Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s state, junior-college games (Oct. 31)
MIAA
Washburn (4-4, 4-4 MIAA) at No. 17 Emporia State (7-1, 7-1), 2 p.m. — Emporia State has a clear path to returning to the NCAA Division II playoffs – win at least 2 of its last 3 final games. So facing a trip to undefeated, No. 2 Northwest Missouri last week and then winless Nebraska-Kearney in Emporia in the regular-season finale, Saturday’s game looks a lot like a must-win.
The Turnpike Tussle is the most-played rivalry in NCAA Division II, with Saturday’s game the 112th meeting between the two teams in a series that began in 1899.
Other games
No. 2 Northwest Missouri (8-0, 8-0) at Missouri Western (4-4, 4-4), 1 p.m.
Central Oklahoma (3-5, 3-5) at Northeastern State (2-6, 2-6), 1 p.m.
No. 25 Central Missouri (6-2, 6-2) at Lindenwood (3-5, 3-5), 1:30 p.m.
Missouri Southern (1-7, 1-7) at Pittsburg State (5-3, 5-3), 2 p.m.
Neb.-Kearney (0-8, 0-8) at Fort Hays State (5-3, 5-3), 2:30 p.m.
KCAC
No. 17 Kansas Wesleyan (7-1, 5-1 KCAC) at Ottawa (4-3, 4-2), 1:30 p.m. — Kansas Wesleyan and second-year coach Matt Drinkall have a clear path to the NAIA playoffs – win the last two games and they’re in. Kansas Wesleyan senior quarterback Jake Curran is second in the nation with 2,588 yards of total offense. Curran has 18 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.
Other games
Sterling (4-3, 4-2) at McPherson (0-7, 0-6), 1 p.m.
Bethany (1-7, 1-5) at No. 11 Tabor (7-1, 6-0), 1:30 p.m.
Friends (2-6, 2-4) at Bethel (3-4, 3-3), 1:30 p.m.
Saint Mary (3-5, 3-3) at Southwestern (2-6, 2-4), 1:30 p.m.
Jayhawk
Highland (5-3, 4-1 Jayhawk) at No. 5 Butler (8-1, 5-1), 1:30 p.m. — Butler is on the outside looking in of the national championship race after last Saturday’s 25-20 upset loss to Garden City in El Dorado. Now, the Grizzlies have another upset-minded team visiting with Highland coming off an upset win over No. 12 Coffeyville last Saturday. The bottom fell out for Butler’s offensive line against Garden City – they gave up 10 sacks, including one on the game’s final play, a third-and-goal at the Garden City 8-yard line.
Other games
Iowa Central (2-5) at Garden City (2-7), 1 p.m.
Ellsworth (4-5) at Hutchinson (4-5), 1 p.m.
Fort Scott (2-7) at No. 10 Iowa Western (7-2), 1 p.m.
No. 19 Dodge City (7-2, 4-1) at No. 12 Coffeyville (7-2, 3-2), 7 p.m.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s state, junior-college games (Oct. 31)."