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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When three-sport standout Tyce Brown left Shawnee Heights in 2019 he was all set to be a college baseball player.
But nearly three years later, after a breakout season for Washburn University football, the 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver is convinced that he belongs on the gridiron.
Former Shawnee Heights three-sport standout Tyce Brown has been a key contributor for the 5-3 Washburn football team this fall, including seven catches and a TD in last Saturday's 37-9 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Brown began his college career at Division I Xavier in baseball and was a member of the Ichabod football and baseball teams after transferring to WU in the fall of 2020.
But it's in football where Brown has made his biggest contribution, moving into a prominent role for the 5-3 Ichabods.
Brown played in 10 games in 2021 as a receiver and member of WU's special teams, making seven catches for 97 yards, but he has already blown away those numbers this fall.
Entering this Saturday's game at Northeastern State, Brown has 20 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns, including 11 catches for 104 yards and both TDs over the past two games while stepping in to help take up the slack left by an injury to senior receiver Collin Wilson.
Brown is coming off his best game as an Ichabod in last Saturday's 37-9 romp past Central Oklahoma, making seven grabs for 68 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown.
"I'm having fun and putting a lot of trust in my teammates, putting a lot of trust in my coaches and just doing what they're asking of me,'' Brown said. "I'm just ready to go whenever my number's called.
"We put the work in, so whenever I step on the field I'm confident I can get it done.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven Shawnee County football teams wrapped up home playoff berths in Friday night's regular-season finales, led by Highland Park, which earned the No. 3 seed in Class 5A East.
The 6-2 Scots will be at Hummer Sports Park Friday to host 1-7 Emporia, Highland Park's former Centennial League rival..
Also hosting home games will be Washburn Rural in 6A, Seaman and Shawnee Heights in 5A, Hayden in 3A and Silver Lake and Rossville in 2A.
Here's a class-by-class look at all of Friday's first-round playoff games involving county teams:
CLASS 6A
DODGE CITY (4-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (6-2)
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 205 yards on just five carries and scored four touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 81-12 non-league win over Topeka West Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Friday's game features an intriguing coaching matchup between Washburn Rural's Steve Buhler and Dodge City's Glenn O'Neil, who coached at Seaman prior to taking the Dodge City job in 2021.
Washburn Rural, the No. 6 West seed, is coming off an 81-12 non-league romp past Topeka West while No. 11 seed Dodge City beat Wichita Southeast 42-23 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese went 7 of 9 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in limited time against Topeka West while senior Ma'kenttis Adams had 205 yards and four touchdowns on just five carries.
The Junior Blues picked off five passes and held Topeka West to negative rushing yards on the night.
The winner of Friday's Rural-Dodge City game will advance to face the first-round winner between 6-2 Garden City and 1-7 Campus.
TOPEKA HIGH (1-7) at DERBY (6-2)
Topeka High is the No. 15 West seed and will be facing 6A giant Derby, the No. 2 West seed and the winner of five state titles since 2015.
Topeka High dropped a 56-6 home non-league decision against Hays last Friday while Derby took a 49-20 win over Newton. The Panthers' two losses came against unbeaten Manhattan and Maize by a total of four points, including an overtime loss to Centennial League champ Manhattan.
Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards had rushed for 1,0001 yards and 17 touchdowns through seven games.
Topeka High senior Peyton Wheat had thrown for 1,240 yards and six TDs entering the Hays game while sophomore Jayden Norman had caught 43 passes for 620 yards and four TDs.
The Topeka High-Derby winner advances to face the winner of the first-round game between Lawrence (5-3) and Wichita Heights (4-4).
CLASS 5A
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local high schools open regional boys soccer competition this week, beginning with three Monday contests.
Hayden, 7-8-1 on the season, will host Mulvane (7-9-0) in a 4 p.m. Class 4A-1A regional semifinal Monday while Cair Paravel Latin (0-10-0) will host Circle (0-15-0) in a 4:30 p.m. 4A-1A play-in game at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. The Cair Paravel-Circle winner will advance to a 6 p.m. game Tuesday at Buhler (15-1-0).
In 5A, Seaman (3-11-2) will travel to Leavenworth (5-10-1) for a 6 p.m. play-in game on Monday, with the winner playing Kansas City-Sumner (13-2-1) at Kansas City-Schlagle at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Seaman dropped a 1-0 overtime United Kansas Conference decision to the Pioneers in the regular season.
Washburn Rural senior Easton Bradstreet (13) has scored 25 goals this season entering Tuesday's Class 6A regional soccer opener at McElroy Field. [File photo/TSN]
Centennial League champion Washburn Rural (13-3-0) will open 6A postseason at 6 p.m. Tuesday at McElroy Field against the winner of Monday's play-in game between Lawrence (5-10-1) and Wichita South (0-16). The Junior Blues have asssured themselves of homefield advantage through the state quarterfinal round.6A.
Junior Chris Gomez (18) and the Topeka High soccer team will host Free State in a Class 6A regional game Tuesday night at Hummer Sports Park. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High will also open 6A postseason Tuesday, with the 11-5-0 Trojans hosting Free State (6-7-2) in a 6 p.m. regional game at Hummer Sports Park.
Nic Simons and his 10-5-1 Shawnee Heights soccer team will open Class 5A postseason Tuesday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex against KC-Washinton. [File photo/TSN]
UKC champion Shawnee Heights (10-5-1) will be at the Bettis Family Sports Complex at 6 p.m. Tuesday to host KC-Washington (7-7-2) in a 5A regional opener.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's volleyball team earned its third straight Class 5A state tournament berth with a dominating performance in Saturday's sub-state tourney at Seaman.
Seaman's volleyball team displays its Class 5A sub-state trophy for fans after winning Saturday's title at Seaman. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Seaman volleyball posed with its Class 5A sub-state championship trophy Saturday at Seaman. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The Vikings, now 30-8 on the season, posted a pair of lopsided sub-state victories, taking a 25-8, 25-16 semifinal win over United Kansas Conference rival De Soto before dispatching Kansas City-Schlagle 25-9, 25-6 in the championship match.
Schlagle made it to the final with a 25-21, 15-25, 25-21 win over KC-Turner in the semis.
Seaman senior Maegan Mills spikes the ball in Saturday's sub-state tournament at Seaman. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior Laynee Brown sets the ball during Saturday's Class 5A sub-state volleyball tournament at Seaman. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Seaman advanced to the 5A quarterfinals in 2020 before placing fourth last season.
The UKC-champion Vikings will compete in the 5A state event Friday and Saturday at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.
Seaman will begin pool play at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, following the conclusion of 6A pool play.
The top two finishers in both 5A pools will advance to the state semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by the championship and third-place matches at about 2:30 p.m.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The Washburn Rural volleyball team is returning to the Class 6A state tournament again after a clean sweep at sub-state.
Washburn Rural rolled over its sub-state competitors Saturday afternoon at Washburn Rural, improving to 40-1 on the season.
Washburn Rural volleyball poses with its championship trophy after winning Saturday's Class 6A sub-state tournament while improving to 40-1 on the season. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
With a 25-6, 25-6 semifinal win over Dodge City and a 25-12, 25-11 over Centennial League rival Manhattan, the Junior Blues punched their ticket to the 6A state tournament next Friday and Saturday at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.
"Every year is different, but the feeling never gets old," Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "We know we have a lot of things to do to get better, but we have four days of practice to work on it.
"We can't think about a championship yet because we need to take it one day at a time."
Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn DeLeye, regarded as one of the best volleyball players in the nation, was a difference maker on Saturday.
The Kentucky commit's serves, shiftiness and kills in the sub-state matches gave the Lady Blues the boost they needed.
"I don't know if I would be the player I am today without all of the support that I have been given," DeLeye said. "Being in this gym for the last four years has been life-changing. It's going to be sad not to play volleyball in this gym again. I've come so far since I got here.
"I couldn't have done any of this without my teammates. They have always had my back. My teammates have made me better on and off the court. I wouldn't be anywhere without my teammates."
