The 2013 Kansas high school football season has come to a close as state champions were crowned in the five 11-man classes this past weekend. Four teams highlighted as preseason No. 1’s in the Kpreps.com rankings captured state titles this fall. Let’s take a look at the final rankings for the 2013 season powered by Pinamonti Physical Therapy.
The Derby Panthers, the consensus No. 1 team in Class 6A for most of the season, claimed their first state championship since 1996 with a 28-21 win over Shawnee Mission East. The Panthers and Lancers were tied at 14 and at 21 until Travis Young returned a punt 35 yards to the SM East 24-yard line with less than three minutes remaining. Quarterback Jeremy Dunham hit Caleb Arnold on a touchdown pass on the next play to give Derby the winning points. The Sunflower League occupies the remaining spots in the 6A poll as Olathe North finished ranked third, Lawrence Free State fourth, and Olathe East fifth.
In Class 5A, the Blue Valley Tigers won their sixth state football championship by edging Salina South 27-26. Blue Valley built a 24-6 halftime lead as quarterback Logan Brettell rushed for two scores and passed for another. Brettell also kicked two field goals in the game. Salina South rallied for 20 points in the fourth quarter, but came up just short on a failed two-point attempt late in the game. Bishop Carroll finishes ranked third in the 5A poll, while Blue Valley West and Bishop Miege round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Buhler captured the first football state championship in school history with a 31-14 win over Coffeyville. The Crusaders fell behind 6-0 early, but rallied with 17 points in the second quarter to take a 17-6 lead. Riley Allen rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter as Buhler pulled away. Holton finished the season ranked No.2 with Andale at No. 3. State runner-up Coffeyville finishes at No. 4, while Baldwin rounds out the poll at No. 5.
Silver Lake capped the 2013 season with a record-breaking 82-38 victory over Beloit in the Class 3A championship game. The two teams combined for a state championship record 120 points and Silver Lake’s 82 points also set a new championship game mark. Playing with a torn ACL, Silver Lake’s Dailin Kruger turned in one of the most impressive performances in state history. The senior quarterback completed 21 of 32 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns. He also added ten carries for 92 yards and three TDs on the ground. Beloit’s loss drops the Trojans to No. 3 in the final 3A poll behind No. 2 Rossville, which handed Silver Lake its only loss. The 2012 champion Scott City finishes ranked No. 4, while Conway Springs ends the season at No. 5.
Centralia completed one of the most dominant seasons in state history with a 61-0 blowout of La Crosse in the 2-1A championship game. The Panthers claimed their third state football championship since 2009. La Crosse finishes ranked No. 2, just ahead of No. 3 Oakley and No. 4 Meade. Lyndon rounds out the top five this season after suffering their only loss to Centralia in the state semifinal.
The final polls in the 8-man classifications were released last week after state titles were claimed by Osborne in Division I and Baileyville B&B in Division II.
Visit our Rankings section to view a complete list of the top five teams in each classification.
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