By Joanna Chadwick
So many questions were raised about Derby after the 24-20 loss to Bishop Carroll on Oct. 24. The loss dropped Derby to 5-3.
But the last time Derby lost three games, the Panthers went to the semifinals in 2011.
Tonight they secured that same spot in the playoffs with a 63-21 win at Wichita Northwest (9-2).
Derby will play at Manhattan (9-2) next Friday in the semifinals.
Andale (11-0) beat Pratt 57-7 to win its 88th straight home game to advance to the semifinals. Pratt falls to 9-2.
While the first quarter was scoreless, Andale scored 43 unanswered points over the next two periods.
Andale’s Sam Harp threw for one touchdownm and also ran for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Jack Horsch had two touchdowns, and Noah Stanley and Emmett Eck each scored. Sam Kuepker had two interceptions.
Kapaun improved to 10-1 with a 64-0 win over Wellington.
Salina Central took a four-point lead at the end of the third quarter and turned it into a 49-24 victory over rival Salina South. Salina Central is 10-1.
Maize’s undefeated season ended with a 55-31 loss at home to Manhattan.
Hoisington’s unbeaten season continues after beating Garden Plain (9-2) 36-7.
Sterling gave up a touchdown to Hutchinson Trinity with 28 seconds left, but the two-point conversion failed. Sterling (11-0) won 44-42 to advance to the semifinals.
Scores
Andale 57, Pratt 7
Cunningham 46, Otis-Bison 0
Derby 63, Wichita Northwest 21
Great Bend 29, Hays 22
Hanover 50, Linn 0
Hoisington 36, Garden Plain 7
Kapaun 64, Wellington 0
Manhattan 55, Maize 31
Rock Creek 14, Cheney 7
Salina Central 49, Salina South 24
Smith Center 22, Moundridge 14
South Barber 45, Pawnee Heights 0
SE-Saline 48, Phillipsburg 6
Sterling 44, Hutchinson Trinity 42
Sylvan-Lucas 50, Little River 44
Victoria 36, Hutchinson Central Christian 22
Wamego 21, Augusta 14
