Kpreps 2026 Playoff coverage
Class 3A
VIEW: 3A Bracket
CLASS 3A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#11 Holton (2-6) at #6 Burlington (6-2) – Holton
Holton visits Burlington in one of the more intriguing first-round games on the eastern half of Class 3A. The Holton Wildcats suffered through a brutal Big East League schedule to finish with just two wins. Holton defeated Atchison 51-16 and Hiawatha, 35-6. Holton’s six losses have come to opponents that are a combined 37-11 this season. Holton averages 256 yards per game on the ground led by freshman Jerome Williams’ 591 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Jarett Abel has added 573 yards and four scores. Burlington’s two losses have come to Osage City (43-20) and Wellsville (42-14). The Burlington Wildcats have been consistent in the passing game with quarterback Shawn Mautz. Mautz has thrown for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns. Alec Stice has put up great numbers with 46 catches for 625 yards and six scores. Logan Turner has lead the ground game with 617 yards and 11 scores. Holton’s ability to possess the ball has proven to be a recipe for success in the playoffs and may be the key in this one.
Other first-round games:
#16 Osawatomie (2-6) at #1 Frontenac (8-0) – Frontenac
#9 Iola (4-4) at #8 Columbus (5-3) – Columbus
#13 Girard (5-3) at #4 Topeka Hayden (4-4) – Hayden
#12 Anderson County (1-7) at #5 Baldwin (6-2) – Baldwin
#15 Atchison (3-5) at #2 Wellsville (8-0) – Wellsville
#10 Perry-Lecompton (4-4) at #7 Nemaha Central (5-3) – Nemaha Central
#14 Santa Fe Trail (4-4) at #3 Jefferson West (6-2) – Jeff West
CLASS 3A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#11 Lyons (5-3) at #6 Hugoton (4-4) – Hugoton
Lyons has been one of the best Kansas high school football stories this year. Wyatt Seidl, a former McPherson standout and Fort Hays football player, has done a tremendous job with the long-struggling Lions. Lyons had four wins in the last four years. It marked Lyons’ most wins since 2013. Fifth-year coach Jay Witt, a longtime coach in Texas, has made Hugoton a consistent program. Hugoton had three straight 6-3 seasons before the .500 regular season this fall. The Eagles have not played past Week 9 since 2015. Lyons junior Xander Young has posted 142 carries for 981 yards and seven scores. The Lions have rushed for 181 yards per game. Lyons has recovered 12 fumbles and is plus-six in turnover margin. Last year, Lyons rushed for 111 yards per game and had a worse turnover margin than 2026. Hugoton has its three big offensive weapons with quarterback Isaai Betance, running back Isai Guardado and wide receiver Adrian Adigun, a state champion in the triple jump and a returning all-state selection. Stopping Adigun has been highly challenging for teams and could be the difference.
Other first-round games:
#1 Andale wins by forfeit over #16 Larned
#9 Cheney (6-2) at #8 Pratt (4-4) -- Cheney
#13 Clay Center (2-6) at #4 Hoisington (6-2) – Hoisington
#12 Concordia (3-5) at #5 Chapman (6-2) – Chapman
#15 Wichita Trinity (2-6) at #2 Holcomb (7-1) – Holcomb
#10 Goodland (5-3) at #7 Wichita Collegiate (4-4) – Collegiate
#14 Scott City (2-6) at #3 Hesston (7-1) – Hesston
Class 2A
VIEW: 2A Bracket
CLASS 2A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#10 Royal Valley (4-4) at #7 Baxter Springs (5-3) – Royal Valley
Two teams with contrasting styles who are trending in opposite directions will meet in this first round game. Royal Valley comes in well tested through the tough Big East Leage with losses to Jefferson West, Rossville, Sabetha, and Riverside. Those four opponents are a combined 27-5. The Panthers enter having dropped consecutive games to Sabetha (36-8) and Riverside (42-30). Royal Valley wants to run the ball with senior Manny Oliveira. Oliveira has rushed for 1,506 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Alex Johnson has added 497 yards and four touchdowns. The Panthers average 310 yards per game on the ground and have only attempted 27 passes. On the flip side, Baxter Springs has enjoyed a 5-3 season under Coach Jeff McCoy. The Lions have plenty of athletes to spread the field with quarterback Cole Parrish, back Bradley Wade, and receivers Caleb Grant and Logan Abbott. Parrish has passed for 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns with Abbott grabbing a team-high 38 receptions and Grant amassing a team-leading 634 yards and seven touchdowns. Wade has been effective in the run game with 782 yards and 11 scores. The Lions are looking for their first playoff win since 1995, while Royal Valley is seeking its first postseason win since 1998.
Other first-round games:
#1 Silver Lake wins by forfeit over #16 West Franklin
#9 Central Heights (5-3) at #8 Humboldt (5-3) – Humboldt
#13 Pleasant Ridge (4-4) at #4 Neodesha (7-1) – Neodesha
#12 Oskaloosa (3-5) at #5 Riverside (7-1) – Riverside
#15 Jayhawk-Linn (3-5) at #2 Caney Valley (8-0) – Caney Valley
#14 Cherryvale (4-4) at #3 Sabetha (8-0) – Sabetha
#11 Riverton (4-4) at #6 Osage City (6-2) – Osage City
CLASS 2A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#9 Council Grove (7-1) at #8 Norton (4-4) – Council Grove
After a rare down season last year, first-year head coach Zac Dreher, a former Norton Shrine Bowler, has done a nice job in leading the Bluejays to a three-win improvement. Dreher served as Council Grove’s defensive coordinator from 2014-2018. Norton has three competitive losses to Thomas More Prep-Marian, Smith Center and Beloit, teams that are a combined 21-3. The Bluejays had an upset loss, 22-15, at Minneapolis in Week 6, the Lions’ lone victory this year. Council Grove defeated Minneapolis, 69-6. However, Norton is the home team – and has one of Kansas’ best home field advantages in Travis Field, a site of several upset wins in recent years – since it finished second in District 6. Council Grove took third on a tiebreaker in highly competitive District 5. CG, ranked fifth in 2A, has set multiple school records. Senior Luke Stewart has completed 131 passes for 194 yards with 2,051 yards with 21 scores against six interceptions. Council Grove has scored 42 points per game and allowed 11.8. Senior Mason Samuels is among the state’s top receivers with 36 catches for 695 yards and nine scores. Norton has an impressive ground game and has controlled the clock against several opponents. Senior quarterback Ashton Kats has rushed for more than 500 yards.
Other first-round games:
#16 Russell (1-7) at #1 Chaparral (8-0) – Chaparral
#13 Douglass (5-3) at #4 Garden Plain (6-2) – Garden Plain
#12 Cimarron (3-5) at #5 Haven (7-1) – Haven
#15 Southwestern Heights (2-5) at #2 Beloit (7-1) – Beloit
#10 Halstead (4-4) at #7 Riley County (6-2) – Riley County
#14 Southeast of Saline (5-3) at #3 Marysville (6-2) – Marysville
#11 Phillipsburg (3-5) at #6 Kingman (7-1) – Kingman
Class 1A
VIEW: Class 1A Bracket
CLASS 1A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#9 Onaga (5-3) at #8 St. Marys (2-6) – St. Marys
Onaga visits St. Marys in an intriguing 8-seed/9-seed first-round game. Onaga started the season winning five of six games before consecutive losses to Valley Heights (21-18) and Centralia (29-12). The Buffaloes have played in five games that have been decided by six points or less. Sophomore Ryder Kolterman leads the Onaga offense with 971 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Kolterman has added 647 yards passing with eight scores. Juniors Luke Poell (681 yards) and Jesse Miller (319 yards) have combined for 1,000 yards rushing and seven more touchdowns. The St. Marys Bears are a sleeper in Class 1A entering the playoffs with just to wins. The Bears play in the ultra-competitive Big East League with their six losses coming to opponents that are a combined 37-11. Senior quarterback Parker Heim leads St. Marys with over a 1,000 yards of total offense (passing/rushing) with 14 combined touchdowns. Mason Mayhew and Jace Hurla are also threats out of the backfield combining for more than 700 rushing yards and seven more scores.
Other first-round games:
#16 Mission Valley (1-7) at #1 Jefferson Co. North (7-1) – Jeff Co. North
#13 Jackson Heights (4-4) at #4 Centralia (5-3) – Centralia
#12 Uniontown (3-5) at #5 McLouth (7-1) – McLouth
#15 Atchison County (1-7) at #2 Rossville (6-2) – Rossville
#10 Maur Hill-Mount Academy (4-4) at #7 St. Mary’s Colgan (4-4) – Colgan
#14 Northeast-Arma (2-6) at #3 Olpe (6-2) – Olpe
#11 Wabaunsee (3-5) at #6 Valley Heights (6-2) -- Wabaunsee
CLASS 1A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#10 Plainville (3-5) at #7 Medicine Lodge (4-4) – Plainville
Plainville opened 0-4, though has won three of its last four. The Cardinals have been competitive in all of its losses; the five games have come by 11, 11, 17, 28 and eight points. Plainville, under coach Alex McMillian, have permitted just 16 points per game. Plainville makes the several hour trip south against the Indians, who are 4-4 under first-year coach Bob Smith. Medicine Lodge has lost by 25, 20, 34 and 48 points, though two are the losses are to undefeated Chaparral and Sterling. The Indians have permitted 26 points per game. Plainville has typically won the early round playoff games against non- MCL teams and could pick up another victory this week.
Other first-round games:
#1 Sterling wins by forfeit over #16 Syracuse
#9 Moundridge (4-4) at #8 Belle Plaine (2-6) – Moundridge
#13 Whitewater-Remington (4-4) at #4 Conway Springs (4-4) – Conway Springs
#12 Sedgwick (1-7) at #5 Smith Center (6-2) – Smith Center
#15 Leon-Bluestem (1-7) at #2 Thomas More Prep-Marian (8-0) – TMP
#14 Sacred Heart (4-4) at #3 Inman (6-2) – Inman
#11 Ellinwood (1-6) at #6 Hillsboro (5-3) -- Hillsboro
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