By John Mesh
The Buhler Crusaders’ hopes for their second Class 4A state football championship were dashed in the Kansas Class 4A West semifinals by the Andover Central Jaguars 41-14 Friday night at Jaguar Stadium in Andover.
Buhler, which defeated Holton to win the 2013 state title game, finished the season with a 9-3 record.
Andover Central (11-1) will play Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege (5-7) for the 4A state championship at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.
Bishop Miege defeated Tonganoxie 48-13 in the 4A East semifinal game Friday night. Tonganoxie finished the season with an 8-4 record.
The Jaguars, who have six straight wins over Buhler, scored first on a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jace Jefferson to Brandt Stupka after an 8-play drive. Andrew Clouse kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Jaguars scored two more touchdowns for a 20-0 lead. That was the halftime score.
Jefferson threw his third touchdown pass in the third quarter for a 27-0 lead.
Buhler finally got on the scoreboard on a 62-yard halfback pass from Mitchel McDaniel to Quentin Pisano. Jared Miller’s extra point kick made the score 27-7.
The Jaguars scored on another TD pass from Jefferson in the third quarter to make the score 34-7 at the end of the third quarter. Andover Central added another TD in the fourth quarter to make the score 41-7.
Pisano scored his second TD on a pass from Buhler junior quarterback Brendan Scripsick. Miller’s PAT kick made the score 41-14.
Buhler’s six-game winning streak was snapped. Andover Central extended its winning streak to seven and will make its second trip in three years.
In the Kansas Class 6A semifinals, Gardner-Edgerton defeated Blue Valley West 34-25 and Manhattan knocked off the state’s No. 1 team Derby 31-21.
In the 6A state title game, Manhattan (12-0) plays Gardner-Edgerton at 2 p.m. Friday at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.
In the 5A semifinals Hays High defeated Goddard Eisenhower 25-14 and St. Thomas Aquinas, guided by former Hutchinson coach Randy Dreiling, defeated St. James Academy 24-17.
In the 5A state title game, Aquinas (12-0) plays Hays (8-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.
In the Class 3A semifinals, Andale defeated Holcomb 55-14 and Topeka Hayden defeated Wellsville 35-7. Andale’s Dylan Schmidt coached his 100th career game. His record is 96-4.
Hayden (11-1) plays Andale (12-0) at noon Saturday at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
In the Class 2A state semifinals, Nemaha Central defeated Council Grove 21-6 and Southeast of Saline defeated Beloit 34-30.
Nemaha Central (11-1) plays Southeast of Saline (12-0) for the 2A state title at 6 p.m. Friday at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
Nemaha Central is headed to its third straight state title game. The Thunder are going for back-to-back state titles under coach Michael Glatczak.
In the 1A state semifinals, Centralia defeated Rossville 22-9 and Conway Springs defeated Valley Heights 55-22.
Centralia (11-1) plays Conway Springs (12-0) for 1A state title at 5 p.m. Saturday at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
In the Eight-Man I state semifinals, Central Plains defeated Clifton-Clyde 28-25 and Hoxie defeated South Central 42-28.
Central Plains (10-2) plays Hoxie (12-0) in the Eight-Man I title game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg.
In the Eight-Man II semifinals, Victoria defeated Dighton 66-20 and Axtell defeated Frankfort 52-20.
Victoria (12-0) will play Axtell (12-0) for the Eight-Man II state title game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg.
In the Six-Man semifinals, Cunningham defeated Tescott 54-6 and Weskan defeated Golden Plains 82-45..
Cunningham (11-0) will play Weskan (12-0) in the Six-Man state title game at 3 p.m.Saturday at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg.