Rankings after Week 6

Don't look now, but only two weeks of the regular season remain and the playoff picture is starting to crystalize. Key games will impact seeding in the larger classes while district championships are on the line in the smaller classifications.

We can't wait for the playoffs to sort out all this ranking nonsense, but in the meantime, here's our take on the Top 5 in each classification.

Class 6A

1. Manhattan (6-0)
2. Olathe North (6-0)
3. Wichita Northwest (5-1)
4. Derby (4-2)
5. Gardner-Edgerton (4-2)

Notes: Manhattan erased any doubts about their position atop the poll with their dominant victory over rival Junction City, but beyond that the Top 5 is anyone's best guess. Olathe North jumps to #2 after Derby's one-point loss to Maize, but as we've said each week the classification features a number of teams who could challenge for a spot in the top half on any given week, including two through five above, Blue Valley Northwest, Blue Valley West, Washburn Rural and others.

Class 5A

1. Mill Valley (6-0)
2. Maize (6-0)
3. Hays (5-1)
4. Bishop Carroll (4-2)
5. Hutchinson (5-1)

Notes: Maize posted the most impressive victory of the week with a one-point comeback win over 6A power Derby, but we'll still take the scary-good defense of Mill Valley against the uber-explosive offense of Maize. If things play out as most think a 5A title game between Mill Valley and Maize should be one for the ages. Hays' lone-loss to Manhattan continues to look better and better. Bishop Carroll edged rival Kapaun in "The Holy War" and Hutch slipped by Campus ahead of this week's huge matchup with Maize. Outside of the Top 5 are teams like De Soto, Goddard (whose wholesale offensive revamp is paying dividends), Blue Valley Southwest and Topeka Seaman.

Class 4A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2)
2. Bishop Miege (5-1)
3. St. James Academy (3-3)
4. Chanute (6-0)
5. Wamego (6-0)

Notes: The shuffle at the top of 4A continues as Aquinas knocks off Miege and St. James continues to pick up steam with a quality win over 6A BV West. Aquinas should be favorites over Blue Valley and Blue Valley Southwest the next two weeks - though neither team is a pushover - while Miege appears to have stiff tests in BV West and BV Northwest to close out the regular season. St. James should get a challenge on the road at Kapaun before closing the season with a winless Blue Valley North. Chanute continues their dominance but could get a test from upstart Coffeyville this week while Wamego got back Hayden Oviatt and continues to show a potent mix of explosive offense and lockdown defense. Outside of the Top 5 are teams like Louisburg, Eudora, McPherson and Circle, and don't forget about Andover Central; the Jags are 3-3, but against a brutal schedule.

Class 3A

1. Andale (6-0)
2. Topeka Hayden (6-0)
3. Holton (5-1)
4. Rock Creek (5-1)
5. Girard (6-0)

Notes: Andale rolls on after a dominant win over a previously unbeaten Wichita Collegiate. Outside of the Indians the classification appears to have some depth. The Hayden/Holton contest this week will give us more info.

Class 2A

1. Southeast of Saline (6-0)
2. Nemaha Central (6-0)
3. Kingman (6-0)
4. Sabetha (5-1)
5. Silver Lake (4-2)

Notes: Kingman continues to look like they are on par with a Top 3 that appears ahead of the rest of the 2A field, but Sabetha will get a chance to prove they belong in a rivalry matchup with Nemaha Central next week. The Thunder welcomed back QB Brayden Uphaus Friday after a two-week hiatus to recover from a knee injury. Don't look now, but Beloit, Hoisington and Silver Lake all appear to be hitting their stride at just the right time, while injuries at just the wrong time may derail Norton's season. Ellsworth could get a test from Halstead this week before the Week 8 matchup with top-ranked SES.

Class 1A

1. Inman (6-0)
2. Olpe (4-2)
3. St. Mary's Colgan (5-1)
4. St. Marys (4-2)
5. Centralia (6-0)

Notes: Inman appears to be the cream of the crop in 1A but this is a deep classification. Olpe's losses to Hayden (21-7) and Bishop Ward (16-13) continue to look better and better and their wins over Osage City and Caney Valley are two of the best wins in all of 1A. Colgan passed their biggest test since a Week 2 loss to Girard with flying colors dispatching 3A Columbus 36-7 last week. St. Marys now looks like the team that earned significant preseason praise and we'll admit that we may not be giving Centralia enough credit. Hutch-Trinity, Troy, Wabaunsee, and Smith Center all look like 1A contenders while unbeaten Jayhawk-Linn will get a chance to prove they're worthy of high ranking against Olpe this week. Marion appears to be hitting their stride at just the right time of year and Conway Springs will get a chance to make a statement against Inman and Hutch-Trinity the next two weeks.

8-Man I

1. Little River (5-1)
2. Wichita County (6-0)
3. Hoxie (5-1)
4. Hill City (5-1)
5. Burlingame (6-0)

Notes: Continues to be a lot of depth in this classification. Wichita County's win over Meade was a good one, but the Buffs could still be a factor in a loaded West bracket. Burlingame, Chase County, Madison, Lyndon and Cair Paravel (the best 2-4 team in 8-Man) continue to beat on each other in the state's toughest district. Macksville got one of the biggest wins on the weekend, improving to 6-0 with a dominant shutout of La Crosse. Honestly, this is the classification we have the most questions about. We're probably not giving South Sumner County or West Elk enough credit, but time will tell, and specifically for West Elk it will likely tell this week against Oswego. Really think the playoffs could be very exciting, or it's also possible that Wichita County will run away from the field.

8-Man II

1. Axtell (6-0)
2. Canton-Galva (6-0)
3. Victoria (6-0)
4. Dighton (6-0)
5. Thunder Ridge (5-1)

Notes: Continues to be Axtell and Canton-Galva above the rest. South Barber and Stafford face each other this week in a late season matchup of unbeatens. While Dighton and Minneola are likely headed for a matchup of 7-0 teams next week. Victoria got a tough test from upstart Sharon Springs-Wallace County last week. Osborne should cruise into the playoffs with only the Week 1 loss to Hill City on their résumé. Colony-Crest and Lebo are likely to play for a district championship next week, though the health of standout Lancer running back Holden Barker is a question mark.

6-Man

1. Cunningham (6-0)
2. Ashland (6-0)
3. Waverly (6-0)

Notes: Waverly survived a stiff test from Wetmore while Cheylin continues to roll since their Week 3 loss to Ashland. Tescott continues to enjoy the benefits of the move to 6-Man improving to 5-1 on the season with their only loss to top-ranked Cunningham.