Cair Paravel, Rossville and Silver Lake football teams are still in the hunt for titles
The football postseason marches on with the last fall sport for the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
There are three Topeka-area teams still in action, with Rossville and Silver Lake in the hunt in the 2A state football playoffs, and Cair Paravel competing in the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state title game this weekend before moving to KSHSAA next year.
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KSHSAA
Rossville
D3 No. 1 Rossville (10-0) vs. D1 No. 1 Riverton (8-2)
Last week: Rossville defeated D4 No. 2 Nemaha Central, 32-12.
This week, Rossville will host another No. 1 seed in Riverton, a program three hours away enjoying their best year under fifth-year head coach Johnny Mallatt.
Although Rossville's staff knew they've been in the postseason in the recent past, the game plan took shape over the past week as they broke down the film.
Averaging 32.1 points per game and giving up 14.7, Rossville head coach Derick Hammes pointed out the possession, run-oriented offense that was led by a big line up front.
"As a unit, the line has good size, moves people and they fit off of them," said Hammes. "Their fullback is a good runner, think that's a go-to back for them.
"Their style of play is going to lean towards a possession game, our style of play is the opposite. Two ends of the spectrum so to speak, that'll be an important part of the game. Are we going to have a high possession game or is it going to be a grind it out type game?"
Defensively, similar to last week, Hammes said Riverton can throw multiple looks on that side of the ball but it was a new scheme to prepare for, nothing that the size o the defensive lineman stood out as well.
He also added they can cover space well, and attacking space is something Rossville's offense likes to do.
Similar to last week, and any game, Hammes pointed out the need to protect the football but added a few more keys to a victory.
Keys to the game from Hammes: When you’re run-oriented it doesn’t mean you can’t pass. Play action off the runs, our ability to take care of play-action will be key.
Silver Lake
D3 No. 2 Silver Lake (8-2) vs. D2 No. 1 Wellsville (10-0)
Last week: Silver Lake defeated D4 No. 1 St. Marys, 51-36.
Silver Lake will host undefeated Wellsville, a program about an hour away, that averages 43.9 points per game and gives up just 6.4.
Offensively, they're led by junior running back Nash Money, who has 1,497 yards and 29 touchdowns on the season. The team, as a whole, has rushed for 2,788 yards and 45 touchdowns.
"They're good up front and have some explosive running backs," said Silver Lake assistant coach Loren Ziegler. "They run a wide variety of things on offense, lot of different formations. A lot of skill players that can hurt you, a lot of good linemen. They’re undefeated for a reason."
Ziegler said Money is an athletic runner who can run inside or outside as well as having two fullbacks that can carry the rock, too.
Junior quarterback Dylan McCarty has passed for 865 yards on the season, completing 61% of his passes for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Defensively, they've got 15 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.
"From what we’ve seen, a standard four-man front," said Ziegler. "Very aggressive, some of the same offensive linemen play defensive line. Big, physical and good. The linebackers are active and come downhill, good tacklers and the secondary are good tacklers and cover guys."
Keys to the game from Ziegler: We have to be really good upfront on offense and defense. We have to match the physicality. We have to get some stops on defense, have to score a little bit but stopping them will be an issue too. It’ll come down to who can make a play or two there."
KCAA
Cair Paravel (10-0) vs. St. Mary's Academy (7-1)
Last week: Cair Paravel defeated Wichita HomeSchool, 66-20
More: Cair Paravel may leave KCAA on a high note, quarterback Carter Brian leading nation in 8-man TDs
Cair Paravel is looking to leave the KCAA on a high note before joining KSHSAA next season and they're facing a familiar opponent.
In week five, Cair Paravel defeated St. Mary's Academy, 54-8.
But that means nothing to head coach Doug Bonura, who has been with the program for 10 years, nine as a head coach, and said St. Mary's has been there every year except one.
"They've been a dominant force consistently in the KCAA and there's never a time you can count them out," said Bonura. "What we’ve noticed in the past, St. Mary's has a great coaching staff and adjusts well and brings a dominant force of kids that are physical. That's their mainstay, their physicality and consistent ability to get after people.
"You can never count St. Mary's out. They may have a bad game here or there, but they’ll come back."
Bonura pointed to 2019 when St. Mary's Academy lost to Wichita HomeSchool 54-6 and then defeated them in the state title game 76-48.
With the different style of offense this year that has led to an undefeated record for Cair Paravel, Bonura said it will just be about doing what they've done all season, taking what the defense gives them.
Having already faced them once, Bonura said the process for the rematch has been trying to exhaust every avenue of how they'll be attacked differently on both sides of the ball.
"Will they blitz this person or that person?" said Bonura. "Are they gonna double cover here and how will they make up for it there? We're trying to exhaust all possibilities so that our guys can say: 'OK, I’ve seen that. How can we adjust?' That's what will come down to winning the game, not, 'Hey, did we nail what St. Mary's will do?' It's, can we adjust to what they’re doing?"
Keys to the game from Bonura: We have to play as physical as St. Mary's plays. If we can limit their offense, that will be the second key. We have to play our game and not let the emotions get to us. Stay within what we're doing and not get caught up in the emotions of losing focus on what we're supposed to focus on and they’ve done a great job of that this year.
Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Cair Paravel, Rossville, Silver Lake football teams still in playoffs
