Gardner Edgerton wallops Olathe NW in football, will play for program’s 1st state title

From 2008 to 2011, the Gardner-Edgerton High School football team put up some eye-popping numbers each autumn Friday night as Bubba Starling and company advanced to four consecutive Class 5A state semifinals.

Many players on the current Gardner-Edgerton football team grew up watching those games and have been itching for the chance to make their own history.

It arrived Friday night.

This season’s Trailblazers emphatically etched their own names in the Gardner-Edgerton record books with a 56-7 victory over Olathe Northwest in the Kansas Class 6A state semifinals.

It’s the first time in the school’s history that the Trailblazers have reached the 6A state-championship football game.

“It feels pretty good. I need to process a lot,” Gardner-Edgerton coach Jesse Owen said. “I’m very happy for the players and the community. I’m excited.”

The Trailblazers set the tone early by dominating in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Gardner-Edgerton outgained Olathe Northwest 381 yards to 118, thanks in large part to a flexbone offense that was firing on all cylinders and a defense that forced four Olathe Northwest turnovers.

Dawson Kindler paced the Trailblazers’ offense with 29 carries for 125 yards and four touchdowns. And Kindler had plenty of help — Dylan Butash rumbled for 100 yards and a score on 11 touches, and Zaine Mayfield added another score in the fourth.

“We have a tough O-line and tough backs,” Kindler said. “They’re really good at blocking and I just follow them.”

Gardner-Edgerton quarterback Conner Elder threw just two passes and they both went for touchdowns. The first came on a fourth and 5 late in the first quarter when he found Bravin Powell for a 39-yard TD. Elder’s second touchdown toss went to Austin Buie for 20 yards with 25 seconds to go in the first half.

Buie’s touchdown catch gave the Trailblazers an answer to Olathe Northwest’s lone score. Micah Geary put the Ravens on the board with a 37-yard touchdown reception from Cooper Carley, but Gardner-Edgerton still took a 35-7 lead into the half.

“Olathe Northwest is a good football team. They’re playing well and were here for a reason,” Owen said. “I’m proud of our guys because they were ready to play.”

The Trailblazers also came up with a big special teams play to complete their well-rounded performance and really take control late in the first quarter. After Powell’s touchdown catch put Gardner-Edgerton up 13-0, the Trailblazers pooch-kicked it and recovered after the ball went off one of the Olathe Northwest up-men.

Leading the charge for the Gardner-Edgerton defense was Eli Porter, who corralled two interceptions. His first pick came on the final play of the first half. His second was nearly returned for a touchdown.

He picked off a pass at the Gardner-Edgerton 4-yard line and returned the ball all the way to the ONW 10. Mayfield converted the turnover into points two plays later.

“That’s what our defense has been doing, so I hope they can keep it up,” Owen said. “They’re dialed in right now and are pretty focused. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

Keeping it going next week could earn the Trailblazers their first state championship, something not even those high-octane 2008-11 teams were able to accomplish.

Gardner-Edgerton (9-3) will face Manhattan (12-0) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium in the state-title game. Manhattan edged Derby 28-23 in Friday’s other Class 6A semifinal.

“We’ll have to be extremely prepared and ready to go,” Owen said. “We’re just thankful that we have the opportunity to play.”

Olathe Northwest’s loss Friday snapped a seven-game winning streak. The Ravens finished their best season in school history with a record of 8-4.