Sports Radio 810 WHB Game of the Week
No. 19 Mill Valley (2-1) at No. 11 Blue Valley (2-1)
A key game for both squads as they attempt to stay within striking distance in the EKL behind No. 1 Bishop Miege. It’s also a key game for two teams that opened the season with a tough loss and then rebounded with two impressive victories. After getting upset by Western Shawnee rival St. James, Mill Valley looks a lot like the same squad that won back-to-back Class 5A state championships. The Jaguars offense has started to click behind quarterback Brody Flaming, who threw for seven touchdowns last week against Blue Valley Southwest. Blue Valley looks like it is back on track after getting manhandled by Miege in Week 1. The Tigers enter the game with a lot of momentum after completing a last-minute comeback against rival Blue Valley North last week. Blue Valley scored 10 points in the final 2 minutes of the game and quarterback Luke Bernard is coming off a 230-yard, four-touchdown performance.

Other key games
No. 7 Rockhurst (4-1) at No. 5 Blue Springs (3-2)

The best rivalry in Kansas City is back with both teams looking to exert themselves before a final run in the Missouri Class 6 playoffs. Between Blue Springs and Rockhurst, the teams have played in 11 of the 16 Class 6 title games, but both programs have had their ups and downs this season and Friday is a chance to prove they belong in the state title discussion.

After a shocking season-opening loss to Rock Bridge, Rock State has rebounded to win four straight, including quality wins over Bentonville, Ark., and last week against No. 10 SM East. They’ve done it in typical Rock style with a grind-it-out offense that averages 27 points a game and led by running back Brady McCanles’ 500 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. But where Rock really shines is on defense, giving up only 12.6 points a game led by linebacker Ty Simsheuser.

Blue Springs has played an incredibly difficult schedule already with marquee games against Lee’s Summit West, Fayetteville, Ark., and Park Hill. Unfortunately the Wildcats are 1-2 in those key matchups, including the 28-25 loss two weeks ago to Park Hill. Blue Springs did rebound last week to clobber SM West 42-0, and we saw the reemergence of star running back Jaylen Ivey with two scores. He’s been out most of the season with a knee injury, but if he’s back, it makes the Wildcats’ rushing attack one of the best in the state when he’s able to pair withMichael Warmack and Cade Musser when he’s healthy.

Both defenses have played well this season and with each team wanting to run the ball, it should be a close game. It’ll likely come down to which team avoids turnovers and finds a way to get the ball into their playmakers hands. Blue Springs has more of those, especially with guys like receiver Tre Wheaton and tight end Caleb Marquez.

No. 6 LS West (4-1) at No. 4 Park Hill (4-1)

We talked last week about how tough it might be for Park Hill to rebound emotionally after beating Blue Springs and facing a tough, physical Free State squad. The results proved that to be true. The Trojans woke up late and rallied but eventually lost 21-16. Now they have to find a way to put that loss behind them facing one of the best teams in the city. After losing in Week 2 to Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit West has rolled to three straight victories and is playing its best ball of the season highlighted by running back Phillip Brooks’ 150 yards a game. This game will have athletes and college-level talent everywhere and will be played at a speed not often seen in Kansas City. Something will have to break when West’s big-play offense battles against Park Hill’s defense that has been very good at stopping high-powered offenses.

No. 7 Liberty (5-0) at No. 14 Platte County (4-1)
This has all the makings of a shootout, too. Platte County is averaging 35 points a game and has gone over 40 three times, while Liberty averages 44 points a game and has yet to score less than 34 in a game and has topped 40 four times. This could be a huge statement game for player of the year candidate Robert Rawie. He’s averaging 6.9 yards a carry and has already 16 touchdowns. Platte County is a tough place to play and the Pirates are battle tested with a difficult schedule, but Liberty’s got too many weapons.

No. 22 BV North (1-2) at No. 1 Bishop Miege (3-0)
This game features two of the metro area’s best quarterbacks and could quickly evolve into a shootout. Miege quarterback Carter Putz broke the Kansas all-time touchdown pass record last week in a gritty performance against Aquinas. He’s guided the Stags through two of the best defenses (BV and Aquinas) in the city and is on track to throw for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. North counters with junior quarterback Graham Mertz, who picked up an offer from Wisconsin earlier this week to go along with a KU offer. He’s thrown or 550 yards and eight TDs and will need all of that and then some to upset Miege.

Suburban League continues dominance
While Free State’s victory over then No. 1 Park Hill opens up some eyes, the fact of the matter is that Suburban League teams on the Missouri side are 20-2 in the two-year series against Sunflower League teams. It’s certainly something for Missouri teams to thump their chest about, because the domination is real. But also would love to see Suburban League teams face off against the top league in Kansas – the EKL. Who wouldn’t want to see a Blue Springs vs. Blue Valley matchup or Lee’s Summit West vs. Bishop Miege. Maybe we’ll get that someday, but this was the last year in the series between the Sunflower and Suburban. At least we have Miege and Rockhurst to look forward to next year.

Record-breaking Putz
Last week, Bishop Miege's Carter Putz set a Kansas state record with 93 career touchdowns, breaking Silver Lake's Shannon Kruger's mark of 92 (1994-97). Putz already owns the single-season record (50) for passing touchdowns, and looks to break the career passing yardage mark by season's end.