Deck’s Top 5 Big Games: Week Seven

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only two games remain in regular season play in Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams are jockeying for playoff positioning and multiple teams hope to remain undefeated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five important games scheduled on October 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hays (4-2) @ Great Bend (6-0) – </strong>Pull up your boots and tighten your holsters, this game could be an old-fashioned Western Kansas shootout. Great Bend is an underappreciated team in the state right now, but they could make a serious postseason run. Hays is fighting for postseason seeding and wants to show the Panthers who's the boss out west.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1083225' first='Trenton' last='Kern']</strong>, LB 6'1”, 210, Great Bend, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kern is currently ranked No. 22 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and is the third-ranked linebacker. He leads the Panthers in tackles with 73 in six games. He is on pace to match or pass his junior season total of 111 tackles. He has plus speed and is dangerous on the blitz. He has recorded three quarterback sacks, five tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Basehor-Linwood (6-0) @ Seaman (5-1) – </strong>The Bobcats and Vikings square off in a United Kansas League tilt. The Bobcats would love to finish with an undefeated regular season and win an outright league championship. Seaman and Lansing are the only two roadblocks left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114743' first='Roman' last='Miller'], </strong>TE, 6'2”, 185, Basehor-Linwood, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Basehor-Linwood's offense is churning and burning this season. With so many offensive weapons,  it would be easy to overlook the Bobcats tight end.  Miller has made 16 catches for 349 yards through six games. He is a physical blocker and a red-zone target. He is currently ranked No. 136 overall by Prep Redzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pittsburg (4-2) @ Chanute (5-1) –</strong>&nbsp; There will be some bragging rights on the line when this game is over. Pittsburg and Chanute are a couple of puzzling teams. Neither of them owns what I would call a statement win, and both have glaring losses on their resumes. Which colorful mascot will come out on top, that's the question.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1452308' first='Stone' last='Peery'], &nbsp;</strong>LB/RB, 5'10”, 200, Pittsburg, 25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Comets will have a challenge figuring out which Purple Dragon ball carrier to key on. Pittsburg has four backs who have rushed for over 200 yards. Peery leads the team in rushing yards with 429 and he has found the endzone six times in six games. He has also made 42 total tackles from his linebacking position and should pass his junior season total of 47 tackles this Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beloit (4-2) @ Ellsworth (5-1) – </strong>Beloit and Ellsworth will be an interesting match-up this week in Class 2A. Both teams have winning records and play in different districts, so this is a late non-district game for both squads. Each team likes to run the football and each team has impressive defensive linemen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403638' first='Cooper' last='McGowan']</strong>, DL/TE, 6'4”, 180, Ellsworth, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGowan is currently ranked No. 160 overall in the class of 2026. He is a strong defensive lineman who enjoys gobbling up ball carriers. He has recorded 39 total tackles in six games for the Bearcats. He has two quarterback sacks, four TFLs, and forced one fumble. He also plays tight end for Ellsworth and has made seven receptions for a run-heavy offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Silver Lake (5-1) @ Osage City (6-0) – </strong>A second important Class 2A tilt, that is a district game takes place in Osage City. The Eagles and Indians are both 2-0 on District 3 play so the winner of this match, barring an upset, should be the district champ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113374' first='Kasen' last='Parsons']</strong>, QB, 6'0” 185, Osage City, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parsons is having a dominant offensive season for Osage City. He has thrown for 763 yards and nine touchdowns. Using his legs he has rushed for 517 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has weapons around him and has been utilizing them. This game will come down to which offense is more efficient finishing drives and takes care of the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->