Sectional Preview: 6A

We are down to the elite eight in the the 2020 6A state playoffs and there are four excellent games to be played on Friday night.  Here is a preview of each game. Olathe North vs Blue Valley On Friday night, the 7-1 Olathe North Eagles will play the 6-1 Blue Valley Tigers.  The Tigers only defeat in 2020 was a 21-20 close game against top ranked Lawrence.  Offensively, they have averaged 34 points per game and have given up only 9.75 points per game with their impressive defense holding their opponents to single digit points in 5 games with 2 shutouts. Olathe North is led on offense by Junior QB [player_tooltip player_id="35631" first="Noah" last="Palmer"].  In 2020, Palmer has thrown for 529 yards and 8 Td while rushing for 890 yards and 10 TD. Blue Valley has won 6 in a row since losing the season opener to Blue Valley Northwest.  Blue Valley has averaged 29.3 points per game on offense and have given up 15.1 points per game on defense.  They are led on offense by QB [player_tooltip player_id="35562" first="Greyson" last="Holbert"] who like [player_tooltip player_id="35631" first="Noah" last="Palmer"] is also very effective as a runner and passer as he has rushed for 1,132 yards this season with 10 Td and has also thrown for 775 yards and 6 TD through the air. Shawnee Mission Northwest vs Blue Valley North The 6-1 Cougars of Shawnee Mission Northwest play the 5-2 Mustangs of Blue Valley North in what looks to be a great matchup.  The Cougars have averaged 37 points per game on offense and have given up 20 points per game on defense.  They are led on offense by Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="35368" first="Ty" last="Black"].  This season, Black has thrown for 1,821 yards and 17 TD while rushing for 582 yards and 6 TD.  Blue Valley North have averaged 32 points per game on offense while giving up 21.1 points per game on defense.  They have won three in a row and are led on offense by Junior QB [player_tooltip player_id="35554" first="Henry" last="Martin"].  Martin is a tough QB who shows good poise in the pocket and can make all of the throws with accuracy and touch. Lawrence vs Derby The top ranked undefeated 9-0 Lawrence Lions will play the defending 6A champion Derby Panthers who are 6-2 on Friday in a matchup between two explosive offenses.  Derby has averaged 41.6 points per game in 2020 while giving up 23 points per game on defense.  Derby is led by Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="35352" first="Lem" last="Wash"].  In 2020, Wash has thrown for 902 yards and 12 TD while rushing for 855 yards and 11 TD.  Lawrence did not play last week due to a forfeit by Dodge City and have averaged 45.5 points per game in the 8 games that they played while giving up 15.25 points per game on defense.  Lawrence has scored at least 37 points in every game except one and are led by Senior QB Jackson Dooley and RB [player_tooltip player_id="35344" first="Devin" last="Neal"]. Junction City vs Wichita East The 8-1 Junction City Bluejays play the 7-1 Aces of Wichita East on Friday Night.  It features one of the best offenses in the state with Junction City and one of the state’s top defenses in Wichita East.  Junction City has averaged 47 points per game this season (58.2 points per game in the last 5 games) on offense and have given up 23.2 points per game on defense.  The Bluejays are led on offense by Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="35395" first="Andrew" last="Khoury"].  Khoury shows good presence in the pocket as he can feel the pressure coming from his blindside and uses his athletic ability to escape pressure from LB and DL.  He sees the field well and can deliver the ball accurately on short, intermediate and deep passes while on the move.  Wichita East has averaged 40.5 points per game on offense and have only given up 7.1 points per game on defense.  They have only given up 5.7 points per game in their 7 victories.