Week Eight: Deck’s Big Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a handful of significant games scheduled for the final week of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five top games scheduled for October 20 and one prospect from each game to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nemaha Central (7-0) at Sabetha (7-0) – </strong>Two undefeated teams meet to decide a district title and set themselves up for a high playoff seed in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1107786' first='Colin' last='Menold'],</strong> ATH, 5'7”, 170, Sabetha, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are several legit prospects in this game, but none with heavier shoulders than Menold. Menold will need to have a productive game if the Bluejays are going to knock off the Thunder. Menold has rushed for 727 yards and 10 touchdowns in the six games worth of stats reported.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manhattan (6-1) @ Wichita Northwest (6-1)</strong> – Western supremacy is on the line in this Class 6A tilt. Both the Indians and Grizzlies have 6-1 records and both teams have visions of making it to Emporia for the 6A state championship game. Both teams trail Washburn Rural in the standings and are tied with Derby and Free State as they jockey for playoff seeding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='585903' first='Aaron' last='Bohannon Jr.']</strong>, RB, 5'6”, 170, Wichita Northwest, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bohannon will be keyed on by the Indians' defense. The sophomore running back has rushed for 771 yards and nine touchdowns. Both teams like to run the ball and whichever team has the most productive rushing night very well could be the victor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sedgwick  (6-1) @ Marion (7-0) – </strong>The Class 1A District 6 title is on the line when Marion and Sedgwick meet. This will be a state championship-caliber game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115726' first='Dallas' last='Lagree']</strong>, WR/FS, 5'10”, 150, Sedgwick, &nbsp;‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lagree is a prickly football player that you don't want to mess with. On the defensive side of the ball, he has registered 57 total tackles, eight of those for lost yardage. Offensively he has caught 42 balls for 565 yards and five touchdowns. He and [player_tooltip player_id='1103640' first='Jeff' last='Nold'] give Sedgwick a solid receiving combo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kapaun Mt. Carmel (6-1) @ Wichita Heights (5-2) – </strong>Heights would really like to host a first-round playoff game and a loss to Mt Carmel would put them in a precarious position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1109194' first='Jameson' last='Holland']</strong>, RB,&nbsp; 5'8”, 196, Wichita Heights, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holland is a bruising ball carrier. He has toted the ball 129 times for the Falcons and has rushed for five touchdowns and 608 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Basehor-Linwood (5-2)&nbsp; at De Soto &nbsp;(6-1) – </strong>This game is all about securing a playoff seed and keeping up with the other teams in class 4A for Basehor-Linwood and 5A for De Soto.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sean Gibson</strong>, LB/FB, 6'0” 170, De Soto, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The key to the game for De Soto will be slowing down the Bobcats' offensive weapons of [player_tooltip player_id='1078257' first='Sam' last='Boetcher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='334729' first='Brady' last='VanDonge']. Gibson, the team's leading tackler with 40, will need to play a key role in that task. Gibson can disrupt a backfield as he has one sack and three tackles for lost yardage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->