There have been some big games between Wildcat rivals Holton and Hayden, but Friday’s Sub-State showdown in Class 4A Division Two is the first time the teams have met for a second time in the same season.  Both teams enter the game with a 7-4 record after starting the year 0-3 and now peaking at just the right time.  Hayden clinched the District Title with a 47-32 win at Holton in week eight as Holton fumbled the opening kickoff and turned the ball over three more times in the third quarter as a 26-14 lead disappeared.  While Hayden has kept things rolling with home playoff wins against Osawatomie (55-34) and Girard (40-12), Holton held on for a 20-14 win at Baldwin and last week rallied in a furious fourth quarter to knock off #1 ranked and undefeated Frontenac (32-28).  Holton gets the rematch at home, where they have not lost a playoff game since 2007 (13 straight wins).

Hayden has won six consecutive games this fall and been in the post season each of their 10 seasons under Coach Bill Arnold (92-31), who is a Holton alum.  They returned to Division Two this year, after competing in D1 and making it to the state title game in 2014.  Hayden is running for 248 yards per game and adding 75 yards passing.  Thomas Stringer paces the Wildcats with 911 yards while Andrew Smith and Connor Hobart have each added more than 500. Sampson Huston has thrown for 682 yards after missing three games earlier this season.  Hayden does have 19 turnovers this year, but is plus-five in takeaways.  They have boosted their scoring average to 32 points per game while scoring at least 40 points in their last four contests.  Hayden is allowing 21 points an outing.       

Holton continues their 19th straight post season and looks to return to the championship game after falling to Holcomb a year ago in Salina.  The Wildcats scored 32 points in the fourth quarter last week, scoring with 13 seconds remaining to cap a 21-play, 84-yard, game-winning drive that covered 5:57.  Holton ran for all 346 of their offensive yards last week and is now averaging 377 rushing yards per game in their wishbone attack.  Spencer Baum ran for 184 last week and now paces Holton with 1,435 yards rushing for the season while accounting for 17 total touchdowns.  Miles McClintock-Stozier added 69 yards against Frontenac and pushed his rushing total to 1,120 with 16 trips to the endzone.  Tyler Price has added 580 yards and had at least 15 carries the past four games.  Parker Zeller has excelled in his new role of center with fellow seniors Brandon Lehnherr and Tel Wittmer helping win the battles in the trenches. The other big plus for Holton has been no fumbles the last couple games, but they still haven’t made a successful PAT kick since week seven.  The Cats are allowing 23 points per game while scoring an average of 29.  Coach Brooks Barta (209-40) is now 48-15 at Holton in the playoffs, and 6-5 all-time against Hayden.     

Tonight’s game kicks off at 7:00 PM with pregame coverage at 6:15 on KNZA 103.9 FM and The Holton Chanell at www.mscsports.net. The winner will meet with Pratt or Holcomb for the State Title game next Saturday in Salina.