Momentum has Marmaton Valley High’s Wildcats rolling into the second round of Kansas Eight Man Division I playoffs. The Wildcats have won six games in a row.
Marmaton Valley is one of the final eight teams remaining in the division playoffs. The Wildcats are two wins away from a state championship game berth.
But that’s looking ahead which is something MVHS head coach Kent Houk and the Wildcats have not been doing all season.
“We’re approaching the playoffs like we did this whole season — one game and one week at a time,” Houk said right after the Wildcats’ regular season finale.
It worked for the Wildcats Tuesday when they held off a visiting Udall High Eagle team for a 46-45 win for the Bi-District Championship.
Now, the Wildcats take on undefeated Lakeside High at Downs. The Knights downed Lebo High’s Wolves 48-20 on Tuesday.
So the Wildcats and their fans will make a 284-mile trek to Downs, which is northwest of Beloit, Saturday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
“All I know of Downs-Lakeside is they have a bruising fullback and they handled Lebo pretty well,” Houk said Tuesday night.
Houk said he would have film on the Knights by Wednesday.
“We’ll prepare for them as we’ve prepared for each team this season,” he said.
Houk touted the play of the Wildcat interior linemen as a key to their success this season. They are senior Kaleb Stroud and juniors Jared Kale and Nathan Smart.
Marmaton Valley is taking a pep bus and those wanting to ride had until today by 3 o’clock, to sign up in the high school office. There was a fee to ride.
Saturday’s game will be streamed on the Internet by KDNS Radio. Go to kdcountry94.com and click the listen live button.
Marmaton Valley reached the regional playoff level in 2007 after beating Lebo in bi-district action. The Wildcats lost to Clifton-Clyde 56-8 that year to finish 10-1.
Kansas High School Football Playoffs
Second Round Games
All games at 7 p.m.
unleass otherwise noted
Saturday’s Pairings
EIGHT-MAN I
Top bracket
Madison (10-0) at Central Burden (9-1), 3 p.m.
Marmaton Valley (7-2) at Lakeside (10-0), 1 p.m.
Bottom bracket
Osborne (9-1) at Macksville (10-0), 3 p.m.
Central Plains (9-1) at South Gray (9-0)
EIGHT-MAN II
Top bracket
Baileyville (9-0) at South Barber (8-2), 4 p.m.
South Haven (10-0) at Hope (10-0), 2:30 p.m.
Bottom bracket
Otis-Bison (9-1) at Victoria (6-4)
Ashland (9-0) at Thunder Ridge (10-0), 4 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Top bracket
KC Piper (7-3) at Blue Valley Southwest (5-5), 2 p.m.
Paola (9-1) at Columbus (4-6)
Eudora (9-1) at Basehor-Linwood (10-0)
Chanute (7-3) at Louisburg (5-5)
Bottom bracket
Mulvane (8-2) at Topeka Hayden (9-1)
Buhler (10-0) at Abilene (10-0)
Andale (5-5) at Rose Hill (9-1)
Ulysses (9-1) at Hesston (8-2), 6 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Top bracket
Erie (6-4) at Caney (10-0), 3 p.m.
Rossville (9-1) at Rock Creek (7-3)
Wellsville (10-0) at Galena (7-3), 3 p.m.
Silver Lake (9-1) at Riley County (8-2), 3 p.m.
Bottom bracket
Wichita Collegiate (8-2) at Garden Plain (9-1), 2 p.m.
Phillipsburg (7-2) at Beloit (8-2)
Sedgwick (10-0) at Conway Springs (9-1)
Smith Center (8-1) at Scott City (10-0), 5 p.m.
