Undefeated Tigers finally earn state rankings

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Fort Scott High School's football team became just one of two unbeaten teams remaining in Class 4A when Lenexa St. James took a 41-12 loss to Spring Hill Thursday night.

The Tigers beat Anderson County, 48-6 at Frary Field Friday night to remain undefeated. That was enough for Fort Scott to finally break out of the "others" category and into the top five in the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal polls.

Fort Scott is ranked No. 5 in both polls with three one-loss teams between them and No. 1 Holton (7-0). Wichita Collegiate is No. 2 in both polls, McPherson No. 3 in both and Mulvane No. 4 in both.

Holton has beaten its first six opponents by an average score of 54-10. The Wildcats beat Wamego 51-12 in their district opener Friday night. Next up is Topeka Hayden, which is only 3-4 this season but has played three Class 6A schools and three Class 5A schools in Centennial League play. The Wildcats beat Hoyt-Royal Valley 47-14 Friday night. Royal Valley was Hayden's first Class 4A opponent this season.

Wichita Collegiate's only loss this season came in week two to Buhler, 28-21. Buhler is just 3-3 but their losses have come to Mulvane in week three, McPherson in week four and Andale, which is 6-1, in Friday's district opener.

Collegiate takes on defending Class 4A State champion Rose Hill this week. The Rockets are just 3-4 this season, with those defeats coming to Buhler, Andale, McPherson and Mulvane. Those four were among Rose Hill's first five opponents this season. In their last two games, the Rockets have beaten El Dorado and Augusta by a combined 93-35 score.

McPherson's only loss came in week four to Hays, which is ranked No. 3 by the Eagle and No. 4 by the Capital-Journal in Class 5A. The Bullpups beat Lindsborg-Smoky Valley Friday night, 42-13. The game began in Lindsborg, then was moved to McPherson after a transformer blew at Bethany College's field, which Smoky Valley also uses.

This week, McPherson will face Abilene, which is just 1-6. The Cowboys started the season 0-5 before beating Marysville, 42-28, in week six. They lost to rival Chapman Friday night, 29-28.

The Tigers will travel to Iola this Friday night to take on the Mustangs, who are 5-2 after falling to Chanute, 42-0, in a storm-delayed Class 4A District 6 game that didn't get underway until after 10 p.m. Iola left the Southeast Kansas League for the Pioneer League following the last school year and clinched the league championship two weeks ago when it beat Wellsville, 41-36.

Chanute, incidentally, played at Mulvane in its season opener, enjoying a 9-6 lead briefly before eventually falling 30-9. The Tigers and Blue Comets will wrap up regular-season and district play Oct. 25 at Frary Field.

St. James was ranked No. 3 in Topeka's poll and No. 4 by the Eagle going into last Thursday's battle. Spring Hill was just 2-4 going into the contest but had lost to Louisburg, Paola, Eudora and Ottawa. The Thunder face Bonner Springs (3-4) this Friday night and DeSoto (3-4) in the district finale Oct. 25.

WICHITA EAGLE

Class 4A

1. Holton, 7-0 (1)

2. Wichita Collegiate, 6-1 (2)

3. McPherson, 6-1 (3)

4. Mulvane, 6-1 (5)

5. Fort Scott, 7-0 (NR)

Others: Andale 6-1 (NR), Clay Center 5-2 (NR), Coffeyville 5-2 (NR), Concordia 5-2 (NR), Eudora 6-1 (NR), Girard 6-1 (NR), Maize South 6-1 (NR), Nickerson 6-1 (NR), St. James Academy 6-1 (4), Wamego 5-2 (NR).

TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Class 4A

1. Holton, 7-0 (1)

2. Wichita Collegiate, 6-1 (2)

3. McPherson, 6-1 (3)

4. Mulvane, 6-1 (5)

5. Fort Scott, 7-0 (NR)

Others: Andale 6-1, Clay Center 5-2, Coffeyville 5-2, Eudora 6-1, Girard 6-1, Kansas City-Piper 5-2, Maize South 6-1, Nickerson 6-1, St. James Academy 6-1, Wamego 5-2.