Trailing at halftime, Gardner-Edgerton mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Blue Valley Northwest 44-29 in Friday’s Kansas Class 6A quarterfinals. The Trailblazers (10-1), the reigning state champions, are one step closer to defending their title with a spot in next week’s semifinals.
Second Half Turnaround: Down 16-7 at the break, Gardner-Edgerton wasted no time shifting the momentum. Quarterback Bravin Powell broke loose on a 51-yard run to set up a short touchdown by Syre Padilla. Powell’s two-point conversion trimmed the deficit to 16-15. Shortly after, Porter Swaim added a 10-yard touchdown run, giving the Trailblazers their first lead of the night.
Fourth Quarter Drama: Blue Valley Northwest (7-4) kept the game close, tying it at 23 early in the fourth quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Baxter to tight end Teddy Hale. Gardner-Edgerton answered with a methodical drive that ended with Powell’s 1-yard touchdown dive. A squib kick on the following kickoff bounced perfectly for Gardner-Edgerton to recover at the Huskies’ 30-yard line. Powell then sealed the game with an 8-yard touchdown run.
Looking Ahead: Gardner-Edgerton will host Blue Valley West in the Class 6A semifinals next Friday, just one win away from a return trip to the state championship in Emporia.
Blue Valley West defeated Shawnee Mission Northwest 35-20 in Friday’s neutral-site playoff game. The Jaguars (Stilwell, KS) used a strong start to secure the victory and move on to the next round of the Kansas Class 6A playoffs.
First Half Dominance: Blue Valley West jumped out to an early lead, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and adding another 14 in the second. Shawnee Mission Northwest managed to keep it close with a touchdown in each of the first two quarters but trailed 28-14 at halftime.
Second Half Control: Shawnee Mission Northwest added six points in the third quarter, attempting to close the gap. However, the Jaguars’ defense held firm in the fourth quarter, and they added a final touchdown to seal the game.
Looking Ahead: Blue Valley West continues its playoff run with momentum, aiming to advance further in their quest for the state title. Shawnee Mission Northwest concludes their season with a strong showing, despite the loss.
The Derby Panthers delivered a commanding performance on Friday night, defeating the Wichita East Aces 63-28 in a Kansas Class 6A playoff game. The Panthers’ explosive offense and strong defense solidified their place in the next round.
First Quarter Explosion: Derby came out firing, scoring 28 points in the opening quarter while holding East to a single touchdown. The early lead set the tone for the game, as the Panthers established control on both sides of the ball. Second Quarter Surge: The Panthers added 14 more points before halftime, extending their lead to 42-14. Despite a touchdown by the Aces, Derby’s balanced attack continued to dominate.
Second Half Wrap-Up: In the third quarter, Derby piled on 21 more points, all but securing the victory. Wichita East showed resilience with two fourth-quarter touchdowns but couldn’t close the gap as Derby’s defense held strong to seal the win.
Looking Ahead: Derby’s high-powered offense and disciplined defense make them a formidable contender as they advance further into the playoffs. Wichita East finishes their season with a hard-fought effort but could not overcome Derby’s dominance in this matchup.
The Manhattan Indians secured a 49-28 victory over the Wichita Northwest Grizzlies in Friday’s Kansas Class 6A playoff game. With a strong offensive performance and consistent defensive effort, Manhattan advanced closer to their state championship aspirations.
First Half: The Indians set the tone early, scoring 20 points in the first quarter compared to Northwest’s 14. Manhattan continued to extend their lead in the second quarter with 15 additional points, going into halftime with a 35-21 advantage.
Second Half: Manhattan’s defense tightened in the second half, holding Northwest to just one touchdown in the third quarter and shutting them out entirely in the fourth. Meanwhile, Manhattan added seven points in each of the final two quarters to secure the win.
Looking Ahead: The Indians now move on to the next round of the Kansas Class 6A playoffs, bringing their momentum and strong performance into their upcoming matchup. Wichita Northwest concludes their season with a commendable effort but was unable to overcome Manhattan’s dominant performance.
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