Two of the top ball-carriers in the Journal-World area will be showcased tonight when Baldwin and Perry-Lecompton conclude the regular high school football season.

Baldwin, hoping to clinch a berth in the Class 4A state playoffs, relies heavily on Micah Mason, a 6-foot, 200-pound junior, while Perry-Lecompton’s offense revolves around 5-11, 180-pound senior Noah Rees.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. at Brunton Field in Perry.

Baldwin, 5-3, will try to bounce back from last week’s 28-14 loss to Topeka Hayden, a defeat that means the Bulldogs must spill Perry-Lecompton, 3-5, in order to earn a berth in the state playoffs.

Even if the Bulldogs win, they may not be guaranteed a spot if Santa Fe Trail defeats Hayden tonight. That scenario would leave all three schools with 2-1 district records with only two berths available. Even the KSHSAA points system might not decide it.

“If Santa Fe Trail wins by (at least) 13 and we win by 13 we’d all have 13 points,” Baldwin coach Mike Berg said, “and they’d have to draw names out of a hat.”

However, if Hayden and Baldwin both win, each school will be a district qualifier because Baldwin clipped SF Trail, 34-20, in its home finale two weeks ago.

Baldwin gained a reputation as a giant-killer three weeks ago when the Bulldogs squeezed previously unbeaten Eudora, 33-32. Too, the ‘Dogs were within a touchdown late against perennial 4A power Hayden last Friday when the Wildcats returned an interception for a TD with eight seconds remaining.

“Our kids played well,” Berg said of the Hayden game. “We just ran into a better team.”

Hayden put the clamps on Mason, limiting the Bulldogs’ tailback to just 22 yards in 15 carries. Baldwin rushed for only 46 yards total while quarterback Jason Kesinger threw for 158 yards, including an 80-yard TD pass to Andy Hannon.

“We’ve got to get our running game back on track,” Berg said.

Perry-Lecompton has struggled in district play, bowing to Hayden, 49-0, and to SF Trail, 34-13. But the Kaws’ running game packs a punch with Rees, who runs behind a sizable line that includes senior standout Patrick Ketter (6-2, 240).

“They’re a dangerous team,” Berg said of the Kaws. “We’ll have to bring our A-game.”