Let’s check out the Kpreps Rankings to see how things stand as we prepare for state quarterfinal action this week.
Class 6A
Derby advanced to the 6A quarterfinals for an eighth consecutive season with a 54-7 victory over Dodge City. Hunter Igo accounted for five total touchdowns in the win over the Red Demons.
Lawrence Free State pulled away from Haysville Campus in the second half of a 51-27 victory. The Firebirds were led by Jax Dineen’s 164 rushing yards with two scores. Free State will host Manhattan this week.
Teven McKelvey had a hand in seven touchdowns as Gardner-Edgerton defeated Shawnee Mission Northwest, 49-28. McKelvey rushed for six touchdowns and passed for another score. The Blazers defeated the Cougars for a second time this season, having won the earlier meeting 49-27 last month.
Shawnee Mission East remains in the No. 4 spot this week after edging Olathe East, 23-20. The Lancers will now host Olathe North in this week’s quarterfinal. Shawnee Mission East beat the Eagles 35-28 earlier this season.
Defending champion Blue Valley North takes over the No. 5 spot this week by one vote over Topeka High. The Mustangs advanced back to the round of eight with a 56-21 win over Shawnee Mission South. Topeka High falls just outside the top five despite a 56-21 win over Washburn Rural. Blue Valley North travels to No. 3 Gardner-Edgerton this week, while Topeka High will travel to top-ranked Derby.
Class 5A
Top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas scored 42 points in the first half in beating a second consecutive Centennial League opponent. The Saints rolled to a 56-14 win over Topeka Seaman thanks to more than 500 rushing yards.
Wichita Northwest scored five times in the second half to pull away from Emporia, 56-21. Grizzly quarterback Regan Jones threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores. Northwest host No. 4 Bishop Carroll this week. The Grizzlies defeated Carroll, 23-22, on a last-second field goal way back in the season opener. Carroll advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 52-14 thrashing of Salina Central.
Third-ranked Maize recorded its fifth shutout of the season by beating nearby rival Maize South, 35-0. This was Maize’s first victory over Maize South. The Mavericks had won the first two meetings back in 2014 and 2015.
Fifth-ranked Mill Valley defeated St. James Academy for the second time this season. This time, the Jags won 24-7 after a 14-13 come-from-behind victory earlier this season. Tyler Green rushed for more than 140 yards and two scores in the victory. The Jaguars will travel to top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas this week. Aquinas won the earlier meeting this season, 24-13.
Class 4A
Bishop Miege scored twice in the final five minutes of the second quarter to pull away from No. 5 Pittsburg as part of a 49-20 win. The Stags had a 21-13 lead late in the second quarter when Sam Pedrotti’s touchdown pass to Phillippe Wesley pushed the lead to two scores. Miege added a score in the final 30 seconds before halftime to lead 35-13 at the break.
McPherson built a 40-0 lead in eliminating Ulysses, 48-17. Senior running back Jace Kinnamon rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns. The Bullpups will host 13-seed Ark City this week.
Louisburg moves up one spot to No. 3 this week after an impressive 48-0 shutout of KC Piper. Wildcat quarterback Madden Rutherford rushed for three touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the victory. Piper had scored 115 points in the past two games.
Fourth-ranked Paola scored 28 points in the second half to top Tonganoxie, 35-13. Connor Hasz rushed for three touchdowns in the game. The Panthers will be tested this week when they travel to Basehor-Linwood.
Class 3A
Andale rolled to a 66-22 victory over Chapman to remain unbeaten. The top-ranked Indians rushed for nearly 400 yards in the win led by sophomore Eli Rowland’s 158 yards on the ground.
Andale will host No. 3 Scott City this week in one of two quarterfinals on the west side of the bracket that feature a matchup of unbeaten teams. Scott City advanced with a 34-7 victory over Beloit. The Beavers beat Beloit 55-12 earlier this season.
The other west side showdown features No. 4 Pratt traveling to unbeaten Smoky Valley. Pratt advanced with a 33-16 win over Colby, while Smoky Valley held off Hesston, 22-14.
Third-ranked Sabetha won the rematch over Perry-Lecompton, 26-8. Braden Cox kicked two field goals and returned an interception for a touchdown to help the Blue Jays win their 17th consecutive game.
Finally, Galena defeated Frontenac for the second time this season, 27-7. The Bulldogs will now travel to Marysville to take another set of Bulldogs in the 3A quarterfinals. Galena and Marysville last met in the 2009 state semifinals won by Marysville, 31-21.
Class 2A
Top-ranked Phillipsburg shut out Lakin, 41-0 to move into the quarterfinal round. The Panthers scored four first-half touchdowns in beating the Broncs. Phillipsburg will travel to No. 3 Conway Springs (10-0) this week. The Cardinals beat Central Plains League rival Chaparral, 21-14, for their second victory over the Roadrunners this season.
Silver Lake stays in the No. 2 spot this week after another blowout win over McLouth. The Eagles beat the Bulldogs 56-6 during the regular season and 63-12 on Friday. Silver Lake will now host Riley County (8-2). The Eagles have defeated the Falcons 22 consecutive times.
Hutchinson Trinity Catholic beat Garden Plain, 16-7, for the Celtics second win over the Owls this season. Garden Plain returned the opening kickoff of the game for a touchdowns, but that’s all the Celtics would allow.
Humboldt led Osage City 8-0 at halftime, but added three scores in the second half to win 30-6. Conor Haviland led the Cubs with two rushing touchdowns. Humboldt will make a tough trip to Rossville in this week’s quarterfinal.
Class 1A
Smith Center routed Sacred Heart for a second time this season. The Redmen won 56-7 in earning a quarterfinal matchup with Sedgwick.
Second-ranked Olpe had little trouble with Pleasanton. The Eagles blasted the Blu-Jays, 52-8. Olpe will now travel to take on No. 4 Centralia in a big quarterfinal matchup this week. Centralia rolled to a 41-18 victory over Troy behind four Isaac Gore touchdown runs.
Elkhart defeated ended Inman’s season with a 53-10 victory. Quarterback Lane Whisennand accounted for five total touchdowns as the Wildcats improved to 9-0. Elkhart will have a difficult road test this week at Plainville.
Finally, Jackson Heights uncharacteristically threw three touchdown passes in advancing past Valley Heights. The Cobras will travel to Pittsburg to take on St. Mary’s Colgan in this week’s quarterfinal round.
Class 8M-I
After needing two late touchdowns to beat Ness City 30-14 back in Week 1, Central Plains dominated the Eagles on Friday in a 50-0 shutout. The top-ranked Oilers will now travel to defending-champion and fifth-ranked Hoxie in a quarterfinal showdown this week. Hoxie jumped back in the rankings after upsetting then No. 2 Clifton-Clyde, 22-20 on Friday.
Clifton-Clyde’s loss means that St. Francis moves up one spot to No. 2 in this week’s poll. The Indians eliminated Victoria, 30-12, and will host No. 3 Hodgeman County this week. Hodgeman County outscored Spearville, 76-48 behind a huge night from Eli Salmans. Salmans rushed for 305 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Longhorns to the quarterfinals.
Finally, South Central moves up one spot to No. 4 this week after a 48-0 shutout of Central Burden. The Timberwolves got five total touchdowns from quarterback Chayde Snyder in the win. South Central will host Canton-Galva this week.
Class 8M-II
Hanover defeated Frankfort for the second time in three weeks behind a 38-point third quarter. The Wildcats won 78-30 as Carter Bruna rushed for 183 yards and five touchdowns, while quarterback Daiken Stallbaumer accounted for five total touchdowns as well.
Second-ranked Axtell outscored Mankato-Rock Hills, 80-30. Quarterback Quinn Buessing rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns and added 113 yards through the air with two more scores.
Third-ranked Osborne led Sylvan-Lucas Unified by only 10 points at halftime, but quickly took control in the second half for a 66-20 win. The Bulldogs got 102 yards and four rushing touchdowns from junior Darrien Holloway. He also caught a touchdown pass from his brother Darnell who had two touchdowns passing and two more rushing.
Fourth-ranked South Barber had little trouble in racing past Stafford. The Chieftains rolled to a 60-14 halftime victory as Trevor Rooks passed for four touchdowns in the second quarter alone.
Finally, No. 5 Otis-Bison outscored Hutchinson Central Christian, 66-52. The host Cougars rushed for 405 yards in the game led by Anton Foust’s 291 yards and seven touchdowns. Otis-Bison travels to Dighton this week.
Visit the Rankings page each week to view a complete list of the top five teams in each classification and how they performed last week.
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