Deck’s Top 5 Big Games: Week One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's Time, It's Time, It's Vader Time!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oops, wrong sport. Anyway, that's how excited I am for the 2025 Kansas Prep Football season to begin, so excited, I am quoting old wrestlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, “Deck's Top 5 Big Games,” will continue to be a regular report on Prep Redzone Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only difference in the report from seasons' past is that the featured games will be played in Northeast Kansas rather than the entire state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week One in the Sunflower State is no cakewalk with a handful of intriguing matchups to watch. There is no rhyme or reason for the order of the five featured games, other than the game I anticipate scouting will always be the fifth game featured.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Concordia (0-0) @ Wamego (0-0) – </strong>The Wamego Red Raiders will open their season with a home game against the Concordia Panthers. Wamego is a great atmosphere for watching some Friday Night Lights, and both of these teams have expectations for winning seasons. I almost selected this game to scout this week, but instead will save the Raiders for a game a little closer to my backyard in a few weeks, hint, hint! The Raiders are coming off a 9-2 season, while the Panthers return almost the entirety of their starters from a 1-8 squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114731' first='Drew' last='Erickson'],</strong> WR, 5'9”, 170, Wamego, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wamego graduated a couple of key wideouts from the 2024 squad, so that position it one I want to watch closely as the season moves forward. Erickson is ranked No. 425 in the Kansas Class of 2026. He gained 120 yards last season on reception and scored two touchdowns. A big season from the Raider pass-catcher and a move up the rankings and multiple college offers could be well warranted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Miege (0-0) @ St. James Academy (0-0) – </strong>The Stags and Saints will meet for early private school bragging rights in the Kansas City Metro area. These two teams are always stacked, always in line for winning seasons, and always a threat to finish their seasons in a state championship game. Miege finished last season with a record of 5-8, losing in the Class 4A Championship game to Andover Central. St. James lost in the Class 5A Semifinals and finished 6-6 a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581305' first='Zach' last='Lero']</strong>, DL/LB, 6'0”, 200, St. James Academy, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lero is a grinder on the defensive side of the ball for St. James. He is ranked No. 202 by Prep Redzone Kansas. He recorded 14 tackles and recovered one fumble last season. The big question for him is whether he has the size to impact the game at the collegiate level, and he will begin his senior year out to prove that he can.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washburn Rural (0-0) @ Shawnee Heights (0-0) –</strong> These two teams were league rivals when I first moved to Topeka, but now are just city area rivals who don't like each other. It's still a game that gives me nightmares, as one of my favorite former players (during my coaching days) suffered a leg injury during a contest between the two. I expect a high-scoring game with multiple turnovers in this Week One tilt. Both teams finished with disappointing losing seasons last season and will be looking to make an early statement in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780089' first='David' last='Wakes'],</strong> RB, 5'10”, 190, Shawnee Heights, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A key factor for the T-Birds' success this season will be the offensive production on the ground. Wakes is expected to carry the load in the Heights running game. He is ranked No. 44 overall by Prep Redzone Kansas. He rushed for 633 yards and three touchdowns last season. I'm not sure he will reach the 1,000-yard mark on the ground this season, but I would not bet against him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eudora (0-0) @ Hayden (0-0) – </strong>The Hayden Wildcats open their season against a physical team from Eudora. The Cardinals finished 4-5 last season but have made significant strides during the summer program. The Wildcats are always a threat to for a state title. They finished 11-2 last season and reached the Class 3A Semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114755' first='Xander' last='Blasing'],</strong> LB, 6'2”, 225, Hayden, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayden has a talented and experienced linebacking corps heading into the 2025 season. Blasing is ranked No. 201 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. He finished his junior season with 67 tackles. He is one of multiple Wildcat defenders I plan to track during the 2025 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Piper (0-0) @ Seaman (0-0) – </strong>So this is the game I plan on attending during Week One. These two United Kansas League rivals will open the season in North Topeka. It has been a hot minute since I have seen the Pirates play, so I am looking forward to their visit to Topeka. The Vikings are looking to continue their recent winning ways and will look to defend their home field in Week One. Seaman is coming off an 8-3 season, while the Pirates finished with a record of 3-6 in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586962' first='Cameron' last='Brian'],</strong> LB, 6'0”, 200, Seaman, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My plan this season is to scout the defensive side of the ball with extra attention. One of the first defenders I will have my eyes focused on is Seaman's Brian. He recorded 112 tackles during his junior campaign and is ranked No. 124 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. I look forward to seeing firsthand what type of impact he has against Piper's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->