KSHSAA Covered State Game of the Week presented by @MMTHBuilt Class 5A: Spring Hill (7-0) at No. 4 De Soto (7-0) Spring Hill’s first trip through the United Kansas Conference has brought the Broncos to the doorstep of a league championship. Standing in the way is a De Soto team that hasn’t lost a step — or a game — either. The two 7-0 teams meet Friday at De Soto in the KSHSAA Covered Game of the Week with the UKC title and the No. 1 seed in the Class 5A East playoffs on the line, giving the regular-season finale a postseason feel. Both teams have reached this point with similar approaches built around productive rushing attacks and strong defenses. Now, Spring Hill has a chance to finish unbeaten in its first season of UKC play, while De Soto looks to protect its home field and secure the top postseason seed. Spring Hill is off to its best start since 2021, when it also won its first seven games. Another victory would give the Broncos their best start since 1990, when they opened with 11 consecutive wins. Last week, they scored 20 unanswered points to defeat Seaman in a 27-10 win. The Wildcats are enjoying their best start since 2019, when they won their first 10 games, and are coming off a 50-7 victory over Shawnee Heights. #KSHSAACovered x @CapFed

KSHSAA Covered Week 4 Game of the Week presented by @MMTHBuilt Class 6A No. 2 Derby at No. 4 Maize After years of spotty success against perennial power Derby, Maize has at least found equal footing with the Panthers this decade, splitting six meetings with a 2-1 edge in a trio of one-point thrillers. Maize will try to knock off Derby for the second straight year after using a strong second half to pull away 42-21 in last year’s contest. It was the Eagles’ largest margin of victory over the Panthers since 2006, Derby coach Brandon Clark’s first season. History aside, the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I lead and most likely a more favorable Class 6A postseason seeding will be at stake on Friday. Both teams have posted three double-digit victories to open the season, with Derby averaging 44 first-half points in its 3-0 start. Maize has relied on strong second halves for two of its victories, rallying past Andover Central with 21 fourth-quarter points and shutting out Maize South in the final two quarters of last week’s 42-14 victory. #KSHSAACovered x @CapFed