State football playoffs begin tonight with 7 area teams in title hunt
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
The State high school football playoffs begin tonight, and the area is well represented this year with teams that have made it to the postseason.
The marquee matchup of the evening takes place in Waverly, as the Waverly Bulldogs (9-0) begin their march toward a second straight State championship when they play host to the Flinthills Mustangs (7-2) at 7 tonight.
Though the Bulldogs moved up a classification this year from 8-Man Division II to 8-Man Division I, they have had little trouble disposing of their opponents so far this season. No. 1-ranked Waverly has won all nine of its games by an average score of 51-16, with the closest winning margin being a 16-point victory over KC Christ Prep on Sept 22.
Flinthills, meanwhile, finished its season on a four-game winning streak after it dropped back-to-back games against Goessel, 60-48, and Marmaton Valley, 42-26, two teams that also are in this year’s playoffs.
In other 8-Man action, Madison, thanks to its regular season-ending victory over Hartford — which knocked Lebo (7-2) out of the playoffs — rolls into the playoffs with an 8-1 record and a four-game winning streak of its own. Madison’s only loss came on Sept. 29 in a 38-12 loss to Waverly.
The Bulldogs will travel to Moran to face Marmaton Valley (9-0) at 7 tonight.
Other than the loss to Waverly, Madison has been impressive this season in winning its games by an average score of 48-12.
In Class 2-1A, the undefeated Olpe Eagles (9-0) play host to Solomon (4-5) at 7 tonight in Olpe. The Eagles’ run to the playoffs included victories over three State-bound teams in West Elk (26-0), Lyndon (34-6) and Peabody (27-0). The wins over West Elk and Peabody were just two of five shutouts Olpe recorded this season; the other three coming against Eureka (39-0), Osage City (29-0) and Sedan (55-0).
As previously mentioned, Lyndon also earned its way into the State playoffs with a 5-4 record overall and a 2-2 record in district play. Lyndon began districts with losses to Olpe and St. Marys before rebounding to post victories over Onaga, 35-7, and Alma-Wabaunsee, 43-0.
The last of the State qualifying teams come in Class 3A, with Burlington (7-2) playing host to Erie (3-6) while Mission Valley (6-3) travels to take on Silver Lake (9-0) in Silver Lake. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 tonight.
Check out Wednesday’s Gazette for a full report on how all the area teams fared as well as playoff scores from around the state. The Class 5A and 6A playoffs do not begin until Friday.