The 2015 Kansas high school football season has come to a close as state champions were crowned in the six 11-man classes this past weekend. Three teams highlighted as preseason No. 1’s in the Kpreps.com rankings captured state titles this fall, while three more teams ranked No. 2 at the beginning of the season won state titles. The other two classes were won by teams ranked No. 3 and No. 5 in our preseason poll. Let’s take a look at the final rankings for the 2015 season.
The Derby Panthers captured their second Class 6A state championship in the past three years with a 27-14 victory over Blue Valley on Saturday. Quarterback Brady Rust rushed for 309 yards and two touchdowns and passed for two more scores to lead the Panthers. Blue Valley finished the season as they began it, ranked No. 2 in our 6A poll. Round out the 6A poll is No. 3 Olathe North, No. 4 Lawrence Free State, and No. 5 Shawnee Mission East.
In Class 5A, Mill Valley won the schools’ first state championship by defeating defending champion Bishop Carroll, 35-14. The Jaguars used a fumble and a stout defense to race out to a 21-0 lead and never allowed Carroll to get any closer than 14 points. Logan Koch capped a brilliant senior season and career by rushing for three touchdowns and passing for another. Bishop Carroll, which began the season ranked No. 2, finishes ranked second. Preseason favorite St. Thomas Aquinas is ranked third in our final poll after falling 45-28 to Mill Valley in the state semifinals. Pittsburg (9-2) and St. James Academy (9-2) complete the top five at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.
Bishop Miege rolled to a second consecutive 4A, Division I state championship with a 68-12 win over Andover Central. Dawson Downing rushed for 231 yards and six touchdowns for the Stags in the victory. Andover Central finishes the season ranked No. 2 after reaching the first state football title game in school history. Topeka Hayden, Buhler, and Eudora all round out the poll in Class 4A-I.
Holcomb began the season ranked No. 2 in our poll, but the Longhorns end up on top of 4A, Division II after shutting out Holton 21-0 on Saturday. The Longhorns captures their first state football championship by displaying a balanced offensive attack and a determined defense despite the cold, icy conditions in Salina. Holton finishes the season with a 9-4 record, but ranked No. 2 in our poll. The Wildcats scored with 30 seconds remaining in the semifinal round to defeat No. 3 Columbus, 23-22. The 2014 champion, Andale, finishes ranked fourth in our poll, while Frontenac rounds out the poll at No. 5.
In Class 3A, Rossville won a second consecutive state championship with a 20-19 victory over Wichita Collegiate. The Bulldawgs trailed 19-7 to begin the fourth quarter but standout Tucker Horak scored once on offense and once on defense early in the quarter to rally the Bulldawgs to a 20-19 win. Collegiate finishes ranked second in our poll, one sport better than the Spartans were picked in the preseason. The remainder of the poll features No. 3 Halstead, No. 4 St. Mary’s Colgan, and No. 5 Norton.
In a battle of two schools making their first-ever state football championship game, Phillipsburg edged Troy 30-29 to win the Class 2-1A crown. Panther sophomore Kirk Coomes rushed for 243 yards and four touchdowns to lead Phillipsburg to the win. Troy scored with 3:17 remaining in the game, but could not convert the two-point conversion to take the lead. The Panthers finish atop the 2-1A poll after beginning the season ranked second. Preseason favorite Meade finishes at No. 3 in the final poll after falling to Phillipsburg 26-21 in the state quarterfinals. Smith Center and Olpe complete the remainder of the top five.
On November 21st in Newton, Spearville completed a dominant season by capturing the Eight-Man, Division I title with a 62-16 victory over Hanover. The victory gave the Royal Lancers their first state football championship. Central Plains, the 2014 champion, finishes at No. 2 in the final poll after falling 58-28 to Spearville in the semifinals. Hanover finishes ranked third in the poll, just ahead of Burlingame and Solomon.
In Eight-Man, Division II, Victoria topped Argonia-Attica 36-28 in dramatic fashion as Brady Dinkel raced 56 yards for a touchdown with two seconds remaining in the game. The Knights captured their second consecutive state championship thanks to Dinkel who rushed for 173 yards and four touchdowns in the game, and threw for 70 yards and another score. Argonia-Attica finishes ranked second this season, while Sharon Springs-Wallace County, Axtell, and Ingalls close out the rest of the 8M-II poll.
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