By Blake Chadwick
With state championship games right around the corner, teams are beginning to hit their strides.
But some teams have been hot all season.
The Maize Eagles are one of those teams, however on Friday, they escaped a close one against AVCTL I foe Hutchinson
Maize won 21-14 on the back of Kansas State commit Avery Johnson as he passed for three touchdowns.
The Eagles beat the Salthawks 41-13 earlier in the season.
Maize will play Hays in the Class 5A semifinals. Hays beat Salina Central 49-12.
Andale stands strong once again as it shut out Rock Creek 48-0.
Rock Creek came in averaging 46.3 points per game. Andale wouldn’t budge, though, as its defense has given up six total points in the last three weeks.
Andale will play Clay Center, which beat Cheney 24-6, in the Class 3A semifinals.
Derby beat Washburn Rural 36-21 at home to secure yet another sectional title.
Dylan Edwards and Brock Zerger ran for two touchdowns each to lead the Panthers. Edwards had 174 rushing yards with a long of 56 yards.
Big news for the Panthers, though, as Zerger, their starting quarterback who had 107 passing yards and 107 rushing yards, was helped off the field in the third quarter. He did not return.
Derby will play at Manhattan in the Class 6A semifinals. Manhattan beat Wichita Northwest 27-18.
Kingman took care of Beloit 35-6.
Kingman is still undefeated at 11-0 and will play Southeast-Saline in the Class 2A semifinals.
Southeast-Saline remains undefeated as well after a 44-21 win against Hoisington.
McPherson won its 10th game of the season after a 39-28 win against Circle.
The Bullpups had previously beaten Circle 35-15 in Week 4.
McPherson was led by Hunter Alvord, who had 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, Dawson Gottwald’s 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Jaytin Gumm’s two rushing touchdowns. Alvord also passed for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Circle’s Rose had 187 rushing yards on 20 carries
McPherson will play Wamego in the Class 4A semifinals.
Wamego beat Andover Central 42-7.
Conway Springs won 39-14 over Wabaunsee. Brayden Kunz had 37 carries for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Isaac Winter added 92 rushing yards on three carries and a touchdown.
Conway Springs will play Inman in the Class 1A semifinals after the Teutons beat Smith Center 28-6.
Scores
Class 6A
Derby 36, Washburn Rural 21
Gardner-Edgerton 21, BV West 14
Manhattan 27, Wichita Northwest 18
Olathe Northwest 35, Olathe West 33
Class 5A
BV Southwest 69, DeSoto 35
Hays 49, Salina Central 12
Maize 21, Hutchinson 14
Mill Valley 49, Pittsburg 0
Class 4A
Bishop Miege 68, KC Piper 20
McPherson 49, Circle 28
St. Thomas Aquinas 28, St. James 13
Wamego 42, Andover Central 7
Class 3A
Andale 48, Rock Creek 0
Clay Center 24, Cheney 6
Holton 47, Girard 27
Topeka Hayden 39, Columbus 19
Class 2A
Kingman 35, Beloit 6
Nemaha Central 44, Humboldt 20
Sabetha 47, Caney Valley 0
SE-Saline 44, Hoisington 21
Class 1A
Centralia 8, Olpe 7
Conway Springs 39, Wabaunsee 14
Inman 28, Smith Center 6
St. Marys 36, Pittsburg Colgan 12
8-Man I
Burlingame 39, Lyndon 16
Hill City 68, Meade 50
Little River 48, Chase County 40
Wichita County 58, Rawlins County 12
8-Man II
Axtell 52, Osborne 6
Canton-Galva 52, Lebo 6
Dighton 38, Wallace County 0
Thunder Ridge 62, Victoria 46
6-Man
Ashland 68, Northern Valley 20
Cheylin 51, Ingalls 6
Cunningham 58, Wetmore 12
Waverly 46, Tescott 12
