The state semifinals are upon us in the 11-man classifications of the Kansas high school football playoffs, and state champions will be crowned in the eight-man classes this weekend.
The Kpreps Top 5 Rankings has seen some change at the top as there are new No. 1’s in Class 3A and Class 2-1A.
Perhaps the biggest story from the quarterfinals was LaCrosse’s 21-12 victory over top-ranked Meade in Class 2-1A. The Buffaloes were defending state champions, had won 22 consecutive games, and were considered to be the favorite to repeat again in 2011. With the victory, LaCrosse jumps up to No. 2 in the 2-1A poll and St. Mary’s Colgan takes over the top spot by virtue of their 59-14 win at Doniphan West. The Panthers will host the No. 5 Centralia Panthers in the state semifinals this week. LaCrosse will travel to No. 4 Plainville in the other substate game. Meade finishes the season at 10-1 and is ranked third in the latest poll.
The other No. 1 team to be eliminated in the quarterfinals was Scott City which fell 39-21 on the road to then No. 2 Conway Springs. The Cardinals have moved up one spot to the top of 3A this week, while Scott City fell to No. 4. Silver Lake and Garden Plain are each up one spot to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. The Rock Creek Mustangs enter the 3A poll at No. 5 by virtue of their 16-8 win over previously unbeaten Caney Valley. The Mustangs will try and avenge a 13-3 loss to Silver Lake in the regular season as a pair of Mid-East League teams will once again decide the 3A East.
The polls also saw significant change in the 5A, 4A, and Eight-Man Division I classifications as all three featured quarterfinal match-ups between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams last week.
First in 5A, defending champion Blue Valley – Stilwell remains on top after beating Bishop Miege by a score of 24-21 for the second time this season. Miege drops to No. 3 in the latest poll, allowing Bishop Carroll to climb to the No. 2 spot. Hutchinson and Gardner-Edgerton remain at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively after impressive wins over Kapuan Mt. Carmel and Shawnee Heights.
In Class 4A, top-ranked Topeka Hayden won at second-ranked Buhler 21-14. The Wildcats will now take on the new No. 2 Rose Hill – 56-14 winners at Ulysses. Buhler dropped two spots to No. 4. Paola’s 35-21 win over Blue Valley Southwest was good enough to propel the Panthers to the No. 3 spot this week, while Eudora holds steady at No. 5 after a 20-13 win at Chanute. The Panthers and Cardinals will play for a second time this season with the winner advancing to the title game in Salina.
The Eight-Man, Division I showdown between No. 1 Madison and No. 2 Lakeside-Downs turned into a rout as the Bulldogs ran away with a 52-6 win. Madison will now try and win their second consecutive title against No. 2 South Gray on Saturday at Fischer Field in Newton. South Gray edged No. 4 Osborne 42-38 behind strong rushing performances from Coulter Croft and Wyatt Slaven. Lakeside-Downs fell one spot to No. 3, while Lebo remains in the poll at No. 5.
In Eight-Man Division II, Baileyville B&B remains on top after a 42-20 win at South Haven. The Falcons have now reached the state title game for the fourth consecutive season. They will take on No. 2 Thunder Ridge, 54-26 winners over No.4 Otis Bison. Ashland is ranked No. 3 this week, and South Haven drops one spot to No. 5.
Finally in Class 6A, Wichita Heights remains atop the poll after defeating Garden City, 35-3. The Falcons will now take on No. 4 Derby, which eliminated then No. 2 Manhattan 39-28 despite missing several starters due to injury. Wichita Heights rallied from a two touchdown deficit to defeat Derby 49-35 in Week 9 of the regular season. In the eastern half of 6A, Olathe South is up one spot to No. 2 this week after defeating Shawnee Mission East 55-42. The will host No. 3 Olathe East which defeated Shawnee Mission West, 46-16. Manhattan’s season-ending loss at Derby drops the Indians to No. 5 in this week’s poll.
Check out the Kpreps Rankings page for a complete list of the Top 5 in each classification.
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