KSHSAA COVERED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 4 RANKINGS
Going into Week 8, there were 24 teams in the state hoping to put the wraps on an undefeated regular season.
Only 19 successfully achieved that feat.
One certainty was that two teams wouldn't get there with huge showdowns between Class 3A unbeatens Andale (No. 1) and Wichita Collegiate (No. 2) and Class 1A unbeatens Smith Center (No. 2) and Inman (No. 3).
As was the case a year ago when Andale swept Collegiate, the Indians' defense was simply too much for Collegiate. Andale held Collegiate to 145 yards of total offense and allowed only a late fourth-quarter touchdown in rolling to a 29-6.
The Indians' ground game also was dominating as Cody Parthemer and Riley Marx each topped 100 yards rushing.
As good as Andale's defense has been this year, Inman's has been even better. The Teutons went into their huge 1A showdown with Smith Center having given up the fewest points in the state – just three on a field goal by Plainville.
Inman gave up its first touchdowns of the season to Smith Center, but bounced back from an early 8-8 tie with four straight touchdowns for a convincing 38-15 victory.
Neither Collegiate nor Smith Center dropped much in the final KSHSAA Covered rankings of the year with Collegiate slipping to No. 3 and Smith Center dropping to No. 4.
Four other unbeatens also suffered their first losses of the season.
Class 2A No. 4 Chaparral saw its potent passing attack grounded by Kingman as the Eagles rolled to a 41-0 win. Kingman moves into the rankings at No. 5 this week with Chaparral falling out.
In Eight-Man Division II, No. 4 Bucklin couldn't finish perfect as one-loss Dighton took a 34-14 win to knock the Red Aces from the rankings. Wheatland-Grinnell, which has won seven straight since a season-opening loss to No. 1 Axtell, comes in at No. 5.
Spring Hill, the last unbeaten in Class 5A, was upset by Frontier League rival Eudora 33-7. But the big shocker in Class 5A was Wichita East's 26-19 upset of No. 1 Bishop Carroll. Carroll drops to No. 2 with preseason No. 1 Mill Valley leapfrogging the Golden Eagles and Kapaun to go from No. 3 back to No. 1. Kapaun, despite handling Wichita Heights, drops from No. 2 to No. 3.
Every classification except Eight-Player Division I saw changes in their rankings.
In Class 6A, No. 5 Lawrence edged cross-town rival No. 4 Free State 27-19 on a late touchdown pass. Lawrence moves up to No. 4 while Olathe North returns to the rankings at No. 5 after beating Olathe Northwest.
The No. 5 spot could have been any number of teams with Olathe West, Free State, Manhattan, Washburn Rural and Junction City all in the mix. Rural, Manhattan and Juction City shared the Centennial League title with Rural beating Manhattan, which beat Junction City, which beat Rural.
In Class 4A, No. 2 Bishop Miege fell 45-28 to St. James Academy to fall to 2-6. The Stags fall out of the rankings with Mulvane moving in at No. 5.
In Class 3A, No. 5 Frontenac lost to unbeaten Girard 13-6. The Raiders are replaced at No. 5 by Southeast of Saline, which also is unbeaten.
In 1A, Centralia lost 45-40 to Wabaunsee and is replaced at No. 5 by Conway Springs, which moves into the rankings despite losing. The Cardinals fell 28-14 to unbeaten and No. 3 Sedgwick.
The KSHSAA Covered rankings are compiled by the four-man staff of Brent Maycock, Scott Paske, Rick Peterson Jr. and Mac Moore.
CLASS 6A
Team 2021 Record
- Derby (1) 7-0
- Blue Valley (2) 7-1
- Blue Valley Northwest (3) 7-1
- Lawrence (5) 6-2
- Olathe North (NR) 6-2
Others – Dodge City 6-2, Free State 6-2, Junction City 7-1, Manhattan 7-1, Olathe Northwest 5-3, Olathe West 6-2, Washburn Rural 7-1, Wichita East 5-3.
CLASS 5A
Team 2021 Record
- Mill Valley (3) 7-1
- Bishop Carroll (1) 6-2
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2) 7-1
- Maize (4) 6-2
- Wichita Northwest (NR) 6-2
Others – Andover 6-2, Eisenhower 5-3, Hays 6-2, Maize South 5-3, Pittsburg 5-3, Salina Central 6-2, Seaman 5-3, Spring Hill 7-1, St. Thomas Aquinas 4-4, Wichita Heights 5-3.
CLASS 4A
Team 2021 Record
- Basehor-Linwood (1) 8-0
- Andover Central (3) 7-1
- Buhler (4) 7-1
- Wamego (5) 7-1
- Mulvane (NR) 6-2
Others – Atchison 7-1, Augusta 5-3, Bishop Miege 2-6, Chanute 7-1, Circle 5-3, Eudora 4-4, KC Piper 5-3, McPherson 6-2, Paola 5-3, St. James Academy 4-4.
CLASS 3A
Team 2021 Record
- Andale (1) 8-0
- Cheney (3) 8-0
- Wichita Collegiate (2) 7-1
- Holton (4) 8-0
- Southeast of Saline (NR) 8-0
Others – Chapman 6-2, Concordia 6-2, Frontenac 6-2, Galena 7-1, Girard 8-0, Hayden 7-1, Holcomb 6-2, Parsons 6-2, Prairie View 6-2, Pratt 6-2, Riley County 8-0, Rock Creek 5-3.
CLASS 2A
Team 2021 Record
- Rossville (1) 8-0
- Wellsville (2) 8-0
- Silver Lake (3) 6-2
- Hoisington (5) 7-1
- Kingman (NR) 7-1
Others – Atchison County 6-2, Beloit 5-3, Chaparral 7-1, Cimarron 6-2, Garden Plain 5-3, Hillsboro 7-1, Nemaha Central 6-2, Osage City 7-1, Riverton 6-2, St. Marys 4-3, TMP-Marian 6-2.
CLASS 1A
Team 2021 Record
- Olpe (1) 8-0
- Inman (3) 8-0
- Sedgwick (4) 8-0
- Smith Center (2) 7-1
- Conway Springs (NR) 6-2
Others – Centralia 6-2, Jefferson North 6-2, Lyndon 4-3, Plainville 5-3, Remington 4-3, Wabaunsee 6-2.
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION I
Team 2021 Record
- Little River (1) 8-0
- Madison (2) 8-0
- Canton-Galva (3) 6-1
- Chase County (4) 7-1
- Meade (5) 8-0
Others – Argonia-Attica 7-1, Bennington 6-2, Burlingame 5-2, Clifton-Clyde 6-1, Goessel 6-2, Hill City 7-1, La Crosse 6-2, Leoti-Wichita County 6-2, Medicine Lodge 6-2, Sedan 8-0, Solomon 5-2, WaKeeney 7-1, West Elk 7-1, Yates Center 6-2.
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION II
Team 2021 Record
- Axtell (1) 8-0
- Thunder Ridge (2) 8-0
- Victoria (3) 7-1
- Lebo (5) 7-1
- Wheatland-Grinnell (NR) 7-1
Others – Bucklin 7-1, Caldwell 7-1, Dighton 7-1, Frankfort 6-2, Hanover 5-3, Lakeside 6-2, Norwich 4-2, Osborne 6-2, Quinter 7-1, South Barber 7-1, Waverly 5-1.