The following players made first or second team, Mid East League
Conner Bush, Sr, Defensive Back, First Team
Charlie Chaance , Jr. , Offensive Line,
Andre Johnson, Sr, Linebacker second team defense
Jack DonovanSr, Defensive Back, second team defense
The following players were listed as Honorable Mention
Cannon Mitchell, Sr, Quarterback
Andre Johnson, Sr., tight end
Cameron Miller Sr., Wide Receiver
Jack Donovan, Sr., All Purpose
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Rossville’s pursuit of a Class 1A state football title came up just short in a dramatic battle, with Sterling defeating the Bulldawgs 35-34 at Hutchinson Community College Friday.
Rossville senior quarterback Canann Mitchell ran for three touchdowns and threw for a TD in Friday's 35-34 loss to Sterling in the Class 1A state championship game. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
The Bulldawgs battled back when they were on the verge of getting blown out in the second period. Trailing 21-6 and unable to stop the Sterling rushing attack, Rossville turned the game around in the final two minutes of the first half. An 11-play drive ended with a touchdown pass from Canann Mitchell to Connor Bush to cut the deficit to 21-14.
The Bulldawgs took the second half kickoff and marched down the field to tie the game. Seizing the momentum, Rossville’s defense throttled Sterling’s rushing attack – which had accounted for 235 yards in the first half – forcing Sterling’s lone punt of the game.
Just as the second half ended with a Rossville touchdown, the third period ended with Mitchell running in from 2 yards out to give the Bulldawgs their first lead of the day, 28-21.
“We got together at halftime and went over some things that we needed to do better,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “We didn’t change anything. We just did better at what we originally planned to do. We put a hat on them and we blocked them. We didn’t turn the football over and we had some rhythm offensively. It gave us a chance to win.”
Sterling senior Zane Farney rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns in Friday's 35-34 win over Rossville in the Class 1A state championship game. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Suddenly in danger, Sterling put the ball in the hands of Zane Farney, who had accounted for more than 2,000 rushing on the season. A couple of long carries by the senior quickly tied the game. By the time the day was over. Farney had rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries.
Rossville responded to Sterling’s quick strike with a methodical drive. The Bulldawgs chewed up half of the fourth period on a march that ended with Mitchell’s third touchdown run of the game.
The Bulldawgs led 34-28 and had a decision to make. As Mitchell crossed the goal line, his facemask was grabbed by a Sterling defender. With the option to attempt a two-point conversion from inside the 2-yard line, Rossville decided to kick the point-after and assess the penalty yards to the kickoff. But Sterling’s Jacob Lewis leaped high to block the kick, freezing Rossville’s lead at six with 6:36 left.
Having been gashed for much of the day by the Sterling rushing attack, Rossville limited the Black Bears to short runs. But Sterling converted three fourth-down attempts to keep the drive going.
Having advanced to the Rossville 24-yard line with just one minute remaining, Sterling shocked the Bulldawgs by sending its quarterback back to pass for just the second time of the game. Logan Isaac floated a pass over the middle which Lewis – the man who blocked the Rossville PAT – leaped to corral at the goal line. It was just Sterling’s 10th pass completion of the season.
“I think every time I call a pass play, my kids look at me a little bit funny, and they’re like, ‘Are you sure?’ ” Sterling coach Brent Schneider said. “But we practice throwing the ball. We have confidence in our guys, and we’ve got playmakers.”
“We talked about (Sterling attempting a pass), but it was executed really well, and it was thrown into a crowd, so their kid made a play,” Hammes said. “That’s what you’ve got to do to win championships, make a play down the stretch.”
Sterling’s kicker punched the ball through the uprights to give the Black Bears a 35-34 lead.
Rossville had 52 seconds to respond, but only reached the Sterling 29 before a sack, a penalty and a short pass ended the Bulldawgs’ season.
“It was a good football game,” Hammes said. “Congratulations to Sterling. They made a play or two down the stretch that was the difference maker. I felt like our kids made some plays throughout the game as well, but it didn’t work out for us today.”
“We said at halftime it was going to be a dogfight,” Schneider said. “(Rossville) made some great adjustments. They put some stuff together They’re a great program with a great coaching staff. I talked to them before the game and I said, ‘I look up to you guys.’ They’ve got great tradition and we’re starting some tradition.”
Mitchell ran for 149 yards and threw for 193 to lead Rossville. The Bulldawgs finished the season 11-2, the only other loss coming to Nemaha Central, which goes for a 2A title on Saturday.
Rossville senior Andre Johnson reacts during Friday's 35-34 loss to Sterling in the Class 1A state championship game. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
“These kids have battled. Especially these seniors in their career here. They gave us a chance to win,” Hammes said. “Gutty, classy. We did things the right way and they cared about each other. It’s just a special group, and I’ll remember them just like a champion.”
STERLING 35, ROSSVILLE 34
Rossville 5-10 junior outside hitter Nora Burdiek earned first-team 2A All-State honors after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a state tournament berth.
Rossville gets a 1A Semi-final win and the opportunity to play undefeatted Sterling for the 1A
State Championship.
For more info, go to this Capital article: https://www.wibw.com/2025/11/22/kpz-game-week-rossville-21-jackson-heights-18/
TopSportsNew also had an excellent article on the game: https://topsports.news/rossville-holds-off-jackson-heights-21-18-to-advance-to-class-1a-title-game
Rossville defeated Pittsburgh-St. Marys Colgon 27-20 on Nov 14 in Pittsburgh. Following is the scoring by quarter.
1st Quarter
ROSSVILLE - 8:15 - 15 yard rush Andre Johnson. XP Austin Dohrman.
2nd Quarter
ROSSVILLE - 0:52 - 2 yard rush Canann Mitchell. XP Austin Dohrman.
SMC 0:32-53 yard rush TD. XP no good.
3rd Quarter
ROSSVILLE - 7:17 - 11 yard rush Cael Horgan. XP Austin Dohrman.
SMC-4:55-13 yard rush TD. XP good.
ROSSVILLE - 3:41-71 yard rush Canann Mitchell. XP no good.
4th Quarter
SMC - 11:55-6 yard rush TD. XP good.
With tthe win, Rossville Advaned to the State Semi-Final game on Nov. 21 at Jackson Heights (10-0). .
ROSSVILLE — Andre Johnson has one goal and it’s to simply win the Class 1A State Championship for Rossville. The Bulldawgs face St. Mary’s Colgan in the state quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 14.
No matter what happens to Rossville’s season, Johnson will be one of a few players in Kansas to play in December.
The senior was named to the Native All-American Football Game on Sunday, Dec. 14. The game will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Minnesota Vikings play.
Rossville had an easy time defeating Jefferson Co. North on Friday night on the RHS turf. The competition was stronger than the previous game against Mission Valley and the Dawgs finished the night with a 53-18 win.
There are now 8 teams remaining in the 1A State Championship tournament. Rossville will play St. Marys Colgan next week in Pittsburgh which has won their firt two games byb scores of 63-0 and 56-0.
Nora Burdiek
A1 Lock & Key Performers Sept. 8, 2025
Jadyn Baum, Nora Burdiek the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week 9.12.25
Big East All-League First Team
KVA 2A State All-Tournament Team
Kenna Perine
Big East All-League Second Team
Ady Henry
Big East All-League Third Team
| 1 |  Sterling | 9-0 | 12.70 | -18.2 |
| 2 |  Rossville | 8-1 | 12.40 | -10.4 |
| 3 |  Smith Center | 9-0 | 7.70 | -16.0 |
| 4 |  Inman | 8-1 | 5.90 | -15.1 |
| 5 |  St. Mary's-Colgan | 9-0 | 5.10 | -34.5 |
| 6 |  Jackson Heights | 9-0 | 3.10 | -35.0 |
| 1 | Kam StatonQB, FSPleasanton | 1629 | 181.0 | 116 | 233 | 0.498 | 21 | 12 | 81 | 9 |
| 2 | Maddox WellsQB, DBSacred Heart (Salina) | 1459 | 162.1 | 90 | 162 | 0.556 | 16 | 8 | 98 | 9 |
| 3 | Drake MelliesQB, CBJackson Heights (Holton) | 1248 | 138.7 | 63 | 99 | 0.636 | 18 | 1 | 143 | 9 |
| 4 | Canann MitchellQBRossville | 1184 | 131.6 | 76 | 113 | 0.673 | 15 | 1 | 138 | 9 |
| 5 | Grant MeyerValley Falls | 816 | 90.7 | 47 | 133 | 0.353 | 6 | 11 | 38 | 9 |
| 6 | Jake MillsQB, WRMission Valley (Eskridge) | 738 | 82.0 | 49 | 104 | 0.471 | 12 | 12 | 70 | 9 |
Nora Burdiek Big East All-League First Team KVA 2A State All-Tournament Team
Kenna Perine
Big East All-League Second Team
Ady Henry
Big East All-League Third Team
Ellinwood 12-25, 13-25 L
Humboldt 29-25, 25-19, 25-15 W
Hillsdale 20-25, 25-15, 14-26 LRossville hd an easy time with Eskridge Mission Valley in the first round of the State Tournament. The Dawgs lead the Vikings 49-0 at the half-time break.. With the clock running during a 22-0 second half, Rossville dropped Mission Valley 71-0 to advance to the second round of the 1A playoffs.
The Bulldogs will now play Jefferson Co. North in the second round of the playoffs on Nov. 7.
1A Football Rankings by Kansas Media
1. Jackson HeightsClass 1A Football Rankings
1. Jackson HeightsThe Regional Cross Country meet was Oct 26.
Madelyn Wonnell finished 14th amound the girls.
Dalton Vershelden finished 16 and Karson Weissend finished 20th.
Five K Run Results for Big East Cross Country Meet Oct 16, 2025.
Rossville finished 8th of the 11 teams competing
Dalton Vershelden finished 19th and Karson Weissend finished 26th
| 1 | Sterling | 8-0 | 2.80 | -23.1 |
| 2 | Rossville | 7-1 | 1.50 | -20.4 |
| 3 | Smith Center | 8-0 | -1.50 | -22.4 |
| 4 | St. Mary's-Colgan | 8-0 | -3.80 | -41.8 |
| 5 | Inman | 7-1 | -4.50 | -25.3 |
| 6 | Jackson Heights | 8-0 | -9.10 | -46.0 |
