Council Grove averaging 50 points per game through 3-0 start The Council Grove Braves will put their undefeated record on the line Friday when they travel to Minneapolis for a Week 4 matchup with the Lions. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Council Grove enters the game 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class 2A. Minneapolis is 0-3 and ranked No. 34.
The Braves are coming off a 66-0 Homecoming victory over West Franklin, while Minneapolis fell 54-5 to No. 5 Beloit in its most recent outing.
Through three games, Council Grove has averaged 50 points and 287.7 yards of total offense per contest while limiting opponents to 6.7 points and 83.3 total yards per game. The Braves have averaged 180.7 yards passing and 107 yards rushing, while opponents have managed averages of 55.3 yards through the air and 27.7 on the ground.
Turnovers have also worked heavily in Council Grove’s favor. The Braves have forced an average of 2.7 turnovers per game while playing their first three contests without committing a turnover.
Senior quarterback Luke Stewart has completed 30 of 42 passes for 497 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. He accounted for 546 yards of total offense, including 49 rushing yards.
Council Grove has spread its production among several players. Junior Cooper Andres has rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, while senior Bradley Doornbos has 90 yards and three touchdowns on 16 attempts. Sophomore Leyton Olsen has added 84 yards on eight carries.
Senior Mason Samuels leads the receiving corps with nine catches for 173 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Grady Kepley has six receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown, while junior Logan Stockwell has five catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Doornbos has made an impact in several phases of the game, accumulating a team-high 358 all-purpose yards. His total includes 90 rushing yards, 43 receiving, 41 on kickoff returns, 171 on punt returns and 13 on an interception return. Samuels has 199 all-purpose yards and Andres has 164.
The Braves’ defensive numbers have been equally strong through the opening three weeks. Senior David McDiffett leads the team with 31 tackles and also has a fumble recovery. Senior Reid Buttrey has recorded 19 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Doornbos has 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, a half-sack and three quarterback hurries to go with an interception returned for a touchdown. Dillon McDiffett has 15 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Stockwell has 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Sy’ied Smith-Jenkins has added 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and two blocked punts.
Special teams have also contributed to Council Grove’s early success. Doornbos has returned two punts for touchdowns, while David McDiffett has another punt-return touchdown. Junior Carter Bremer has converted 19 of 20 extra-point attempts and one of two field-goal tries, with a long of 24 yards, for 22 points.
Buttrey has handled the punting duties, averaging 32 yards on six punts with a long of 46 yards and one punt placed inside the 20.
Council Grove’s projected offensive lineup has Stewart at quarterback, Doornbos at running back, Easton Stohs and Kepley at receiver, Stockwell at H-back and Samuels at tight end. Up front are Buttrey, Andrew McLaren, Maddox Ziegler, Leo Salas and Cooper Sommer.
On defense, Stockwell, Salas and Samuels are listed along the front, with Buttrey, Doornbos and Smith-Jenkins at linebacker. Nate Seimears, David McDiffett and Dillon McDiffett are listed at safety, with Stewart and Stohs at cornerback.
The Braves will look to carry their strong start into their second road game of the season Friday night at Minneapolis.
Fans unable to attend can watch the game through Flint Hills Life.