Who to watch for in Week 8 as league, district high school football titles are clinched

It is the final regular-season Friday of the year for high school football, and motivation should be high.

That could bring out the best in some of the key players across the Wichita area. Here is who to keep an eye on in Week 8 as teams jockey for league and district positioning:

Hooper Schroeder - Sedgwick, Quarterback, Sr.

Few players in Kansas have put up moster numbers as consistently as Schroeder.

In Week 8, Sedgwick will compete for a Class 1A district championship at home against Inman, one of the surprise teams of the 2018 season.

The stage is set. Schroeder, Sedgwick’s all-time passing leader, just has to walk into it on senior night.

Scott Valentas - Kapaun, Running Back, Sr.

Kapaun thought Valentas would be used only on defense, and the turned on its head.

The Crusaders have used Valentas as their No. 1 option out of the backfield in 2018 and with a massive seed-determining game at home against Heights, coach Dan Adelhardt will likely turn to his leader as often as possible.

In each of Kapaun’s biggest games this season, against Andover, Bishop Carroll and Northwest, Valentas has come up big. There is little reason to believe he won’t again on senior night.

Corey Minks - Maize South, Receiver, Sr.

Minks should be flying into Friday.

After scoring the game-winning, double overtime touchdown over Goddard in Week 7, Minks has the Maize South offense believing again after a 0-3 start.

The Mavericks have a good shot at five straight, facing a Wichita North team that hasn’t won since Week 2. With fellow receiver Nolan Veenis likely out against the Redskins, sophomore quarterback Colin Shields will likely look Minks’ way quite a bit.

Douglass - Offensive Line

Outside of a Week 2 shutout loss to Garden Plain, Douglass has socred fewer than 30 points only once this season.

The Bulldogs are rolling toward a second straight district championship and will face an entertaining Belle Plaine bunch Friday to clinch it. The Douglass offensive line and senior running back Zach Dressler will be key to hitting their mark.

Heading into Week 8, the Bulldogs’ offensive line has plowed the way for 2,631 yards.

Maize - Defensive Line

This is where to watch.

In the biggest game of the regular season in the Wichita area, the Maize defensive line’s ability to get to Derby quarterback Hunter Igo will be the deciding factor.

The Derby offensive line hasn’t let many rushers get past in 2018. Friday will show whether the Maize defensive line can live up to the hype.

Dhimani Butler - Goddard, Linebacker, Jr.

Andover is missing its starting quarterback.

Trojan senior Alex Jones filled in nicely last week against Andover Central, but the Goddard defense is one of the best in the area. If Andover sticks to the rushing attack and short passing game, Butler will have countless opportunities around the ball.

He has the speed to cover and the power to rip through blocks.

Cameron Harvey - Campus, Safety, Sr.

Last year, Campus beat Hutchinson for its first playoff win in school history.

Harvey was an instrumental part of that win and will likely be juiced to make it happen again Friday on senior night.

He is a versatile defender who has a knack for finding the ball. The Salthawks are having one of their worst seasons in recent history, and Harvey could be the biggest beneficiary in the Colts’ regular-season finale.

Paul Eck - Bishop Carroll, Cornerback, Sr.

Eck has been one of the Golden Eagles’ most consistent players of 2018.

His coverage has been solid all season. He will be key against a versatile Wichita South offense that has surprisingly scored fewer than 20 points just once this season despite a 3-4 record.

Eck will likely cover South senior Damion Wells, who comes into Friday with 394 receiving yards and is the Titans’ leading receiver.