3A Powers collide as Scott City hosts Wichita Collegiate

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Two traditional playoff powers will collide this afternoon at Darner Field in Scott City, as Wichita Collegiate makes the trek west to face the Scott City Beavers, with a trip to the Sub-State championship game on the line. 

Wichita Collegiate has won eight in a row after dropping the lone game of the year in week three at Andale. The 10-1 Spartans come in on a tear, after they defeated the previously-unbeaten Hesston Swathers 61-35 last Saturday night in Wichita. They also took down powerhouse Conway Springs 56-34 in the Bi-District round of the Class 3A playoffs just 11 days ago. Wichita Collegiate is led by senior speedster Jaques Williams, who has rushed for 1,484 yards and 31 touchdowns, and junior quarterback Austin Waddell, who has passed for 18 touchdowns. The Spartans average just over 43 points a game.

Scott City enters this afternoons game with a record of 11-0 on the year, following a 55-20 win at Norton in the Regional round last Saturday afternoon. The Beavers jumped out to a 33-7 halftime lead, and used two defensive touchdowns to knock off the previously undefeated Bluejays. Scott City averages over 48 points per game and gives up just over seven. Cooper Griffith got over the century mark in rushing with his two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and sits at 1,001 yards and 18 scores, while Trey O’Neil has passed for 1534 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. They also shutout Ellsworth 56-0 in the Bi-District round of the playoffs on November 4. 

The winner of this game will play Halstead next week. Halstead thumped Minneapolis 66-0 on Friday night. If Scott City wins, they will travel to Halstead, and if Wichita Collegiate wins, they will host the Dragons.

These two teams last met in 2009, when the Spartans got a touchdown with just over a minute left to defeat the Beavers 19-17 in a classic thriller at Wichita Collegiate High School, and went on to win the Class 3A title. That was also the last time they were a Class 3A school in football prior to this year. The Spartans have won the last four games in the series. Scott City won the first-ever meeting in 1994 in Wichita 43-17 in a battle of top teams in Class 4A and Class 3A. 

It will be a cold afternoon and evening at Darner Field. Pregame coverage begins at 3:30 on Mix 94, and online at https://www.westernkansasnews.com/mix94/. You can also listen on your Android or Apple device by downloading and using the KSKL app.