High School playoffs got underway in Class 2-1A on Friday night and continued for Classes 4A, 3A and 8-Man on Saturday and 10 Kanzaland area teams were participating. Half of the teams from the area got victories to continue their seasons on in the playoffs.

Friday's action: 

Class 2-1A: (Updated bracket -- click here)

McLouth upends Jackson Heights 42-8

Both the Bulldogs and Cobras hadn't enjoyed playoff season for a few years and both were enjoying the fact they made the playoffs but also looking to notch their first playoff in awhile. It was all Bulldogs in this ball game as the cruised to a 42-8 win utilizing their balance attack as they have all season, rushing and passing the ball.

Quarterback, Marc Walbridge had another great game going 6-10 for 156 yards passing with a TD pass to Dakota Cop who had 99 yards receiving on just two catches. The rushing attack was led by TJ Crowell who rushed for 119 yards on 22 carries and three TD's for McLouth, while Walbridge added 73 yards on the ground and tossed a pair of touchdowns to Nick McAferty.   McLouth as cruised through the season with a great year improving to 9-1 with the win (only loss to Olpe by one point).

Jackson Heights only manage one score but Tim Rupnicki did manage a solid game rushing on 21 carries going for 112 yards.  Set up by a 46 yard kickoff return by Nate Bryan, Korby Strube tossed a 18 yard TD pass to Cameron Thomas for the Cobra touchdown which made the game 30-8 with 5:29 left in the contest. 

Jackson Heights wraps up their great year under first year coach, Caleb Wick with a 6-4 record (first winning record since 2006). While, McLouth moves on in the playoffs to host an unbeaten Lyndon team on Friday at 7:00pm.  The Bulldogs lost 1,000 yard offensive performer Drew Cerny to an injury in the first quarter of their victory.

Olpe holds off Onaga 28-20

It was a game filled with mistakes for the Buffalos of Onaga that ultimately doomed them against Olpe. The Buffalos down 14-0 at the half after five first half penalties, three turnovers and a turnover on downs in Eagles territory, did try and mount a comeback in the second half but ultimately could not fend off the mistakes. As Onaga on the night finished with nine crucial penalties, five turnovers and two crucial turnover on downs.

Buffalos offense picked it up in the second half with a 49 yard TD run by quarterback, Mitchell Kufahl then an 13 yard TD score by sophomore runningback, Michael Bliss. Olpe lead by three scores twice in the second half but Onaga kicked a onside kick and recovered it and scored to get with one touchdown as Kufahl it tight end, Thomas Eisenbarth for a 57 yard strike. With a minute to go Onaga had a chance to tie the game but on the first play of the drive Kufahl tossed his third interception of the game. Kufahl finished the game with 131 yards passing and 107 yards rushing, while Bliss registered 74 yards on the ground good enough to give him a 1,000+ yard season.

For Olpe it was their quarterback, Bo Krueger with three TD passes and a 65 yard TD run sparking the Eagles offense.

Onaga closes out their great season with a 6-4 record, district champs and their first Twin Valley League win in seven years.

Centralia cruises past Jefferson County North 46-7

The defending Class 2-1A champs, Centralia-Wetmore Panthers have been cruising through the competition all season and continued to do that in the opening round of the playoffs. Coming into the game the Panthers have outscored their opponents 407 to 43, only allowing double digit points against them once in the season opener to St. Mary's.

The Panthers have ran their way to success on offense and continued that trend, also. Quarterback, JT Rosine tallied three rushing scores of 62, 26 and 62 yards on the day, while his backfield mate, Sam Steinlage added three rushing TD's, too going for five, 10 and 14 yards. Trevor Mars added the other score in the ballgame for the Panthers, also on the ground.

For the Chargers, their only score came by their go to runningback, Dustin Fowler who ran it in for the Charger score.

The JCN Chargers wrap up their playoff season with a 6-4 record, falling to Centralia. The Panthers remain unbeaten at 10-0 and take their 19 game winning streak, longest in the state of Kansas on the road next in the playoffs to face off against Olpe on Friday at 7:00pm.

Saturday's action:

Class 4A: (Updated bracket -- click here) 

Holton pitches shutout against Wichita-Collegiate, 28-0

Only one unbeaten left in Class 4A and its the Holton Wildcats as they cruised past Wichita-Collegiate on the road, only attempting one pass in the game. The Wildcats again proved they don't need to pass the football when nobody has stopped them and they run the ball for 430+ yards per game; this time Holton ran for 371 yards as a team.

Behind the rushing of Drake Ewing, Cameron Karn and Trent Tanking, and their stellar defense, the Wildcats earned their third shutout win. Ewing ran for 111 yards on 17 carries and a score, while Karn tallied 138 yards and a score on 16 carries. Trent Tanking got in on the action, too rushing only three times but got two rushing TD's, including a 29 yard run up the middle to give HOlton a 21-0 lead with 4:01 to play in the third quarter.  The Wildcat defense did not surrender a play more than 17 yards and held Collegiate to less than 200 total yards offense on the day.  They also got three takeaways and are now +21 in turnovers this season.  The offense moved the football all day, but most impressively, had a 19 play drive that went 84 yards and ate more than 7:30 on the second quarter clock before a Taking one-yard run doubled Holton's lead at 14-0 and knocked their Spartans off their horse.   

Holton remains unbeaten (11-0) and moves on in the playoffs, but the competition doesn't get any easier as the Wildcats will head back home to host a 10-1, McPherson team on Friday at 7:00pm.

Class 3A: (Updated bracket -- click here)

Silver Lake cruises past Hiawatha, 63-26

Riding high after their first playoff win since 2001 the Redhawks played host to the top team in Class 3A in the state in Silver Lake. Hiawatha would hold their own in the first half only down by a pair of scores 28-14 at the half, but Silver Lake would outscore Hiawatha 35-12 in the second half to remain unbeaten and move on in the playoffs.

Silver Lake had plenty of big plays in the game, registering four TD's against the Redhawks defense of 50+ yards. Hiawatha's big time playmaker, Denzel Chilcoat fresh off a 411 yard rushing performance in the opening round of the playoffs, were he had a kick return TD, also, registered a kick return TD against the Eagles, too. Redhawks, also got a big passing TD from BJ Chilcoat to Connor Bigham going for 53 yards, but didn't ultimately have enough big plays.

Hiawatha wraps up their stellar season with a 8-3 record this year, taking home a playoff win and district championship.

Sabetha Comes Up Just Short Against Rossville, Falling 28-27 in OT

It had been an emotionally packed week for the Bluejays and Saturday was heavily emotional as the Bluejays mourned the loss of Mr. Tim Edelman with his services in the morning and then played host to an 8-1 Rossville team later in the evening.

Sabetha, would translate their emotions to the field and take a 13-0 lead against Rossville off three Bulldog turnovers. But, Rossville would mount a comeback to tie it at 13-13.  The Bulldogs took their first lead 21-13, but teh Bluejays came back and scored on a pass from Gaven Schumann to Taylor Bauman and added a critical two-point pass play on the same connection to tie the score.  Rossville missed a potential game-winning 30 yard field goal in regulation and the game went to OT tied at 21. 

In overtime, Rossville got the ball first and scored a touchdown and split the uprights for seven, so Sabetha looked to answer. Answer the Bluejays did with a Kegan Schumann 10 yard TD run on their first play, and the Jays decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion. Sabetha gave the ball to senior McKenzie McAfee but he was tackled just short of the goal-line and Rossville escaped with a one point win.

Sabetha, wraps up their season 5-6 with a playoff win this year for the Bluejays.

Class 8-man DII: (Updated bracket -- click here)

B&B stymies Caldwell for a 48-0 Win on the Road

It was a sluggish start to the game for both teams as the Falcons only lead 6-0 after the first quarter but behind a great defensive performance the Falcons cruised past the Bluejays of Caldwell.

B&B 's offense picked things up in the second quarter with 24 points, as quarterback, Dustin Rottinghaus threw for 201 yards on 11-18 passing and three TD's, while rushing for a TD, also. Tyler Deters had a big receiving day with four catches for 119 yards and two TD's, while Dustin Deters went off for 131 yards rushing and a TD, too. Brandon Bergman added a receiving TD and 33-yard fumble recovery score (recovered Dustin Deters fumble), while Derek Mueting added rushing score, also.

Falcons defense was the story of the game holding Caldwell to 111 total yards of offense and pitching their sixth shutout of the season, ending the game just six seconds into the fourth quarter.

With the win the Falcons are now 11-0 on the season and one win away from their fifth straight appearance in the 8-man DII state championship game. B&B will have to get through a familiar foe to get to that game as they will play host to their rival the Hanover Wildcats on Friday night at 7:00pm. B&B won the regular season matchup in double overtime 52-46 this year, coming back from down 16 in the fourth quarter.

Hanover Unloads Offense in Win Over Colony-Crest, 80-30

For the second straight game like their counterpart B&B the Wildcats ended their game before the end of regulation as the game was called with 1:52 left in the game against Crest.

The Wildcats continued to unleash a potent offense attack scoring 11 touchdowns, lead yet again by tailback, Mark Zarybnicky who scored four of the 11 TD's. Zarybnicky rattled off runs of 50, 76, 30 and 20 yards for his four scores and amassed 254 yards on 13 carries in the game. Quarterback, Cody Neiman made plenty of big plays, too rushing for three scores and passing a 65 yard bomb to Evan Zabokrtsky for a score. Hanover, also manage to score on special teams with a kick return for a touchdown.

Hanover now looks to avenge a loss to Baileyville just two weeks again 52-46 in double overtime, in which Hanover had a 16 point fourth quarter lead at Baileyville. First time a district title was up for grabs this time a spot in the stat championship game is up for grabs. B&B will host Hanover on Friday at 7:00pm

Other Classes in the state and updated brackets: 

Class 6A

Class 5A

Class 8-Man DI