Week 4: Top Five Games Coming to Wichita/Western KS

Week four is a critical week as teams continue to fine-tune lineups and make adjustments to either get back on track or start peaking at the right time. By week four offensive schemes and timing should be getting locked in. Defenses usually start clicking earlier than the offense, so by the fourth week of the season they should be close to a well-oiled machine.   With the parity in many of the top leagues, every week is a knock-down drag-out rock fight of a contest. Teams can either get better every week, hopefully avoid injuries and roll into the playoffs battle-tested and ready; or under the relentless churn of tough scheduling, blindsided by injuries and other mishaps, teams will get swallowed and digested before the end of October.   In week four school fans and supporters are still hopeful for good things even if the start has wavered at times, but for the teams out on the gridiron, hope is not a strategy...either buckle up and make it happen or join the rest in an off-season reduced to hoping 2025 will be better.   In this report, we will take a look at some intriguing matchup's at this critical crossroad in the season. Some of the highest-ranked teams in the state with be tested, as different classifications go to war. In other games, the teams are rivals who have considerable history playing each other which adds another layer to the intrigue.   So, without further adieu, let's take a quick look at the week 4 games in the Wichita area and Western Kansas:   6A Game of the Week - Kapaun @ Wichita Northwest: it is actually a clash of the classifications as 4A Kapaun travels across town to take on 6A Northwest in an intriguing match up between two traditionally dangerous teams. Going into this week's match up, Northwest is 3-0 and ranked as high as #4. Kapaun counters with the #2 ranking in class 4A, and an unbeaten record as well. Both teams are coming off quality wins, with Kapaun grinding out a tough victory last week, beating 6A powerhouse Wichita East 27-20 in triple overtime. NW took care of business, hammering a strong Junction City squad 43-30 last week. There will be considerable star-power on the field as both teams have players already committed to play D1 next fall. Coming into game four, both defenses are playing lights out. Look for this defender in particular to make some noise:   [player_tooltip player_id='1115480' first='Quavon' last='Harris'], NW, DB/LB - a returning all-conference linebacker who can play any of the backer positions but appears to be taking it to another level as a ball-busting hybrid strong safety who can blanket wide receivers in coverage or drop down in the box and blow up the run game. He has been all over the field for the brutally-tough NW defense and is a name you will hear over the loud speaker often this Friday as NW looks to stay unbeaten.   5A Game of the Week - Dodge City @ Liberal: another cross-pollination of classifications as 6A Dodge City makes the trip to Liberal, who is ranked #3 in 5A. Dodge City got back on the winning track last week, blowing out Wichita South 42-8 to move to 2-1. Liberal is currently 3-0 after walloping Guymon, OK 56-0 last week. Both teams are looking for an early-season statement win so this should be a good old-fashion Western-Kansas fist fight.   [player_tooltip player_id='1171024' first='Jayden' last='Amaro'], Dodge City '25, was sidelined until last week with a collarbone break, but when he was approved to play he didn't waste any time helping his team get back on the winning track. After his team suffered a game-two loss to Olathe East, Amaro returned against Wichita South and promptly piled up 100 yards receiving and scored a touchdown in the Demon's 42-8 victory. With his size and speed he is going to be a challenge for rival defenses the rest of the season.     3A Game of the Week - Wichita Collegiate @ Andale: is a crucial contest between two of the the top teams in 3A as #3 Collegiate makes the trip to #1 Andale in a Sunflower-state battle of the titans. Both teams are unbeaten and have already played challenging schedules. Collegiate is overdue for a big win, as they are a humbling 0-10 against Andale since October of 2016, but never say never...this may be the year on Friday. However, the top-ranked Indians beg to differ, and in particular, their fearless leader below:   [player_tooltip player_id='1236247' first='Sam' last='Harp'], Andale '26, the junior dual-threat playmaker has led his team to a 3-0 record and the #1 ranking in 3A so far in the 2024 season. Last year Harp burst on the scene with 25 touchdowns and 1,200+ yards leading the high-powered Andale attack. So far he has picked up where he left off last year, as the team has scored 177 points in their first three games, an average of almost 60 points per game. Get your popcorn out this Friday, this kid is getting ready to put on a show.     2A Game of the Week - Halstead @ Hillsboro: a key matchup as Halstead travels to rival Hillsboro for a Central Kansas slugfest this Friday night. Both teams are 1-2 but you can throw the schedules out the window when these two teams play. Both are looking to get their seasons on track so they can make a push for the playoffs. For Hillsboro, who lost last week to Hesston 27-12, this a key win to salvage the season. Halstead began their resurgence last week, rolling over Nickerson 38-0. A win this week would give them a two-game win streak and square off the wins and losses at 2-2. And, to do that, they will need to rely on their leader in the trenches [below] - somebody has to block for all those exciting skill players!   [player_tooltip player_id='868976' first='Connor' last='Herman'] , Halstead '25, has been a fixture in the Halstead trenches since his freshman year and has had a strong off-season getting ready for the 2024 season. He is coming off a standout junior year when he dominated the line of scrimmage, piling up a mind-bending 100+ knockdown blocks and pancakes. The Halstead "Pancake Machine" is shifting into delivery mode this week and has his sights set on helping rising-star coach Derek Racette's Dragons pound out a win.     1A Game of the Week - Sedgwick @ Marion: Sedgwick goes on the road to Marion in a battle of unbeaten teams. Sedgwick has steadily climbed the rankings and is ranked as high #2 in 1A. Marion is also undefeated on the year and is included in the 1A "Others" in the week 4 rankings. This should be a good test to see if Sedgwick is ready to take their game to the next level and make some noise in the playoffs, or if Marion steps up to play the spoiler role. All-State QB [player_tooltip player_id='1112380' first='Corey' last='Crumrine'] has been getting most of the attention for the Cardinals, but they have an old-school multi-positional baller [below] who has been getting attention from scouts and coaches with his standout play on both sides of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115726' first='Dallas' last='Lagree'], Sedgwick '25, does a little bit of everything for the Cardinals. He is one of the top receivers in the state and has hauled in 24 passes for 304 yards, averaging 100+ yards per game. He is also active in the secondary as a hard-hitting defensive back, plays on all of the special teams, handles kicking duties and is a dangerous return man on punts and kicks. He is one of those old-school ballers who rarely leaves the field, but opposing teams wish he would take a break now and then.     In conclusion, these five games are going to be exciting, so get out and see these guys in action. I haven't decided which game I will be attending but am leaning toward the Collegiate-Andale game as it looks like it will be an epic encounter. All of the games above could probably fit that description so flip a coin and get out and enjoy the weather. And, as always, if you run across a team or player flying under the radar, feel free to reach out to me via DM on X.

Week four is a critical week as teams continue to fine-tune lineups and make adjustments to either get back on track or start peaking at the right time. By week four offensive schemes and timing should be getting locked in. Defenses usually start clicking earlier than the offense, so by the fourth week of the season they should be close to a well-oiled machine.