Olathe North High has played its share of tough western Kansas foes during its remarkable title run the last six years.

But when the Eagles (12-0) meet Derby (11-1) at 2:45 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium for the Class 6A state title, it’ll mark the first time the two teams have ever played. Odd, considering each program’s prestige.

The Panthers were one of the dominant teams of the early ’90s, butting heads with Lawrence High in the title game from ’93-’95, winning once. In ’96, the Eagles began their run of winning five titles in six years, beating Wichita Northwest, Wichita West, Garden City and Manhattan (twice).

“It’s kind of amazing,” Eagles coach Gene Wier said. “Year in, year out, they’re one of the top programs in the western half of the state. To me, when you look at how good they are, it’s odd we’ve never played.”

It almost didn’t happen.

North escaped with a 12-10 win last Friday against Olathe East, while Derby staged a comeback against previously unbeaten Hutchinson, scoring 21 unanswered points for a 28-17 victory.

It avenged the Panthers’ 27-17 loss to Hutchinson earlier this season.

Derby, 6A’s highest-scoring team, features a fairly balanced offense, mixing passes from quarterback Elmer Tagatec (29 of 52 for 382 yards in the three playoff games), and runs from tailback Alex Wayman (62 carries for 224 playoff yards).

Olathe North running back Jim Bouknight (22) eludes Free State's Pearson Skepnek (80) and Matt Lane in this file photo. Bouknight has rushed for 2,601 yards this season.

Tagatec’s two main targets, Scott Heckathorn and Bryce Lang, each have more than 130 yards receiving in the playoffs.

It’s that balance that threatens to halt the Eagles’ 37-game winning streak, the longest for any school in 6A history, surpassing an LHS 35-game run from 1991 to 1994.

“It’s really hard to prepare for someone you haven’t seen,” Wier said. “We want to be very basic, run the ball, play defense, hope we get a break.

“In these games, there’s always a swing.”

Wier and Derby coach Tom Young know that’s true.

Wier is trying to join LHS coaches Bill Freeman and Dick Purdy as the only coaches to win six 6A titles, and Young is going for his fourth. He’s the only coach in Kansas history to win state titles with three different schools.

To do that, Derby will have to stop the Eagles’ formidable running attack, led by senior Jim Bouknight, who’s rushed for 2,601 yards this season. That’s a North school record, breaking Darren Sproles’ 2000 mark by 150 yards. He’s also the fourth consecutive Eagles back to rush for more than 2,000 in a season.

Then there’s the Olathe North defense, which hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in eight straight games.

“Our kids know what they have to do,” Wier said.