We are down to the state quarterfinals in the 11-Man classifications, while only four teams remain in each of the 8-Man divisions. We will continue to release the Kpreps Top 5 Rankings each Monday throughout the season before our final poll after all the state champions are crowned.
There was no change to either the Class 6A or 5A polls this week as all ranked teams advanced to the second round as expected. Hutchinson remains atop our 6A poll after throttling Wichita Heights and ending the Falcons’ run of three straight appearances in the state championship game. The Salthawks will travel to No. 5 Topeka High in the quarterfinals. The Trojans opened with an impressive 42-13 road-win at Wichita Northwest to earn the school’s first-ever playoff victory.
In Class 5A, top-ranked Bishop Carroll was pushed for a half by Hays before pulling away. The Golden Eagles led just 24-21 at the break before rolling in the second half for a 52-27 win. Second-ranked Salina South and third-ranked Emporia each posted big first-round wins. The Cougars and Spartans will meet in the 5A quarterfinals in Salina on Friday night. Fourth-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas eased past Lansing in the first round, and will take on Blue Valley this week. The Tigers are the only team to defeat the Saints this season; 29-28 in Week 6. Blue Valley West got nearly 200 yards rushing from Conley Wilkins in a 40-point win over Topeka Seaman. The Jaguars have a rematch with Bishop Miege in the quarterfinals. Blue Valley West won the first meeting 41-36 earlier this season.
Class 4A is the first of the polls that we see significant changes as the brackets produced some brutal early-round match-ups last week. Top-ranked Holton remains unbeaten after shutting out previously No. 4 ranked Wichita Collegiate 28-0. The Wildcats will host No. 2 McPherson this week. The Bullpups held on to eliminate Andale 42-36 on Saturday. Third-ranked Mulvane slipped past a solid Maize South squad 7-0. The Wildcats will get a rematch with newly fourth-ranked Buhler as a reward. Mulvane defeated the Crusaders 38-34 back in Week 3 in one of the better games of the regular season. Eudora cracks the top five after advancing into the round of eight. The Cardinals are looking to get back to the 4A title game for the second straight season.
The Class 3A top five remains unchanged despite only four of the teams are still playing. Garden Plain defeated No. 5 Conway Springs for the second time this season to advance to a quarterfinal showdown with No. 2 Scott City. The Owls beat Conway Springs 33-28 on Saturday meaning that a new 3A champion will be crowned this season.
In 2-1A, Stanton County was the first ranked team to bow out of the playoffs as the Trojans fell 14-12 at Oakley. Oakley cracks this week’s poll at No. 5, but faces a stiff road test at top-ranked La Crosse this week. Meade, Lyndon, and Centralia remain ranked No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 respectively in our poll.
As mentioned above, the state semifinals are set in both 8-Man divisions. Top-ranked Ness City will host No. 4 Solomon on the west half of Division-I, while No. 2 Madison will travel to third-ranked Mankato-Rock Hills to decide the east. Hodgeman County slips in the rankings at No. 5 this week after a 22-18 loss to Solomon on Saturday.
In Division-II, top-ranked Baileyville B&B will host rival No. 3 Hanover to decide the state championship game participant from the east. B&B has reach four consecutive state championship games, but needed two overtimes to defeat Hanover 52-46 just two weeks ago. On the western half, No. 2 Sharon Springs-Wallace County will travel to Kensington to take on defending champion Thunder Ridge. The Longhorns are ranked No. 4 in this week’s poll; one spot ahead of Otis-Bison whom they eliminated 28-18 on Saturday.
Click the Rankings tab on the main page to view the Top 5 for each class.
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