Week 1: Pick Six SCK Recaps

MAIZE 17, ANDOVER 14
A lightning strike Friday night knocked out a power pole at Andover’s Trojan Stadium, forcing Maize, No. 5 in KSHSAA Covered’s Class 5A rankings, to put the finishing touches on a season-opening victory Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles slept on a 17-7 lead with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter after the storms arrived. Maize provided some of its own electricity in building the advantage, as sophomore Jaeden Martin broke a tackle on the second-half kickoff and dashed 84 yards for a touchdown.
After topping Andover 20-6 in last season’s opener, Maize, which averaged almost 42 points in 2020, withstood another defensive battle against the Trojans. Maize was limited to 164 yards of offense, but got a 36-yard field goal from Cole Seagraves and a 14-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Justin Stephens to lead 10-7 at halftime.
Andover junior Brady Strausz passed for one touchdown and ran for the lone score after the game resumed under sunny skies Saturday. Johnson was 11 of 25 passing for 91 yards. Strausz went 8 of 19 for 119 yards with one interception.

BUHLER 42, GODDARD 14
Senior tailback Sam Elliott had 32 carries for 264 yards and two touchdowns, and Matthew Eddy and Cameron Campbell returned interceptions to the end zone as host Buhler, No. 5 in 4A, rolled in its home opener.
Elliott scored on a pair of short runs and hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass from senior Bradley Neill. The Crusaders, who lost 35-20 to Goddard in the 2020 opener, struck twice in each of the first two quarters to build a 28-7 halftime lead.
Buhler averaged eight yards per play and outgained Goddard 368-341. Goddard senior Dylan Reese ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Neill was efficient for Buhler, completing 5 of 6 passes for 83 yards and two scores.
“We have three offensive linemen who are new starters,” Buhler coach Steve Warner said. “We have three very experienced linemen, but having those inexperienced guys always makes you nervous. I thought they did a great job.”

CHENEY 34, KINGMAN 14
Cheney trailed by two touchdowns seven minutes into the game, but rallied to spoil Kingman’s home opener as senior Harrison Voth passed for 324 yards and five touchdowns.
Kingman led 14-0 after quarterback Nolan Freund’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Geoff Holloway and 42-yard scoring run. But the Cardinals, No. 4 in 3A, eventually responded. Voth, who completed 15 of 21 attempts, connected with four Cardinals on scoring plays. Jack Voth caught two touchdowns in a first half delayed by lightning as Cheney drew even at 14 by the break. Voth’s 16-yard pass to Quincy Thomas gave Cheney its first lead at 20-14 in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Voth retrieved an errant shotgun snap, scrambled and found Luke Grace, who shook a defender on its way to a 50-yard TD. Dayton Higgs capped the 34-point rally with a 75-yard pass from Voth.

GARDEN PLAIN 14, CONWAY SPRINGS 7
Inclement weather stretched the battle between Central Plains League rivals into a second day, and the visiting Owls prevailed for their third consecutive win in the series.
Senior Reed Adelhardt ran for 191 yards on 26 carries and scored both Garden Plain touchdowns. After Brayden Kunz staked Conway Springs to a 7-0 lead late in the first half with a 28-yard run, Adelhardt put Garden Plain on the scoreboard, running in from 11 yards 44 seconds before halftime. The Owls missed the extra point.
When the game resumed Saturday, Garden Plain took the lead on Adelhardt’s 25-yard run with 7:20 to play in the third quarter. Daniel Mans added a two-point conversion run for the game’s final points.
The teams combined for 92 running plays out of 105 in the game. Garden Plain outgained Conway Springs 298-245.

ARGONIA-ATTICA 36, NORWICH 6
Argonia-Attica scored 28 first-quarter points and opened with an eight-man home victory that was called with 5:45 remaining in the second quarter due to inclement weather.
Both of senior Xander Newberry’s completions went for touchdowns, a 19-yarder to senior Cooper Traffas and a 4-yarder to junior Conner Harnden. Newberry added a short touchdown run, and also blocked a punt.
Sophomore Colter McDaniel gained 112 yards on six carries – scoring twice – and senior Adam Blanchat added 61 yards as the Titans averaged 10.9 yards per attempt.

WINFIELD 3, ARKANSAS CITY 0, HALFTIME, SUSPENDED UNTIL 6 P.M. MONDAY
Austin Bryant’s 31-yard field goal on the final play of the first half gave host Winfield the lead in the Cowley Cup showdown before storms delayed the second half until 6 p.m. Monday.
The Vikings outgained Ark City 148-71 and limited the Bulldogs to 26 rushing yards in the first two quarters. But Winfield was slowed by eight first-half penalties.
The game marks the Vikings debut for coach Monty Lewis, whose career includes 24 years in the KCAC as Southwestern and Friends. And it comes against Winfield’s chief rival, which is coming off a Cinderella run in 2020 to a Class 4A runner-up finish. Ark City opened the season No. 3 in 4A.