HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kpreps.com released its updated high school football rankings ahead of Week 2, with several Reno County and area programs earning recognition after season-opening wins.
In Class 4A, Buhler climbed to No. 3 after a hard-fought 34-27 victory at Mulvane. Senior Ben Clouse broke a 70-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal the Crusaders’ win. Buhler will host Augusta on Friday.
Class 3A’s top spot remains with Andale, which rolled past El Dorado, 104-0. The Indians, who blanked Nickerson 108-0 in 2022, will host Wellington in Week 2.
Also in 3A, Holcomb jumped into the rankings at No. 4 after edging Cheney, 15-13. Hesston, which opened with a victory against Halstead, was listed among teams also considered.
In Class 2A, Garden Plain checked in at No. 5 after a 34-15 win over Wichita Trinity. The Owls face a major test this week at top-ranked Conway Springs.
The Cardinals themselves sit atop the Class 1A poll following a 28-20 win over Nickerson. The Panthers, under first-year coach Parker Bruce, pushed the two-time defending champions to the wire before falling short.
Also in 1A, Sterling debuted at No. 5 after routing Sedgwick, 47-6. The Black Bears will face Moundridge (1-0) this week in a Heart of America League matchup. Inman and Moundridge were among teams also receiving consideration.
Eight-man Division I saw Little River land at No. 4 after shutting out Chase County, 50-0. The Redskins racked up 373 yards on just 36 plays. They travel to Rural Vista this week.
In Six-Man, defending state runner-up Cunningham moved to No. 2 after blasting South Barber, 66-18. Senior Skyler Thimesch rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats.
Across the state’s largest class, 6A, Manhattan retained the top ranking after defeating Garden City, while Derby slipped to No. 2 following its heartbreaking loss to Hays. Wichita Northwest sits at No. 3.
Week 2 kicks off Friday night across Kansas, with several marquee matchups including Buhler-Augusta, Conway Springs-Garden Plain, and Sterling-Moundridge.
Class 6A
- Manhattan (1-0)
- Derby (0-1)
- Wichita Northwest (1-0)
- Blue Valley Northwest (1-0)
- Lawrence Free State (1-0) Others receiving votes: Blue Valley West, Dodge City, Gardner-Edgerton, Junction City, Maize, Olathe North, Olathe West, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Washburn Rural, Wichita East.
Class 5A
- St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0)
- Mill Valley (1-0)
- Great Bend (1-0)
- Hays (1-0)
- St. James Academy (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Basehor-Linwood, Blue Valley, De Soto, Hutchinson, Maize South, Spring Hill, Valley Center.
Class 4A
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1-0)
- Bishop Miege (0-1)
- Buhler (1-0)
- Wamego (1-0)
- Ottawa (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Andover Central, Chanute, Eudora, KC Piper, Lansing, Louisburg, Mulvane, Paola, Tonganoxie, Wellington.
Class 3A
- Andale (1-0)
- Topeka Hayden (1-0)
- Wellsville (1-0)
- Holcomb (1-0)
- Rock Creek (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Cheney, Clay Center, Frontenac, Hesston, Hugoton, Prairie View, Scott City, Wichita Collegiate.
Class 2A
- Southeast of Saline (1-0)
- Nemaha Central (1-0)
- Osage City (1-0)
- Beloit (1-0)
- Garden Plain (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Caney Valley, Council Grove, Ellsworth, Hoisington, Phillipsburg, Royal Valley, Sabetha, Silver Lake, St. Marys.
Class 1A
- Conway Springs (1-0)
- Jackson Heights (1-0)
- Centralia (1-0)
- Rossville (1-0)
- Sterling (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Inman, Jefferson Co. North, Marion, Medicine Lodge, Moundridge, Olpe, Plainville, Riverside, St. Mary’s Colgan, Smith Center, Valley Heights.
Eight-Man Division I
- South Central (1-0)
- Leoti-Wichita County (0-1)
- Central Plains (1-0)
- Little River (1-0)
- Lyndon (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Atwood-Rawlins Co., Cedar Vale-Dexter, Clifton-Clyde, Ell-Saline, Hoxie, Lincoln, Madison, Oxford, Saint Francis, Sublette, Sylvan-Lucas Unified, WaKeeney-Trego.
Eight-Man Division II
- Axtell (1-0)
- Victoria (1-0)
- Hanover (1-0)
- Burlingame (1-0)
- Osborne (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Argonia-Attica, Frankfort, Hodgeman County, Hutchinson Central Christian, Marmaton Valley, Rural Vista, Waverly.
Six-Man
- Weskan (0-1)
- Cunningham (1-0)
- Golden Plains (1-0)
- Tescott (1-0)
- Otis-Bison (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Ingalls, Marais des Cygnes Valley, Pawnee Heights, Peabody-Burns, South Barber.