By Blake Chadwick
With nearly 6,000 people in attendance, Cheney and Andale squared off in the game of the year in the Class 3A semifinal.
Andale, which had won four straight state championships, started off hot with a 24-0 lead thanks to quarterback Sam Harp.
Cheney scored before half on a Josh Burdick rushing touchdown to get within 24-7.
The Cardinals held the Indians to no points the whole second half and scored 21 unanswered as they fought back to win 28-24.
Cheney also beat Andale 30-22 in overtime during the regular season, scoring 30 straight points.
Derby also joined the comeback party as the Panthers found themselves down 28-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Panthers’ wide receiver Colton Reudy scored twice, cutting the Washburn Rural lead to 28-26. It got a whole lot more interesting.
Washburn Rural took the ensuing kickoff back to the Derby 19-yard line, but the Panthers’ defense held.
The Panthers drove all the way down to their red zone — senior quarterback Braxton Clark completed 23 of 33 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the game — settled for a field goal. But Jesseph missed.
Still, Derby wasn’t out just yet. The defense was able to hold and force a punt with 36 seconds to go.
Quarterback Braxton Clark took control and marched Derby into field goal range, where kicker Grady Jesseph ended up winning the game once again for the Panthers, his second game-winning field goal in a row.
Derby will play in the 6A title game for the ninth time in 11 seasons, winning in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Panthers last played for a title in 2021.
Derek Hubbard had 134 rushing yards and Ruedy had nine catches for 166 yards, three touchdowns.
Kapaun Mount Carmel halted a comeback as the Crusaders were victorious over Eisenhower 42-39 to advance to the Class 5A title game. It’s the Crusaders first championship game since 1987.
The Crusaders led 42-17 when the Tigers roared back in the final 10 minutes of the game, cutting the lead to three.
Andover Central moved on to the state title game for the fourth time in eight years.
The Jaguars were never in doubt as they won 26-7.
Conway Springs advanced to its first state title game since 2011 after a 34-19 win over Medicine Lodge in Class 1A
Bryaden Kunz carried the Cardinals almost literally as he rushed for 279 yards on 39 attempts and three touchdowns.
Class 6A
Gardner-Edgerton 35, Blue Valley 3
Derby 29, Washburn Rural 28
Class 5A
Kapaun 42, Eisenhower 39
Mill Valley 48, BV Southwest 47
Class 4A
St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Tonganoxie 14
Andover Central 26, Wamego 7
Class 3A
Hayden 42, Holton 14
Cheney 28, Andale 24
Class 2A
Nemaha Central 17, Sabetha 7
Hoisington 30, Norton 21
Class 1A
Conway Springs 34, Medicine Lodge 19
Jefferson County North 20, Pittsburg Colgan 13
8-Player I
Leoti-Wichita Co. 64, Ell-Saline 28
Lyndon 52, Cair Paravel 6
8-Player II
Axtell 52, Frankfort 6
South Central 42, Victoria 20
6-Player
Cheylin 66, Ashland 27
Cunningham 52, Tescott 6
Next week’s Championship Game lineup
Class 6A
Gardner-Edgerton (11-1) vs. Derby (11-1)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Welch Stadium, Emporia State
Class 5A
Mill Valley (10-2) vs. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (11-1)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg State
Class 4A
St. Thomas Aquinas (9-3) vs. Andover Central (9-3)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Hummer Sports Park, Topeka
Class 3A
Topeka Hayden (12-0) vs. Cheney (12-0)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson
Class 2A
Nemaha Central (12-0) vs. Hoisington (12-0)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at District Stadium, Salina
Class 1A
Jefferson Co. North (11-1) vs. Conway Springs (10-2)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Lewis Field, Fort Hays State
8-Player I
Lyndon (12-0) vs. Leoti-Wichita County (12-0)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Fischer Field, Newton
8-Player II
South Central (9-3) vs. Axtell (12-0)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Fischer Field, Newton
6-Player
Cunningham (10-1) vs. Cheylin (11-0)
Championship game: Nov. 25 at Memorial Stadium, Dodge City
