By Blake Chadwick
Friday’s game at Bishop Carroll, a matchup of two of the elite football programs in the Wichita area, was one Derby desperately needed to win.
Derby improved to 2-1 with a 35-21 victory. Carroll is 2-1, as well.
After a defensive battle in the first quarter as the two teams worked to figure each other out, the second quarter started off with even more defense when the Golden Eagles intercepted Derby quarterback Lem Wash.
Carroll scored on the interception, but the Panthers quickly bounced back after Wash found receiver Drake Thatcher for a touchdown.
Even though the Panthers had three first-half turnovers, it looked like all the Panthers needed was one score to get the floodgates going.
And that’s what happened.
In the second half, the Panthers’ offense took over. The Panthers went on a 28-0 run following that early second-quarter pick-6 from the Eagles.
“This was a statement game and for us to let everyone know that even though we lost, we are still the Derby Panthers and are a team to be reckoned with,” Wash said.
Derby lost its opener 45-14 at Mill Valley.
Wash threw for three touchdowns against Carroll and rushed for another. After Newton held him to 30 passing yards in Week 2, Wash was 16-of-22 passing for 260 yards on Friday. He added 130 rushing yards, while sophomore running back Dylan Edwards had 153.
Hutchinson was able to contain the dynamic Maize South offense to win 34-33 and improve to 3-0 with the upset victory. Running back Alec McCuan rushed for over 250 yards and had three touchdowns.
Maize held off Newton 34-27 to improve to 3-0. Running back Josh Sanders rushed for two touchdowns.
Newton is 0-3, but the Railers have lost to Andover Central, Derby and Maize by a combined 26 points. Derby beat Newton by 12. Newton is proving to be a team that can compete with anyone.
McPherson beat Great Bend 31-13 to move to 3-0.
Andale moves to 3-0 after a blowout victory over Wellington 63-7.
Wichita Northwest cruised past Southeast 73-0 to move to 2-0.
Andover Central beat Eisenhower 45-31 and is 2-0.
Wichita Collegiate won in overtime 34-31 against Rose Hill to advance to 3-0.
Andover’s defense forced six turnovers and Ethan Richardson scored twice as the Trojans beat Salina Central 35-6.
Kapaun beat Emporia 56-13 on Thursday. The Crusaders move to 2-1.
Cheney beat Garden Plain 44-7 to move to 3-0.
Hoisington beat Halstead 32-22 to move to 3-0 and get its first win since 2008 over Halstead. Josh Ball rushed 13 times for 121 yards.
Douglass beat Trinity Academy to move to 3-0 after a 38-21 victory. It is the first time Douglass has been 3-0 since 1993.
With Buhler’s 21-9 win over Winfield, coach Steve Warner got his 250th victory.
Goddard is 3-0 after a 46-13 win over Arkansas City.
Clearwater is also unbeaten after handling Mulvane 61-14.
Hesston beat Pratt 24-15 and is 3-0.
Friday’s scores
Andale 63, Wellington 7
Andover 35, Salina Central 6
Andover Central 45, Eisenhower 31
Argonia-Attica 62, Oxford 0
Augusta 20, Circle 12
Beloit 36, Concordia 7
Beloit St. John’s 21, Thunder Ridge 18
Buhler 21, Winfield 9
Caldwell 70, Norwich 24
Canton-Galva 48, Washington County 0
Chaparral 17, Sterling 7
Chapman 46, Abilene 0
Cheney 44, Garden Plain 7
Clearwater 61, Mulvane 14
Conway Springs 58, Elkhart 13
Cunningham 40, Fowler 6
Derby 35, Bishop Carroll 21
Douglass 38, Trinity Academy 21
El Dorado 30, Labette County 14
Eureka 68, Bluestem 6
Goddard 46, Arkansas City 13
Haven 46, Larned 43
Hesston 24, Pratt 15
Hoisington 32, Halstead 22
Hutchinson 34, Maize South 33
Hutchinson Trinity 35, Belle Plaine 0
Inman 50, Salina Sacred Heart 0
Kingman 49, Marion 6
Little River 64, Goessel 18
Maize 34, Newton 27
Maur Hill-Mount Academy 40, Nickerson 6
McPherson 31, Great Bend 13
Minneapolis 20, Republic County 14
Moscow 55, Burrton 7
Oakley 34, Ell-Saline 7
Sedan 50, Central-Burden 0
SE-Saline 42, Ellsworth 0
Smoky Valley 38, Hillsboro 36
Wichita Collegiate 34, Rose Hill 31 OT
Wichita Heights 17, Wichita West 7
Wichita Northwest 73, Wichita Southeast 0
