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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After dropping a four-set MIAA match Friday night at No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, No. 6 Washburn University volleyball bounced back on Saturday afternoon to finish its regular-season road schedule with a 3-0 sweep over Fort Hays State.
Washburn sophomore Brynne Topolski (3) posted a match-high 13 kills in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep at Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will return to Whiting Fieldhouse next Friday to face Central Oklahoma in a 6 p.m. ranked matchup.
Washburn, 22-3 overall and 11-3 in the MIAA, started hot against the Tigers with a 25-12 win in the first set and built a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 25-23 win in the second set over the Tigers (15-11, 4-10).
The Ichabods then closed out the match with a 25-17 win in the third set to surpass last season's win total.
After Fort Hays State opened the match with a quick start, Washburn used a 5-0 run to lead 8-5 after a kill from sophomore Brynne Topolski. The Ichabods created separation with four points in a row, starting with a kill by senior Austin Broadie.
Defensively, the Ichabods held the Tigers to a minus-.024 hitting percentage while winning the final seven points to take the 13-point first-set victory.
Washburn trailed briefly in the second set before using an early run to go in front, this time with a 6-0 burst capped off by an ace from junior Taylor Rottinghaus to make it 9-4.
Fort Hays State pulled within two with a 5-1 run that was answered by four in a row for the Ichabods.
The Tigers scored six in a row to tie things up at 21-all, but kills from Broadie and Topolski gave Washburn an advantage and three points later sophomore Keilah Rivers ended the set with a kill.
In the third set the Ichabods jumped out to a 10-5 lead with three kills by Topolski in a 5-0 run.
The score got within two points before Washburn scored four straight starting with senior Corinnna McMullen sneaking over a kill. The Ichabods hit a clean .400 in the set to finish off the sweep.
Washburn finished the match hitting .280 overall with 52 kills while Fort Hays State registered 30 kills and an .098 hitting percentage. The Ichabods led in digs 65-45 and had a 40-28 advantage in assists.
Topolski led the Washburn offense with 13 kills while hitting .458 and adding five digs. Rivers added 10 kills and hit .364 with six scoops.
McMullen delivered a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs while Rottinghaus had a team-high 15 digs in the back row.
Gracie Rains led the Tigers with 10 kills and Kirsten Evans had a match-high 17 digs.
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By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
The last time Silver Lake and Sabetha football met was back in 2023 in the Class 2A regionals and Sabetha took that game, 45-34. Fast forward two years later and the Blue Jays handed Silver Lake another loss in the regional round on Friday night, 28-16.
Silver Lake freshman quarterback Kip Kruger passed for 283 yards and two TDs in Friday's 28-16 Class 2A playoff loss to Sabetha. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Dayne Johnson caught 13 passes for 167 yards and a TD in Silver Lake's 28-16 loss to Sabetha. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“I just told them I’m proud of them and I love them,” Silver Lake coach Logan Pegram said. “What kids sacrifice in today’s society is so much to be a part of a football program like ours. We ask a lot of time of them, we ask them to do things that are abnormal in society today, to see them hurt as a coach and a leader of young men is probably the biggest pain to see that hurt, but I just told the how much I love them, I care about them and how proud I am of them because we started the season 0-2 and they responded with seven almost eight weeks of hard-nose grinding football.”
Sabetha has now won four straight against the Eagles in the playoffs, dating back to 2015 and 2017.
The Eagles controlled much of the first half but throughout the game, the Blue Jays run game was too much to handle. In fact, the Blue Jays did not attempt a pass in the game.
Senior William Voos led the Sabetha rushing attack with 24 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
“Their program prides themselves on grinding you down and I felt like the first half we responded to that well but in the second half I think they just got some big plays,'' Pegram said. "Credit goes to them and their coaching staff and their community, hats off to them,”
This game at least stat-wise showed it could’ve been a defensive battle and it played out like that in the first half. Out of the nine games coming into Friday, the Eagles held their opponents to one score in six of them.
The Blue Jays were just as good, recording four shutouts and had three games with one score.
Sabetha’s defense forced two straight three and outs of Silver Lake and the Eagles only had one first down in the first quarter.
The game's first score would come from Silver Lake freshman quarterback Kipton Kruger, on a screen pass to senior Dayne Johnson for 22-yards, which almost was negated after a penalty flag was picked up, making it 7-0 with 8:22 left in the half. That was Johnson’s eighth of the season.
The Eagles couldn’t get the ground game going, totaling just 28 yards, but the Silver Lake passing attack was working. The screen passes to Johnson, the Blue Jays couldn’t figure out, and check down throws to Dom Monhollon.
Kruger in that first half went 18-19 passing for 148 yards and Johnson had eight catches for 88 yards in that first half alone.
Kruger went a perfect 18-18 until an incomplete pass on a third and nine on their own 10 to Johnson forcing a fourth down, but then the Eagles missed the field goal to keep the score, 7-0 at halftime.
“I think we were controlling the game pretty well,” Pegram said. “I felt like we were taking advantage of what the defense gave us and we were just trying to find space out there but Kipton did a great job of that. The first half it felt like we played really well and the second half I felt like the momentum got back on their side and we were trying to get over that hump to get it back on our side, had that turnover so just some things didn’t go our way tonight.”
It remained 7-7 until the third quarter where Sabetha started with possession and drained nearly nine minutes of the clock, as junior quarterback Micah Lang went off the line to the right and punched in the score.
Silver Lake would then take over, running 12 plays for 70-yards into the fourth quarter. Kruger found senior Grady Bergmann, but dropped the pass on third and four after getting popped by a Sabetha defender to force a fourth down. Junior Mason VanVactor nailed a field goal to make it, 10-7 Silver Lake.
But then, the wheels fell off for the Eagles. On the ensuing kickoff, Sabetha’s Cole Menold ran 83 yards to the 4-yard line, followed by a Voos touchdown as the Blue Jays took a 14-10 lead.
“I think that kick return and right after that I think on the next possession we had a fumble and then they got a big chunk play so just a couple of haymakers that landed and we didn’t respond really well to that adversity,” Pegram said.
Still about 10 minutes left in the game, Silver Lake looked to respond, but the Eagles fumbled near mid-field, and Sabetha recovered.
The Blue Jays would then score on another Lang QB sneak from four yards out to make it a 21-10 game. Sabetha would tack on another score after a turnover on downs from Silver Lake, Voos got loose for 38 yards, pushing it to 28-10.
Kruger did throw an interception in the end zone but followed it up a couple of minutes later with a 11-yard pass to senior Joel Miller and that’s where the game ended, 28-16.
Kruger finished 30-35 for 283 yards with two passing touchdowns.
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Rossville claimed a regional championship and punched its ticket to the Class 1A quarterfinal round with a 53-18 pounding of Jefferson County North Friday at Rossville.
Rossville senior quarterback Canann Mitchell ran for four touchdowns and passed for a TD in the Bulldawgs' 53-18 Class 1A playoff win over Jefferson County North. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The game couldn’t have started better for the home team. Jefferson County North fumbled the opening kickoff, giving Rossville the ball at their opponents’ 32-yard line. Three plays later, Rossville senior quarterback Canaan Mitchell tossed to Andre Johnson for a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the contest.
The Bulldawg defense didn’t permit a first down until late in the first period. When the Cougars finally penetrated the Rossville red zone, linebacker Cael Horgan picked off a pass to squelch the threat.
“They gave us the ball back early and the possession part early in the football game was important for us,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “I thought our defense did a good job. We had some red zone stops, so they did a good job overall with the tackling, getting off the field and everything. So, I’m proud of that side of the ball.”
Rossville extended the lead to 33-0 before finally giving up a touchdown on the final play of the half.
(Getting the turnover) was big, because that’s a momentum changer at the very beginning of the game,” Mitchell said. “We came out hot. Our offense is good, so if we stop everyone on defense, we can roll.”
Rossville pumped in two quick touchdowns in the third period to remove any doubt about the outcome. They did surrender two late scores, but coasted to the 35-point win.
Mitchell led the way on the ground and through the air. He rushed for 147 yards on 21 carries and also completed 11 of 13 throws for 181 yards. He ran for four touchdowns in addition to the scoring pass to Johnson.
“(Mitchell) toughed it out. He had a bruise. I don’t think it was anything serious,” Hammes said. “His effort was good. They committed to stopping the run and that kind of brings the quarterback run game into it for us, so he had a good night.”
“I’ve always been good at passing, but in this offense, we run a lot. It takes a lot of the pressure off when the defense (shuts down the opponent) like that,” Mitchell said. “My linemen allowed me time to pass, so all props to them.”
Rossville senior Andre Johnson scored three touchdowns in the Bulldawgs' 53-18 win over Jefferson County North Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rossville senior Jack Donovan had a big rushing and pass receiving night in Friday's 53-18 Class 1A playoff win over Jefferson County North. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Johnson followed up his touchdown reception with 18 and 24-yard scoring runs. Providing an additional spark to the offense was Jack Donovan. He hauled in five passes for 48 yards and rushed for 69 more yards on four carries. Conner Bush pounded out 52 tough yards to help Rossville control the ball and consume the clock.
Rossville improved to 9-1, but the road gets significantly tougher next week. The Bulldawgs earned a trip to Pittsburg to face perennial powerhouse St. Mary’s-Colgan, the top seed in the East bracket. The Panthers have yet to surrender a point in the playoffs.
“We don’t know a lot about them until we dig into the film. But you want to be playing this time of the year, and these kids have put a lot of hard work in,” Hammes said. “So, they deserve the chance to play a good football team and see what we can get done.”
ROSSVILLE 53, JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTH 18
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's Kade Mitchell fumbled on his first carry of Friday's home Class 3A regional playoff game against Wellsville.
But that would be the only negative of the night for the 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior star, who powered the 10-0 Wildcats to a 42-0 win over the Eagles with four touchdowns and more than 100 yards rushing and receiving.
Hayden senior Kade Mitchell scored four touchdowns on the night -- two rushing and two receiving -- as the Wildcats advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals with a 42-0 win over Wellsville. [File photo/TSN]
"You just have to stay level-headed,'' Mitchell said of the fumble. "I knew my guys have got me, they're going to back me up. I trusted them all night and it's all thanks to them. They picked me up right away and I love these guys.''
Hayden led 21-0 at the half, with Mitchell scoring all three touchdowns for the Wildcats.
After the two teams traded turnovers on their first two possessions, Mitchell capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 36-yard TD run (Mason Becker kick) with 3:37 left in the opening quarter after the Wildcats got an interception from junior Logan Power.
After Wellsville had a TD wiped out by a holding penalty on its ensuing possession, Becker came up with Hayden's second interception of the game, ending the Eagles' scoring threat.
Six plays later Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika found a wide-open Mitchell for a 62-yard TD (Becker kick) at the 7:45 mark of the second quarter.
"I was a little free and Connor threw a great ball and I just had to walk in,'' Mitchell said. "It was a great night, it was fun.''
Then, after a Wellsville punt Hanika and Mitchell hooked up again, this time for a 63-yard score (Becker kick) with 2:01 left before halftime.
Wellsville (6-4) drove into the red zone twice in the opening half but came up empty both times.
Senior Jackson McGivern scored from 4 yards out (Becker kick) to put Hayden up 28-0 midway through the third quarter and senior Jude Krentz scored on a 9-yard scamper 28 seconds into the fourth stanza (Becker kick).
Mitchell then put the capper on his big night with a 68-yard run (Becker kick) to account for the final margin.
Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns Friday night as the Wildcats improved to 10-0 with a 42-0 Class 3A playoff win over Wellsville. [File photo/TSN]
Mitchell rushed for 131 yards on just seven carries and caught three passes for 149 yards while Hanika completed 10 of 13 passes for 211 yards and the two TDs to Mitchell.
Krentz added 72 rushing yards on seven totes.
"Wellsville's a good team,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "They came out and they played hard. I think we had a situation where maybe some of our formations messed them up a little bit and we got some good mismatches out there.
"I was pleased with our kids' effort. I thought Jackson McGivern played a heck of a game on defense and played really well. It was a team effort. We're not going to be bigger than anybody up front, but we do play hard and that's what I like about this group.''
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The 2025 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team: Front row, from left -- Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural; Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural; Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural; Nick Newkirk, Hayden; Connor Baldwin, Hayden. Back row, from left -- coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural; Duke Graf, Washburn Rural; Max Esquibel, Shawnee Heights; Brody Anderson, Seaman; Conner Bloom, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural put five runners, including three repeaters on the 2025 boys All-Shawnee County cross country team.
Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe is a three-time all-county first-teamer while sophomores Clayton Fink and Henry Laubach are also repeat first-teamers after helping the Junior Blues win the state team title by a single point (100-101) over Blue Valley.
Rural sophomores Jaxson Adams and Duke Graf are first-time All-Shawnee County honorees.
Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the county boys coach of the year, sweeping the county girls and boys coach of the year awards.
Seaman two-time city and United Kansas Conference individual champion Brody Anderson is a three-time all-county pick while Hayden senior Connor Baldwin and Shawnee Heights senior Max Esquibel are two-time picks.
Seaman junior Conner Bloom and Hayden sophomore Nick Newkirk round out the first team, selected by local coaches.
All-Shawnee County boys capsules:
