St. James Academy became the first team in state history to win a football state championship after starting the season 0-4.
The Thunder were staring at the prospects of having to duplicate that feat if they were going to successfully defend their Class 4A state title, taking an 0-3 mark into Friday’s showdown with Eastern Kansas League rival and No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas.
But history won’t repeat itself.
St. James gave up an early touchdown to the Saints before reeling off 17 straight first-half points. The Thunder answered a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Saints and then held on for the 24-20 upset to hand Aquinas its first loss and claim their first victory.
Blake Boydston keyed the upset, throwing for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns, one going to John Niesen who had 201 yards receiving.
St. James’ win not only knocked Aquinas from KSHSAA Covered’s No. 1 spot in Class 4A, but also moved the Thunder back into the 4A rankings despite their 1-3 mark. St. James is No. 5, while Aquinas slipped one spot to No. 2.
Bishop Miege, which got past Missouri powerhouse Rockhurst 28-21, takes over as the new No. 1 in 4A.
There was little change in the rankings in the other classes with only a handful of movement.
In Class 6A, Gardner-Edgerton dropped out of the top five after a 35-14 loss to 5A No. 1 Mill Valley. Wichita Northwest, which has won three straight since a season-opening loss to Bishop Carroll, moved into the rankings at No. 4, a spot ahead of Blue Valley Northwest, which went from 3 to 5 after a 40-34 loss to Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North.
In 5A, Hays and Bishop Carroll switched spots at Nos. 3 and 4 with Carroll losing to 28-21 to Junction City, which Hays beat in the season opener.
In 2A, Chaparral replaced TMP-Marian at No. 5 with the Monarchs suffering their first loss of the season to Scott City.
In 1A, Smith Center dropped out of the top five after losing 40-38 to Wabaunsee. Hutchinson Trinity moved up to No. 3 while two-time reigning champion Olpe returned to the poll after evening its record at 2-2 following an 0-2 start with losses to 3A teams. Troy stayed at No. 5 despite losing, falling 20-19 to No. 2 Centralia.
In Eight-Player Division I, Burlingame replaced Chase County at No. 5 after a staunch defensive effort in the second half helped the Bearcats a 26-24 win at Chase County.
In Six-Player, Cheylin returned to the rankings at No. 4, while Tescott dropped to No. 5 and Moscow fell out. Tescott and Moscow both suffered their first losses of the season on Friday.
There were no changes in 3A or Eight-Player Division II.
KSHSAA COVERED’S WEEK 3 RANKINGS
CLASS 6A
Team … Record
- Manhattan (1) … 4-0
- Derby (2) … 3-1
- Olathe North (4) … 4-0
- Wichita Northwest (NR) … 3-1
- Blue Valley Northwest (3) … 2-2
Others – Blue Valley 2-2, Blue Valley West 2-2, Dodge City 3-1, Garden City 3-1, Gardner-Edgerton 3-1, Junction City 3-1, Lawrence 3-1, Olathe South 3-1, Olathe West 2-2, Washburn Rural 3-1, Wichita East 2-2.
CLASS 5A
Team … Record
- Mill Valley (1) … 4-0
- Maize (2) … 4-0
- Hays (4) … 3-1
- Bishop Carroll (3) … 2-2
- Hutchinson (5) … 3-1
Others – Andover 2-2, De Soto 3-1, Goddard 3-1, Highland Park 4-0, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 2-2, Liberal 2-2, Maize South 3-1, Salina Central 3-1, Shawnee Heights 3-1, Valley Center 3-1.
CLASS 4A
Team … Record
- Bishop Miege (2) … 4-0
- St. Thomas Aquinas (1) … 3-1
- Chanute (3) … 4-0
- Eudora (4) … 4-0
- St. James Academy (NR) … 1-3
Others – Andover Central 3-1, Atchison 4-0, Basehor-Linwood 3-1, Circle 3-1, Coffeyville 4-0, KC Piper 2-2, Louisburg 3-1, McPherson 3-1, Wamego 4-0.
CLASS 3A
Team … Record
- Andale (1) … 4-0
- Wichita Collegiate (2) … 4-0
- Hayden (3) … 4-0
- Holton (4) … 3-1
- Girard (5) … 4-0
Others – Bishop Ward 3-1, Cheney 3-1, Clay Center 3-1, Frontenac 2-2, Galena 2-2, Hesston 3-1, Holcomb 4-0, Hugoton 4-0, Parsons 4-0, Pratt 3-1, Rock Creek 3-1, Scott City 3-1, Wellsville 4-0.
CLASS 2A
Team … Record
- Nemaha Central (1) … 4-0
- Southeast of Saline (2) … 4-0
- Kingman (3) … 4-0
- Norton (5) … 4-0
- Chaparral (NR) … 4-0
Others – Atchison County 3-1, Caney Valley 3-1, Council Grove 4-0, Ellsworth 4-0, Haven 3-1, Hoisington 3-1, Humboldt 3-1, Lakin 4-0, Minneapolis 2-1, Osage City 3-1, Rossville 2-2, Sabetha 3-1, Silver Lake 2-2, TMP-Marian 3-1, West Franklin 4-0.
CLASS 1A
Team … Record
- Inman (1) … 4-0
- Centralia (2) … 4-0
- Hutchinson Trinity (5) … 4-0
- Olpe (NR) … 2-2
- Troy (5) … 3-1
Others – Jackson Heights 3-1, Jayhawk-Linn 4-0, Oakley 2-2, Pittsburg Colgan 3-1, Pleasanton 3-1, Smith Center 2-2, St. Marys 2-2, Wabaunsee 3-1.
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION I
Team … Record
- Hill City (1) … 4-0
- Meade (2) … 4-0
- Leoti-Wichita County (3) … 4-0
- Little River (5) … 3-1
- Burlingame (NR) … 4-0
Others – Argonia-Attica 3-1, Central-Burden 3-1, Chase County 3-1, Clifton-Clyde 3-1, Ell-Saline 3-1, Hoxie 3-1, La Crosse 3-1, Lyndon 4-0, Macksville 4-0, Madison 3-1, South Sumner 4-0, Washington County 3-1, West Elk 4-0, Wichita Independent 4-0.
EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION II
Team … Record
- Axtell (1) … 4-0
- Canton-Galva (2) … 4-0
- Thunder Ridge (3) … 3-1
- Dighton (4) … 4-0
- Victoria (5) … 4-0
Others – Beloit-St. John’s 4-0, Bucklin 3-1, Colony-Crest 3-1, Lakeside 3-1, Minneola 4-0, Osborne 3-1, Sharon Springs-Wallace County 3-1, South Barber 4-0, Stafford 4-0, Aylvan-Lucas 3-1.
SIX-PLAYER
Team … Record
- Cunningham (1) … 4-0
- Ashland (2) … 3-1
- Waverly (3) … 4-0
- Cheylin (NR) … 3-1
- Tescott (4) … 3-1
Others – Burrton 3-1, Ingalls 3-1, Moscow 2-1, Northern Valley 2-2, Wetmore 3-1.