BURRTON – It is usually only on an elementary school playground that the losing individual or team immediately hollers for a “do-over.” But due to the seeding process for the 6-Player Kansas State High School football playoffs, the Burrton Chargers will get such a “do-over” next week against the Altoona-Midway High School Jets.
Altoona-Midway won its second consecutive game to close out the regular-season schedule, posting an impressive 27-6 victory over the Burrton Chargers here Friday night. However, the Jets will find themselves traveling back to Burrton for a first-round rematch with the
Chargers when the state playoffs get under way. The Jets and Chargers, both 2-6 on the season, will square off in a rematch on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The loser of that contest will hang up their cleats for the year, while the winners earn a second-round matchup with undefeated Waverly.
“Obviously this is a bit unusual, but that’s just the way the seeding played out,” said AMHS head coach Randy Almond. “We’ll practice hard this week and hopefully we’ll be able to turn in a repeat performance.” Sports teams always talk about wanting to peak at the end of the season, just in time for the playoffs.
Altoona-Midway is taking that message to heart, as the Jets will carry the momentum of a two-game winning streak into the postseason. “This was a good team win tonight,” Almond said. “The last two games we have played much better fundamental football, especially blocking and tackling. We are playing as a team and these young men are bringing a higher level of energy and support. Focusing on the fundamentals has paid off, and we’re hoping to ride this momentum into the playoffs.”
Friday night’s Charger-Jet contest was a low-scoring affair relative to most 6-Man matchups. Altoona- Midway scored one touchdown in each of the four quarters, while Burrton was blanked until managing a single TD in the final period.
“Tonight’s game was a defensive battle, and our defense showed up in a big way,” Almond said. “The boys were aggressive, physical and smart. All three seniors played well, and the underclassmen made some key plays as well. Overall, we played very well as a team.”
The Jets broke the scoring ice in the first quarter when senior Lane Poeverlein hauled in a 6-yard pass rom Kieran Foster. Foster ran in the PAT to give AMHS a 7-0 lead.
Jacob Meigs found paydirt from eight yards out to give the Jets a 13-0 halftime advantage. Meigs added another TD in the third period, a 12-yard rush, and after Braxton Whitlake carried in the extra point, AMHS held a 20-0 advantage.
The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth stanza, with Foster connecting for 11 yards through the air to William Stackhouse. A Foster-to-Joey Lamendola PAT pass gave Altoona-Midway its final points of the game. Statistically, Stackhouse led the Jets defense with 11 tackles (nine unassisted), two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a quarterback sack and two pass deflections.
Meigs added nine total tackles (seven unassisted), while Blaine Collins finished with eight tackles and Poeverlein collected six tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks.
Also aiding the Jets’ great defensive effort were Lamendola with six tackles, Foster with five, Kage Beckand Taj O’Connor with four apiece, and Tyler Peyton with two.
“Everyone who played contributed,” Almond noted. “Andrew Wright was out this week with a knee injury, and we hope to have him back next week.”