With a convincing 37-0 win Friday night over Wichita South, Washburn Rural advances to the second round of the Kansas High School Playoffs, where they will travel to Wichita Northwest next Friday night.
With starting quarterback, 2026 John Hoytal, resting for the week and preparing for his official visit to Fort Hays State, Rural relied on the running game to control the tempo and the outcome.
“We knew coming into it that we were going to have to rely offensively on the run game, and we knew the defense was going to have to set the tone and kind of shorten the field for us,” Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. “Offensively, I think the kids did a really nice job of doing what we’ve been working on as far as the game preparation.”
For Rural, class of 2027 running back Jadyn Baum surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season with his 182 yards on 15 attempts, while adding three rushing touchdowns, a 46-yard score and a pair of 8-yard runs.
Class of 2026 running back TJ Minikwu added to the total with a 5-yard touchdown run. Minikwu finished the game with 16 carries for 70 yards, along with the 5-yard score and a 3-yard flare pass reception.
In the receiving game, senior wide receiver Nate Selm had another standout performance, finishing with five receptions for 33 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown catch.
Taking over for the resting Hoytal, junior quarterback Gavin Vantuyl managed the offense efficiently and led the team with poise. Vantuyl finished with 34 yards on seven carries and was 7 of 14 passing.
All was not lost for Wichita South, as they received an outstanding performance from defensive end Anthony Nguyen. Nguyen was involved in nearly every tackle and quarterback hurry, proving to be a disruptive force for the Wichita South defense. The 6’1”, 235-pound senior defensive end displayed a relentless motor, causing havoc until the whistle was blown on every play. With his frame and sideline-to-sideline pursuit, Nguyen projects as a potential game-changing linebacker at the next level. Already drawing college interest, expect Nguyen to gain momentum on the recruiting scene following a strong season.
On offense, class of 2026 wide receiver RaShawn Johnson began the game at quarterback, showcasing his running ability with five carries for 15 yards. As the game progressed, South moved the dynamic playmaker to wide receiver to utilize his athleticism and create big-play opportunities. The adjustment proved successful, as Johnson finished with three receptions for 43 yards.
Player Handles:
John Hoytal – @john_hoytal
Jadyn Baum – @BaumJadyn46674
TJ Minikwu – @TJ_Minikwu
Nate Selm – @nate_selm
Anthony Nguyen – @Anthony2nguyen
RaShawn Johnson – @7star_shawn
