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Weekend Rewind: Sept. 4

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity, 09/04/16, 8:15AM CDT

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A look around the Metro's action from last weekend

Sun Shines As Kansas Week 1 done

After two weekends of torrential downpours, delayed games and postponements for Missouri, the sun came out with splendid temperatures for the opening of Kansas high school football. Perhaps the Sunflower State should be renamed the Sunshine State ... wait, Florida already has that one.

The sun shined brightly on half the teams last weekend on the gridiron. Some looks around the action in the Weekend Rewind...

KANSAS

Defending champs/finalists all looked strong

Everyone knew Bishop Miege would be stellar again, and the only game the Stags may lose all year, just like last season, would be the opener at Blue Valley. Sure enough, behind a strong passing game, steady running attack and a defense that held Miege scoreless in the fourth quarter, Blue Valley, the Class 6A runner-up in 2015, also answered any questions how strong the Tigers would be this season. Answer: Maybe the best on the Kansas side in the Metro area, especially after its 35-28 win on Friday.

Of course, Miege should march through the rest of the schedule, especially in the Class 4A playoffs. Some challenges can come from Blue Valley North, St. Thomas Aquinas and Mill Valley.

Speaking of, the Jaguars lost nearly their entire roster from the Class 5A state title team, faced St. James Academy who was highly touted with their returners, and simply steamrolled the Thunder - up 35-7 at one point. While SJA can certainly rebound and get itself into the Class 5A title game discussion, Mill Valley definitely proved how strong its program has been over the last decade with not a rebuild, but a reload ahead.

Ditto can be said for St. Thomas Aquinas, which lost its entire offense and its top returner, all-state defensive lineman Angel Dominguez, for the year (ACL). Instead, the Saints came out with a 42-13 romp of Gardner-Edgerton and have themselves right alongside Mill Valley as the Class 5A favorites from the KC side.

Note: Bishop Carroll, perennial title team from the West, opened at 0-1 for the year, but was a 61-49 loss to Class 6A Wichita Northwest.

Finally, BV North opened with 28-14 win and are merely the defending co-EKL champions. Next week's game at Aquinas should prove to be a great test for both teams as to where they stand for the upcoming year.

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CLASS 6 TOSS UP

As predicted, Class 6 would be any team, any week on the Missouri side and sure enough, after three weeks, Rockhurst and Raymore-Peculiar each stand at 3-0. Both enjoyed a nice schedule on the first two games, but last Friday's wins: Rockhurst at Bentonville (24-21) and Ray-Pec at Lee's Summit West (42-35) really stamped each as legit for the long run.

The two get to face off this Friday on the Sports Radio 810 Game of the Week, and couldn't have picked that any better a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Blue Springs losing 26-21 at Arkansas Class 7A defending state champion, Fayetteville, 26-21, is hardly a negative considering its the big class defending champ, on the road and minus leading offensive threat Jaylen Ivey. Look for the Wildcats to remain the Class 6 favorite in Kansas City until topped by a local team.

One team getting that chance will be Park Hill (2-1) this Friday, though perhaps the hype entering the season about the Trojans has felt like Park Hill has fallen a bit shy of it to date. After a Week 2 loss at Lee's Summit, Park Hill had to survive vs rival Park Hill South in a 21-20 win, in which the Panthers chose to go for the 2-point conversion on the final play of the game, rather than kicking the PAT and going to overtime. Not being on the sideline and knowing the situation, the decision looks great if PHS converts, leaves people scratching the head if it fails. With momentum on the Panthers side, and only scoring once in the second half, it was likely felt this was the chance to win the game.

Regardless, great showing by Park Hill South, which has already matched its win total from last year and the loss actually legitimizes them as a potential dark house in the Class 5 playoffs.

Speaking of Lee's Summit, the Tigers won vs Fort Osage and at 2-1, are right there in the Class 6 jumble. Quarterback Dalton Hill has produced 298 yards of offense per game, including accounting for six touchdowns in the 45-27 win vs Fort Osage. First question may be the 27 points given up to the Fort, but 14 came in the final quarter, with LS up big, 45-13.

No win probably was more gratifying than Liberty's 30-20 win over Liberty North, in the first meeting of the two schools since the split years ago. The Eagles have enjoyed all the fruits of the split since then, with long Class 4 playoff runs and Class 5 success, while Liberty took its lumps in Class 6 and adjusting since. Now both on equal footing, the win was huge for head coach Chad Frigon and the Blue Jays, now 3-0 on the season and looking to be the Class 5 favorite from Kansas City along with Staley.

How about William Chrisman sitting at 3-0, and a great rivalry win over Truman (48-14). The Bears are averaging over 40 ppg, while giving up less than 7 ppg. Of course, Oak Park, Ruskin and Truman aren't exactly state contenders, but Chrisman is enjoying its best season in a llloonnnng time with winless Grandview next, then the real tests - vs Raytown South and vs Staley following. Even if WCHS drops those two, its realistic the Bears could still be sitting at 7-2 entering the playoffs!

Onto Class 4, and a great clash looms with Harrisonville at Platte County, both ranked in the Top 20 of the 810 Varsity Top 25. The Wildcats defense will try to shut down Justin Mitchell and the Pirates offense, which went toe-to-toe with Staley in a 55-42 loss last Friday. The Wildcats defense has given up just two scores all year, in limiting foes to 4.7 ppg.

SUNFLOWER SHINING

Back to the Kansas side, and not much to gather from a glorified practice in which Shawnee Mission East steamrolled Olathe South, 62-7. But the Lancers still remain the favorite in the Sunflower League, along with district rival SM West, which won a wild one over Free State, 41-40. The game looked to anoint who would be the biggest threat to the Lancers for the top rung. For the Firebirds, FSHS goes out west in the playoffs and long-term, will be looking at Derby as the big challenger for a trip to the Class 6A title game.

Olathe North endured a tough trip to Wichita Heights, 41-21. The Eagles are in a rebuild campaign after falling shy of the state final last year. As for the rest of the league, it appears SM East will be the overwhelming favorite.

Finally, in the Kaw Valley League, Lansing enjoyed a nice win over rival Leavenworth, 30-28, in which four touchdowns were scored in the final 3:30, including an onsides attempt by the Pioneers which was taken to the house by the Lions. Lansing has won two straight over Leavenworth in the short series, and should enjoy a sizeable win next week vs Bishop Ward.

Poor Ward - got rolled by Basehor-Linwood, 82-0. A long year ahead, but hopefully a win or some good moments. Meanwhile, the Bobcats, Lansing and Bonner Springs eye the top slot in the KVL this year.