It’s finally time for football! Kansas high school football kicks off this week and once again Kpreps will be your source of information for the action across the state.
Kpreps.com kicks off the 2022 season with the release our Kpreps.com Top 5 rankings. The Kpreps rankings are a collaborative effort from multiple media sources across the state and will be released each Monday throughout the season.
Visit our Rankings page, take a look at our preseason rankings and let the debate begin!
Class 6A
The Derby opens the season as the top-ranked team in our Class 6A poll for a seventh consecutive year. While the Panthers reached the 6A state championship game for a seventh consecutive seasons in 2021, it was Blue Valley Northwest topping Derby 41-21 to claim their first state football title. Can Derby regain the crown this year behind Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards?
Class 5A
Mill Valley won its third consecutive state title last fall beating Maize, 28-14. Those two teams are loaded for another run to get back to Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg. Mill Valley is seeking its sixth state title in the past eight seasons, while Maize looks to win the trophy for the first time behind highly-touted quarterback Avery Johnson.
Class 4A
St. James Academy won a second consecutive Class 4A state title by edging Andover Central, 28-21. The Thunder are again among the favorites to challenge for the title this season in a classification strengthened by the addition of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Saints join St. James Academy and Bishop Miege as the third Eastern Kansas League team expected to be contenders in 4A.
Class 3A
No team has been as dominant recently as Andale has in Class 3A. The Indians captured a third consecutive state championship last fall with a 53-0 win over Frontenac. Andale enters the 2022 season having won 38 consecutive games and are loaded for another run. Are there any challengers to a fourth straight Andale crown?
Class 2A
Rossville won a second consecutive 2A crown last fall, but the Bulldawgs do not open the season atop our Class 2A poll. Make not mistake, the Bulldawgs will be a major factor in Class 2A, but will have to reload after graduating several key players that helped them win 26 consecutive games. Which team starts out as the favorite in Class 2A? Check out the 2A poll to find out!
Class 1A
Olpe has been dominant the past two seasons in capturing consecutive state football titles will allowing a total of 59 points – in two years! The Eagles lost several key players to graduation and will face a difficult schedule that will challenge their 24-game win streak. Class 1A was bolstered by the addition of several teams. Who are the contenders? Check out our 1A poll on the Rankings page!
Kpreps – Class 1A Rankings
Class 8M-I
In 8-Man, Division, defending champion Meade not only lost several key players to graduation, the Buffaloes also must replace their head coach. Bryan Luetters left after one season to take the head coaching position at Liberal (5A). The Buffs have four returning starters, but a deep and challenging field of contenders in the classification have kept Meade out of the pre-season top 5. Click on the Rankings tab to find out which teams made our initial poll.
Class 8M-II
Axtell captured the 8-Man, Division II state title last season by topping Wheatland-Grinnell, and the Eagles return everyone from that team. But several strong contenders will make it difficult to repeat, including one of the top 8M-I programs in recent years moving down to Division II. Can the Eagles repeat?
Class 6-Man
While Kpreps has covered 6-Man football in Kansas for several seasons, 2022 will be the first season KSHSAA will sanction 6-Man as a classification. In the first year, 25 teams will compete for the title, but this classification is only expected to grow in the coming years. Find out who begins the season as the favorite in the new classification on the Rankings page.
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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