Holton makes their 6th appearance in the title game under 17th year Coach Brooks Barta (172-30) and is hoping for a 3rd Class 4A State Trophy (also won in 2003 and 2005).  After knocking out #2 Collegiate 28-0, #3 McPherson 31-27 and #3 Mulvane 28-6, only the Eudora Cardinals (12-1) stand between the Holton Wildcats and an undefeated state championship.   These impressive one-loss foes have showcased prolific offenses that the Wildcats have managed to control with their a dominating defense and a ground-attack, ball-control offense that has produced nearly 5,300 yards this season. 

Eudora, however, features exactly the same thing as they have relied on their defense, which surrenders a mere 7.5 points per game.  The undefeated champions of the Frontier League have not allowed more than 20 points in any game this season, pitching 4 shutouts and holding 10 of their 13 opponents to 10 points or less.  Eudora has outscored their 4 Eastern bracket playoff foes by a combined score of 84-17.  Eudora averages 256 of their 312 yards per game on the ground, led by quarterback Andrew Ballock with 1,215 yards.  He has addded nearly 800 passing and not thrown an interception in 84 attempts all season.  Garret Elston has 922 yards on the ground while fullback Gabe Cleveland is at 777 and Markis Hill has chipped in 521.  Hill has recently moved to the tight-end position filling in for Nick Becker, who was the leading receiver for Eudora, but because of injuries on the line, has been tabbed the starting right tackle for the championship game.  Eudora is back in the championship game for the second straight year after a 21-0 loss to Rose Hill a year ago keep the Cardinals from their first state football title.  Coach Gregg Webb is in his 11th year at Eudora (96-29) and previously coached at Claflin (151-24) winning 5 of 9 state title games in 15 years.        

Holton has some injury concerns themselves, including runningback, Drake Ewing who leads the team with 1,285 yards rushing, but missed the game at Mulvane.  Cameron Karn has stepped up HUGE in the playoffs with four consecutive games over 100 yards and carried the load with 26 totes at Mulvane for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus a late INT on defense.  Holton is still scoring 42 points and cranking out 415 yards offense per game.  The Wildcats also have a dual-threat signal caller as Jaxon Wright is over 550 yards rushing and now has nearly 600 passing on 24-41 completions including 10 TD passes and a big one in each of Holton's last two games.  Chase Wilson is over 500 yards rushing too, while Trent Tanking has more than 400, but was also limited and only played first half defense last week.  Tanking leads the Holton defense which has surrendered only 11 points per game and has 33 takeaways on the season and is +24 in turnovers.  Jacob Ewing has been a monster at defensive end in the post-season with 6 sacks. 

Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM Saturday in Salina.  KNZA Radio 103.9 FM will have live play-by-play coverage starting with pregame at 12:20 from the stadium.  Justin Fluke and Mike Tanking will also be doing a live "Tailgate Party" sponsored by Boomers Steakhouse and Foster Ford from 10:45-11:40 AM with special guests, plus Holton football trivia, and a chance to win at $50 Boomers gift card if you stop by and pick the correct score of the championship game.  Listen to it all online here.