Deck’s Top 5 Big Games: Week Nine Class 5A Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best games in Class 5A will be played in the western part of the state this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the second of multiple reports picking five key games from a different classification each day and featuring one prospect from each game from Week Nine contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Great Bend (5-3) at Salina Central (6-2) – </strong>This is the best match-up on paper this week in Class 5A. Both of these compete and both will be tough outs as the postseason advances. The winner of the eight and nine-seed battle, barring an upset will more than likely have a regional date with the western No. 1 Seed Kapaun Mt. Carmel (7-1).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105472' first='Elijah' last='Wilson'],</strong> RB, 5'8”, 170, Salina Central, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson is the Mustangs leading rusher with 1,197 yards on 161 carries. The workhorse back has also scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. Wilson is also a threat to catch balls out of the backfield. He has made 25 receptions for 200 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valley Center &nbsp;(5-3) @ Hays &nbsp;(6-2)</strong> – Hays is the No. 7 Seed in the west and has a significant win over Liberal on its resume. The tenth-seeded Hornets have a couple of solid wins against Newton and Goddard but will need to play a turnover-free game to upset the Indians.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224072' first='Walker' last='Vanderweide'], </strong>&nbsp;LB, 5'10”, 165, Valley Center, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vanderweide is a quick-moving linebacker who can wrap up tacklers and provide pressure in the backfield. He has over 50 tackles for Valley Center and six-plus tackles for loss. Vanderweide will try to lead the Hornets to victory over Hays. Which would set up a likely rematch against No. 2 Seed Eisenhower.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maize (3-5) @ Goddard (6-2) – </strong>No. 11 seeded Maize will have to play solid run defense in order to knock off the No. 6 seed Goddard. The winner will play the survivor of the Liberal (7-1) versus Newton (3-5) contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105455' first='Micah' last='Johnson']</strong>, RB, 5'11”, 170, Goddard, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is the leading rusher for the Lions with 910 yards gained on 148 carries. The hard-to-tackle back also has scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Tyson Wallace is also having a solid season on the ground as he has rushed for 780 and 10 rushing touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seaman&nbsp; (4-4)&nbsp; at KC-Washington&nbsp; (5-3) – </strong>You have to look really hard to find good match-ups on the eastern side of the bracket. There is not a single game that has two teams with winning records meeting. Seaman a .500 team will try to knock off Washington whose schedule did not help them prepare for the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442342' first='Max' last='Huston']</strong>, QB, 6'1” 180, Seaman, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seaman has a junior quarterback who has been posting solid numbers. Huston finished the regular season throwing for 2,267 yards and 28 touchdown passes. He is also a threat in the ground game rushing for 394 yards and five scores. The Viking defense needs to step up its play if the Vikings want to play spoilers in 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KC-Sumner (4-4) @ Shawnee Heights (6-2) – </strong>The Thunderbirds are a disciplined team that is always a tough team to face during the Jason Swift era. A win against De Soto or Basehor-Linwood would have propelled Heights to at least a No. 2 seed. Yet, the No. 6 seed will look to fight off an upset by the Sabres.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reyki Tuley</strong>, QB,&nbsp; 5'11”, 170, Shawnee Heights, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuley has quietly put together a heck of a season and is making a statement to potential college recruiters with his play on the field. He has thrown for 1,680 yards in eight games and has thrown for 16 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->