Week 8 Preview: 5A

In the final week of the regular season, there are teams looking to clinch a playoff spot and there are several others that are looking to finish the 2020 season on a high note.  Either way, there are a lot of great football games that will be played this week in class 5A.  Here are the top 3 games in week 8. Maize vs Hutchinson The undefeated 7-0 Maize Eagles look to finish the regular season undefeated against fellow 5A powerhouse in the Salthawks of Hutchinson who are 6-1.  Maize is coming off a close 36-35 victory over defending 6A state champion Derby and have scored 34 points or more in each of their last six games with an offense who averages 40.6 points per game for the season and their defense has given up 20.1 points per game.  Hutchison has looked impressive on both sides of the ball this season as well.  In the last two games against Salina South and Haysville Campus they have scored 42 points each game giving them an average of 31.6 points per game.  Maize is led offensively by 6’2 155 lb Sophomore QB Avery Johnson who does a great job of reading the defense and delivers the ball with great accuracy and touch.  Hutchinson is led on offense by 6’7 245 lb QB Myles Thompson who possesses very good mobility and athleticism for a man that size.  Also, he possesses a strong accurate arm and can put the ball where only the receiver can catch it on short, intermediate and deep passes.  With these two great teams heading for the 5A playoffs, it will be interesting and fun to watch and see who comes out victorious in this one. St. Thomas Aquinas vs Bishop Carroll The Saints of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Golden Eagles of Bishop Carroll are both 4-2.  Aquinas is looking to bounce back after two losses in a row to top ranked in 6A Lawrence and Omaha Westside.  Bishop Carroll is coming off an impressive 50-28 victory over defending 4A state champion Bishop Miege last week.  Aquinas is led by 6’3 210 lb sophomore QB Maxwell Ford who has thrown for 396 yards and 2 TD and Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id="35347" first="Tank" last="Young"] who has 904 rushing yards on 152 carries and 10 TD.  Defensively, they are led by 6’3 255 lb DT [player_tooltip player_id="35355" first="Caden" last="Reeves"] who has 38 tackles including 3 TFL and 2.5 sacks along with Junior DL [player_tooltip player_id="35542" first="Jalen" last="Marshall"] who is 6’5 260 and has 31 tackles with 2 TFL and 2 sacks as well as a PD.  Bishop Carroll is led offensively by Senior QB Aiden Nieden who has thrown for 979 yards and 6 TD while rushing for 337 yards and 5 TD.  Defensively, Senior DL/LB [player_tooltip player_id="25415" first="Matthew" last="Morrell"] has played great this season with 17 tackles, 5 TFL and a sack. Goddard vs Andover The Goddard Lions are 6-1 and have looked impressive on both sides of the ball this season.  On Friday night, they travel to Andover to face the Trojans who at 4-3 have looked impressive this year as well in particular in their victories over 5A powerhouse Hutchinson and Salina Central.  Goddard has averaged 34.7 points per game and have given up 18.9 points per game on defense.  Andover has given up less than 9 points per game and have averaged 26.25 points per game in their four victories.  Goddard is led on offense by the 6’1 195 lb Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="49756" first="Kyler" last="Semrad"] who has thrown for an impressive 2,056 yds and 26 TD while adding a couple of rushing TD as well.  Another standout on offense for the Goddard Lions is 6’1 185 lb Senior WR Jake Shope who has caught 62 passes for 1,054 yds and 15 TD.  Andover is led on offense by 6’1 195 lb Senior QB Eli Fahnestock.  During the 2020 season, Eli has thrown for 1,079 yds and 6 TD while also rushing for 170 yds and 3 TD on the ground.