810 Varsity Game of the Week
No. 12 Blue Valley North (7-4) at No. 7 Blue Valley (8-3)

Kansas Class 6A semifinal
>> 6A bracket

Talk about saving your best for when it counts. Both Blue Valley and Blue Valley North had their struggles this season in the EKL, but the Mustangs and Tigers are playing outstanding football in the playoffs and now are just one game away from the state championship.

Blue Valley North advanced by upsetting – no destroying – No. 1 see SM East 45-10 last Friday night. Graham Mertz, a junior that is already committed to Wisconsin, accounted for six touchdowns, and it was one of the most impressive individual performances in the playoffs I’ve ever seen. He was unstoppable and made plays on the best quarterbacks in the entire country make. But it wasn’t just Mertz. The Mustangs’ defense was stout, holding a very good Lancer attack in check all night long. KU defensive end commit Myles Emery looked a little banged up, but he was outstanding all night long.

On the flip side, it looks like Blue Valley senior quarterback Luke Bernard has finally taken the reigns as the leader for the Tigers. The Tigers have alternated quarterbacks all season long, but it’s Bernard that has been the most consistent for Blue Valley all season long, and that steadiness came up big in the quarterfinals against Olathe North. Bernard completed a 79-yard touchdown pass with 5 minutes left in the first half to put Blue Valley up over the Eagles. It was a lead the Tigers never relinquished on the way to a 48-21 victory.

This is a rematch of one of the best games of the season. BV North looked like it had wrapped up a victory over Blue Valley, but the Tigers scored 10 points in the final 1:06 thanks to clutch offense and key special teams play. For the most part, North held Mertz in line in the game, and that’s the big key in this game. If Mertz remains red-hot, the Mustangs will be tough to beat. The Tigers will bring pressure from all sorts of different looks and if they can get his timing off, Blue Valley will advance. But if he plays like he did last week, then the Mustangs will take another step in one of the best Cinderella stories of the season, especially for a team that was 2-7 in 2014 and 2013, 0-9 in 2013 and 2011.

Missouri Class 6 championship
Class 6 bracket

No. 3 Blue Springs (11-2) vs. Christian Brothers (10-2)
7 p.m. Saturday at Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Mo.

I’m done doubting Blue Springs. And to be honest, I never really doubted them. I just thought it was Park Hill’s time. But the Wildcats sent a resounding message to all of Kansas City that they’re still the kings of Class 6 with a 34-14 victory over Park Hill last Saturday. After losing two of their starting running backs, Blue Springs has found a gem in Aveion Bailey, who rushed for nearly 200 yards against one of the best defenses in the city. Throw in the way the Wildcats are using do-it-all tight end Caleb Marquez and improved play from quarterback Chase Donohoe, Blue Springs is playing for its sixth state championship against a very good Christian Brothers squad. CBC came across the state earlier this season to beat Rockhurst 28-3 and they crushed Eureka 42-7 in the state semifinals. This is the third state title game for CBC in four years, and it’s even more special considering the Cadets have more Division I talent on the sideline out with injury than most teams dream of putting on the field. But CBC still has a nasty defense, a physical offensive line and their gunslinger — Brett Gabbert. A standout junior quarterback, Gabbert completed 16 of his 24 passes for 276 yard. And yes, he’s the younger brother of former Mizzou star and former No. 1 pick Blaine Gabbert. This will be a grind-it-out game with both defenses playing so well. This Wildcat squad remembers what it felt like to fall last year in the state championship game and will use that as motivation to win it all this time around.

Kansas Class 5A semifinal
>> Class 5 bracket

No. 11 Mill Valley (7-4) at No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (10-1)
Aquinas entered as the favorite to win the Class 5A state title and the Saints have done nothing to change people’s minds in the playoffs with 52-0, 52-13 and 42-21 victories the last three weeks. STA’s option attack is rolling with quarterback Will Swanson and running back Cameron Jackson accounting for four touchdowns last week against Pittsburg and the Saints’ defense playing great all over the field. Now the Saints have to get past the two-time defending state champions in Mill Valley. We had Mill Valley earlier this season when they were blasted 49-9 against Blue Valley and the Jaguars just looked flat out bad. The struggles continued against Miege and against Aquinas, but they turned the corner with a 35-30 win over Blue Valley North and haven’t looked back. Quarterback Brody Flaming has figured things out, the offensive line has played better and the defense is playing tougher than it has all season. Aquinas cruised past Mill Valley earlier in the season and the Saints are the big favorites again this time around. But taking out the defending champs won’t be easy, especially when you consider Aquinas is 1-9 in semifinal games.

Missouri Class 5 semifinals
Class 5 bracket

Carthage (9-3) vs. No. 2 Staley (11-0)
Staley remained undefeated, but Fort Osage tested the Falcons last week in the state quarterfinals. It wasn’t until Staley went on a long, clock-eating drive in the fourth quarter before it was able to put Fort Osage away in a 28-14 win. Falcon’s coach Phile Lite said quarterback John Raybourn was “incredible” last week with 187 yards passing, two touchdown passes and 107 yards rushing and two more scores. It was the type of performance that likely cemented the Simone Award for Raybourn. He can further help his cause this week against a Carthage team that’s 9-3 but hasn’t faced a complete squad like Staley. Carthage has won six straight games after starting the season 3-3. The Tigers will be a huge crowd with them, and it should be a great atmosphere, but the Falcons should advance to the state title game.