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LJWorld.com Area Football Roundup

In a battle between a pair of top-three teams, Perry-Lecompton (No. 2 in Class 3A) came away with much-deserved bragging rights after a 28-14 road win over Holton (No. 3 in Class 3A) on Friday.

The Kaws, who are coming off a runner-up finish last season, are now 3-0 to start the year.

Both teams traded punches in the first half, with Perry-Lecompton scoring in the opening quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback William Welch and again in the second period on a 1-yard touchdown run by tailback Thad Metcalfe. Holton (2-1) answered both scores, which led to a 14-14 deadlock at the intermission.

The Kaws then scored twice in the second half to come away with the win, despite losing their starting quarterback to injury. Reichen Rush delivered a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Metcalfe then provided all the cushion PLHS would need with a 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Metcalfe finished with 110 yards on 25 carries in the win for the visitors. Perry-Lecompton will play host to Bishop Ward in Week 4.

In another marquee battle featuring a pair of top-three squads, Tonganoxie was on the wrong end of a 35-28 thriller at Paola on Friday. The Chieftains (No. 3 in Class 4A) are now 2-1 following their first loss of the season, while Paola (No. 2 in Class 4A) improved to 3-0.

THS scored 14 points in the final frame, but it ultimately wasn’t enough after Paola jumped out to a 21-14 advantage in the first half. Senior running back Tyler Bowden piled up 239 yards and three scores on 35 carries in the loss. The team’s only other touchdown was a connection between quarterback Gabe Bailey and receiver Sam Kleidosty.

Tonganoxie will play host to Eudora next week for a battle between two area teams. Speaking of Eudora, the Cardinals dropped their second consecutive game this past week. EHS was handed a 42-24 home defeat by St. James Academy.

Baldwin, the only other area football team in action on Friday, fell to 0-3 on the year after a 32-6 road loss to Louisburg. BHS will play host to Topeka Hayden next week.

PERRY-LECOMPTON 28, HOLTON 14

Perry-Lecompton: 7 7 6 8 — 28

Hiawatha: 7 7 0 0 — 14

Perry-Lecompton: Metcalfe (2) 1 run, 6 run, Welch 1 run, Rush 30 run

Elliott: 3 PATs, Metcalfe run.

Holton: C. Karn (2) 10 run, 29 run

Lierz: 2 PATS

Perry: Welch 7/12, 129 yds. Metcalfe 25 carries, 125 yds.

Holton: Caron Karn 21 carries 154 yds.

PAOLA 35, TONGANOXIE 28

Tonganoxie 7 7 0 14 — 28

Paola 7 14 7 7 — 35

Tonganoxie: Tyler Bowden 35 carries, 239 yards, 3 TDs. Dallas Bond 6 catches, 57 yards. Sam Kleidosty 2 catches, 28 yards, 1 TD. Gabe Bailey 6-for-15 passing, 57 yards, 1 TD.

Soccer roundup: BSA earns comeback win

Bishop Seabury’s boys soccer team clawed its way back from an early hole in its 3-2 victory at Maranatha on Friday.

The Seahawks were down two scores at halftime before flipping the script in the second half. Evan McHenry scored two goals for Bishop Seabury, while Harrison Hartzler added the other score. Bishop Seabury is now 2-2 through the first four matches of the season.

Eudora’s boys soccer team got off to a fast start and never let up in a 5-0 road win over Paola on Thursday. Seniors Keaton Herron and Colby Lawhorn each scored in the first half to help the Cardinals (3-2) jump out to a 2-0 lead.

Senior Jace McCormick, senior Kale Breedlove and sophomore Parker Hurla all scored in the second half to help EHS run away with the victory. Senior goalies Brenten Ormsby and Devon Moncrief combined for the shutout.

Lawrence High’s boys soccer program dropped its third consecutive match, suffering a 3-2 overtime loss at home to Olathe Northwest on Thursday night. Seniors Alex Culbertson and Mason Anderson each scored a goal on senior night for the Lions, who are now 3-3 on the year.

Free State, meanwhile, recorded a 1-1 draw with Olathe North on the road Thursday night. It marked the team’s third different result in as many matches this past week. The Firebirds are now 2-1-1 to start the season.

Volleyball roundup: Seahawks sweep Cair Paravel

Bishop Seabury’s volleyball team (6-5) took care of business with a 3-0 sweep of Cair Paravel on Thursday. It was a strong response by the Seahawks, who had dropped a 2-0 decision to Lebo just two days earlier.

In the win (25-7, 25-10, 25-17) over Cair Paravel, senior Reaghan Bible recorded eight of the team’s 15 kills. Seniors Elena Weber and Sophia Chindamo each recorded two blocks on the defensive end. Senior Paige Weigel-Helt led the team with eight assists.

LHS volleyball, on the other hand, dropped a 2-0 decision (25-15, 25-20) at home against Shawnee Mission North on Thursday. The Lions now have a 6-6 clip, and will return to action in a triangular at Olathe West on Tuesday.

It was a busy week for Free State’s volleyball team, which competed in eight matches from Tuesday through Saturday. After falling in three sets (25-10, 27-25-FS, 25-17) to Olathe Northwest, FSHS bounced back to earn a 2-0 win (25-17, 25-20) over Shawnee Mission East in a road triangular on Thursday.

FSHS then ended the week by losing both of its home matches on Saturday. Free State fell in two sets (26-24, 25-23) to Blue Valley North before winning the second set in an eventual three-set defeat (25-17, 25-22-FS, 25-21) against Blue Valley Northwest.

Free State (6-7) will have a couple days off before traveling to Shawnee Mission South for a triangular on Tuesday.

Area cross-country teams earn runner-up finishes

A pair of area cross-country squads came away with a second-place finish in their respective division during Saturday’s meet at the Baldwin City Golf Course. Free State was a runner-up in varsity boys, while Baldwin secured second in varsity girls in its home meet.

The Firebirds had four different individuals finish in the top-nine, led by junior Ben Shryock’s third-place finish. Junior Jack Keathley-Helms came in fifth, while senior Christopher Stone was right behind him in sixth place. Senior Ethan Sharp netted ninth place as an individual.

Baldwin girls had just as much balance, with four individuals finishing inside the top 14. Junior Riley Smith led the way by claiming fourth, and senior Ambrynn Stewart posted 10th. Juniors Diana Messick and Jana Landreth placed 12th and 14th, respectively.

Senior Delaney Rockers (15th) and junior Allison Babbitt (18th) of Free State were among the area runners to end up in the top 20 in the varsity girls race. Sophomore Lucy Hardy paced Lawrence High’s girls cross-country team by taking 20th as an individual.

On the boys side, junior Jack Ryan of LHS placed 21st as an individual to lead the way for the Lions. No other area team finished higher than sixth in varsity action. Saint Thomas Aquinas won the event in the boys division, while Mill Valley secured first place in the girls race.

BALDWIN INVITATIONAL CC

Saturday at Baldwin City Golf Course

Girls varsity scores: 1. Mill Valley 35; 2. Baldwin 63; 3. Washburn Rural 71; 4. Aquinas 100; 5. Seaman 127; 6. Free State 146; 7. Blue Valley North 179; 8. Lawrence High 182; 9. Topeka High 283.

Baldwin results: 4. Riley Smith, 19:55.14; 10. Ambrynn Stewart, 20:20.37; 12. Diana Messick, 20:26.87; 14. Jana Landreth, 20:38.48; 23. Bailey Smith, 21:00.93; 24. Lauren Russell, 21:07.64; 54. Abigail Patterson, 22:11.03; 57. Isabelle Harvey, 22:48.96; 61. Brecheisen Lily, 23:14.42; 67. Rylee Schmidt, 23:46.94.

FSHS results: 15. Delaney Rockers, 20:43.46; 18. Allison Babbitt, 20:46.36; 27. Ella Marshall, 21:12.35; 31. Ella McCleary, 21:22.50; 73. Isa Evans, 24:26.60.

LHS results: 20. Lucy Hardy, 20:49.16; 34. Natalie Kennedy, 21:26.32; 36. Grace Harader-Ellett, 21:35.83; 48. Maddie DeWitt, 22:11.03; 62. Eva Ackley, 23:20.22; 65. Cyrenity Hardy-Billy, 23:41.86; 70. Jayden Wilson, 23:51.25; 72. London Scholz, 24:21.75.

Boys varsity scores: 1. Aquinas 32; 2. Free State 36; 3. Mill Valley 61; 4. Blue Valley North 147; 5. Washburn Rural 151; 6. Seaman 157; 7. Baldwin 216; 8. Topeka High 220; 9. Lawrence High 221.

Baldwin results: 31. Caleb Carr, 17:41.15; 49. Hudson Allen, 18:25.41; 56. Grady McCune, 18:54.69; 65. Drew Schoendaller, 19:41.05; 70. Lucas Hopper, 19:56.30; 72. Dalton Dempsey, 19:57.27; 73. Drake Martin, 20:27.06; 75. Jeremiah Arnold, 20:35.91; 77. Talan Torrez, 20:51.36.

FSHS results: 3. Ben Shryock, 16:05.88; 5. Jack Keathley-Helms, 16:18.26; 6. Christopher Stone, 16:24.62; 9. Ethan Sharp, 16:30.72; 16. Brock Cordova, 16:53.05; 23. Blake Wohler, 17:18.10; 33. Carson Marsh, 17:42.21;

LHS results: 21. Jack Ryan, 17:11.34; 48. Jack Pfeifer, 18:23.47; 67. Keat Prescott, 19:47.96; 71. Will Leuschen, 19:57.00; 79. Daniel Phalen, 20:57.86; 81. Cian Kasten, 21:28.77; 82. Lucas Holmberg, 21:49.09; 84. Marcos Lepage, 22:11.67; 85. Trevor Johnson, 22:15.12.