The Council Grove High School Braves will face another early-season test Friday when they travel to Osage City for a matchup between two undefeated, ranked Class 2A teams.
Council Grove enters the game 1-0 and listed No. 3 in Class 2A, while the Osage City Indians are 1-0 and ranked No. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Osage City.
Both teams opened the season with victories. Council Grove defeated Mission Valley 626, while Osage City earned a 20-7 win over Olpe.
Through one game, the Braves are averaging 62 points while allowing six. Council Grove recorded 378 yards of total offense in its opener, including 211 passing and 167 rushing yards, and forced three turnovers.
Osage City totaled 201 yards in its season opener, with 123 rushing and 78 passing. The Indians scored 20 points, allowed seven and did not force a turnover.
Senior quarterback Luke Stewart led the Council Grove offense against Mission Valley, completing 10 of 13 passes for 203 yards and five touchdowns. He finished with 216 yards of total offense after adding 13 rushing yards.
Andres led the rushing attack with 96 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, while senior Bradley Doornbos carried six times for 43 yards.
Senior tight end Mason Samuels was Stewart’s leading receiver, catching four passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Reid Buttrey added two receptions for 24 yards. Doornbos contributed in several phases of the game, finishing with 223 all-purpose yards. His total included 43 rushing yards, six receiving yards, 41 kickoff-return yards, 120 punt-return yards and 13 interception-return yards. He returned both a punt and an interception for touchdowns.
Defensively, senior David McDiffett led the Braves with seven tackles and an interception. Senior Nate Seimears recorded five tackles, while Buttrey had five tackles, including one tackle for loss. Doornbos added five tackles and an interception, and Samuels recorded a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Council Grove’s projected offensive starters for Week 2 include Stewart at quarterback, Doornbos at running back, Easton Stohs and Grady Kepley at receiver, Logan Stockwell and Buttrey at the H-back position and Samuels at tight end. The offensive line includes Ty King, Andrew McLaren, Maddox Ziegler, Leo Salas and Cooper Sommer.
Several of those players also are listed as defensive starters, including Stockwell, Salas, Samuels, Buttrey, Doornbos, Seimears, David McDiffett, Dillon McDiffett, Stewart and Stohs. Sy’ied Smith-Jenkins is also among the projected defensive starters.
Friday’s game will be the second of the season for both teams. Those unable to attend in Osage City can watch the game through the Flint Hills Life Channel.