Scouting: Hampshire at Genoa-Kingston

Class 4A

Hampshire (6-3) at Genoa-Kingston (7-2)

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Playoff history: Hampshire is making its first playoff appearance since 2006 and 14th overall. The Whip-Purs won Class 1A state titles in 1976 and 1979 and a Class 2A title in 1995. Genoa-Kingston is making its second straight playoff appearance and 13th overall. The Cogs won a Class 1A title in 1977.

Outlook: These longtime rivals did not play during the regular season. They last met a year ago in Week 3, when the Cogs prevailed 37-8 to snap a 10-game losing skid against the Whips. Hampshire rebounded from an 0-3 start to win 6 straight and the outright Big Northern Conference East Division title. G-K was undefeated until Week 7, when they lost 35-20 to eventual West Division champion Oregon. A loss to undefeated Stillman Valley in Week 8 dropped the Cogs to third place. "We had a couple of tough losses, but our kids have bounced back," G-K coach Bill McCarty said. "We had a tough game in the last game of the year and were fortunate to win it (15-13 vs. Byron). Now we're in the playoffs and we'll see what happens." The G-K offense averages 32 points a game behind center Kyle Wewetzer, tackle Ryan Muir and third-year starting quarterback Chris Wilkins. "What stands out from watching them on tape is their quickness on both sides of the ball," Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. "They've got a lot of team speed on both sides. They're running by a lot of people and they're getting to the football defensively. That's something we have to contend with because we haven't seen that kind of speed." The Hampshire defense is holding opponents to an average of 11.6 points per game. The Whips attack offensively with senior fullback Joe Moore (689 yards, 12 TDs), quarterback Evan Brenner (47-of-96, 814 yards, 10 TDs) and receiver Bo Price (25 catches, 519 yards, 6 TDs).