Class 3A Sectionals on Friday night in Southeast Kansas as a pair of ranked teams meet for the second straight post season. Last year Holton won this quarterfinal matchup 36-0 against the Trojans in a game that Girard had five turnovers. This year the Trojans get the game on their home turf and again come in undefeated at 10-0 while Holton is 9-1 following nine consecutive in the win column after a back and forth tight loss against #1 ranked Nemaha Central in Class 2A that started this year. 

Girard is coming off a 36-0 victory against Frontenac, a team they beat 35-0 during the regular season. It was the second shutout in a row and fourth in the last seven games, while the Trojans allowed just one score in two other matchups. They are allowing 8 points per game on the year and have scored at least 35 points in every game since a 20-15 week one win against Columbus. 

Holton pitched their first shutout of the season last week and whipped Bishop Ward 56-0 in their most complete win. The Cats are rushing for more than 370 yards per game and 9 yards per carry. Garyson Booth leads the way with 1,180 yards and 17 touchdowns on with a mean of almost 14 yards per touch. The Wildcats will be without their second leading rusher Jace Boswell (726 yards and 12 touchdowns) who is also their leading tackler on defense (59 stops). Dalton Roush and Rylan Amon also have 50 + takedown for the Holton defense. Matt Lierz and Jayden Fletcher are both closing in on 500 yards rushing while Lierz has completd 11 passes this season, 9 have gone for touchdowns and 4 of those were caught by Jackson Bear.    

Alex Coester has ran for 1,047 yards this season to pace Girard while returning senior quarterback Luke NIggeman is 39-75 for 650 yards and 6 touchdowns to 4 INTs. The Trojan defense is led by Anthony Pike with 68 tackles.  

Last year was the first meeting since Holton won at home in 1999 in one of just three sub-state appearances for Girard. The winner will advance to the East semifinal against Hayden or Columbus.  Kickoff is at 7 PM with live coverage on the Holton Channel at MSC Sports.net.