Kansas Class 1A Football State Championship Preview:

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This coming Friday's Kansas 1A State Championship kicks off at 1:00 PM at Hutchinson's Gowan Stadium. This match-up features one team that is no stranger to Hutchinson and participating in State Championships. While the other team is making their first state title appearance since 1982.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rossville Bulldogs (11-1) are coming off a thrilling 21-18 victory over previously unbeaten Jackson Heights. Rossville will be playing in their sixth state title appearance under head coach Derick Hammes (125-29). This will be Rossville's first state title appearance since 2021 and their fifth in a eight-year period. The Bulldogs had played in prior state titles, losing both contests, before breaking through with a three-peat in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in class 3A. Rossville also had a two-peat in 2020 and 2021 as a member of class 2A. The Bulldogs are looking for their first title as a class 1A participant. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the Bulldogs is senior quarterback Canann Mitchell (6-foot-1, 160-pounds) who has thrown for 109 of 164 passing for 1,578 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also pitched in 1,013 yards rushing on 139 carries and an additional 18 touchdowns on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, Rossville has a very balanced backfield with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1598898' first='Conner' last='Bush'] (6-foot-0, 180-pounds) who has 69 carries for 685 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, sophomore Landen Lewis (5-foot-9, 165-pounds) who has 47 carries for 392 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1452348' first='Andre' last='Johnson'] (6-foot-1, 200-pounds) who has 55 carries for 357 yards and 11 touchdowns and lastly senior [player_tooltip player_id='1229118' first='Jack' last='Donovan'] (5-foot-11, 170-pounds) who has 26 carries for 315 yards and 4 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The main receiving threats are Donovan with 38 receptions for 453 yards and 3 touchdowns and senior Cameron Miller (6-foot-4, 185-pounds) who has 32 receptions for 523 yards and 8 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, leading the way is [player_tooltip player_id='1452348' first='Andre' last='Johnson'] who has 119 tackles (64 solo), 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Also [player_tooltip player_id='1598898' first='Conner' last='Bush'] chipped in 99 tackles (34 solo), junior Kelton Lacock (5-foot-7, 145-pounds) has 63 tackles (21 solo) and lastly, junior Charles Chance (5-foot-11, 210-pounds) who has 49 tackles (39 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks so far this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Black Bears of Sterling (12-0), on the other hand, are looking to bring home their second football state title in school history after defeating Smith Center 14-6 in the semi-finals. It hasn't been since 1982, when Sterling defeated Clifton-Clyde 33-6 on the way to an undefeated 12-0 record under head coach Gary White. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are now led by Sterling grad,&nbsp;Brent Schneider (35-33) who is looking to take the Black Bears back to the pinnacle of the football world. In recent years, Sterling may be more known for their basketball prowess, where they won the class 2A state title this past March. They will be a very heavy favorite on the hardwood this coming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Black Bears will be leaning on that state basketball tournament experience to help guide them to a football state title over a Rossville squad that has made Hutchinson their second home as a of late. With that being said, Sterling will definitely have the home field advantage as they are only 25-miles to the west of Hutchinson. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the ballclub this season from their flexbone offense is the two headed monsters of senior [player_tooltip player_id='780429' first='Zane' last='Farney'] (6-foot-0, 185-pounds) who has 188 carries for 2,047 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1545224' first='Wyatt' last='Newberry'] (5-foot-11, 160-pounds) who has 74 carries for 1,034 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the Black Bears are lead by sophomore Jacob Lewis (6-foot-0, 165-pounds) who has 156 tackles (95 solo), 15 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, junior Cameron Morris (6-foot-2, 170-pounds) who has 98 tackles (48 solo) and 3 tackles for loss, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1545224' first='Wyatt' last='Newberry'] who has 98 tackles (62 solo) and 8 tackles for loss, sophomore David Myers has 90 tackles (49 solo) and 7 tackles for loss, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1593303' first='Deryn' last='Maxwell'] (6-foot-0, 185-pounds) has 74 tackles (41 solo) and lastly [player_tooltip player_id='780429' first='Zane' last='Farney'] 61 tackles (33 solo) and 2 tackles for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper, this looks like a very evenly matched contest, but will the state title game experience under Hammes help Rossville win their sixth title in program history or will Sterling hoist the trophy that has had alluded them in decades. We will find out this Friday afternoon in Hutch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->