ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AT BLUE VALLEY WEST
Both St. Thomas Aquinas and Blue Valley West went on deep playoff runs in 2024, with Aquinas finishing with an undefeated state championship season and Blue Valley West ending one win shy of the state championship game. Aquinas held off a talented West team, 25-21, in the season opener a year ago and the Saints will try and do the same again this time around as the two teams square off Friday night.
Aquinas head coach Randy Dreiling won his 10th career state championship in 2024 and the Saints are one of the favorties this season. They return several key pieces and it starts with all-state running back Calin Arndt, who tallied 2,000 yards rushing and had 27 touchdowns. He also put together a 156-yard rushing performance in the state championship game. Arndt will be running behind veteran lineman Stephen Carroll, who is a 4-year starter for the Saints, and only player to start all four years under Dreiling. He helped pave the way for 4,700 yards of total offense and earned first team all-state honors. Aquinas returns 12 starters overall and feature an experienced offensive line which has four returning starters. Defensively, they will be led by starting defensive tackles K’lyn Curtis and Zion Thornton.
As for Blue Valley West, the Jaguars will be a young team under head coach Josh Koerkenmeier, who is entering his 10th season as head coach. They return just five starters from a 10-2 team that reached the state semifinals, before falling to eventual champion Gardner-Edgerton. Leading Blue Valley West will be all-state two-way player Lawson McGraw. The K-State commit is back at linebacker as he was one of the leaders on defense, and is also one of the team’s top returning playmakers at tight end. Drew Larson (line) and Cade Wysong (linebacker) will also look to lead the defense. The Jaguars will look to replace several starters on offense, which includes quarterback Tate Nagy, who is now at Kansas.
BISHOP MIEGE AT ST. JAMES ACADEMY
St. James Academy and Bishop Miege have high expectations when it comes to their football programs and that pride will be on full display at Miege on Friday in a battle of state-ranked teams. Bishop Miege, which is currently ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, will square off with No. 5 in 5A, St. James, as the Stags will hope for some revenge after a 44-28 loss to the Thunder a season ago. After getting out to a 1-7 start in the regular season, Miege found success in the playoffs as it reached the state championship game, before falling to Andover Central. Like Miege, St. James also got out to a slow start before finishing with a 6-6 record. The Thunder made it the state semifinals, before falling by a touchdown to eventual state champion, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Bishop Miege head coach Jon Holmes, who is in his 14th season with the Stags, returns 14 starters from last season’s state runner-up team, but lost a couple key pieces, especially on offense in quarterback Marco Rodriguez and the team’s leading receiver Teryn Jackson. Still, the Stags bring back their top two rushers in Nick Nabazas and Vinny George, along with an experienced offensive line that returns three starters. Junior Landon Cole will be the team’s new quarterback and will take over for Rodriguez. The Stags also bring back all four starters along its defensive line that include tackle Devyn Davis. Linebacker Daniel Neenan is the team’s top returning tackler with 88, including nine for a loss in 2024.
Tom Radke is also in his 14th season as the Thunder head coach and he brings back some talent of his own. Senior quarterback Frankie Menghini returns after stepping in late last season and threw for more than 700 yards and 14 total touchdowns. He will be joined by a Florida transfer in running back Jake House. They also feature four experienced receivers in seniors Alec Jett, Brody Bruggeman, along with juniors Luke Niesen and Cory Kirchner. On defense, senior lineman Andrew Maurer who had three sacks last season is back to lead the Thunder defense.
MILL VALLEY AT OLATHE EAST
After a disappointing end to its 2024 season, Mill Valley is hoping for a little bit of redemption in 2025 as the Jaguars will try once again to get back to the Class 5A state championship game as they kickoff the season tonight (Thursday) at Olathe East. Mill Valley ended its season with a 9-2 record, which included a 1-point loss to eventual state champ St. Thomas Aquinas in the sectional round of the playoffs. As for Olathe East, the Hawks are looking to build off their 6-4 campaign last year after back-to-back winning seasons. They suffered a tough 21-7 loss to Shawnee Mission Northwest to end their season in the regional round of the playoffs. In their lone meeting a year ago, Mill Valley handed Olathe East a 48-17 setback.
The Jaguars are once again led by veteran coach Joel Applebee, who is in his 16th season with the program. Mill Valley, which is coming off a Sunflower League title, return 10 starters from a season ago, including six on defense. The offense, which will have a little different look to it, will still feature some familiar faces, including running back Reggie Reece. The Mill Valley senior had 1,950 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns as he earned first team all-league and all-state honors. Offensive lineman, and K-State commit, Lamarcus Barber, is back and will be opening some of the holes for Reece to run through after a first team all-state and all-league season himself. Senior Blake Jay returns as the team’s top receiver and will give new quarterback Holden Applebee a veteran target to throw to after putting together a first team all-league performance in 2024. Defensively, the Jaguars return Hayden Heller and Larry Jones on the defensive line, while Jay and Kendyn Carbonneau will lead the secondary.
Olathe East head coach Courtney Porter is in his sixth season as head coach of the Hawks and they return nine starters, but did lose several skill players from a talented senior class that featured quarterback Jack Cornell, along with the team’s leading rusher, receiver and pass rusher. The Hawks are more experienced on the defensive side of the ball and are guided by senior defensive end Billie Anderson, who led the team with 65 tackles a season ago, along with a defensive backfield of De’Varie Hayles and Dezmond Williams. East will have a new quarterback in senior Cale Williams, while Dezmond Williams, Hayles and Jaden Scott will join him in the backfield. Greg Decker (6-7, 351) and Pete Izzo (6-2, 286) return to lead the offensive line, while senior tight end Evan Stull will help bolster the attack up front.
GARDNER-EDGERTON AT LAWRENCE FREE STATE
Gardner-Edgerton and Lawrence Free State missed each other in the Sunflower League schedule last season, but both are facing similar circumstances entering the 2025 season. Gardner-Edgerton returns just five starters off last season’s state championship team, while Free State brings back six off its 6-4 team that fell to Blue Valley Northwest in the regional playoff round. Still, both teams bring back high-end talent as the two teams square off Friday in Lawence.
Gardner head coach Jesse Owen, who is in his fifth season at Gardner, will try to lead his team to their third straight state championship. He will have some familiar pieces to do that with. Running back Syre Padilla is back to lead a talented Blazer rushing attack that also features returning starter Porter Swaim. Padilla had a monster 2024 season as he helped lead the Blazers to a state title run. He racked up more than 1,700 yards rushing and had 16 touchdowns, including an 180-yard performance in the state title game. The biggest question will be replacing the production of 3-year starting quarterback Bravin Powell. Gardner will feature a talented defensive backfield as the team’s interception leader, Penn McCall is back, along with Briggs Cunningham. Linebacker Charlie Drinkard, who racked up 98 stops last season, brings experience to the defense.
Free State coach Kevin Stewart is entering his sixth season with the Firebirds and has some talent of his own and it starts at the line of scrimmage. At 6-8, 290, left tackle Braden Wilmes is one of the top players in the state. Wilmes, a Clemson commit, will look to open a lot of holes for the Firebird offense. Finn Moore will take over the quarterback reins, while Maddon Brittingham will see time at both running back and wide receiver. Moore will also be one of the leaders on the Free State defense, along with returning starters Ethan Prescott and Garrison Oatis.
GIRARD AT ST. MARY’S COLGAN
St. Mary’s Colgan earned a big win in week one last season over Girard that catapulted them to a 9-2 record with a 21-14 victory on the road over the Trojans. The Panthers are hoping for much of the same in 2025. This time they will host Girard in what is a big early season game between the two CNC rivals as they try for three straight victories over the Trojans.
With that successful season, the Panthers had to replace several starters on both sides of the ball, but return a handful of key performers and that begins with the one under center. Quarterback Carston Simmons returns to lead the Panther offense under head coach Shawn Seematter, who is in his ninth season with the program. Simmons led the Panthers with 1,073 yards passing and 28 total touchdowns to earn second team All-CNC honors. Back is one of his favorite targets in Klayton Adamson, who is a four-year starter for the Panthers and scored 10 touchdowns. Colgan also returns experience up front as All-CNC player Jamie Hamilton leads the offensive line. Defensively, senior Christian Morris is the team’s top returning tackler on the line as he had 79 stops a season ago.
Girard is looking to improve on its 6-4 record a season ago under head coach Neal Philpot, who is also entering his ninth season. The Trojans return senior running back Lemont Love, Jr., as the second team All-CNC running back totaled 900 yards and had 11 touchdowns a year ago. Slot back Aiden Ashbacher, along with receivers Korvin Bowin and Gannon Clark are also back to guide the Trojan offense that must replace the loss of tight end Scott Moore, who is now at Delaware. Defensively, linebacker Blake Brokob is back to guide that side of the ball after earning second team all-league honors in 2024.
ATCHISON AT OTTAWA
The last time these two teams met, Ottawa handed Atchison a tough 24-14 loss in Atchison, but it proved to be a defining moment for the Phoenix. Following that loss, Atchison reeled off 8-straight victories on its way to a Meadowlark Conference championship. As for Ottawa, the Cyclones finished their season with a 6-4 mark as they battled their way through a difficult Frontier League schedule. Now back at week one in 2025, this game is a big one for both teams.
Atchison not only wants to get off to a good start, but it wants to do so for its new coach. Jordan Malcom is the new head leader of the Phoenix following the retirement of 27-year head coach Jim Smith. Malcom will have some key pieces back from that 8-2 team. At the top of the list is senior Leighton Boldridge, who went out for football for the first time a year ago, only to rack up 1,100 all-purpose yards, score eight touchdowns and record five interceptions on defense. The Phoenix also return a 4-year starter in offensive lineman Brody Barnes, who was an all-league and all-state performer a year ago. Back running the offense is senior quarterback Kolton Bonnel, who was a second team all-league player.
As for Ottawa, the Cyclones will have a lot of familiar faces back from that game as they return 15 starters from their team a season ago, which is led by head coach Walt Alexander. Ottawa captured its first winning season since 2016 and are looking for even bigger things in 2025. Leading the charge is senior quarterback Haydon Hull after throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and scoring 27 total touchdowns last season. He also returns his two favorite receivers in Kansas commit Nate Sims and Aiden McCullough, who were both all-state players in 2024. Senior Tobias Thompson and Jack Boetel are back to lead the offensive line. Linebacker Liam Marler, who set the school record for tackles in a single season, is one of eight returning starters on the defensive side.