The Minneola Wildcats will face off against the Hodgeman County Longhorns on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Minneola is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Wheatland-Grinnell 48-18. Given the Wildcats' advantage in MaxPreps' Kansas football rankings (they are ranked 35th, while the Thunderhawks are ranked 141st) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Minneola didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off six passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Kaos Aldridge, Coy Denison, and Cash Lang picked up one apiece.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Hodgeman County, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Friday. They blew past Fairfield 45-0 on Thursday. The Longhorns' offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
Minneola better keep an eye on Ian Reece. He was instrumental in Hodgeman County's win, picking up 73 receiving yards and two TDs, while also punching in one score on the ground. Another player making a difference was Tyson Younger, who gained 72 total yards and a touchdown.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Hodgeman County proved: they limited Fairfield to a paltry 2.4 yards per carry. While four picked up at least one total tackle, Reece stood above the rest. He picked up 73 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also punched in one score on the ground. Hodgeman County didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 7.1.
Hodgeman County's victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-1. The home wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 47.5 points over those games. As for Minneola, their victory bumped their record up to 7-2.
Everything came up roses for Minneola against Hodgeman County in their previous matchup back in October of 2023, as the team secured a 74-40 win. Will the Wildcats repeat their success, or do the Longhorns have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
