The eight-man playoff field is down to just four teams, including the top two seeds. The semifinals will feature a regular season rematch between a pair of Northwest Division rivals, as well as a clash between teams from the Plains and Southeast Divisions.
#1 SEDGWICK COUNTY (10-0) AT #5 HOLLY (9-1) SATURDAY 1PM
Sedgwick County allowed a first quarter touchdown last week at Fowler and then ran away with a 44-6 victory over the #9 Grizzlies. In two playoff games, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 93-6. Heading into the semifinals, they hold a 426-106 scoring edge on the opposition. The Cougars have won 36 of their last 37 games and are two just wins away from becoming the first eight man team to win three consecutive titles since Stratton won four straight from 1992-95.
For the second straight week, Holly overcame an early deficit against a Plains Division opponent, bouncing back from a 14-0 hole against Caliche. The Wildcats ended up rolling to a 47-26 win over the Buffs, behind 249 yards and four touchdowns through the air by Kobe Davis. Two of those scoring tosses went to William Kennedy.
This is first semifinal appearance for Holly since 2003, when the Wildcats lost to Merino 48-0. They have some familiarity with Sedgwick County, losing to the Cougars 67-7 in the 2015 regular season and 64-20 in 2014.
#2 WEST GRAND (11-0) AT #14 SOROCO (8-3) SATURDAY 1PM
After steamrolling its way through the regular season, West Grand has had its hands full during the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Mustangs followed up a 24-14 win over Norwood in the opening round with a 30-24 victory over Sargent in the quarterfinals. West Grand led 24-16 entering the fourth quarter, but found itself tied when the Farmers scored with around nine minutes left. Brady Gore capped off the ensuing drive with a three-yard touchdown run, providing the final margin. Luis Dominguez paced the Mustangs with 159 yards and two scores.
Soroco earned its rematch with the Mustangs by knocking out #11 Mancos 40-0 last week. Jace Logan dominated the Bluejays in the running game, piling up 430 yards and six touchdowns, including a 99-yarder. It was the junior’s second game over 400 yards this season, pushing his season total to 3023 yards with 41 touchdowns.
West Grand is the only team to hold Logan under 100 yards this season. The Mustangs limited him to 35 yards in their 54-0 win over the Rams on Oct. 19th. Soroco has dropped ten straight meetings to West Grand, including each of the last two years with both in eight-man.
With a win, Soroco would host the championship game, regardless of the opponent. West Grand, on the other hand, would travel to either Sedgwick County or Holly.
