One Win Away: Kansas Sub-State Preview 3A-8M DII

Time got away from me this week and I wasn't able to highlight each classification of football in Kansas in individual sub-state previews. I guess that's what happens when you take off a day to travel for fun for the first time in four months.   However, I was able to highlight one game and two prospects in each of the remaining classifications 3A through Eight-man Division II.   Good luck to all of the teams and players who are just one win away from heading to their respective state title games.   3A: Holton (7-4) at Hayden (11-0) – Holton and Hayden will meet in one Class 3A sub-state match-up to prove which has the toughest clowder of Wildcats. Holton knocked off Frontenac to advance to the sub-state round, while undefeated Hayden won a road game in Parsons to clinch a spot in the final four. The winner of this game will face the winner of Andale (10-1) and Cheney (11-0) in Hutchinson for the 3A state title.   [player_tooltip player_id='1107723' first='Abbott' last='Hundley'], RB/DE, 6'1”, 220, Holton, ‘24   Hundley is a workhorse back for the Holton Wildcats. He has carried the ball 176 times for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games. He has registered 32 total tackles on defense and recorded two sacks and three tackles for lost yardage.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115433' first='Kyler' last='Jackson'], RB/DB, 5'1”, 175, Holton, ‘25   Jackson is proof that dynamite comes in small packages.  The short prospect is having a big year on the gridiron for Holton. Jackson's speed plays at the next level and he is a gritty player. He has rushed for 728 yards and six touchdowns on 113 carries. He has made 29 total tackles and has one interception from his defensive back position.   2A: Hoisington (11-0) at Norton (11-0) – In a match-up of undefeated teams Hoisington and Norton will battle for a chance to play in the 2A state title game to be played in Salina. Hoisington defeated previously unbeaten Southeast of Saline 49-42 to advance to the sub-state round, while the Bluejays knocked off Ellsworth 20-6. The winner will meet either Nemaha Central or Sabetha in a rematch of an earlier Thunder victory over Sabetha.   [player_tooltip player_id='716132' first='Eli' last='Jones'], QB, 6'1”, 185, Norton, ‘25   Jones is the field general for the Norton offense. During his junior season, he has thrown for 2,019 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is also using is legs as offensive weapons, as he has rushed for 18 touchdowns and 790 yards through 11 games.   Brennen Pfannenstiel, LB, 5'9”, 160, Norton, ‘25   Another junior posting impressive numbers for Norton is their leader in tackles Pfannenstiel. The middle linebacker as recorded 82 total tackles through 11 games. He plays low to the ground, knows how to finish tackles, and can bring the pain to ball carriers.   1A: Medicine Lodge (9-2) at Conway Springs (9-2) – Out west the Indians and Cardinals will square off in the round of final four. Conway Springs advanced to the sub-state round by defeating Marion 28-20, while the Medicine Lodge defeated Valley Heights in an 18-point victory. The winner of this match will advance to the state title game in Hays against the winner of the Jeff County North (10-1) and Colgan (11-0) contest.   [player_tooltip player_id='265194' first='Brayden' last='Kunz'], RB/LB, 6'1”, 190, Conway Springs, ‘24   Kunz unofficially is leading all running backs across the state of Kansas in rushing yards. He has rolled up 2,227 yards on the ground and has scored 18 touchdowns. He has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his high school career and closing in on 6,000. He likes to hit people as evidenced by his tackle total of 92 in 11 games played.   [player_tooltip player_id='1224115' first='Isaac' last='Winter'], ATH, 5'11”, 155, Conway Springs, ‘25   Winter is a versatile player who can play running back, quarterback, and linebacker. He has 58 total tackles on the season including three tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. He has carried the ball 80 times for 654 yards and eight touchdowns.   8M DI: Ell-Saline (10-1) at Wichita County (11-0) – State media members have been waiting all season to see Wichita County and Lyndon face off for a state title, but there are two teams standing in their way before that possible showdown in Newton. The Indians will face Ell-Saline who reached the final four by winning a two-point sectional game over Hoxie. The Lyndon Tigers will face Cair Paravel Latin School who knocked off Chase County 48-23.   [player_tooltip player_id='285541' first='Khris' last='Hermosillo'], RB/DE, 5'10”, 175, Wichita County, ‘25   Hermosillo is a slick runner for the Indians. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards and for more than 20 touchdowns for the undefeated team from Leoti.  His speed also works to his advantage playing on the defensive line. The majority of his tackles in 2023 have taken place behind the line of scrimmage.   Max Whitham, LB,  5'11”, 165, Wichita County, ‘25   Wichita County's offense has been so explosive that its defense gets overlooked. The Indian's leading tackler is the junior linebacker Whitham. He has registered 59 total tackles in 11 games and has seven tackles of lost yardage. He also has a nose for the football making three fumble recoveries during his junior campaign.   8M DII: South Central (8-3) at Victoria (9-1) – South Central is the Cinderella Team in eight-man division II. The Timberwolves throttled previously undefeated Minneola 58-12 to qualify for sub-state. The Twolves will face Victoria with a chance to advance to the state title game in Newton.   [player_tooltip player_id='1215327' first='JT' last='Prusa'], QB, 5'9”, 165, South Central, ‘25   The Timberwolves offense is guided by a junior signal caller. Prusa is a dual-threat quarterback whose strength is in the run game. He has rushed for 1,610 yards in 11 games and scored 28 touchdowns on the ground. The South Central quarterback has also thrown for 449 yards and nine scores.   [player_tooltip player_id='1048599' first='Isaiah' last='Jellison'], RB/LB, 5'9”, 175, South Central, ‘24   Jellison plays with a mean streak and is a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Timberwolves. He is second on the team in rushing having gained 806 yards on just 93 carries. He is a bulldozer in the red zone having scored 16 touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, he has accounted for 68 total tackles, 17 of those for a loss of yardage. He also has registered five quarterback sacks in 11 games played.

Time got away from me this week and I wasn't able to highlight each classification of football in Kansas in individual sub-state previews. I guess that's what happens when you take off a day to travel for fun for the first time in four months.