Topeka Standouts Ready for Playoffs

Prep Redzone Staff

October 27, 2021 @ 09:49 AM

It’s playoff time! Shawnee Heights and Hayden head to the post season on hot streaks, with home games to start off. Winners of four of the last five, 4-4 Shawnee Heights hosts 4-4 Sumner Academy. Hayden, 7-1, faces 4-4 Hiawatha. Playoff time means something a little different for Cair Paravel who, though now approved by KSHSAA, was kept out of the postseason by the timing of their application. Their 8-0 record would be intriguing were they placed in the KSHSAA bracket. But for one more year, they will do battle in the Kansas Christian Athletic Association. They begin the postseason by facing the 4-2 Manhattan Eagles. Here are a few Topekans to watch in these contests: [player_tooltip player_id="209232" first="Carter" last="Brian"], 6-foot, 180 pound quarterback, 2022, Cair Paravel: Brian has thrown for over 1,500 yards and a nearly unfathomable 36 touchdowns against 0 touchdowns for the 8-0 Lions. He completes a remarkable 82 percent of his throws. He is an accurate thrower who has plenty of targets to work with. [player_tooltip player_id="209231" first="Noah" last="Hastert"], 6-foot-6, 225 pound tight end/defensive end, 2022, Cair Paravel: Previously known more for basketball, the senior has exploded on the football scene the past two years. He’s now being recruited by some pretty heady schools for football. As Brian’s number one target, Hastert has 32 receptions for 605 yards. More than half of his receptions have wound up in the end zone. He’s a big, well-built guy who probably has college potential on both sides of the ball. <strong>Jarin Sanders</strong>, 5-foot-9, 160 pound running back, 2022, Shawnee Heights: Sanders has taken over the role of top playmaker for the T-Birds, and has helped turn the season around after Heights lost its first three games. Sanders is a quick and shifty back who has racked up 915 yards on the ground. He’s also a threat out of the backfield, having caught 23 balls for 170 yards. <strong>Gavin Arnold</strong>, 5-foot-10, 165 pound quarterback, 2022, Hayden: An experienced veteran, Arnold throws the ball a lot, and also is adept at guiding the Wildcats’ diverse running game. The multi-back sets and mis-directions at the snap require deft ball handling from the triggerman. Arnold is flawless with the ball and keeps things under control. He’s an accurate and smart passer who can drop the long ball on the button.