A year ago, Riverside and Hiawatha finished 7th and 9th in the Big 7, and they were predicted by League coaches and media to repeat in the 2016 standings.  One week in the books, and, wait a minute!  Hiawatha won their first Big 7 game since 2013, under new Coach Ted Brown, with a 21-0 shutout at Royal Valley.  Meanwhile, Riverside also went on the road, where they were blanked a year ago 33-0 at Perry Lecompton, and upset the Kaws 19-14 on Friday night.   

Hiawatha 21, Royal Valley 0

The duo of senior quarterback Joseph Kunkel to sophomore Andrew Woods accounted for all three touchdowns, including an 80 yard TD strike and 18 yard scoring pass in the first half to make it 14-0.  Then, seconds into the second half the pair connected again for the final score of the night.  Kunkel ended with 189 passing, 180 of which went to Woods.  

But, the defense was the story of the night, as Hiawatha had allowed 50 points per game last season and 45 on average the year before that, as well as suffering a 61-6 setback to the Panthers a season ago.  "I am extremely proud of our defense, led by new cordinator, Curtis Myers," Coach Brown said.  "We tackled very well and we're very diciplined while executing the defensive game plan to a T."  The only time Royal Valley really even threatened to score was a first down and goal in the fourth quarter, but the Redhawks held on for their first shutout since beating MH-MA 56-0 in week one of 2007.  "We instilled a new tackling method this year, similiar to the Seattle Seahawks, and had a coach from Mill Valley come in and give a presentation on the tackling method, which I think is already paying huge dividends," Brown added.  "I could not be more proud and happy for our kids to get this win."

Riverside 19, Perry Lecompton 14

It was the first win in three tries for the Cyclones over the Kaws in a game that went back and forth all night.  After a 7-7 first quarter, Riverside took at 13-7 lead into halftime, only to see Perry retake a 14-13 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Gaige Olivero punched in a one-yard touchdown to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter, which was his second TD on the night, while Dawson Dick scored a rushing touchdown to open the game.  Olivero had 169 yards on 21 carries while Tre'nez Wilkinson added 132 total yards of offense and Andrew Miller was 4-6 passing for 49 yards.    

Perry had three turnovers that proved costly in the opener while Cole Kellum led the offense with 144 yards on 13 carries, including both touchdowns and a long run of 78 yards.  New quarterback, Jordan Spreer, hit five different targets but completed just 8 of 21 passes for 91 yards. 

Speaking of upsets, a pair of Big 7 League teams were upset in non-league matchups as Jeff West lost at home to Chapman 8-6 in a game that was scoreless entering the fourth quarter. Holton meanwhile could not hold on to a 14-7 lead as they lost at Atchison 24-14.