The Prairie View (La Cygne, KS) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Wellsville (KS) on Friday, November 15 at 7:00 PM.

What: Kansas High School Football
Who: Prairie View (KS) vs Wellsville (KS)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Wellsville vs. Prairie View: A Clash of Football Titans

As the 2024-2025 high school football season heads into its exciting final stretch, two Kansas teams—Wellsville and Prairie View—stand out for their impressive records and fierce competition. The two teams will meet for a neutral-site playoff game on November 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., after Wellsville’s dominant victory over Prairie View in the regular season, a 35-20 win on September 20, 2024. This matchup promises to be one of the most anticipated games in the Kansas high school football playoffs.

Team Overview

Wellsville has proven to be a powerhouse this season, finishing the regular season 10-0, with an unblemished 6-0 record in district play. The team has been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 42.5 points per game and dominating opponents with a balanced attack, featuring a strong running game and solid passing. Their defense has been just as impressive, allowing just 67 points on the season, which translates to a remarkably low 6.7 points per game.

In contrast, Prairie View finished the regular season 8-2, including a perfect 4-0 record in district play. The Prairie View offense has been equally efficient, averaging 40.6 points per game, but their defense has shown a bit more vulnerability, allowing 234 points over the season. Despite this, Prairie View has managed to perform at a high level, boasting a potent offense led by standout players and finishing strong in the regular season.

Key Player Comparisons

The individual talent on both teams has been extraordinary this season, with several players stepping up as key contributors.

• Wellsville’s Armond Graves has been a workhorse on offense, racking up an impressive 111.8 rushing yards per game, while also contributing 16 points per game.
• Pete Dorsey, Wellsville’s versatile player, leads the team with 93.4 passing yards per game and has been crucial in the overall offensive production with 139.9 total yards per game.

On the other side, Prairie View’s Parker Schwarz has been a standout player, particularly on the ground, with an outstanding 213.1 rushing yards per game. Additionally, Wyatt Attebery has proven effective in the passing game, even though Prairie View’s aerial attack has not been as prolific as Wellsville’s.

Both teams have defensive leaders that have made significant contributions throughout the season. Wellsville’s Carter Wilmarth leads his team with 10.9 tackles per game, while Prairie View’s Grant Steenburgen is right behind with 11.1 tackles per game, making for a battle of defensive stalwarts.

Offensive and Defensive Breakdown

When comparing the offensive and defensive statistics, Wellsville edges out Prairie View in total yards per game. Wellsville averages 310.2 total yards per game, while Prairie View comes in slightly higher at 421.9 total yards per game. However, the disparity in defensive performance is evident: Wellsville has given up only 67 points this season, compared to 234 points allowed by Prairie View.

Both teams are high-scoring, averaging over 40 points per game, with Wellsville at 40.4 and Prairie View at 40.6. However, Wellsville has demonstrated a more balanced approach with a strong rushing attack, averaging 193.2 rushing yards per game and a capable passing game. Prairie View relies heavily on its potent ground game, with 402.4 rushing yards per game, while their passing game has been limited, averaging just 19.5 yards per game.

Head-to-Head Matchup

Looking back at their regular-season meeting, Wellsville emerged victorious, winning by a solid 35-20 margin. While Prairie View showed fight, the defensive prowess and offensive efficiency of Wellsville were too much to overcome. In that game, Wellsville scored 35 points in the absence of a significant offensive threat from Prairie View, whose only 20 points were spread across the four quarters.

Both teams come into this playoff game having performed well against common opponents. Wellsville finished their contests against shared opponents with a 4-0 record, while Prairie View also posted an impressive 5-0 mark.

What to Expect in the Playoff Showdown

The upcoming neutral-site playoff game will undoubtedly be a clash of titans. Wellsville’s high-powered offense and stout defense will face off against Prairie View’s explosive run game and resilient team play. Both teams will need to execute clean, disciplined football to advance to the next stage in the playoffs.

For Wellsville, controlling the line of scrimmage and stifling Prairie View’s run game will be key to their success. If they can limit the effectiveness of Parker Schwarz and force Prairie View into passing situations, they could repeat their regular-season performance.

Prairie View, on the other hand, will need to find ways to generate more offense through the air to diversify their attack and not become one-dimensional. They will also need to improve their defense, as Wellsville’s balanced offense presents a significant challenge.

Conclusion

The Wellsville vs. Prairie View playoff game promises to be a thrilling matchup between two of Kansas’ top high school football teams. Wellsville has the edge on paper, with their perfect regular season and defensive dominance, but Prairie View has the firepower and resilience to pull off an upset. Whichever team can execute their game plan effectively will move one step closer to their ultimate goal: a state championship.

As both teams prepare for this crucial showdown, fans can expect a fierce, high-energy contest with plenty of momentum swings. Don’t miss this exciting matchup on November 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.!