6A Championship Preview
By: Mark Schremmer -- special to Kpreps.com
Posted: November 26, 2009 - 11:13 PM

Wichita Heights (8-4) vs Olathe North (12-0)

The Olathe North Eagles and the Wichita Heights Falcons come into Saturday’s Class 6A state championship as teams from opposite ends of the spectrum.

Led by three seniors ranked in the state‘s top 20 by Rivals.com (DE Lucas Vincent, LB Tre Walker, RB James Franklin), the 12-0 Eagles have dominated their opponents by an average of 42-13. If they can win, it will be Olathe North’s eighth state title since 1996.

The 8-4 Falcons, on the other hand, started the season with a dismal 1-3 record and are playing in their first state championship game in school history.

Despite the differences, two teams with similar strengths will butt heads in the 1 p.m. title tilt at Topeka’s Yager Stadium.

And that strength is running the football.

With a run-first mentality, Olathe North and Wichita Heights are both averaging more than 300 yards rushing during the playoffs.

The Eagles’ running game is led by Franklin, who has rushed for 582 yards and four touchdowns in the past three games. Franklin owns the school record in career rushing yards with 5,434 after eclipsing Darren Sproles’ mark during the playoffs. Victor Simmons, who is averaging 135 yards rushing during the playoffs, gives Olathe North another option.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Reed has directed Heights’ option offense the past five games in place of the injured John Moreland to help spark the turnaround. Averaging 88 yards on the ground during the playoffs, Reed has made it to where defenses can’t put all of its focus on star running back Dreamius Smith. That has allowed Smith to register two 200-yard games during the playoffs, including a 242-yard performance in last week’s semifinal win against Derby.

But the game could be decided through the air. Neither team passes often, but both have been successful when necessary. Olathe North quarterback David Blazevic completed 4 of 7 passes for 119 yards in a 42-14 playoff win against Shawnee Mission East, and Reed connected with Steven Strand for two second-half TD passes when Manhattan’s defense stacked against the run.