NE KS Teams/Players to Watch Second Round

Three Topeka teams had their seasons end in the opening weekend of the playoffs. Topeka High, Topeka West and Highland Park were all shown an early exit. But the pursuit of championships continues for several other Capital City schools. In 6A, Manhattan (8-1) has what appears to be winnable game with Gardner-Edgerton (4-5). Junction City (8-1) will continue to play through injuries when it faces Lawrence (7-2). Wamego 8-1 vs Augusta 6-3 [player_tooltip player_id="122493" first="Hayden" last="Oviatt"], 6-foot-2, 190 pound quarterback, 2023, Wamego: Oviatt might just be a prospect on the rise from the 4A ranks. He’s an explosive athlete and a perfect dual threat, having amassed almost exactly the same number of yards rushing and passing (about 1,300 each). He combines good size, speed and high IQ. Hayden 8-1 vs Rock Creek 6-3 <strong>Dalton Whitworth</strong>, 5-foot-10, 150 pound quarterback, 2023, Rock Creek: No one expected much from the Mustangs after they lost an incredibly deep and successful senior class in 2021. But a new herd of Mustangs has shocked 3A by rolling to 6-3. Quarterback Whitworth stepped in as the new signal caller and has been lights out. He’s completed 162 of 279 attemps for 2333 yards and 32 touchdowns. Holton 9-0 vs Perry-Lecompton 6-3 <strong>Garyson Booth</strong>, 5-foot-10, 180 pound running back, 2023, Holton: Booth has picked up some slack in the last couple of games to make sure the Wildcats’ ground attack keeps chewing up yardage despite some injuries to key cogs. The junior has now amassed 624 yards and has seven scores. Riley County 9-0 vs Concorida 7-2 <strong>Blake Brokenicky</strong>, 5-foot-11, 185 pound running back, 2022, Riley County: It’s an utter shame that Falcon star [player_tooltip player_id="35599" first="Trey" last="Harmison"] will miss the rest of the season with injury. He was a gamer and a fun multi-sport athlete to watch. But the powerful senior Brokenicy shouldered the load when Riley County needed him most. Brokenicky pounded Russell for 195 yards and three touchdowns to keep the Falcons in the hunt. Osage City 8-1 at Riverton 7-2 Rossville 9-0 vs Nemaha Central 7-2 St Marys 5-3 vs Silver Lake 7-2 <strong>Brody Littrell</strong>, 5-foot-6 running back, 2022, Osage City: Northeast Kansas is loaded with some of the very best 2A teams in the state. You could take your pick of players to watch in these great matchups. Plenty has been written about [player_tooltip player_id="35598" first="Torrey" last="Horak"], <strong>Corey Catron</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id="91395" first="Daigan" last="Kruger"] and [player_tooltip player_id="87644" first="Landon" last="Boss"]. But don’t forget about Littrell, the number one running back for Osage City, who has found the end zone 15 times this season.