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As with last year, CatchItKansas.com will compile weekly statewide football rankings for each class. The preseason rankings for each class are below. Check back each Monday during the season to see how things shift.
Here are the complete rankings. Click a team's name for last season's results.
Class 6A
1. Wichita Heights
Last Season’s Record: 13-0
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6
Things start right where we left off last season with Class 6A champion Wichita Heights as No. 1. The Falcons return a senior quarterback in Matt Reed that has started two state championship games. That coupled with a great supporting cast gives the Falcons the nod at No. 1.
2. Olathe North
Last Season’s Record: 11-2
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 4
Olathe North beat Heights in the title game two years ago, but was runner-up last season. The Eagles will look to get back and take Heights on for the rubber match. Star running back Adonis Saunders is gone, but two transfers will look to ease that loss.
3. Manhattan
Last Season’s Record: 10-1
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
Manhattan ran into Dodge City in the second round last season and lost to the prolific Red Demons. Joe Schartz returns 10 total starters this season including his starting quarterback. The Indians are 20-2 under Schartz in his first two seasons.
4. Dodge City
Last Season’s Record: 11-1
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 4
The Red Demons came within a controversial play of the state championship game last season, which was Dave Foster’s first as head coach. This year nine total starters return including running back Parker Davis and wide receiver Trey Hallman.
5. Shawnee Mission East
Last Season’s Record: 8-2
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 4
Chip Sherman is a proven winner with a career record of 221-39 that averages just short of 10 wins a year for his 24 of coaching. The Lancers had never won eight games before Sherman, but that changed in his second season last year. Look for continued improvement this season.
Class 5A
1. Hutchinson
Last Season’s Record: 10-2
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
The Salthawks took one on the chin with a loss in the state semifinal game to Bishop Carroll. Randy Dreiling’s boys will be out for revenge this season and find themselves atop our rankings to start the year with 10 starters back this season. It starts with junior quarterback Trevor Turner and senior running back Ja’Mon Cotton. Jess Westmoreland and his formidable frame will be a key on the line.
2. Gardner Edgerton
Last Season’s Record: 11-1
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6
Bubba Starling is now a professional baseball player, but don’t expect Marvin Diener’s boys to fall off the map. Diener will be going with two sophomores at key positions at quarterback and running back, but Heights proved two seasons ago that a sophomore quarterback can carry a team a long way.
3. McPherson
Last Season’s Record: 9-2
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
Quarterback Tyler Mathews and legendary coach Tom Young give the Bulldogs a puncher’s chance against anyone. Mathews lost many of his top targets, but there are many capable players waiting in the wings for the Bullpups.
4. Blue Valley
Last Season’s Record: 12-1
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 0
Kyle Zimmerman is back at quarterback and Justin Fulks is back at running back, but there are many holes elsewhere for the defending champions. No defensive starters return and that inexperience could hurt this team.
5. Bishop Miege
Last Season’s Record: 6-4
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 9
Bishop Miege lost to the eventual state champion Blue Valley Tigers by one-point to open the playoffs last season. Of its four losses, two were to Stilwell and the other two came at the hands of Gardner Edgerton and St. Thomas Aquinas. There is a ton of experience back for the Stags this on offense at the skill positions as well as nine defensive starters.
Class 4A
1. Buhler
Last Season’s Record: 12-1
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 7
Tanner Fisher is back to lead the Crusaders after losing in the title game last season to Holton. Fisher cleared 2,300 yards rushing last season. Also back is quarterback Chandler Shantz and JP Lohrentz will catch his passes. Lohrentz had double-digit picks on defense as well. Jaydn Garcia will look to improve upon his stellar season at linebacker from last year.
2. Topeka Hayden
Last Season’s Record: 10-2
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 6
Hayden returns many stars and is always in the mix for a title. The Wildcats’ star running back in Jason Tetuan is back. He plays both ways at linebacker as well. Starting quarterback Grant Arnold is also back as a senior.
3. Holton
Last Season’s Record: 11-3
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
Holton was the state runner-up last season, but lost much of its offensive production to graduation. Four linemen return with good size for Class 4A, so the new backfield options will have experience up front.
4. Louisburg
Last Season’s Record: 14-0
Returning Starters: Offense 2, Defense 2
The Wildcats don’t return much from last season’s state championship team, but they do return quality. Garrett Griffin is one of those returners and he rushed for more than 2,000 yards last season and had 90-plus tackles on defense. He will have to carry Louisburg this season with only two other starting players back.
5. Ulysses
Last season’s record: 9-3
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 5
Ulysses worked deep into the playoffs last season, but lost to eventual champion Holton in the quarterfinals. The starter duo of Braden Langston and Josh Jarnagin are back. Langston threw for more than 1,100 yards last year with 17 touchdowns. Jarnagin rushed for 1,448 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Class 3A
1. Conway Springs
Last Season’s Record: 13-1
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 6
The perennial Central Plains League power Conway Springs Cardinals were runners-up last season. Anything less than a title will be a disappointment this season with a wealth of experience back that includes the entire backfield. Brian Doffing, Cory Misak and Matt Seiwert are a force in the backfield as seniors. Doffing and Misak combined for more than 3,000 yards on the ground and 50 touchdowns.
2. Wichita Collegiate
Last Season’s Record: 9-2
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 9
Collegiate will score points and score them in bunches with nine offensive starters back. Junior quarterback Markus Phox is recovered from a broken collarbone and will guide the offense. Trace Clark will be a force on the line. As good as the offense is, the defense could be even better. Clark and Myles Copeland are tough for any Class 3A team to block.
3. Scott City
Last Season’s Record: 10-1
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 8
The Beavers have won 10 games each of the last three years, but continue to fall short. The three-headed monster of Dalton Buehler, Colborn Couchman and Dalton Smith will be tough for opposing defenses to stop out of the backfield. Ron Baker is the big loss as the quarterback will be replaced by the coaches’ son Brett O’Neil.
4. Beloit
Last Season’s Record: 10-3
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 4
There was a lot of talent lost off of the Trojans stellar team from a year ago, but experienced linemen return and that is one of the key factors in the deceptive double-wing offense. Greg Koenig will find replacements for his star running backs and be fine this season.
5. Rossville
Last Season’s Record: 9-4
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 7
The Bulldogs lost in the state semifinals a year ago to the eventual champion Silver Lake Eagles. Rossville returns experience on both sides of the ball with 14 total starters, so the Bulldogs should continue to progress as the favorite in the East.
Class 2-1A
1. Pittsburg Colgan
Last Season’s Record: 12-1
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 7
Colgan lost to Meade by six points in the state title game a year ago, but the Panthers have the luxury of 20 seniors on this season’s team. Their ability to platoon will be hard for any Class 2A program to match.
2. Meade
Last Season’s Record: 12-2
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 8
Meade returns 14 starters to this season’s team from the championship team of a year ago. The Buffaloes had two 1,000-yard running backs and both are gone this season, but returns experience on the offensive line. The defense will be stout with eight returners.
3. La Crosse
Last Season’s Record: 10-1
Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7
When 15 starters return to a 10-1 team in Class 2-1A that usually means a good season is in the cards. One of those losses was Marcus Moeder who was one of the best any class had to offer out of the backfield. Tayler Stull is a third-year starter at quarterback and will provide stability for the Leopards.
4. Centralia
Last Season’s Record: 9-2
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 4
After a state championship two seasons ago, the Panthers came back to earth with a 9-2 record last season. Eight total starters return this season headlined by Michael Glatczak. Glatczak rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year and 19 touchdowns then passed for 951 yards and nine touchdowns.
5. Stanton County
Last Season’s Record: 10-2
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 7
The Trojans would be ranked higher if not for Glatczak and his game-changing ability at Centralia. Stanton County is still a threat with many key players back.
8-Man Division I
1. Madison
Last Season’s Record: 13-0
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 4
The Bulldogs return half of their starters and that is led by 1,900-yard rusher Kole Schankie. He also had 52 touchdowns to go with those yards. Madison’s quarterback Collin Kile is also back.
2. Lebo
Last Season’s Record: 9-2
Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 8
Lebo had two losses last season. Both were to Madison and both were not close. The Wolves look to close the gap with every starter back.
3. Osborne
Last Season’s Record: 10-2
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 5
Osborne dropped down from Class 2-1A last season and had a good year at 10-2. Former Baileyville B&B head coach Steve Tiernan is now at the reins for the Bulldogs
4. Hill City
Last Season’s Record: 11-2
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 3
The do-everything Reggie Jordan is gone from Hill City, but Chris Shank’s boys won’t fade into obscurity behind Dylan Anderson’s leadership at quarterback.
5. Macksville
Last Season’s Record: 7-3
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 4
Seth Filbert will lead Macksville at quarterback this season as the Mustangs look to balance running and throwing.
8-Man Division II
1. Baileyville B&B
Last Season’s Record: 13-0
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 5
Baileyville is 38-1 over its last three seasons and has a new coach this season.
2. Hanover
Last Season’s Record: 10-2
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5
Hanover and Baileyville will be the teams to watch in this class. The Wildcats will look to take advantage of a coaching change at Baileyville and get a title this season.
3. Otis Bison
Last Season’s Record: 11-1
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 4
The Cougars made it to the state championship team last year, but lost to Baileyville. They will be the favorite to get back there this year.
4. Ashland
Last Season’s Record: 10-1
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6
Ashland’s only loss came to Otis Bison in the semifinals of state. The Blue Jays look to avenge that loss this season.
5. Thunder Ridge
Last Season’s Record: 8-3
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6
Joel Struckhoff is back in the backfield and that fact alone gives the Longhorns a chance in any game.