Class 6A preseason football rankings breakdown

Preseason rankings are a guessing game, perhaps now more than ever given the increased frequency of student-athlete transfers in the offseason, but it's fun to try and predict who is going to finish the season on top.

As a former coach, I'm a little conflicted about producing preseason rankings. I can tell you definitively that players can be impacted by what's written and reported about them. Different teams have differing abilities to meet or exceed expectations.

Coaching history, returning experience, standout players at key positions, and schedule are a few key considerations that go into the rankings, but this year feels like the most wide-open for all classifications in recent memory. Heading into last season I was confident that Mill Valley would win 5A, one of the Big 3 private school powers (Aquinas, Miege, St. James) would win 4A, Andale would win 3A, St. Marys would be at least a semifinalist, Little River would at least make the 8-Man I final, Axtell would win 8-Man II with their toughest game against Canton-Galva at some point, and Cunningham would win 6-Man. Of course I also didn't think Manhattan, Gardner-Edgerton, or Wichita County would finish in the Top 5 – guess they showed me, huh?

Most of the most experienced teams are likely just a couple players away from being at the top or the bottom of the rankings, and there are many factors which are uncontrollable including injuries, weather, depth, officiating (not a criticism of officials but it's a fact that a couple of missed calls here or there can impact a season), and the most significant factor in the overall success or failure of an athletic program, socioeconomic status of the region around the school system, a seldom referenced, but ultra-important factor, and a topic for another time.

Regardless of where your team lands in the predictions that follow, the former coach in me wants to implore each player to be coachable, do their absolute best on and off the field, and embrace their role on the team and let the chips fall where they may.

NOW, let's take a look at the Kansas Pregame preseason rankings and see if we can guess who will end up on top.

This year, the classifications from top-to-bottom just feel deeper than in the past. While 4A still appears as though it will be dominated by the private schools, graduation losses at Mill Valley, Andale, and Axtell don't leave them as the sure-bet repeat champions of the past, though we think they're still the favorites.

Class 6A

1. Gardner-Edgerton

2. Blue Valley Northwest

3. Wichita Northwest

4. Manhattan

5. Derby

We didn't see the state title run from MANHATTAN coming last year. While the Indians have tallied a number of excellent seasons in the 35 years since their last championship in 1988 they just had not been able to get over the hump, a hump often presented by Derby, but the Week 1 overtime victory against the Panthers signaled a season of destiny. One factor that should've carried more weight in last year's rankings was the father-son coach-quarterback combo of Joe and Keenan Schartz. That dynamic has a history of producing incredible results including recent championship runs from Kent and Trey Teeter at Holcomb, Steve and Jake Tiernan at Osborne, and Lance and Luke McGuire at Cunningham last fall, among others.

It seems a stretch for the Indians to repeat this fall, but we firmly believe they are in as good a position as any to win 6A. While the Schartz family connection at QB has changed thanks to Keenan's graduation and departure for Washburn, there remains a father-son coach connection this fall as Manhattan assistant Lucas Aslin returns for his second year as defensive coordinator and secondary coach while his son Carter, a junior, will take over as the starter at QB this fall. The older Aslin is the former Derby, Garden City Community College, Bonner Springs, and Wynnewood High (Okla.) head coach.

Together with the return of an outstanding group of offensive linemen and the majority of the defensive secondary led by South Dakota State safety commit Max Stanard, the Indians should be positioned to make another deep playoff run, but the schedule will again be brutal with Derby, Washburn Rural, Junction City, Wichita Northwest, and Wichita East all expected to be among the best teams in 6A.

It was similarly difficult to predict the GARDNER-EDGERTON title game berth last season, especially after the Trailblazers suffered three regular season losses, but Jesse Owen showed why he's such a well-respected coach in the KC Metro, leading his squad on a four-game win-streak in the postseason and very nearly knocking off Manhattan in the title game in a double OT epic.

We are big fans of option offenses, they are the great equalizer in high school and college football, and when you return an experienced QB, your top two running backs, and the majority of your offensive line, all with multiple seasons in the system now, you are likely to control the ball and be difficult to stop. While the Blazers have a large group to replace on defense the four pieces back are good ones and the new faces will have time to develop thanks to the experience on offense.

Graduation losses take a chunk out of several teams on the schedule, though late season games with Olathe East and Olathe South will be crucial tests and good indicators if Owen's squad is built for another postseason run. Olathe West, Mill Valley, Olathe North and Lawrence all suffered key graduation losses but still present formidable challenges for G-E.

There was no scenario where BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST didn't take a step back last fall after the graduation of a historically good 2021 6A title team that included multiple high-level college athletes. Even with the graduation losses the Huskies were formidable, finishing 6-4 against a brutal schedule. While the Huskies graduated standout running back Grant Stubblefield and quarterback Connor White, the trio of FBS prospects Andrew Babalola and Brock Heath on the offensive line and tight end Gavin Hoffman (Iowa commit) gives coach Clint Rider star power and protection for new skill players. Rider has proven an effective program builder and in spite of the fact the EKL schedule remains as tough as ever the Huskies should still be in the thick of the 6A race.

Veteran Grizzly coach Steve Martin is a proven offensive guru, and WICHITA NORTHWEST is going to score again this season behind senior quarterback Jayce Glasper and senior running back Cencere Thompson along with experienced receiving targets Michael Lopez Jr. and Taccarri Brown, a dynamic pass-catching duo. An experienced offensive line and an emerging group of young players headlined by sophomore running back Deuce Bohannon adds to the offensive firepower. Northwest also welcomes back several key pieces of the defense for a unit that was improved last season, but struggled to get key stops in their three losses – one to rival Bishop Carroll in Week 1 and a pair of losses to eventual 6A champions Manhattan. After three consecutive 5A runner-up finishes followed by a pair of 8-3 seasons the Grizzlies are back in 6A for the second year this fall and might have just enough weapons to get back to the game on the last Saturday of November, and this time win.

The DERBY Panthers were hit hard by graduation on both sides of the ball and will see a number of new faces in key roles after missing the state championship game last fall for the first time in eight seasons. Brandon Clark will turn to son Braxton at the quarterback position after the senior looked good in limited action last fall as a junior and showed continued progress on the summer camp circuit. Derek Hubbard finally gets the opportunity to emerge from the shadow of Dylan Edwards and the explosive running back is likely to turn heads as the workhorse this fall. DaSaahn Brame is one of the top tight end prospects in the state and will be fun to watch after the junior dealt with injury last fall. Just two of five offensive linemen return but the defense was hit even harder by graduation and the unit is likely to be sorely tested in their Week 1 opener against defending 6A champion Manhattan. Brandon Clark has developed arguably the top football program in the state over his 18 years as head coach, and while he may have the toughest rebuild effort in his last 10 seasons, we can't bet against him leading his team into the top five by the end of the season.

After back-to-back eight win marks the WASHBURN RURAL Junior Blues return experience in critical roles, including third-year starting quarterback Branton DeWeese, the veteran twin brother linebacking duo of JC and Jaren Heim, defensive linemen Packson Bettis and Jamond Lane, and receiver Titan Osburn, among others. Washburn Rural again faces a tough early season schedule with games against quality opponents Wichita East, De Soto, Piper, Manhattan, and Junction City. Washburn Rural has been building toward this season after back-to-back eight win marks. Last fall the Junior Blues lost to Manhattan by just three points in the regular season and pushed Derby to the brink in the quarterfinals in a game closer than the final 36-21 score indicates. If Steve Buhler's team can survive those early season tests, WaRural appears well equipped to make a deep playoff run.

The job Ene Akpan has done in six seasons leading the WICHITA EAST Blue Aces is really quite remarkable. Between 2009 and Akpan's first season at the helm in 2018 the Blue Aces won four or less games in every season but one, a 5-4 finish in 2012. After 3-6 and 5-4 records in his first two years on the job Akpan has now posted at least six wins in each of the last three seasons with four straight winning records counting the 2019 mark. Akpan welcomes back some of the best skill players in 6A and if his squad can stay healthy and improve the defense against the toughest teams on the schedule the Blue Aces could be ready to continue Akpan's climb up the 6A ladder.

BLUE VALLEY WEST lost four of their six games by touchdown or less last fall. They’ll have to replace Zach Darche, who accounted for over 1,600 yards on offense. However, they return Sage Huffman, who has run for back-to-back 1,400 yard seasons, and he’ll have one of the top offensive lines, featuring Myles Ewell, Hadley Holmes, AJ Roach, and Jackson Cunningham, back to block for him. Brody McManamon is the top returning tackler for the Jags with 54 tackles last season and together with Nico Cocumelli provides two-thirds of a talented defensive front. The BVW schedule is always brutal, but they should be stronger because of it come late October.

BLUE VALLEY will look to make a turnaround this season after a rare .500 record last year. Their defense will lead the way with Maguire Richman, who had 127 tackles and led the state. Martell “Hot Sauce” Buchanan (North Dakota commit) and Lincoln Stueve will help complement Richman on D while K-State commit John Price is back healthy to lead the offense from the running back position.

OLATHE SOUTH returns multi-season starting QB Bryce Noernberg, but the graduation of K-State signee Jordan Allen leaves a glaring hole at tight end and defensive end.

JUNCTION CITY is ready to post yet another winning season under long-time coach Randall Zimmerman and will lean heavily on top 2024 linebacker prospect Michael Boganowski, who may take on a heavier load on offense as well. A trio of offensive linemen return along with the majority of the back end of the defense.

OLATHE NORTH is always a factor, and while the Eagles lose some key pieces the explosive duo of TJ Porter and Aiden Bruce should keep the offense going in the right direction with FBS offensive line prospect Braden Hales blasting open holes.

A young OLATHE EAST team took their lumps last season, but fourth-year coach Courtney Porter welcomes back a whopping 18 players with starting experience including a trio of talented high-level college prospects in RB/LB Ray Smith (SEMO, Southern Ill., NW Mo. offers), WR/DB Gerard Reed (Central Mo. offer), and OL/DL Brett Carroll (Minnesota, Iowa St., K-State, Illinois, Oklahoma St. offers). Junior QB Jack Cornell is back to operate behind a big and experienced offensive line.

GARDEN CITY returns a huge offensive line but lost an outstanding group of skill players. LAWRENCE returns a quality group of offensive linemen but will miss the graduation of explosive playmaker Tyrell Reed. The quarterbacking duties are in good hands whether it be senior Tyson Grammer or junior Banks Bowen. If Wesley Edison stays healthy for FREE STATE he has numerous weapons to share the ball with, but the offensive line returns just one starter. The defense, however, welcomes back seven starters. OLATHE NORTHWEST and OLATHE WEST saw significant graduation losses that will likely make it hard to reproduce the eight win seasons of a year ago.

Charles Chaney contributed significantly to this preview compiling large portions of it utilizing the preview capsules in our annual football preview.

For more reading, check out our 2023 Kansas Pregame Fall Edition at this link: Kansas Pregame Football Preview 2023