Kickoff for all games is 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Eudora (8-1) at Louisburg (7-2)

2004 playoffs: Eudora lost to Topeka Hayden in Class 4A sectionals; Louisburg lost to Baldwin in Class 4A bi-districts

About the Cardinals: Eudora, the No. 2 seed from District 4, is one of two area teams entering the postseason following their first loss of the season. The Cardinals ran off eight straight victories before falling Thursday to Baldwin. Quarterback Kyle Brouhard guides a productive offense that’s averaging 33.3 points per game, however, the Cardinals are battling the injury bug in a big way, having lost running backs to injuries each of the last two weeks.

About the Wildcats: Louisburg is a bit of a statistical oddity heading into the postseason. On one hand, the Wildcats’ record isn’t even as good as their first-round opponent’s, yet they secured a home game thanks to a 3-0 finish in District 3 play. However, it’s those two losses that say a lot about the caliber of this team. The first came in Week 4 against Baldwin by just a touchdown in a low-scoring affair, and the second came in a one-point setback against Class 5A powerhouse Paola.

K.C. Ward (5-4) at Tonganoxie (8-1)

2004 playoffs: Ward did not qualify; Tonganoxie lost to Topeka Hayden in Class 4A regionals

About the Cyclones: After opening the season 0-2 – including a 7-0 setback on its home turf against Tonganoxie in Week 2 – Ward rattled off five wins in its final seven games to turn things around and grab the No. 2 seed in District 6. However, after winning two straight playoff games to guarantee a state playoff berth, the Cyclones lost last Thursday to Lansing to enter the postseason on a down note.

About the Chieftains: Tonganoxie embarks on the postseason on an emotional high, winning the No. 1 seed out of District 5 after knocking off Perry-Lecompton last Thursday in an overtime victory. While the Chieftains again feature their bread-and-butter running game, their biggest strength has been their performance on the defensive side of the ball, where they’ve allowed just 9.5 points per game. A win would likely set up a playoff rematch with unbeaten Topeka Hayden in the second round, which means Tonganoxie must avoid looking past tonight’s game.

Perry-Lecompton (8-1) at Lansing (8-1)

2004 playoffs: Perry-Lecompton did not qualify; Lansing lost to Holton in Class 4A regionals

About the Kaws: The best regular season in decades had a somewhat bittersweet ending for Perry-Lecompton, which saw its quest for a perfect run to the playoffs end in overtime last Thursday against Tonganoxie. The result is the No. 2 seed out of District 5 and a road trip instead of a first-round home game. That shouldn’t faze the Kaws, who finished 6-0 on the road this fall. A strong core of seniors paves the way on both sides of the ball, including a defense that has three shutouts to its credit.

About the Lions: After a brief hiccup with a Week 2 loss to Mill Valley, Lansing tore off seven straight wins and romped through its final three games to secure the top seed out of District 6. Two of those victories came against area teams Tonganoxie and Santa Fe Trail as the Lions clinched a share of the Kaw Valley League championship. One of the teams also claiming a piece of that pie is Perry-Lecompton, but the two teams didn’t face off in the regular season – setting up an additional storyline.

CLASS 3A

Sabetha (4-5) at McLouth (9-0)

2004 playoffs: Both teams did not qualify

About the Bluejays: At first glance, Sabetha might seem as if it doesn’t belong in the postseason – until you realize the Bluejays are simply one of four teams in the upper half of the Class 3A bracket with a sub-.500 record. They got to this point by winning when it counted, finishing 2-1 during the final three weeks to grab the No. 2 seed out of District 1. Then again, the only team that beat Sabetha in that final stretch was Rock Creek – itself one of the teams saddled with a bigger number on the loss side of the ledger.

About the Bulldogs: The rebuilding job is complete at McLouth, where, just two seasons after an 0-9 mark, the Bulldogs have turned the tables and earned the No. 1 seed out of District 2. The reward is a first-round home against one of a handful of sub-.500 teams in the Class 3A field. While running back Kevin Stewart and quarterback Jimmy Steffey grab all the headlines, it’s a defense that’s allowed just 48 points all season that could determine the depth of the Bulldogs’ postseason run.

Humboldt (6-3) at Wellsville (6-3)

2004 playoffs: Humboldt beat Wellsville in Class 3A bi-districts

About the Cubs: Last season, Humboldt won its district and enjoyed the home-field advantage that came with it, knocking off Wellsville, 20-14, in overtime. This time, the roles are reversed after the Cubs finished second in District 6 play. A shutout victory over Northeast-Arma on Thursday in its regular-season finale could provide Humboldt with a nice boost of confidence.

About the Eagles: Wellsville picked the perfect time to peak, overcoming a roller-coaster first six weeks of the season to record a perfect 3-0 mark come crunch time and nab the top seed out of District 5. Most noticeable has been the Eagles’ growth on the defensive side of the ball, where they allowed just nine points total in district play. The offense also showed life by topping the 30-point plateau each of the last two weeks after failing to do so the first seven weeks of the season.