The energy at CBAC was palpable. Each student section was filled hours before kickoff. It was senior night. Seniors who have given years to the West Football program were getting ready to play in the biggest game in program history. The Olathe Northwest Ravens were the opponent at hand. One game away from the first Sunflower League championship in school history, it was fitting that their most hated rivals were standing in the way. In the cold rain, everything was on the line.
The Owls started off the game hot. Senior Brody Hale and Josh Foland carried the offense in the first quarter. After a long run by Hale, Foland found the end zone to put the Owls ahead early.
Later in the quarter, after a Ravens’ touchdown, Hale found his favorite target, senior Sam Krzykowski, for a 71-yard touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, Hale hit Krzykowski again for their second touchdown of the night. Although the score was 22-7, the game was far from over. The Owls needed another stop and a touchdown to go up three scores and put the dagger through the heart of the Ravens. However, the Ravens drove down the field, about to score. With the rain pouring down, the football became slippery for both teams. Luckily for the Owls, the snap was fumbled by the Ravens, junior Wyatt Benton fell on the ball, and the Owls got a clutch stop.
After the half, an extended break as the fall sports and band seniors were honored, the Owls anchored down on defense. Senior Conner Tracy flew around the field, making tackle after tackle for an Owls defense that only gave up 13 points in the second half.
In the fourth quarter, the Owls were looking to lock the game up. With the ball at the 30-yard line in Ravens territory, head coach Jon Wiemers had a decision to make on fourth down. Onto the field came senior kicker Dylan Wiman for a school-record 47-yard attempt. With no wind, he would have to do it all on his own. As the ball came off his foot, it hung in the air, but the ball just barely snuck in over the crossbar, and Wiman had put the Owls in the lead for good.
A Look Ahead
With their win on Friday night, the Owls locked up the Sunflower League and the first seed in the 6A East bracket. Up next is Shawnee Mission North, a team that the Owls have already played this season. A 42-24 rout on Sept. 26 win earlier this season, gave the Owls their third win of the season. Krzykowski and Hale were the keys in that matchup, with Krzykowski catching 154 of Hale’s 213 passing yards.
The rest of the eastern bracket looks like a dogfight. Three-seed Shawnee Mission Northwest provides the biggest challenge for the Owls. The Cougars’ flexbone scheme provided the Owls some trouble on Sept. 19 when the two teams faced off, with the game ending in a 52-33 Cougars victory.
If the Owls take care of business against the Bison, either Olathe South or Blue Valley Northwest will be waiting for them in the second round. Olathe South ended the regular season with a 4-4 record, but the Falcons have failed to win their matchups against the Sunflower League’s best. Blue Valley Northwest came into the season with state championship hopes, but now hold a 4-4 record. After winning their first two games against Shawnee Mission Northwest and Blue Valley North, the Huskies went 2-4 in the rest of their schedule, including blowouts against St. Thomas Aquinas, St. James and Washburn Rural.
Whatever happens next week, the road to Emporia will run through CBAC.
Stat Leaders- 10/24 Vs Olathe Northwest
Passing: SR Brody Hale 8/13 3 TD’s 1 INT
Rushing: SR Josh Foland 17 Carries 149 YD’s 2 TD’s
Receiving: SR Sam Krzykowski 5 REC 199 YD’s 3 TD’s
Defense
Tackles: SR Conner Tracy 11 Tackles
TFL’s: Tracy/Warren (2 Each)
Turnovers: JR Wyatt Benton 1 FR
