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Kansas Win Sets Up Important Weeks in Competitive HOA

Kansas Win Sets Up Important Weeks in Competitive HOA

Kansas (red and blue) scrums down vs Kansas State. Photo Dean Eslinger.

Kansas defeated rivals Kansas State 47-26 over the weekend to put the Jayhawks in the driver's seat in the Heart of America South.

With the addition of Wayne State and UHSP, plus some steps forward by other teams, this now 12-team conference is getting increasingly competitive. That's not to say there aren't lopsided scores, there are, but we've also seen three games within a try and four more within two tries.

Even this week's big game, a 21-point winning margin, was anything but easy for KU.

Kansas jumped out to an early lead and that was crucial.

"We had good offensive ball movement by our backline supported by stout forward defense," said Kansas Head Coach Marcus Williamson. "Kansas State wasn't done though as they came out with a quick try early in the second half."

The teams traded tries in the second half and while Kansas tried to be smart with it and slow the game down and kick the Wildcats back into their 22, they couldn't quite shake KSU.

Kansas outside center Miles Maasen was player of the game as he tested the KSU defense consistently.

The addition of Oklahoma from the Lonestar and also Wayne State and UHSP has made the conference better.

UHSP is 1-2 and did score 16 against Kansas. Wayne State Lost to Iowa State but did beat Nebraska and Minnesota. In the latter win they did lose captain Trent Draper and hooker Cam Rhodes when the two players clashed heads. So the hope is they will be OK. Minnesota hung on somewhat in the first half but as the game opened up Wayne State's speed told the tale. Flanker Diego Stefani scored three tries in the second half.

All of this now sets up some crucial games that will help decide the semifinal matchups.

On October 18, Wayne State is at Iowa, and that's going to decide which of those teams will make the semis. If we assume that Iowa State wins their remaining conference games against Nebraska and Minnesota, and WSU and Iowa win their final games, this Wayne State vs Iowa game is a winner-take-all proposition. Iowa State earned two bonus points (four tries and close loss) in their loss to Iowa, and that makes a difference. Iowa State will probably end up with 22 standings points, so if Wayne State beats Iowa and then beats Missouri with a bonus points, they could tie Iowa with 19 standings points, and make the semis on the tiebreaker.

If Wayne State beats Iowa with a bonus point and prevents Iowa getting any bonus points, then they have as good as clinched 2nd. However, if Iowa gets two bonus points in a loss, or ties, or beats Wayne State, then they would be 1st and Iowa State 2nd. So there's that.

A week later, Kansas State and Oklahoma will play and the winner will advance to the semifinals. All of thise is assuming that the top teams keep winning in other matches. Of course ... never assume. 

HOA North W L T PA PA PD BT BL Pts
Iowa 3 0 0 151 36 115 2 0 14
Iowa State 2 1 0 127 46 81 3 1 12
Wayne State 2 1 0 110 56 54 2 0 10
Minnesota 1 2 0 81 153 -72 1 0 5
Nebraska 0 2 0 51 96 -45 1 0 1
Missouri 0 2 0 0 133 -133 0 0 0
                   
                   
HOA South W L T PA PA PD BT BL Pts
Kansas 3 0 0 128 78 50 3 0 15
Oklahoma 2 1 0 113 61 52 2 1 11
Kansas State 2 1 0 101 106 -5 3 0 11
Arkansas 1 2 0 94 73 21 2 1 7
UHSP 1 2 0 83 87 -4 1 0 5
Oklahoma State 0 3 0 26 140 -114 1 0 1