The Sumner Academy volleyball team celebrated after scoring late in the second set of the sub-state final against Lansing. The Lady Sabres lost the final but made a big impression with their gutsy second-set performance. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Sumner Lady Sabres volleyball team lost in the 5A sub-state finals to defending state champions Lansing, but officials, coaches and fans came away from the game impressed with the Sumner spirit.
The Lady Lions romped through the final’s first set, powering to a 25-8 advantage and looking for an easy second set to send them on their way to the state tournament. What they got from Sumner was something completely different.
The Lady Sabres opened up an early second-set lead with never-say-die defense from libero Sui Par and high-flying kills from hitters Anabelle Cacho and Kylie McCleary. When the Sumner lead reached 8-4, Lansing called a timeout to pull the team together.
The break got the Lady Lions back on track, and they pulled even at 9-9, with their powerful outside hitters getting into the action. Sumner head coach Caylie Yessa called a timeout, and her team responded with another run, powered by a service streak from sophomore setter Keneth Rodriguez-Acosta, Sumner’s leader in aces.
The Lady Sabres pulled away to a 16-11 lead, forcing another Lansing timeout. The Lady Lions began to chip away at the lead and pulled even at 20. Sumner kept fighting for every last point, even denying Lansing’s match point service at 24-21, but Lansing closed out the set and match at 25-22.
After the game, Yessa praised the leadership of her senior class.
“We have four seniors on the team,” said the coach, “and Anabelle [Cacho] and Kylie [McCleary] are our outsides. They worked their four years being on our program, and they really came together and pulled the team together as co-captains and led our team to a conference championship and our first win at sub-state.”
Sumner defeated familiar foe Washington in the first round of sub-state competition, winning in two sets (25-11, 25-15), while Lansing had a similarly easy time against Basehor-Linwood (25-10, 25-14) in its first-round game.
The Sumner Lady Sabres finished the season with a 23-11 record, earning the Meadowlark Conference championship with a perfect 12-0 conference record.
Sumner senior Anabelle Cacho. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Anabelle Cacho. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Sui Par. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner sophomore Micaela Patrick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Kylie McCleary. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Brooke Smith-Nash. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Brooke Smith-Nash. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner coaches Caylie Yessa, right, and Katie Larson celebrated with the team when Lansing called a timeout. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Sumner Lady Sabres posed together after the sub-state final. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner sophomore Keneth Rodriguez-Acosta. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior J’Layne Hulse. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner freshman Izabella Cook. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington sophomore Brooklyn Dillard. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior Hning Thang. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior Jada Schuler. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington sophomore Analysia Rodriguez. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs senior quarterback Kahliek Rainey tried to stiff-arm his way past Washington senior Amarion Womack. Rainey had one running and one passing touchdown in the 31-12 win by the Braves. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Bonner Springs Braves overcame early turnovers to earn a 31-12 win over the Washington Wildcats in Bonner Springs on Friday. The win is the first in head coach Byron Mays’s tenure with the team and moves Bonner to 1-2 on the season.
The Wildcats scored first, taking advantage of a short field and scoring on a strike from Ja’Quarey Williams to Jeremiah Miller for a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats got an interception and drove down to the Bonner Springs 15-yard line on their next possession but weren’t able to convert the opportunity.
The Braves moved into the second quarter with a 6-0 deficit, but quickly got back on top with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kahliek Rainey to Dainan Whetstone. Whetstone was nearly tackled at the 5-yard line but with a second and third effort willed himself into the end zone.
Desmon Williams ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-6 Bonner Springs lead.
The Braves got into an offensive rhythm, running Peyton Parks behind the left side of the offensive line for consistent gains and first downs. The Braves finished the drive on a 1-yard quarterback sweep from Rainey.
Rainey connected with Bryce Wendt on the 2-point conversion for a 16-6 advantage.
Kicker Hayden Hernandez set the Braves on a short field with a well-executed on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff. Parks gave the Braves a three-score lead on a 2-yard scoring run, set up by a long run from Rainey. The Braves converted the 2-point conversion for a 24-6 lead that they held to the half.
The third quarter saw the teams battle for position, with neither getting the upper hand.
In the fourth quarter, Washington took advantage of a short punt to start on the Bonner Springs 44-yard line. A few plays later, a 20-yard pass to Amarion Womack set up a 5-yard touchdown run by JohVonte’ Ross.
Bonner Springs hit back with 5 minutes remaining in the game. Starting at the Washington 45-yard line after a penalty, Rainey hit Wyatt Caldwell for a 30-yard gain, followed by a 6-yard touchdown run from Parks. Hernandez converted the extra point attempt for the final 31-12 score.
The end of the game was marred by an injury to Washington’s Chaddrick Jones, who was hit under the chin on the final touchdown play. Jones was tended by paramedics, and the teams and spectators spent several anxious and helpless minutes before Jones was transported by ambulance for treatment.
The game resumed, and finished uneventfully.
Bonner Springs is now 1-2 for the season. The Braves play a Frontier League game at Louisburg next Friday evening. After the loss, Washington is also 1-2. The Wildcats play Wamego at home on Friday.
Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack hauled in a 20-yard pass, as Bonner Springs senior defensive back Mason Freese closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore lineman Drake DeLeon blocked on a run by senior running back Peyton Parks. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs Dazzlers dance group performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs head coach Byron Mays warmed up the team before the start of the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams got some sideline instruction from Washington head coach Camron Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs defensive back Desmon Williams defended a pass to Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior receiver Jermiah Miller leaped to bring down a pass then turned and ran for a touchdown. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior Chaddrick Jones slipped a tackle from Bonner Springs senior linebacker Brenden Graham. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore defensive back Desmon Williams grabbed an interception in the first half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs cheerleaders performed during a break in the action (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Washington cheerleaders led the visiting fans in the Wildcat Rumble. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior kicker Hayden Hernandez was all smiles as he came off the field after the Braves covered an on-sides kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams threw down field as senior lineman Dmytro Maslak closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs marching band performed at halftime. Sophomore lineman Maddox Clary did double duty as drum major. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior running back Antonio Harrison scored on a 14-yard run up the middle in the third quarter. Harrison scored three touchdowns in the Sabres’ 21-0 win over Washington. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Sumner Academy Sabres kicked off the 2022 football season with a 21-0 win over the Washington Wildcats. Fans packed the stands on a balmy evening at Schlagle Stadium, making a festive atmosphere.
The Sabres’ strong running attack was led by senior Antonio Harrison, who scored all three touchdowns in the game. Harrison ran for 208 yards in the game on 29 carries.
Sumner got on the board in the first quarter. Backed up beyond midfield by a penalty, the Sabres sprung Harrison free around the right end, and he outpaced the secondary in a race to the end zone.
Washington nearly evened the score in the second quarter, converting a fourth-and-five with a fake punt, but a fumble on the play handed the ball back to the Sabres on their own 13-yard line.
The Sabres added on to their 7-0 halftime lead midway through the third quarter. Sumner kept a long drive going with passes from quarterback Camron Johnson to Howard Peoples and Javeare’ Akanda.
With the ball at the Washington 14-yard line, Harrison broke through the middle of the Wildcats’ defensive line for a touchdown.
The Sabres scored again on their following drive, with Harrison plowing through on a short run set up by an Akande reception.
Washington ran the ensuing kickoff back to the end zone, but a downfield penalty cost them the touchdown, and a fumble on the following play ended the opportunity.
Johnson was 9-for-17 for a total of 98 passing yards, connecting best on mid-range passes to the boundaries. Marco Contreras converted all three extra point opportunities, but was short on a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Sumner and Washington are now playing in the Meadowlark Conference, a rebranded version of the Kansas City – Atchison League with the addition of Topeka’s Highland Park High School.
The Sumner Academy Sabres took the field in their home opener, played at Schlagle Stadium. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior running back Antonio Harrison ran for a 54-yard touchdown in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington ran a counter play for a 12-yard pickup. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
“How about those Sabres?” asked Sumner head coach Andrew Wright as he addressed the team after the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Sumner cheerleaders performed in a break between quarters. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington ran around the right end in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior running back Antonio Harrison cut back on a run in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington had early success in the game with their running game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior lineman Luis Espino set up to block. Espino also had a fumble recovery in the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington punted in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior kicker Marco Contreras was 3-of-3 on extra points. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior running back Deavon McWashington had 12 carries for 56 yards. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Washington offensive line set up to block for a running play. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington ran a quarterback keeper around the right end. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
