The second season is officially here. All classifications are now in district play as we begin to clarify the playoff picture for the 2014 season. Week six of the season brought about a lot of changes to the top five rankings as seven ranked teams lost last week. How did it impact the Kpreps Rankings? Find out below or visit our Rankings page to view a complete list of the top five teams in each classification and how they performed last week.
There was some shake up in the Class 6A poll for the first time in several weeks as former No. 3 Topeka High lost in overtime to Shawnee Heights. The Thunderbirds knocked the Trojans from the ranks of the unbeaten thanks to a three-touchdown night from Tony Barksdale Jr. Topeka High falls out of the top five this week and is replaced by their Week 7 opponent, Manhattan. The Indians check in at No. 5 this week after beating rival Junction City, 16-7. Olathe South moves up one spot to No. 4 after holding off Lawrence, and Blue Valley climbs to No. 3 after besting 5A No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas, 21-14. Top-ranked Shawnee Mission East and No. 2 Olathe North rolled to wins over Leavenworth and Shawnee Mission North, respectively.
The biggest changes from Week 6 action occurred in Class 5A as three ranked teams lost. One thing that didn’t change is top-ranked Bishop Carroll which rolled to a 50-point win over Wichita Southeast. Pittsburg moves up one spot to No.2 this week after a 54-7 pasting of Arkansas City. The Purple Dragons move up in the poll thanks to Salina South’s 45-14 loss at Derby. The Cougars were tied with the Panthers 7-7 at halftime, but Derby exploded for 38 points in the second half behind senior running back Curtis Whitten. South falls one spot to No. 3 this week; just ahead of St. Thomas Aquinas. As mentioned above, the Saints lost 21-14 to 6A No. 3 Blue Valley. Wichita Heights re-enters the poll at No. 5 thanks to Blue Valley West’s 20-7 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Thursday night.
The Class 4A, Division I poll remains unchanged this week as only No. 2 Hays was challenged. The Indians outscored Dodge City 64-50 to improve to 6-0, and will take on No. 4 Buhler to open district play this week.
In 4A, Division II, Andale remains on top after a 50-14 win over Mulvane. Holton moves up to No. 2 this week after a 47-6 win over Atchison County. The Wildcats switch places with No. 3 Columbus, which rallied for a fourth quarter touchdown to top St. Mary’s Colgan 14-12 in the mud. Similarly, No. 4 Frontenac rallied in the fourth quarter on a sloppy field to overcome CNC rival Girard, 16-13. Holcomb remains ranked fifth after drilling Lakin, 50-18.
Entering Week 6, No. 2 Rossville, No. 3 Scott City, and No. 4 Conway Springs were all supposed to be challenged in Class 3A. Rossville fell behind early before drilling previously-unbeaten Centralia 42-6 behind a huge night from junior quarterback Tucker Horak. Scott City bested Ulysses 14-7 thanks to 195 yards rushing from junior Cooper Griffith. Conway Springs doubled-up Wichita Trinity 42-21 as Luke Fisher rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns. Wichita Collegiate also got a scare. The fifth-ranked Spartans led Wellington by 17 points twice before holding on to win 38-34.
The focus of 2-1A football last week was on top-ranked Phillipsburg’s trip to No. 5 Sedgwick. The Cardinals led the Panthers 20-13 at halftime, but Stuart Lennemann scored four touchdowns in the second half as Phillipsburg pulled away 49-27. Sedgwick drops out of this week’s poll and is replaced by unbeaten Lyndon. The Tigers defeated Osage City 39-0 in Week 6, and will take on No. 3 Olpe in a huge game in District 4. In addition, No. 2 La Crosse should get a stern test from Smith Center, and No. 4 Meade will host 2-1A newcomer Marion in a solid non-district showdown.
In Eight-Man, Division I, No. 3 Central Plains survived a four-quarter test from Little River to win 22-6. Meanwhile, No. 5 Madison could not overcome its injuries in getting blasted by Peabody –Burns, 48-0. The Bulldogs were already playing without quarterback Dustin Stutesman who is believed lost for the year, and lost another key player when Gavin Beyer went down in the second quarter. Peabody-Burns scored late in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead, and then blew out the Bulldogs in the second half. Hodgeman County replaces Madison at No. 5 this week after a 50-point win over WaKeeney-Trego.
The Eight-Man, Division II showdown between No. 4 Victoria and No. 2 Beloit St. John’s-Tipton definitely lived up to its billing. Victoria outscored St. John’s-Tipton 68-56 to get a step up in the District 7 standings that also includes third-ranked Thunder Ridge. Victoria moves up to No. 2 in this week’s poll and will host Thunder Ridge this week. Beloit St. John’s-Tipton battled the Knights despite playing without injured all-purpose back Parker Gates. The Blujays drop to No. 5 this week, just behind No. 4 Sharon Springs-Wallace County. The Wildcats remained unbeaten with a 54-6 win over Wheatland-Grinnell.
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