S18 Spoonful

Heights-Northwest
After last week's 39-14 second-half drubbing by Carroll, Northwest is limping. But Heights wasn't all that impressive last week against Kapaun, accepting an unflattering 22-7 win. Heights had disciplinary problems before last week's game. If they've re-grouped as a team, they win by a touchdown. If not, juniors Demarcus Robinson and Andrew Etheridge are supreme talents out of the backfield. In my opinion, Northwest needs to get better prepared each week. They got out-coached in the second half against Carroll and never built a sustained offensive drive.

Goddard-Derby
At the beginning of the season, I saw this as a 6A West power swing game. I guess it still is, since Goddard's two opening losses weren't against the 6A West. I don't think either team would be a contender in the 5A West, not against Hutch and McPherson, which spanked Goddard 38-14 in Week One. However, it's not 5A. Northwest and Heights are very beatable in 6A, so Derby and Goddard are still contenders for state in my opinion, Derby more so. I've got the Panthers by 17 at home.

East-Kapaun
East surely wants to make up for last fall's debacle, a 26-7 loss to Kapaun, which didn't even gain 200 yards of offense. Bryce Brown fumbled to ball like five times, and Kapaun capitalized. I watched Kapaun back Dyllon Knox last week. He's definitely quick and powerful, but isn't shifty like Northwest's Robinson or Southeast's Randle. I've got East, which I heard today has another talented back beside Bryce Brown, by 20.

Collegiate-Hesston
Big MCAA game, though that's it now. Hesston has moved up to 4A, as Collegiate remains in 3A. Hesston destroyed Collegiate last year, but the Spartans host this year. Collegiate is supposed to have a great kicking game and solid skill position players. Collegiate's got a transfer at linebacker from California - supposed to be pretty darn good. Hesston has the power run game again, however. They had four backs rush for over 40 yards in Week One against Halstead. Hesston by 14.

Andover-Andover Central
Andover Central should wax Andover, except it's a rivalry game. Josh Hansen and Andover will play out of their heads and only lose by 14 instead of 28.

El Dorado-Mulvane
El Dorado is improved, but Ark City whooped them last week. I'm interested because a big Mulvane win means something. It means they're the No. 2 4A team in the area behind Andover Central.

Hutch-Maize
Maize has outstanding skill position players and some quick defenders, none of them are over 180 pounds it seems. They're offensive and defensive lines are small, and Hutch will absolutely destroy them in these aspects. Smith and Dinwiddie get 150 yards apiece as Hutch wins by 35. Sometimes I get the feeling that Dreiling loves beating Maize; I don't know why yet.

Circle-Andale
Andale needs to win this game by at least 14 points to show they're even going to compete with Andover Central or Mulvane in the playoffs.

Salina Central-Blue Valley
A Salina Central win over 6A East Blue Valley (supposed to be good) means the 6A West representative at state might not lose by more 20 points.

Olathe East-Olathe South
Olathe East is supposed to be the best from the 6A East, while South is the defending state runner-up in 6A. This has big repercussions and will bring into focus the 6A state landscape.

Norwich-Cunningham
Norwich (8-man Div. II) lost to Pretty Prairie (8-man Div. I) 28-20 last week. Cunningham, though in a different district that Norwich, should join Norwich as the top two teams from the area this year in 8-man Div. II. One of these teams could make the state title game. This is a really big small-school game.

Junction City-Emporia
If Junction City blows out Emporia, then they will be the West representative at state in 6A.