By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
As the 3A state quarterfinals get set to begin tonight, just eight teams remain in the class, each with their own aspirations to win a state title in 2021.
Those eight remaining teams have a combined record of 73-7, including five remaining undefeated teams, four of which will play each other in an incredibly consequential Friday night.
Let's take a look at who remains in class 3A and how these teams got to this point in the playoffs.
Frontenac Raiders (8-2)
Notable wins: 6-3 Prairie View, 8-2 Galena
Losses: Coweta (Oklahoma), Girard (8-0)
Round 1: W 26-6 vs. Columbus
Round 2: W 31-6 vs. Galena
The Raiders had a lot to prove coming into the 2021 playoffs, but put doubts of their validity to bed with a dominant win over then 8-1 Galena. Frontenac has a golden opportunity to survive and advance against a Rock Creek team that will have just as much to prove this week.
Rock Creek Mustangs (7-3)
Notable wins: 8-2 Topeka Hayden
Losses: Silver Lake (8-2), Rossville (10-0), Holton (10-0)
Round 1: W 34-17 vs. Bishop Ward
Round 2: W 28-21 vs. Topeka Hayden
Much like Frontenac, Rock Creek has been building the best part of its resume this postseason. Their win over then 8-1 Topeka Hayden was their first against a team that finished over .500 this season and they will need to maintain that momentum against Frontenac to advance and face an undefeated team in the semis next week.
Girard Trojans (10-0)
Notable wins: 6-3 Prairie View, 8-2 Frontenac
Losses: None
Round 1: W 35-8 vs. Caney Valley
Round 2: W 32-13 vs. Parsons
Girard has been rolling in 2021, winning all but one of its games by double digits. The Trojans have two quality wins on their resume and boast an offense that averages over 30 points per game this season, and a defense that has allowed 20 just once. Unfortunately for Girard, they will have to take on another undefeated team this week in the 10-0 Holton Wildcats, but could be well on their way to a state title berth with a win.
Holton Wildcats (10-0)
Notable wins: 7-3 Nemaha Central, 7-3 Chapman, 6-4 Perry-Lecompton x2, 7-3 Rock Creek
Losses: None
Round 1: W 58-18 vs. Santa Fe Trail
Round 2: W 41-0 vs. Perry Lecompton
No remaining team in Class 3A is as battle-tested as the Wildcats this season. Holton has five wins over teams that finished the year with winning records, including two against 2020 runner up Perry-Lecompton, and four by double digits. Holton plays old-school football, with four junior ball carriers posting over 50o yards this season, and a team average of 357 rushing yards per game. With a win over Girard, Holton would also be a likely candidate for a state title berth against whoever makes it out of a loaded bottom half of the bracket.
Andale Indians (10-0)
Notable wins: 8-2 Mulvane (4A), 8-2 Wichita Collegiate, 7-3 Holcomb
Losses: None
Round 1: W 53-2 vs. Hugoton
Round 2: W 51-0 vs. Holcomb
The defending state champs have looked like the most dominant team in Class 3A, winning every game in absurdly dominant fashion culminating in a class-leading point differential of +512. The Indians have three quality wins on their resume, the best of which is a 32-6 win over 8-2 Mulvane who are still alive in the 4A bracket. Many consider Andale the favorites to repeat as state champs, and pending a colossal meltdown, they should have an easier path time than most getting to the semi-finals.
Concordia Panthers (8-2)
Notable wins: 9-1 Wamego, 7-3 Beloit, 9-1 Riley County
Losses: Riley County (9-1), Chapman (7-3)
Round 1: W 52-20 vs. Colby
Round 2: W 30-14 vs. Riley County
Concordia opened their season looking like world-beaters at 6-0. They put up big wins against Wamego and Beloit, each of whom are still alive in 4A and 2A respectively. Following that run however, the Panthers lost back-to-back games in blowout fashion, losing to Riley County and Chapman by a combined score of 82-34. Concordia was able to finish off a wounded Riley County last week, who was without the services of their star QB, but will have a much tougher time this week against a full-strength Andale squad.
Southeast of Saline Trojans (10-0)
Notable wins: 7-3 Beloit, 7-3 Chapman
Losses: None
Round 1: W 60-7 vs. Marysville
Round 2: W 52-6 vs. Chapman
The Southeast of Saline Trojans have the best scoring defense in Class 3A. The unit has forced 24 turnovers this season while allowing less than 3 points per game on average. Add to that a balanced offense that has outscored opponents 526-25 this year and you have numbers that normally wouldn't come from the smallest school in class 3A. The Trojans are hoping to go out with a bang before making the transition back to 2A, but will need to knock off a fellow undefeated team in Cheney to advance to the semis next week.
Cheney Cardinals (10-0)
Notable wins: 9-1 Kingman, 6-4 Garden Plain, 6-3 Pratt, 7-3 Holcomb, 8-2 Wichita Collegiate
Losses: None
Round 1: W 48-14 vs. Clearwater
Round 2: W 21-3 vs. Wichita Collegiate
Cheney has put together an impressive resume in their own right and unlike other teams left in 3A, isn't afraid to air the ball out. Quarterback Harrison Voth is completing 67% of his passes this season for 2,222 yards and 35 touchdowns which makes the Cardinals the most lethal passing team left in the bracket.