SIX-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK ONE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Almost half of the classification saw game action in Zero Week, and the majority of the games were lopsided. Week One has a busy slate, with all but two of the 15 teams that received a vote in this week’s MHPR Coaches/AD poll.
FRIDAY
#1 IDALIA (1-0) AT #8 WALSH (0-0)
Gabe Kechter touched the ball four times in Idalia’s 60-6 win over Genoa-Hugo/Karval last week. All four went four touchdowns. The senior had three carries for 159 yards and three TD, and one catch for 55 yards and a touchdown. Kolby Morris and Broderick Kite each threw for a score and ran for another. This is the season-opener for Walsh, who is looking for a second straight postseason appearance. Idalia has won both meetings between the two, including a 53-6 decision last year. Kechter ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a 74-yard TD pass in a half. Hudson Gourley threw for 143 yards for Walsh, but it was the only game all season without a touchdown pass for him.
#2 CHEYENNE WELLS (1-0) VS #5 FLEMING (1-0)
In a weekend filled with ranked vs ranked match-ups, this one is the marquee pairing. Cheyenne Wells got 157 yards and five touchdowns on the ground from Trevin Smith on 10 carries in the first half of a 68-18 win over #11 Flagler last week. Nine different Wildcats scored at least one touchdown in Fleming’s 80-0 win over North Park. Jaron Monroe and Aiden Maestas had two apiece. Cheyenne Wells rolled to a 52-6 win at Fleming last year with Kooper Brossman and Kelby Leonard both recording nine tackles. Brossman also had a pair of fumble recoveries. Dylon Monroe ran for Fleming’s only score.
#6 CALICHE (0-1) VS #7 OTIS (0-0)
Caliche held a 16-8 lead at the half over #4 Granada last week, but could not hold on, as the Buffs were outscored 24-6 in the second half to fall 30-22. Avery Bell stacked up 11 tackles, while Mason Hernandez and Tayten Gerk added nine stops apiece. Otis is opening its season on the road with its first meeting with Caliche in six-man.
#9 WILEY (0-0) VS GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (0-1)
After spending last weekend scrimmaging, Wiley plays its first official game of the year on Friday. In their third season as a six-man program, the Panthers are shooting for their first postseason appearance in the classification. Genoa-Hugo/Karval got its lone score in last week’s 60-6 loss at Idalia on a pass from Ryker Lockhart to Gabe Carr. Wiley won last year’s match-up 48-27, with Grant Mauch throwing for 174 yards and three TD, and adding 95 yards and a touchdown rushing. Lockhart led the Pirates with 121 yards and one score through the air, and 157 yards and three TD on the ground.
#11 FLAGLER (0-1) VS #12 EADS (0-0)
Keegan Isenbart ran for three touchdowns in Flagler’s 68-18 loss to Cheyenne Wells last week. The Panthers will look to bounce back against an Eads team playing its first game of the year. Eads won all four meetings with the Panthers between 2010 and 2013, and also took a 59-52 victory over the Flagler/Hi-Plains co-op in 2019.
#14 KIOWA (0-0) AT #15 HANOVER (0-0)
These former Central division rivals get the season underway on Friday. Kiowa has shifted to the East Central, while the Hornets are now in the South West. Hanover has won five straight in the series, including a 66-20 decision last season. Edgar Vera-Wences led Hanover with 13 tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. John White had four tackles and a blocked kick for the Indians.
SATURDAY
#10 PRAIRIE (0-0) AT NORTH PARK (0-1)
With the North looking like a four-team race, including Prairie, the Mustangs open the season with a league contest at North Park. The Wildcats had a rough opener last week, falling to Fleming 80-0. They were held to negative yardage on offense. Clay Utley led the defense with seven tackles. The Mustangs have won three straight in the series, and 10 of the last 13. Last year’s game finished up 51-6.
#12 BRANSON/KIM (0-0) VS MOUNTAIN VALLEY (0-0)
The season-opener for both teams happens to count in the South West standings. Branson/Kim took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 78-19 victory over Mountain Valley last year. Cooper Winter had three touchdown passes for the Bearcats, and he added a team-leading 15 tackles. Tye Salaz threw a TD and led the Wolves with 10 tackles.
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