For the second time in school history, and second time in the past dozen years, the Perry Lecompton Kaws will represent the east side of the bracket in a state football championship game. The previous attempt at the school’s first state football championship fell short in the 2008 title game falling to Hayden 42-21. If high school football shows anything time and time again, it shows that there is a ton of parity when it all comes down to it. In 2019 Perry would have to go through Hayden once more, well, actually twice more. The first match-up was in week seven in an absolute must win for the Kaws as they were in danger of slipping to the third seed in their district. Perry came out on top in overtime with a thrilling 21-20 victory.
That win was a turning point for the Kaws as that started their now 6-game win streak, including a Sub-State victory over Hayden to punch their ticket to state 35-27. After falling behind 14-0, Perry scored 21 straight points, including 14 in the third quarter, to lead the Wildcats entering the 4th quarter. An exciting fourth quarter saw both teams scoring a pair of touchdowns but the Kaws held on for their second victory ever against Hayden, the second this year and now will play for the State title for the second time ever.
The task will be tall for Perry (9-3) as they match up with the victors of the west, an undefeated Andale Indian team (12-0). Andale, a member of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League, won their division decisively over teams like Clearwater, Wichita Collegiate, Mulvane, Rose Hill and Wellington. The Indians continued to roll through the season, defeating their opponent by an average score of 50-7, with their closest game of the season coming against Cheney, defeating the Cardinals 29-22. Andale would meet the same Cheney team in the Sub State championship game and would dominate 55-20 en route to their second State championship appearance in the past three seasons.
Andale is led by senior quarterback Easton Hunter (6'3 190lbs) and senior running back Isaac Kuhn (5'11 160lbs) to pace the Indians offense, while both play significant roles on the defensive side. The stout defense by Andale also features junior Alec Koehler (6' 175lbs) and senior Mac Brand (5'11 200lbs) a just a few key players on this unbeaten Andale roster.
The Kaws continue to show balance on the offensive side behind junior quarterback Billy Welch (6'1 160lbs) who has thrown for over 2,200 yards with a completion percentage of an astounding 65%, while tossing an impressive 26 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions. The Kaws are led on the ground by junior Thad Metcalfe (5'9 160lbs) who has rushed for over 1,300 yards and has found the end zone 14 times. Joining the Kaws dynamic duo are another pair of offensive weapons to pace Perry in junior wide receivers Parker Stone (6'3 180lbs) and Dawson Williams (6'1 160lbs). Williams leads the Kaws in receptions (37), yards (649) and touchdowns (6) and Stone not far behind with 35 receptions, 627 yards and 5 touchdowns.
During Perry's 6 game winning streak the Kaws have been outscoring opponents on average 33-16 while relying on a stout defense of their own, led by junior linebacker Hayden Robb (5'11 220lbs) who has placed his name into the all state conversation with 141 tackles and four forced fumbles. Senior safety Grant Roush (6' 165lbs) has 102 tackles in his senior campaign while joining junior linebacker Hunter Hess (6'2 165lbs) to lead the team with 5 sacks each while as a team forcing 28 turnovers this season. The Kaws are a team that has been battle tested, and have things rolling at the right time. Perry has marquee wins against Hayden (2X, only losses on the year), Wamego (top 7 team in the state at the time), Holton (who beat the Kaws in week two and won arguably the most difficult district in the state) and Prairie View (who was undefeated entering that game).
Some say third time is the charm and that things happen in threes. For this Kaw team, they're hoping the second time is the charm and that good things come in twos.
You can listen to the only live, local coverage of Perry Lecompton's state championship game this Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. with the Highland Community College countdown to kickoff pregame show followed by the opening kickoff at 1 p.m. on KAIR 93.7FM or online at mscsports.net
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