The Pick List -- Week 5
By: Kpreps.com & KansasPregame.com
Posted: September 30, 2009 - 11:34 PM

Week five marks the beginning of district play for the 8 Man classes, another Mid-East league showdown on Highway 24, and two key match-ups of Ark Valley Chisholm Trail unbeatens.

Feature Games of the Week:

3A #2 Silver Lake (4-0) at 2-1A #2 St. Marys (4-0)

Another War on 24? Unbeatens will collide Friday when Silver Lake visits St. Marys in a series that has been quite bit more competitive in recent years than the more well-known “War”. Silver Lake has won the last four meetings by an average of 16 points, but when you talk about being competitive with the Eagles, that’s as close as many get. The Bears last won in 2004, taking a 17-7 decision at home. The Eagles escaped St. Marys with a 23-15 win the following year, and would shutout the Bears 29-0 in Silver Lake in 2006. Two years ago, the Eagles won another close 19-14 contest, before jumping out to a 28-0 lead and rolling 36-14 in last years game.

Friday night’s match-up figures to be the deciding factor in the Mid East League race. Both teams have already knocked off Rossville; Silver Lake 35-3 two weeks ago, while the Bears won 14-0 in the rain last week. Both have also dispatched of an outmanned Wabaunsee team. The Bears will try and run right at the Eagles with a Luke Olsen. If they don’t have success early and the Eagles get ahead, it could spell trouble for a St. Marys offense that traditionally isn’t built for playing from behind.

Our Pick: Silver Lake 23 St. Marys 14



St. Thomas Aquinas (4-0) at 6A #4 Blue Valley Northwest (4-0)

The winner of Friday night's game between undefeated Aquinas and undefeated Blue Valley Northwest will be in the driver's seat for the Eastern Kansas League Championship. Aquinas struggled in week one, but got 15 fourth-quarter points to edge now 1-4 KC North 22-19. Since then, it’s been the Saints of old in posting consecutive wins over Miege, BV North, and BV West. The Saints are led by quarterback Richard Davila who has put up some big numbers, but has been prone to the interception thus far. When Aquinas runs the ball, it’s typically in the hands of junior tailback Dagan Reed. The Aquinas defense has been stout, giving up just 13 points per game.

The Huskies, on the other hand, have put up a lot of points including rallying from 20 points down to beat Miege 35-27 last week. Quarterback Koby Chadick has proven playmaking ability with both his arm and legs. When he looks to throw, it’s typically to Matt Ornduff who has already hauled in eight touchdown passes including four last week against Miege.

Last season Aquinas outscored the Huskies 45-21.

Our Pick: BV Northwest 26 Aquinas 21



5A #4 Salina Central (4-0) at 5A #1 Hutchinson (4-0)

Salina Central has the tough task of slowing down the Salthawk machine. With starting quarterback Cooper Bell out, battering ram fullback Josh Smith moved a few yards forward to lead the offense under center. Smith took little time to adapt to his QB role chewing up 191 yards on the ground in the Salthawks spanking of Derby. Central's has ridden a balanced offense to a 4-0 record, but Hutch will provide the stiffest challenge of the season.

Our Pick: Hutchinson 35 Salina Central 14



4A #1 Andale (4-0) at Rose Hill (4-0)

Two unbeatens collide when #1 ranked Andale travels to Rose Hill Friday night in what will likely decide the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV title. The Indians have been ranked # 1 all season, and have rolled to a 4-0 start highlighted by last week’s 21-0 shutout of Wellington. James Tipton has led the Indian rushing attack with 459 yards and five touchdowns thus far.

Meanwhile, perhaps flying a bit under the radar in 4A are the Rose Hill Rockets. The Rockets are off to a similar 4-0 start, but strength of schedule may come into question. Rose Hill’s four opponents are a combined 2-14. But the Rockets feel like they’re ready behind an offense that’s averaging over 44 points per game. Quarterback Tyler Shirley has thrown for just shy of 500 yards and nine touchdowns, while running back Laque Mays has rushed for 622 yards and six scores. Those are just two of the reasons why the Rockets feel good about avenging last year’s 33-7 loss to the Indians.

Our Pick: Andale 34 Rose Hill 17



4A #5 Louisburg (3-1) at 4A #4 Eudora (4-0)

There is no doubt that the Louisburg Wildcats would to have liked to have had a better showing last week against Gardner-Edgerton. Despite how loaded the Blazers are, Louisburg still feels like they are better than the 40-0 final score indicated. They’ll get a shot to validate their ranking this week when they travel to Eudora to play Gregg Webb’s undefeated and 4th ranked Cardinals.

Eudora had been kind of the forgotten team in the Frontier League this season until last weeks eight-point road win over Paola. To remain unbeaten, they’ll need another stellar week from QB Evan Cleveland who rushed for 129 yards and two scores against the Panthers. The Cardinal defense had only allowed six points in the first three games until giving up 27 to Paola. They’ll need to tighten things up against Ryan Roberts to avenge last year’s 42-21 loss to the Wildcats.

Our Pick: Louisburg 28 Eudora 20



Hutch Trinity (4-0) at Ell Saline (4-0)

The Ell-Saline Cardinals are riding a 15 game regular season winning streak into Friday's match-up with unbeaten Heart of America league foe Hutch-Trinity. The Cardinals are led by junior quarterback Tate Omli who has passed for 10 touchdowns this season. Hutch-Trinity has been impressive on both sides of the ball so far this season scoring at least 42 points in each of their four wins while allowing only 12 points total - all 12 coming in week two in a 48-12 win over LaCrosse. The Celtics too have an impressive quarterback in Derek Racette who has already thrown for 772 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.

Our Pick: Trinity 36 Ell Saline 28


The Pick List:

Junction City (4-0) at Topeka Hayden (2-2)  Junction City 35-14

In a game that's lost a bit of its luster due to Topeka Hayden posting only a 2-2 record thus far on the season #2 ranked Junction City will look to beat the defending 4A champion Wildcats for the second season in a row. The Blue Jay offense is fueled by the three-headed running back monster of Jimmie King, Nathen Kozlowski and Cody Parmely. The trio went for 83, 71 and 123 yards respectively in last week's 49-20 win over Shawnee Heights. Hayden's two losses have come to Emporia (28-6) in week two and Seaman (28-20) last week.

Phillipsburg (2-2) at Colby (3-1)  Phillipsburg 20-6

In a rematch of one of last year's most exciting games Phillipsburg will get the chance to atone for a squandering a 21 point lead to Colby in 2008. Phillipsburg built a 21-0 lead by mid-third quarter, but the Eagles stormed back, scoring the final 30 points of the game to shock the Panthers and continue Colby's improvement under coach Chris Gardner. This year, a surprising Phillipsburg team is 2-2 with close losses to Norton (21-14) and Smith Center (14-12) and a big win over St. Francis (28-20). Gardner, in his third-year, has Colby making a move as the Eagles have won three straight following a season opening loss to St. Francis, 28-22.

Norton (3-1) at St. Francis (2-2)  Norton 22-14

The Norton Blue Jays will try to improve to 4-1 when they travel to St. Francis Friday night. The Indians, 2-2 on the season, have suffered close losses to Phillipsburg (28-20) - a team Norton beat 21-14 in week one - and Northwest Kansas League rival Oakley, 26-14 last week. Norton got off to a slow start last week against Osborne letting the Bulldogs take a 14-7 lead after one quarter, but the Blue Jays rode running back Terrell Lane to 32 points in the next two quarters as Lane scored on a runs of 30 and 11-yards and a 22-yard fumble recovery and Ashton Draper added a 47 yard touchdown reception in the win.

2-1A #1 Smith Center (4-0) at Ellis (3-1)  Smith Center 34-12

Smith Center tries to keep the streak alive with their third consecutive Mid-Continent League challenge at 3-1 Ellis. The Railroaders started the season ranked in some 2A polls but a week two loss to undefeated Oakley found the Railers worrying about the health of talented tailback Dylan Pfeifer, but Pfeifer is fine and Ellis is rolling with back-to-back blowout wins over Osborne and Hoxie. Smith Center is coming off a second consecutive scare with a 14-12 win over Phillipsburg.

Thunder Ridge (3-1) at 8M-I #5 Quinter (3-1)  Quinter 44-20

Thunder Ridge and super-soph. Joel Struckoff will try and win a big-game against a top-team as they travel to Quinter to take on a Bulldog squad that is 13-2 since joining 8-Man Division I last season. Thunder Ridge opened the season with a 54-8 loss to Division II stud Hanover while Quinter's only loss is a 26-24 thriller to Sharon Springs-Wallace County.



Wichita Southeast (2-2) at Wichita Northwest (2-2)  Northwest 30-16

Emporia (3-1) at Topeka Seaman (2-2)  Emporia 34-21

Abilene (3-1) at 3A #4 Marysville (4-0)  Marysville 48-12

Chanute (3-1) at Independence (4-0)  Indy 28-17

Wellsville (3-1) at Osawatomie (4-0)  Osawatomie 31-14

Hoisington (3-1) at Marion (3-1)  Marion 26-14

SE of Saline (4-0) at Lyons (3-1)  SE of Saline 26-13

2-1A #5 St. Mary’s Colgan (3-1) at Atchison (2-2)  Colgan 33-26

Valley Heights (3-1) at Washington (3-1)  Valley Heights 27-16

Hartford (3-1) at Colony-Crest (4-0)  Crest 46-18

South Gray (3-1) at Minneola (4-0)  Minneola 47-25

Caldwell (4-0) at Argonia (3-1)  Caldwell 30-23

Waverly (2-2) at St. Paul (3-1)  St. Paul 36-22

Pawnee Heights (3-1) at 8M-II #1 Victoria (4-0)  Victoria 46-21