ShawneeDispatch.com

CLASS 6A

Shawnee Mission Northwest has plans of making a return trip to the state playoffs, and in order to do so it must finish in the top two in its four-team district. The toughest hurdle likely comes first when the Cougars play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Shawnee Mission West. It’s one of the most highly anticipated games in the Sunflower League this season as defending Sunflower League champion Northwest (5-1 overall, 4-0 SFL) and undefeated West (6-0, 4-0) square off in a game that could determine if either team gets a share of the league championship and — even more important — which team takes a big step toward the postseason.

Of course, neither team’s path to the playoffs will be easy. Not with Shawnee Mission East and a resurgent Shawnee Mission North also in the district. East has struggled quite a bit this season, but North enters district play with a .500 record and a two-game winning streak.

North and East square off at 7 p.m. Friday at South District Stadium.

Team Dist. All

SM West 0-0 6-0

SM Northwest 0-0 5-1

SM North 0-0 3-3

SM East 0-0 2-4

CLASS 5A

The game to watch in this district will be the season-finale between Lansing and Mill Valley. That game will determine the Kaw Valley League champion, and possibly the district champion as well.

Both KVL teams have been impressive all season, with Lansing thrashing league opponents and Mill Valley doing the same. In fact, the Jaguars’ lone loss this season came in the season-opener against the defending state champions from Blue Valley West.

Of course, there are games to be played before that, and they are just as important. Schlagle and Washington both are right at the .500 mark, but both teams have offenses that have been explosive at times. Schlagle has three games where it has scored 30 or more points, and Washington has two games where it scored in the 40s.

Lansing is seeking its fifth straight state playoff appearance.

Team Dist. All

Lansing 0-0 6-0

Mill Valley 0-0 5-1

Schlagle 0-0 3-3

Washington 0-0 3-3

CLASS 4A

St. James Academy appears to be on easy street in its district considering it’s a 4-2 team paired with three 2-4 squads — but Thunder coach John Muehlberger would be the first to tell you there’s nothing easy about it. There may be no more deceptive 2-4 football teams in the state than Miege and De Soto. For one thing, Miege is a team that numerous people have predicted to be the 4A state champion. It’s record is the result of playing in one of the state’s toughest leagues — the East Kansas League — against all 5A and 6A teams. De Soto is the same way as a member of the always tough Frontier League. Spring Hill is no slouch either, with victories over Eudora and Ottawa to its credit.

St. James enters district play with a two-game winning streak and the best record in the program’s short history. De Soto’s also on a two-game winning streak after an 0-4 start, and there may be no football team in the state hungrier for wins than Miege after taking its lumps against St. Thomas Aquinas (5A semifinalist in 2007), Blue Valley West (5A state champion in 2007), Blue Valley and Blue Valley North.

Team Dist. All

St. James 0-0 4-2

Bishop Miege 0-0 2-4

De Soto 0-0 2-4

Spring Hill 0-0 2-4

Comments