Just 34 miles separates Centralia and Jackson Heights High Schools and one game will determine which team competes for the 1A State Football championship on November 30th in Hays. The Panthers are 10-1 and have won 10 straight since a opening night loss against Rossville. The Cobras are 9-2 and have won seven in a row after dropping games to MH-MA and Olpe in weeks three and four. 

Jackson Heights qualified for the semifinals for the first time since 1983.  It just the fourth sub state appearance ever for the Cobras, who lost in the quarterfinals in 2015 and 2018. Centralia meanwhile is making their 10th semifinal apperance after winning state championships in 2009, 2011 and also following their most recent sub state apperance in 2013. 

Centralia is 2-1 against Jackson Heights dating back to 2005 as the Cobras won by a 22-14 score in 2016 but the Panthers won the most recent battle by a 32-14 score in 2017. This season, the teams have five common opponents in Wabaunsee, Olpe and Colgan as well as Valley Heights who the Cobras beat twice and Troy who the Panthers outscored in two games this season. In those common matchups, Centralia is 6-0 outscoring foes 248 to 52 and Jackson Heights is 4-1 outscoring the same opponents 184 to 74. 

This season, Centralia is led by dynamic senior back Kamble Haverkamp who has 2,067 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns while averaging more than 10 yards per carry. He accounts for 188 of the Panthers 335 yards per game on the ground. He also has all 421 of Centralia's passing yards this season with five more touchdowns. Devon Feldkamp has added 1,049 yards rushing with 12 trips to the endzone and leads the team with 10 receptions for 182 yards and two more scores. Centralia has just 8 turnovers on the year in their single wing attack and their defense has 16 takeaways while allowing juts 195 yards per game and holding their opponents to 13 points per game.  

That Panther defense allowed Olpe less than 30 yards rushing last week in a 22-20 revenge loss from a simliar game last season. The junior duo of Ian Haverkamp and Austin Holthaus each have registered more than 100 tackles this season. 

Larry Glatzcak is in his 17th season as Centralia head coach and had directed his team to 16 straight Twin Valley League titles and 20 consecutive playoff campaigns until a rare 1-8 campaign in 2016.   

Jackson Heights has completed seven passes for 127 total yards this season, but behind a big, physical and experienced line - has averaged 365 yards per game on the ground in 2019. The wishbone attack has been very balanced led by Cooper Williams with 1,440 yards and Jason Bosley with 1,062 while fullback Dylan Thompson has added 794.  All three backs went for more than 100 yards last week in a dominating 42-10 win against Colgan as the Cobras ran for 481 yards on 55 plays and churned out 24 first downs.

Carson Williams and Riley Watkins are two senior studs on the line of scrimmage and lead the team in tackles along with Cooper Williams. The green and gold have allowed less than 12 points per contest this fall. The junior duo of Colby Doyle and Taylor Wamego had standout games last week as well on both sides of the football. Sophomore Hudson Roles is getting a lot of college attention at 6'3, 350 pounds and combined with Joel Kennedy and center Trey Manual, the Cobras offensive line averages more than 260 pounds across the board.  

Caleb Wick is in his 8th season at Jackson Heights and is 57-23 including at least eight wins now in three straight seasons and four of the last five. The Cobras had won the Northeast Kansas League the last three years.  

This game will be broadcast on KNZA 103.9 FM. The winner will play either Smith Center (11-0) or Plainville (10-1) in Hays for the 1A State title next Saturday.