6A East & Week-12 Playoff Preview

Sub-State Finals

6A - East

2) Blue Valley vs 4) Blue Valley North (BVT leads the series 25-7) @ Blue Valley
* Tigers and Mustangs. These two are no strangers to each other, as they have both found themselves the remaining of a 6A-East bracket consisting of 90% Sunflower League, 9% Eastern Kansas, and 1% consisting of KC-Atchison Wyandotte Bulldogs.

Throughout time (1987 to be exact) the Tigers and Mustangs have met yearly in EKL battles. This is essentially the tale of two Blue Valley's while one has maintained constant stability and a traditionally long and great playoff history, the other has found itself going through multiple Coaching changes and minimal success, spotty at best.

Only for the second time in these two Football programs entire history have they ever met in the regular season and post-season to include 2016, with the Tigers sweeping the Mustangs. At no other time, in Tigers, and Mustangs series history, has this ever been accomplished.

That said, these latter rounds are what upset's are all about. The Tigers, have played in many State Final's, the Mustangs will bring some un-hearalded talent that could cause some problems for the Tigers. For the Mustangs, a road win, in a tough environment will need to make every quarter count from the start.

For those inquisitive minds asking for a little more back round, here are some incredible numbers:

BV Tigers vs. BV North - Overall Record
1987-2009 (23) Steve Rampy - 17-6 in 23 games played - never met the Mustangs in playoffs
2010-2016 (7) @ Eric Driskell - 6-1 in 7 games played - 1-0 vs. Mustangs in playoffs
2017-Present (1+) Allen Terrill - 1-0 - 1 game played including 2017 State playoffs

BV North vs. BV Tigers - Overall Record
1987-1988 (2) Bob Whitehead 0-2
1989-1994 (6) Tim Burkendine 1-5
1995-1996 (2) Bob Lisher 1-1 - Only Free State Firebirds Head Coach in school history
1997-2001 (5) Don Simmons 3-2 - only Mustang Coach with a winning record vs. BVT
2002-2004 (3) Troy Morris 1-2
2005-2010 (6) Jason Jones 0-6
2011-2013 (3) John McCall 0-3
2014-2017 (3+) Andy Sims 1-3+ Second meeting ever in post-season play in week-12


6A - West

5) Derby vs 2) Wichita Northwest (DER leads the series 2-0) (2010-2017) @ Wichita-NW 
* The Derby Panthers and Northwest Grizzlies although close in proximity by geographical standards and outskirts of Wichita Kansas have rarely been found together on the gridiron unless meeting in Basketball season which probably happens regularly.

These two hail from the AVCTL, and the "City League" the GWAL (Greater Wichita Athletic League).

There is no doubt Derby Coach Brandon Clark will have his Panthers ready and waiting for a very powerful W-NW Grizzlies program led by Steve Martin. The Grizzlies are a bright spot of the City League Football programs amongst them all consistently within the top 3 in the last handful of seasons.

A rare match up like this will be a great challenge for the Panthers, and it will be a great game for the Grizzlies to make a statement in hopes of reaching a State Final game, and knocking off the powerhouse Panthers.