Columbus senior Mauricio Ramirez lines up in the backfield versus the Wapello Indians. Ramirez is one of four running backs in the KCII listening area with over 900 yards rushing this season. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.
Through the first six weeks of the high school football season, several athletes in the KCII listening area have put up impressive numbers rushing the football.
Washington sophomore quarterback Ryan Reighard leads Class 3A District 5 in rushing yards with 832, rushing attempts with 125, and touchdowns with 13. Senior Jack Giardino is third in the district in rushing yards with 564, rushing attempts with 100 and is tied for third in the district with seven rushing touchdowns. Giardino was named the Hedge Above Lawncare Athlete of the Week on September 9.
Mid-Prairie junior Rickey Vargas is second in Class 2A District 5 in rushing yards with 690, and is third in the district in rushing touchdowns with eight.
Sigourney’s Peyton Crawford tops Class 1A District 6 in rushing yards with 1010 yards and rushing touchdowns with 14. Crawford is the only athlete in the KCII listening area to rush for 1000 yards through the first six games of the regular season. Columbus senior Mauricio Ramirez is second in the district in rushing with 911 yards and rushing touchdowns with 11. Both Crawford and Ramirez have been named the Hedge Above Lawncare Athlete of Week. Ramirez earned the honor on September 2 and Crawford won the award on September 23.
Lone Tree senior Jared Hudson tops Class A District 6 in rushing yards with 946 yards and is second in the district with 13 rushing touchdowns. WACO senior Bryce Achen leads Class A District 6 with 15 rushing touchdowns and is second in the district with 938 rushing yards.
Barring injury, Ramirez, Hudson, and Achen can join Crawford in the 1000 yard rushing plateu with 90 yard rushing performances this week, and Reighard can join the group with a 170 yard rushing performance in week seven.
There are three weeks left in the regular season, including tomorrow’s week seven football games. Here is a list of area matchups.
Class 3A Games
Keokuk Chiefs (1-5 overall; 0-4 Class 3A District 5) vs. Washington Demons (5-1 overall; 3-0 Class 3A District 5)
Clear Creek-Amana (3-3 overall; 3-1 Class 3A District 5) vs. Davenport Assumption (4-2 overall; 3-0 Class 3A District 5)
Fairfield Trojans (3-3 overall; 2-1 Class 3A District 5) vs. Mount Pleasant Panthers (0-6 overall; 0-4 Class 3A District 5)
Class 2A Games
Central Lee Hawks (5-1 overall; 3-1 Class 2A District 5) vs. #10. Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks (5-1 overall; 3-1 Class 2A District 5)
Mediapolis Bulldogs (4-2 overall; 2-2 Class 2A District 5) vs. Louisa-Muscatine Falcons (3-3 overall; 1-3 Class 2A District 5)
Class 1A Games
Sigourney-Keota Cobras (3-3 overall; 2-1 Class 1A District 6) vs. Highland Huskies (3-3 overall; 1-3 Class 1A District 6)
Pella Christian Eagles (4-2 overall; 2-1 Class 1A District 6) vs. Columbus Wildcats (2-4 overall; 1-2 Class 1A District 6)
West Branch Bears (6-0 overall; 3-0 Class 1A District 5) vs. Wapello Indians (2-4 overall; 0-3 Class 1 A District 5)
Class A Games
#10 Winfield-Mount Union Wolves (6-0 overall; 4-0 Class A District 6) vs. WACO Warriors (3-3 overall; 3-1 Class A District 6)
Lone Tree Lions (4-2 overall; 3-1 Class A District 6) vs. Pekin Panthers (5-1 overall; 4-0 Class A District 6)