Kpreps 2026 Playoff coverage
Class 3A
VIEW: 3A Bracket
CLASS 3A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#7 Nemaha Central (6-3) at #3 Jefferson West (8-2) – Jeff West
Big East League members Nemaha Central and Jefferson West will meet for a second time this season – this time with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. Jeff West defeated the Thunder, 20-7, back in Week 4. In that contest, Nemaha Central limited the Tiger offense to 225 yards, including only 45 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Jeff West quarterback Brixton Schwinn passed for 180 yards and a touchdown that went to Corbin Mayer. Schwinn also added a rushing score. Jakob Devlin provided a spark with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Schwinn has had an exceptional sophomore season in completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,792 yards and 43 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Eight different Tigers have at least a dozen catches for more than 150 receiving yards. Brady Skahan leads the team with 35 catches for 526 yards and eight touchdowns, while freshman Carter Hutfles has 27 catches for 523 yards and seven scores. Schwinn’s older brother, Brody, has 470 yards and seven scores in only five games. Devlin, Dalton Foster, and Mayer have contributed 394, 255, and 186 receiving yards, respectively, to go along with ten combined touchdowns. Lansing transfer Jaxon Pollard leads the ground game with 297 yards and three scores.
Nemaha Central made the move to Class 3A this season after having won three of the past four Class 2A state championships. The Thunder are the defending 2A champions and took a major losses to graduations last fall. But the Thunder are back in the quarterfinals as one of the state’s most consistent programs. Junior Cole Ranieri directs the Thunder offense and has thrown for 902 yards and 11 scores this fall. Junior Sullivan Haverkamp is the team’s leading rusher with 851 yards and 13 scores, while Dason Hill has added 502 yards and six scores. Ranieri has rushed for 448 yards and six scores. Nemaha Central has played a difficult schedule including four games decided by a touchdown or less. The Thunder lost in overtime to 2A No. 1 Sabetha earlier this season and survived an overtime game last week in eliminating Wellsville, 22-21.
Other quarterfinal games:
#5 Baldwin (8-2) at #1 Frontenac (10-0) – Frontenac
CLASS 3A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#3 Hesston (9-1) at #2 Holcomb (9-1) – Holcomb
One of the state’s top matchups for all classes. The only previous meeting came in the 2021 playoffs when Holcomb defeated Hesston, 63-25. Hesston senior Jerrick Humphreys has thrown for 2,130 yards with 30 scores against three interceptions. Hesston has thrown the ball on 47.7 percent of players. Senior Gavin Larson has 63 catches for 863 yards and 15 scores. Hesston has 4.8 yards per rush and 8.8 yard per play. The Swathers are plus-17 in turnover margin. Holcomb junior quarterback Cooper Cranston is one of the state’s top recruits. He has thrown for 698 yards and rushed for 1,198 yards and 22 scores. Junior Chasyn Cosner has posted 981 rushing yards. Holcomb has 8.5 yards per rush and 8.9 yards per pass.
Other quarterfinal games:
#4 Hoisington (8-2) at #1 Andale (10-0) – Andale
Class 2A
VIEW: 2A Bracket
CLASS 2A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#3 Sabetha (10-0) at #2 Caney Valley (10-0) – Sabetha
Two unbeaten teams will meet for a spot in the state semifinals when the top-ranked Sabetha Bluejays travel down south nearly to the Oklahoma border to take on the Caney Valley Bullpups. This will be the second all-time meeting between the two schools separated by more than 220 miles. Sabetha dominated in a quarterfinal matchup against the Bullpups, 47-0, back in 2022.
Sabetha has survived a brutal schedule through the Big East League unscathed at 10-0. They’ve had close wins over 3A quarterfinalist Nemaha Central (21-14 in OT), 1A quarterfinalist St. Marys (21-18), and 2A quarterfinalist Riverside (28-21). Last week, the Bluejays defeated Osage City, 26-14. Quarterback Micah Lang rushed for a pair of first-half touchdowns to build a 14-0 lead over Osage City. He then hit Jack Frazee on a 50-yard touchdown pass late in the first half for a 20-0 lead. Lincoln Menold added a second half touchdown for the Bluejays.
Caney Valley dominated a Big East League opponent in Royal Valley, 46-6. Royal Valley scored on their first possession, but Caney immediately responded with the first of Traxcyn Garton’s three touchdowns on the night. Konner Paulie also returned a punt for a score which pushed the Caney Valley lead to 24-6 at halftime. This is one of the deepest and most talented Caney Valley teams in recent history, but with a couple of guys banged up, that depth will be key the rest of the way.
Other quarterfinal games:
#5 Riverside (9-1) at #1 Silver Lake (10-0) – Silver Lake
CLASS 2A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#9 Council Grove (9-1) at #4 Garden Plain (8-2) – Council Grove
This is the first-ever meeting between the schools. Garden Plain has run the ball on 90.5 percent of snaps and is one of the state’s most run-heavy teams. Senior Jack Helten posted 148 carries for 941 yards and 10 scores. Junior Braylen Dold has 73 rushes for 417 yards and five TDs. The Owls have just three turnovers this year and are plus-12 in turnover margin. Council Grove senior Luke Stewart has thrown for 2,476 yards with 24 passing scores against seven interceptions. Senior Bradley Doornbos has 626 rushing yards with 12 scores. Senior Mason Samuels has 47 catches for 867 yards and 12 TDs. Council Grove tied the 1950 team for the most single season wins in program history. The Braves have two regional titles in school history and might be more explosive than Garden Plain.
Other quarterfinal games:
#3 Marysville (8-2) at #2 Beloit (9-1) – Marysville
Class 1A
VIEW: Class 1A Bracket
CLASS 1A EAST
Highlighted Games:
#8 St. Marys (4-6) at #4 Centralia (7-3) – St. Marys
St. Marys enters this quarterfinal contest at Centralia having won four of five games after an 0-5 start. The Bears’ six losses all came to playoff teams – four of which are still alive in the state quarterfinals this week. St. Marys won at top-seed Jefferson Co. North last week, 24-8. The Bears rushed for 211 yards led by Jace Hurla’s 98 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Quarterback Parker Heim added 60 yards and a score and Mason Mayhew added 53 yards and a touchdown. Heim also tossed a touchdown pass to Mayhew. Heim (639 yards), Mayhew (573 yards, and Hurla (522 yards) have now combined for 1,734 rush yards and 22 touchdowns. Heim has also passed for 733 yards and nine scores.
Centralia has won seven of eight games since opening the season with losses to Rock Creek and Jefferson West. Last week the Panthers scored with :09 seconds remaining to top McLouth, 28-20. After McLouth tied the game at 20 with 1:30 remaining, Centralia went the length of the field helped by a 21-yard pass from Quentin Alderfer to Bronx Talley. Alderfer scored a couple of plays later to provide the difference. Alderfer rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Degan Ronnebaum added the other Panther touchdown on a short scoring run in the third quarter.
Other quarterfinal games:
#3 Olpe (8-2) at #2 Rossville (8-2) – Rossville
CLASS 1A WEST
Highlighted Games:
#5 Smith Center (8-2) at #1 Sterling (10-0) – Sterling
Sterling has won 23 straight games and is the defending 1A state champion. The Black Bears defeated Smith Center, 14-6, in the state semifinals last year. Sterling has impressively retooled after running back Zane Farney graduated following a standout career. Last week, Sterling rolled over Moundridge, 56-0. Sterling had touchdowns by Nolan Wellman, Jacob Lewis, Deryn Maxwell, Tucker Haas and Jace Darnauer. Sterling has five shutouts this year. Smith Center has lost only to 2A Beloit and 1A No. 2 Thomas More Prep-Marian. The Redmen have 368 rushing yards per game with three backs – senior Riley Griffin-Powers, junior Carson McKelvey, and junior Gunner Nichols – between 837 and 1,091 rushing yards. Both squads are extremely run-heavy, though Sterling has been more explosive this year.
Other quarterfinal games:
#3 Inman (8-2) at #2 Thomas More Prep-Marian (10-0) – TMP
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
