offense in the first half before he left the game with a minor injury.

SM East 40, SM North 21

SM East wasted no time setting the tone they wanted on Thursday scoring rushing touchdowns on their first four possessions. Running back Adam Lowe contributed two of the touchdowns on runs of 25 and 48 yards. The flow of the game didn't change much in the second half as John Schrock found Elliot Faerber on a 54-yard touchdown pass off a deflection, and Robby Moriarty added a two-yard touchdown run to build a 40-0 Lancer advantage in the third quarter. SM North was able to add late scores on two touchdown runs from Kendall Kelly, and a touchdown pass from Kyle Goodburn to Mason Perez.

SM West 21, Lawrence Free State 20

Despite what appeared to be a Lawrence Free State domination on paper, SM West was able to snag a victory on the Firebirds' home turf. The only score of the first half came on a 42-yard pass from Dylan Perry to Cody Schmidt. Leading 7-0, the Firebirds tacked on another score in the third quarter when Perry capped off a Free State drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point was missed, which proved to be huge late in the game. A botched punt allowed SM West to get on board quickly with a 14-yard touchdown run from Tre Burt. Perry then scored on an 80-yard run to give Free State a 20-7 advantage. SM West drove and scored their second touchdown on a 20-yard run from Will Livingston (right). Free State's next possession stalled, and their punt was blocked by a SM West defender. The Viking's Bryan Meeker scored on a one-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game winner.

Olathe South 27, SM Northwest 25
Olathe South's power-running game finally showed signs of life Friday, as the Falcons grinded out 392 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries for the win. The two teams traded scores all night. Olathe South started with a 5-yard touchdown run from Kendal Harland, before SM Northwest responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Mangelsdorf to Kenny Mings. Olathe South touchdown runs from Nick Sands, Jake Crist, and Harland were answered by touchdowns runs from Mings, Mangelsdorf, and then another Mangelsdorf to Mings touchdown pass, this time from 49 yards out with 3:10 to go in the fourth quarter. That score put SM Northwest within two points of tying Olathe South, but the Cougar's two-point conversion failed, as they fell to 0-3 on the season.

Photos courtesy (from top) the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal-World

Thursday Report

Week Two Matchups

All games times 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

SM North (0-1) at SM South (0-1) (Thursday Night Game)

Neither of these teams faired well in week one, as SM North lost by 35 and SM South by 27. That will all be in the past for the team that can collect a win in this Thursday night game. Last season this was one of the most competitive and exciting games during the entire season as SM South claimed a narrow victory in overtime. Hopefully the same will be said for this year's game.

Olathe North (1-0) at Olathe South (0-1)

Olathe South's defense was torn to pieces last week against Free State, and it doesn't get any easier for them this Friday as they take on arguably the most powerful offense in the league in Olathe North. This game has been chosen by KC Metro Sports as the HyVee High School Game of the Week, and it will be broadcasted to the Kansas City metropolitan. Both teams have the audience to make a statement about their abilities.

Lawrence (1-0) at SM East (1-0)

Was Lawrence's dominant week one victory simply the result of playing a bad Leavenworth team? Is SM East really as good as the 24-0 win they shelled out against SM Northwest? This game should help in answering those questions and more. Both these teams lost their first two games last season, so a reversal to a 2-0 start for the winner would be a big boost early on.

SM Northwest (0-1) at SM West (0-1)

Even though it's only week two both of these teams are in desperate need of a victory. SM West has lost two straight games going back to last season (the first time that has happened since 2007) and SM Northwest, led this season by quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf (right), is a very average 5-5 since the beginning of the 2009 season. Both schools have been the face of Shawnee Mission School District football since the mid-2000s, but SM East is slowly but steadily making a push at that claim.

Lawrence Free State (1-0) at Leavenworth (0-1)

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this game is the venue it will be played in. Leavenworth will be hosting their first ever football game at their brand new stadium. After a hapless effort against Lawrence last week, it's hard to imagine the Pioneers being competitive against what appears to be an offensive juggernaut in Free State. However, the new stadium may give Leavenworth a little kick in their step that they lacked in week one.

Game of the Week

Olathe Northwest (1-0) at Olathe East (1-0)

So what if Olathe Northwest is 1-17 vs. Olathe schools since their varsity inception in 2004? Now is as good of time as any for the Ravens to claim a statement win amongst their Olathe counterparts. Olathe East looked nearly flawless in their 42-7 win in week one, but Olathe Northwest was pretty impressive themselves winning with ease, 41-14. This game features two of the biggest playmakers in the Sunflower League (East's Brandon Willingham and Northwest's Nick Bandy) and it should make for an exciting Friday night.

Photo Courtesy the Shawnee-Dispatch

SM East notches first win of season 24-0

SM East 24, SM Northwest 0
SM East had a chance to make a statement in their first game of the season, and they did a good job of it. The Lancers got on the board in the second quarter when cornerback Quan Brunt intercepted a Stephen Mangelsdorf pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. At the half SM East was on top 7-0. In the second half the Lancers continued to seperate themselves. A Chase Woofter field goal gave them a 10-0 advantage, and then two John Schrock touchdowns--a four yard run and a 38 yard touchdown pass to Elliot Faerber--put SM East up 24-0. SM Northwest was held to 161 yards of total offense, while SM East produced 268 yards, 207 of which came in the second half.