As we enter the seventh week of the high school football season the playoff picture is beginning to take shape and favorites are separating themselves from the rest of the pack.

While we rank a Top 5 in each classification it's probably more accurate to provide tiers for each classification. For example, in 8-Man Division II and 6-Man, Axtell and Cunningham respectively are in a tier of their own with a bunch of challengers that have a lot of ground to make up to get into the top tier conversation, but in 2A and 4A there are several teams that appear equipped to make a run at the title.

This week, we'll provide our Top 5 in each class as well as tiers for each class, but we'll leave the margins separating the tiers up to the reader's imagination.

Class 6A

1. Derby (6-0)
2. Manhattan (6-0)
3. Gardner Edgerton (5-1)
4. Blue Valley West (5-1)
5. Wichita Northwest (5-1)

Tier 1: Derby

Tier 2: Manhattan

Tier 3: Gardner Edgerton, Blue Valley West, Wichita Northwest, Blue Valley Northwest, Shawnee Mission Northwest

Tier 4: Free State, Lawrence, Shawnee Mission East, Wichita East

Class 5A

1. Mill Valley (5-1)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-0)
3. Blue Valley (5-1)
4. Great Bend (6-0)
5. Eisenhower (6-0)

Tier 1: Mill Valley, St. Thomas Aquinas, Blue Valley

Tier 2: Great Bend, Eisenhower, St. James Academy

Tier 3: Basehor-Linwood, De Soto, Hays, Goddard, Topeka Seaman, Andover, Hutchinson

Class 4A

1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (5-1)
2. Andover Central (5-1)
3. Louisburg (6-0)
4. Bishop Miege (0-6)
5. Wellington (4-2)

Tier 1: Kapaun, Andover Central, Louisburg, Bishop Miege

Tier 2: Wellington, Wamego, Chanute, Buhler

Tier 3: Mulvane, McPherson

Class 3A

1. Andale (6-0)
2. Cheney (6-0)
3. Topeka Hayden (5-1)
4. Rock Creek (5-1)
5. Wichita Collegiate (5-1)

Tier 1: Andale, Cheney

Tier 2: Topeka Hayden, Rock Creek, Wichita Collegiate

Tier 3: Frontenac, Hesston, Clay Center(*), Marysville, Scott City, Wellsville

(*) The return of Cole Pladson from injury is key to Clay Center holding a spot in this tier.

Class 2A

1. Southeast of Saline (6-0)
2. Nemaha Central (5-1)
3. Norton (6-0)
4. Osage City (6-0)
5. Silver Lake (5-1)

Tier 1: Southeast of Saline, Nemaha Central

Tier 2: Norton

Tier 3: Osage City, Silver Lake, Beloit, Council Grove, Humboldt

Tier 4: Hoisington, Garden Plain, Riley County, St. Marys

Class 1A

1. Conway Springs (6-0)
2. Rossville (3-3)
3. Sedgwick (6-0)
4. Jackson Heights (6-0)
5. St. Mary's Colgan (5-1)

Tier 1: Conway Springs, Rossville

Tier 2: Sedgwick, Jackson Heights

Tier 3: St. Mary's Colgan, Moundridge

8-Man I

1. Hoxie (6-0)
2. Wichita Co. (4-1)
3. South Central (6-0)
4. Ell-Saline (5-1)
5. Little River (5-1)

Tier 1: Hoxie, Wichita Co.

Tier 2: South Central, Ell-Saline, Little River, West Elk

Tier 3: Clifton-Clyde, Rawlins County

Tier 4: Central Plains, Chase County, Ellis, Hill City, Lincoln, Oxford, Sublette, Sylvan-Lucas

8-Man II

1. Axtell (6-0)
2. Hanover (6-0)
3. Frankfort (5-1)
4. Victoria (6-0)
5. Burlingame (6-0)

Tier 1: Axtell

Tier 2: Hanover, Frankfort

Tier 3: Victoria, Burlingame, Osborne

Tier 4: Dighton, Bucklin, Minneola, Hodgeman County

6-Man

1. Cunningham (6-0)
2. Weskan (6-0)
3. South Barber (5-1)
4. Ingalls (5-1)
5. Golden Plains (4-2)

Tier 1: Cunningham

Tier 2: Weskan

Tier 3: South Barber, Ingalls, Golden Plains