KPG FB Rankings presented by Salina Ortho

A reminder, our rankings are made each week trying to determine who is best equipped to get to the state championship game in their respective classifications. The top two or three teams tend to rise to the top pretty quickly, but it's often hard to determine who are the next four or five best squads overall, which, in our opinion, is good. More competition is better for the kids.

Schedules and injuries are sure to impact the rankings as the season goes along and some classifications just have more good teams in any one season than others.

The good news for those teams hit by injuries early in the season or with brutal schedules? The current format allows more teams a chance to advance in the bracket than ever before, so teams like Maize or Blue Valley or Hanover, who were all at .500 or below through eight weeks of the season, were still in position to make some noise in the playoffs, which they did.

The current playoff format for football is not perfect, but it's better than ever and is one of the best formats for any sport in Kansas.

Regardless, rankings don't matter, but just for fun, and for dinner table talk, here are the Kansas Pregame football rankings after two weeks of the 2024 season.

Class 6A

1. Derby (2-0)
2. Manhattan (2-0)
3. Lawrence (2-0)
4. Free State (1-1)
5. Gardner Edgerton (2-0)

Others: Blue Valley Northwest (2-0), Blue Valley West (1-1), Junction City (1-1), Wichita East (1-1), Wichita Northwest (2-0), Shawnee Mission East (1-1)

DERBY dominated Campus as expected and showed off their depth and versatility in all phases of the game. Drew Kemp completed all four of his passes for 78 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score and 52 yards on three carries. Arieus Finley rushed for 114 yards and two TDs on seven carries. John Lujan caught two passes for 49 yards and two scores. Da'Saahn Brame only caught one pass for 19 yards and a score, but he put his overall athleticism on display with a 65-yard punt return touchdown.

MANHATTAN held off previously second ranked Free State 38-28 in a Thursday night contest in which they never trailed. The Indians appear to have rebuilt their offensive line that returned just one starter from last season and Carter Aslin continues to impress as one of the most talented dual-threat QBs in the state. Colby Altevogt posted another strong game to lead the defense and JJ Dunnigan returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown as the standout junior defensive back continues to contribute big plays in all phases.

LAWRENCE rolled up 725 yards of total offense in their 69-56 shootout win over Junction City and Banks Bowen passed for 254 yards with five TDs while rushing for 219 yards and two more scores. The Chesty Lions get an Olathe North team this week that has started the season 0-2 for the first time in 12 years.

FREE STATE was able to get the offense going in the second half of their 10-point loss to Manhattan with a pair of long Boston Baker to Maddon Brittingham touchdown passes followed by a couple of Baker to Landon Leipold touchdown connections. Special teams were ultimately the difference in the contest with a Manhattan field goal and Tribe kickoff return for touchdown making up the final margin. No time to linger on the loss for the Firebirds with a trip to Mill Valley this week.

GARDNER EDGERTON got a 66-44 win over a good Choctaw (Okla.) team with QB Bravin Powell and the offense again carrying the day. Kicker Jensen Honey nailed all nine PAT kicks, added a 35-yard field goal and engineered a slick onside kick right down the middle of the field which he recovered himself. The defense continues to work to blend a bunch of new faces into an effective unit, but one constant is senior linebacker Kaleb Dewey, who has been all over the field in the first two weeks. Senior defensive lineman Isaiah Williams has also turned heads, picking up a Pitt State offer late last week.

BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST looked dominant in a 38-7 win over a highly regarded Shawnee Mission Northwest team...BLUE VALLEY WEST rebounded from their narrow loss to Aquinas with a blowout of Olathe West, 42-12...WICHITA NORTHWEST avenged a pair of losses to Wichita East from a season ago with a 14-0 win showing off what could be one of the classification's best defenses with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell on hand to watch a number of prospects...SHAWNEE MISSION EAST continues to show off their improvement with a 35-7 win over Topeka Seaman just a week removed from the 12-3 loss to Free State. Could the Lancers turn things around this fall?

Class 5A

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

Others: St. James Academy (1-1), Eisenhower (2-0), Basehor-Linwood (2-0), Maize South (2-0), Blue Valley Southwest (1-1), Salina Central (1-1)

MILL VALLEY lost to Missouri power Lee's Summit North 26-13 and have a tough test with Free State coming to town this week, but until something drastic happens, this is still the best team in 5A, though possibly by the slimmest margins in the last six seasons. A reminder to the doubters, in 2019 the Jags started the season 1-3 and went on to win the first of their current streak of five straight 5A titles and in 2016 Mill Valley was 3-4 after seven games before going on to win Joel Applebee's second of his seven titles. BUT, we will admit, Blue Valley and Aquinas look very, very good.

BLUE VALLEY has allowed just seven points all season and looked impressive in their 34-7 win over Washburn Rural, but this week's test with third-ranked ST. THOMAS AQUINAS and the Saints' offensive stars Calin Arndt and Elzie Slaughter is the state's marquee matchup. Aquinas improved to 2-0 with a 28-7 win over St. James.

GREAT BEND moves into the fourth spot after a quality 26-14 win over 6A Olathe South. The Panthers have athletes all over the field and QB Daxton Minton continues to orchestrate Erin Beck's offense with aplomb. Linebacker Trent Kern is one of the best in the business for the GBHS D. The Panthers get an intriguing test this week against 4A's fourth-ranked Buhler Crusaders.

From here on out we're the least confident about who should hold down the fifth spot...DE SOTO has been consistent over the last decade, but their wins aren't super impressive...BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST rebounded from their shutout loss at the hands of Blue Valley with a comeback win over Bishop Miege in which junior Angelo Keuwo recorded four touchdowns and 235 all-purpose yards as well as two interceptions on defense...EISENHOWER continues to get spectacular play from QB Derek Morgan and receiver Carter Pabst, but do they have the defensive pieces to stand up to the explosive offenses of Maize South or Great Bend...Tate McNew, Landen Gatto and Hunter Higgins are absolute stars for MAIZE SOUTH...BASEHOR-LINWOOD gets an opportunity to show their defense is for real against Shawnee Heights junior QB Aiden Scott this week and if they do it sets up a great matchup against De Soto in Week 4...ST. JAMES is likely to be a factor come playoff time even if their regular season record ends up not signaling it.

Class 4A

1. Andover Central (2-0)
2. Bishop Miege (0-2)
3. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2-0)
4. Buhler (2-0)
5. Wamego (2-0)

Others: Louisburg (2-0), Chanute (2-0), Wellington (0-2), McPherson (1-1), Fort Scott (2-0), Ottawa (2-0)

ANDOVER CENTRAL continues to look like the real deal behind a loaded senior class and improved to 2-0 after a 42-7 win over Newton. The Jags are likely to be favorites in every game the rest of the year, but there are no pushovers. Up next, an Ark City squad that pulled the one-point upset over Salina Central last week.

BISHOP MIEGE took a second straight loss to open the season after jumping out to a 20-7 lead against Blue Valley Southwest last week, but three interceptions threw the Stag offense out of rhythm and saw the Timberwolves storm back for the 40-33 upset. The Stags continue a brutal four-game stretch this week at Blue Valley West.

KAPAUN opened 2-0 and preps for a pair of stiff tests in Wichita East and Wichita Northwest in back-to-back weeks.

BUHLER jumped out to a 21-0 lead over Augusta mid-way through the second quarter and coasted to the 43-14 win. Junior running back Ben Clouse rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries. Senior QB Brendan Scripsick completed five of eight passes for 46 yards. Will Hanen led the defense with nine stops.

WAMEGO picked up a huge win over a good Rock Creek team 20-0 and now squares off against a surprise 2-0 Marysville team. The defense got to Rock Creek for two interceptions and sophomore quarterback Logan Fulton threw three touchdown passes for the Red Raiders.

WELLINGTON fell to 0-2 with their second straight close loss to a 3A power, but this time a shootout saw the Crusaders fall to Andale, 56-48. Wellington QB Dusty Bannister threw for almost 500 yards and 6 TDs in the loss...CHANUTE and LOUISBURG both improved to 2-0 and look like they may just have the manpower to challenge the upper echelon.

Class 3A

1. Andale (2-0)
2. Cheney (2-0)
3. Wichita Collegiate (2-0)
4. Topeka Hayden (2-0)
5. Clay Center (1-1)

Others: Frontenac (2-0), Rock Creek (1-1), Scott City (1-1), Clay Center (1-1), Hesston (2-0), Marysville (2-0), Prairie View (2-0), Wellsville (2-0)

ANDALE survived a 56-48 shootout over Wellington in a game that featured numerous lead changes and nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. Andale hosts an 0-2 Rose Hill team this week with a big game against Wichita Collegiate to round out September.

CHENEY improved to 2-0 with an impressive 40-8 win over Kingman and now gets a Garden Plain team that fell to 1-1 last week after a 13-7 loss to Conway Springs. Senior Cardinal quarterback Josh Burdick enjoyed another highlight filled contest and Grady Ditgen returned an interception eight yards for a score. Bradyen Dibble rushed for 81 yards and two scores on 10 carries behind a good offensive line.

COLLEGIATE dominated Rose Hill 42-6 to improve to 2-0 and is sure to be a heavy-favorite this week against El Dorado. A tough four-game stretch starts at Andale next week followed by games with Pratt, Clearwater and Cheney.

HAYDEN improved to 2-0 with a 42-14 trouncing of St. Michael the Archangel in Missouri. Senior QB Jett Wahlmeier had another great night with three touchdowns passing and junior Kade Mitchell had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Hayden hosts Bishop Ward this week before making the trip to play 4A's fifth ranked Wamego next week.

There are a lot of teams in this classification who might be the fifth best, but we're going with CLAY CENTER which fell by just two-points to a good Southeast of Saline squad. In the preseason it looked like the Tigers' graduation losses would be too much to put them on a similar trajectory as the last two seasons, but the few holdovers are showing out and new faces are making a big splash. Cole Pladson is absolutely one of the best all-around players in the state and not just as a dual-threat QB, but also on defense where he is the team's third leading tackler. Eisaac Girton, Walker Henry and Drew Hoffman are enjoying breakout campaigns on defense and the decision by Jace Weller to play football his senior season has added an explosive big-play threat and key back end defender. Now, all that said, there are some big tests coming up that will tell us everything we need to know about where this squad stands in the bigger picture, starting this week with a road trip against a good Louisburg squad and road games with Rock Creek and Wamego in October. Fortunately for the Tigers and coach Marc Henry they are used to being doubted the past two seasons, two of the best back-to-back Clay Center football performances ever.

FRONTENAC stifled perennial 1A power St. Mary's Colgan 26-0 to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Raider D has yet to allow a point on the season while Gavyn Withuhn continues to shine for the Frontenac offense...ROCK CREEK's loss to Wamego doesn't look that bad in the long run, but it would've been good for the Mustangs to find some offense in the game considering...MARYSVILLE gets a chance to prove they are a contender this week against 4A Wamego...PRAIRIE VIEW junior running back Parker Schwarz continues to fuel the Buffs and a game at WELLSVILLE this week is a good measuring stick for both programs, especially an Eagle team hit hard by graduation...COLUMBUS gets a chance to prove they are a contender in a matchup with Colgan this week...CLEARWATER gets a chance to prove their 2-0 start is the sign of something big under program-builder Justin Burke this week at Wellington, but win or lose the Indians have District 7 shaping up to be a fun one to watch with Burke's squad joining Cheney, Pratt and Collegiate as 2-0 teams.

Class 2A

1. Norton (2-0)
2. Southeast of Saline (2-0)
3. Nemaha Central (1-1)
4. St. Marys (2-0)
5. Osage City (2-0)

Others: Council Grove (2-0), Riley County (2-0), Beloit (2-0), Hoisington (0-2), Humboldt (2-0), Sabetha (1-1), Silver Lake (1-1), Garden Plain (1-1)

NORTON got a quality win over a solid 1A TMP team with a score likely not as close as the final of 47-22. The Bluejays continue to get contributions across the board each week - NHS got another all-around game from Eli Jones and wideout Tyce Melvin continues to be a key target in the passing game, but fullback Logan Wilour carried a bigger load running the ball this week and defensive lineman Colton Stover wreaked havoc in the opposing backfield – which is what gives us the confidence to rank them #1.

SOUTHEAST OF SALINE got a huge win over Clay Center last week and another big game by junior Grady Gebhardt. It was the third straight slugfest win for the Trojans over a good Clay Center program. This SES team doesn't seem to have quite the blazing speed of past Trojans squads, but Gannon Jacobson continues to mature as a quarterback and Tucker Thaxton is one of the top route runners and pass catchers in 2A. But Gebhardt is must-watch football in the Trojan backfield and on the linebacking corps. and is consistently one of the most physical guys on the field. The offensive and defensive lines don't carry quite the size of past teams, but they give you a 48 minute session of aggression each week.

NEMAHA CENTRAL reminded everyone who they are with a 35-7 dispatching of Silver Lake. Carter Hajek did Carter Hajek things and the Thunder responded to the Week 1 overreaction in fine fashion. Caleb Strathman caught three passes for 92 yards and three touchdowns and also recorded the second interception of the season on defense. Abram Keim had another big night on defense to run his total to a team-leading 29 tackles on the season while Reese Gerety added three tackles for loss against Silver Lake to run his team-leading total to four.

ST. MARYS looked impressive in running to a 24-6 lead over Rossville at the end of three quarters before the Bulldawgs staged a fourth quarter rally that fell short, 24-19, and the Bears got another big game from QB Brady Hurla. The Bears Week 1 win over Perry-Lecompton also looks bigger now after the Kaws upended Sabetha, 12-9.

From the fifth spot on it gets much tougher to pick the next best contender. OSAGE CITY and COUNCIL GROVE appear to be in a virtual tie after fairly similar 2-0 starts to the season...RILEY COUNTY got an incredible comeback win over Holton with their starting QB on the shelf, rallying from 20-0 down to comeback and take the lead 21-20 in the third quarter before holding off the Wildcat charge...We'll continue to spotlight how good 2A District 3 is with SILVER LAKE the only team with a loss through the first two weeks of the season. But not all losses are created the same. A 35-7 loss to a Nemaha Central team enraged following a surprise upset at the hands of Marysville in Week 1 is no reason to write off the Eagles...BELOIT gets its first true measuring stick of the season this week against Southeast of Saline, a league rival who has handed Brad Gober's squad six straight losses – the last three in blowout fashion – with Beloit last beating SES in 2017, Gober's first year on the job...HUMBOLDT gets forgotten in southeast Kansas, but Logan Wyrick has built a consistent winner that is again a factor...GARDEN PLAIN's close loss to Conway is no big deal in the grand scheme, but a trip to Cheney presents an even bigger challenge this week...HOISINGTON battled 3A Hesston to within four-points but fell to the Swathers, 28-24. The Cardinals get another test at 3A Scott City this week and 3A Cheney is sure to be tough in the October opener, but if the Cardinals can get healthy they should still be a factor in the 2A postseason.

Class 1A

1. Conway Springs (2-0)
2. Rossville (0-2)
3. Medicine Lodge (2-0)
4. Sedgwick (2-0)
5. Jackson Heights (2-0)

Others: Moundridge (2-0), St. Mary's Colgan (1-1), TMP (1-1), Centralia (1-1), Valley Heights (1-1), Marion (2-0), Olpe (1-1), Plainville (1-1)

CONWAY SPRINGS survived a 13-7 slugfest with rival Garden Plain with all 13 Cardinal points coming in the second quarter and the Owls adding a fourth quarter touchdown. Isaac Winter was again the workhorse for the Cardinals with 64 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries but CSHS got some big runs from Logan Osner (10 carries, 67 yards) and Grant Fisher (5 carries, 38 yards). Cade Howell was mostly kept in check, but he was able to push the ball across the goal line for the Cardinals' other score on the night. Conway Springs edged the Owls in total yards (180 vs. 168), penalties (1 for 10 yards vs. 4 for 25 yards) and first downs (12 vs. 8).

ROSSVILLE fell behind to St. Marys 24-6 after three quarters but made a furious rally in the fourth quarter that fell just short, 24-19. A 47-yard Tayson Horak punt return with 1:33 left in the game was the final score of the night. The Bulldawgs got big plays in the passing game during the rally that included big-time connections with Jack Donovan, Kameron Badura, Conner Bush and Mahki Jackson. The defense got huge plays from Conner and Brock Bush, Andre Johnson, Seth Catron and Jack Donovan. Will Koch was an offense wrecker for the Dawg D with four tackles for loss. Now the Dawgs have the tall task of facing the two-time defending 2A champion Nemaha Central Thunder at their house. The Dawgs will be the underdog in the contest, but as long as they come out of the game healthy they will still be the favorite to represent the east in 1A.

MEDICINE LODGE improved to 2-0 with a 48-10 win over 2A Chaparral and got another big game from senior QB Ke'Veon Ruiz who was 10 of 23 passing for 229 yards and 2 TDs - but was also dinged for two INTs - and added 164 yards and three scores on 11 carries. Durham Nittler caught three passes for 80 yards and both scores. The Indian defense was disruptive recording 13 total tackles for loss in the contest. This week, Indians will get the first big test of the season in an unbeaten Moundridge team looking to prove they are a contender in their first year of 11-Man.

A week after blowing out Sterling, SEDGWICK proved they can win a rock fight downing Hutch-Trinity in a 15-2 matchup that reportedly featured over 300 yards in penalties. Corey Crumrine completed 19 of 34 passes for 259 yards and a score and added a rushing touchdown and 84 yards on 14 carries. Sedgwick linebacker Gage Harris recorded 21 tackles with five for losses. The remainder of the Cardinal schedule includes a mix of opponents with a Week 4 game with Marion, a Week 6 game with Inman and the Week 7 game with Moundridge the most intriguing contests left in the regular season.

Another blowout win for JACKSON HEIGHTS last week saw a number of players get varsity reps and the Cobras are likely heavy-favorites in every game the rest of the season, though next week's matchup with McLouth has added intrigued after the Bulldogs knocked off Troy last week. Drake Mellies continues to show why he was regarded as one of 1A's top players entering the season with 358 combined pass and rush yards and five TDs through the first two weeks. Six different players have scored a touchdown for the Cobras in just two games. The defense is  holding up their end of the bargain as well with five total sacks and three interceptions in the first two weeks.

MOUNDRIDGE looks the part of a 1A contender in their first year of 11-Man after a 28-7 win over Sterling last week. The Wildcat offense is loaded with playmakers in Henry Hecox, Bear Moddelmog, Kaizer Kanitz and more, but the defense is equally formidable holding the Black Bears to just one score. The Wildcats are also getting great play from their offensive and defensive fronts with big senior Braden Denhartog leading the way. The competition will crank up a notch this week as third ranked Medicine Lodge coming to town...ST. MARY'S COLGAN suffered a shutout loss to rival Frontenac, but is still a 1A contender, though they have another tough CNC contest with Columbus this week...JAYHAWK-LINN suffered a close loss to Anderson County to fall to 1-1 last week but a matchup against OLPE this week appears like it could be closer than in the past. The Jayhawks have fielded good teams the last couple of seasons but just haven't quite measured-up to Olpe and Colgan. Perhaps this is the season where they can meet that challenge...CENTRALIA suffered a 41-6 loss on the road at Mid Buchanan in Missouri, one of the top teams in Missouri's Class 1, the smallest 11-Man class in that state...TMP and PLAINVILLE have both suffered losses to bigger MCL rivals, but the pair appear to be the favorites in 1A District 8 after Smith Center fell to 0-2 on the season.

8-Man I

1. Hoxie (2-0)
2. Wichita County (1-1)
3. Little River (2-0)
4. West Elk (2-0)
5. South Central (2-0)

Others: Ellis (2-0), Sylvan-Lucas (2-0), Hill City (1-1), Ell-Saline (1-1), Chase County (1-1), Lincoln (1-1), Sublette (2-0), Rawlins County (1-1), Rock Hills (2-0), Oxford (1-1)

After battling a good Osborne team in Week 1 the HOXIE Indians improved to 2-0 with a blowout of an experienced Trego squad. The Indians rolled up 424 yards of total offense an showed off better balance in the rush and pass game, but the defense really shined, holding Trego to under 100 total yards with three tackles for losses and two interceptions. Senior Easton Nickelson made plays from sideline-to-sideline recorded 22 total tackles. Duncan Bell threw for 241 yards with two scores, both to fellow senior Sam Watkins, and four different players combined to rush for 183 yards and five scores. No rest for the Indians, though, as a trip to play new 8-Man team Ellis looks like one of the games of the week after the Railers opened the year with a pair of close victories over very good Lincoln and Hill City teams.

WICHITA COUNTY rebounded nicely from their loss to Haxtun (Colo.) to open the season with a 66-0 shelling of Elkhart. Cashton Young and Krhis Hermosillo led the way for the Indian rushing attack and Max Whitham continues to lead the defense. The Indians are off this week before a four game stretch in which they'll be heavy favorites with a Week 8 matchup against Ellis looking like it's going to be a highly anticipated District 7 title game.

LITTLE RIVER dismantled an improved Rural Vista team 58-12 to move to 2-0 on the season thanks to big nights from Logan Renken (4-6, 37 yards, 2 TDs, 12 carries, 158 yards, 3 TDs) and Jaren Garrison (2-2, 48 yards, 2 TDs, 11 carries, 89 yards). Logan Schubert, Logan Renken, CJ Herzog and Ty Janette all caught TD passes. Jhett Ewertt led the Redskins with 11 total tackles and Kyler Bergkamp added nine. Chris Norez and Janette each recorded a sack. Little River is likely to be a heavy favorite the next three weeks before a pivotal home game with Ell-Saline in Week 6.

WEST ELK survived a shootout with Oxford 52-38. The Patriots never trailed but the offensive fireworks lasted all night with the Wildcats pulling within six points or less on multiple occasions, including shrinking the margin to six with 6:58 left in the fourth quarter before the Patriots scored the games final touchdown with 4:36 left to slam the door on the Wildcat comeback. Patriot QB Trent Haag was 13 of 20 passing for 239 yards and two scores, but also threw two INTs. He added 48 yards on 13 carries for another score while running back Creyo Koop rushed for 79 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Koop led all receivers with 106 yards and two more scores on four catches while Garrett Usry added 75 yards on four catches. Koop and Maddex Moreno led the way on defense with 16 tackles each and Haag recorded an INT from his spot in the secondary.

SOUTH CENTRAL improved to 2-0 with a 50-0 win over Ashland the Timberwolves have allowed just one touchdown through the first two games. Senior JT Prusa rushed for 116 yards and four touchdowns on just five carries. Jase Rutherford and Jack Herd led the defense with seven and six tackles respectively. This week the Timberwolves play host to a Laverne (Okla.) team that is 3-0 and has posted double digit win totals in each of the past three seasons.

ELLIS burst onto the scene in Week 1 with a shootout victory over a good Lincoln team and proved it was no fluke with a double overtime shootout win over highly regarded Hill City squad last Friday. The game was an instant classic as the Railers scored with a fraction of a second on the clock to send it to the first overtime and after both teams score in the first OT the Railers took the win in the second. If the Railers find a way to knock off Hoxie this week there will be no doubt this team is built to make a run in the 8-Man I postseason...Connor Charvat and Zayne Maupin are leading the way for a 2-0 SYLVAN-LUCAS team that's looked impressive through two weeks and will be a heavy favorite against Stockton this week with an intriguing matchup against a much improved Rock Hills team to wrap up September...ELL-SALINE rebounded from the season-opening loss to Hanover with an impressive 38-20 win over a good Osborne team...HILL CITY and LINCOLN are now together in the "there's no shame in losing to new 8-Man team Ellis" camp and the Ringnecks and Leopards are two teams that provide depth to what looks like a really good Division I class from teams one through 10, and possibly beyond...OXFORD got 236 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in their failed bid to upset West Elk and sent a signal to the rest of the state they are not to be written off.

8-Man II

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

Others: Osborne (0-2), Dighton (2-0), Bucklin (2-0), Lebo (2-0)

Another week of dominance for the AXTELL juggernaut as the Eagles improved to 41 straight wins with a 70-0 blowout of Washington County. Brandon Schmelzle completed all seven of his passes for 120 yards and four touchdowns and Eli Broxterman rushed for two scores and caught a TD pass. The Eagle D held Washington County to 11 yards of total office and forced and interception. Axtell makes the trip to play a solid Chase County team in Cottonwood Falls this week.

FRANKFORT avenged last year's 46-point loss to eventual 8-Man I state champs Lyndon with a 72-22 win over the Tigers in Frankfort last Friday. Lyndon kept it competitive early, but the Tigers pulled away in the second and third quarters. Junior quarterback Wes Anderson had another big night passing and Carter Olson returned a kick for a touchdown and caught five passes for 84 yards. Lane Loiseau also caught five passes for 91 yards while Trent Hardin had a big game on defense. Frankfort travels to Solomon this week before a highly-anticipated matchup at Hanover to close out September.

VICTORIA blasted a highly regarded Central Plains team 62-12 to improve to 2-0. The Knights got 100 yard rushing Knights from Matthew Pfeifer and Weston Scherzer and Will Schmeidler returned a kick for a touchdown. The Knights travel to Osborne this week and in spite of the Bulldogs 0-2 start Steve Tiernan is equipped to give the Knights a game.

BURLINGAME blew out Waverly 60-12 and got another big game from QB JD Tyson who threw for 203 yards and four touchdowns while completing eight of 12 pass attempts. He added 69 yards rushing and two scores on seven carries. Versatile senior Dane Winters caught five passes for 170 yards and all four scores through the air and big 6-5 junior Drake Skirvin caught three passes for 33 yards. Tyson and Winters recorded an interception apiece on defense. The Bearcats host a 1-1 Madison team this week that dominated Hartford last Friday and opened the season with a two-point loss to Lebo.

HANOVER looks like the Wildcat teams of old with quality wins over Ell-Saline (34-16) and Clifton-Clyde (50-0) in the first two weeks of the season.

OSBORNE fell to 0-2 with a 38-20 loss to Ell-Saline Friday but don't write the Bulldogs off just yet. QB Dalton Garman continues to serve as a dual-threat for the Bulldogs and Hunter Howell, Kaiden Schultze and Dawson Lantz have joined him in each rushing for at least 67 yards total through two weeks of the season. OHS will have their hands full with Victoria this week but regardless of the outcome the Bulldogs are still the favorites to win 8-Man II District ...After an impressive win over Rawlins County in Week 1, DIGHTON held off Decatur Community last week 44-40. Daniel Cramer threw for 211 yards in three touchdowns and added 23 carries for 81 yards and two more scores. George Vonleonrod led the defense with 15 tackles...BUCKLIN improved to 2-0 with a 56-16 win over Kiowa County and gets what should be a stiff test from a much improved 2-0 Sublette team that could be an 8-Man I contender...After edging Madison 20-18 in Week 1 LEBO improved to 2-0 wiht a 54-8 win over Northern Heights last week. The Wolves are getting big season from quarterback Drew Konrade, who is also a standout on defense for LHS...HODGEMAN COUNTY was dominant in shutting out Meade last week and could be 6-0 heading into pivotal games with Dighton and Victoria to close the season.

6-Man

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

An experienced and talented CUNNINGHAM team has been dominant through two games and looks like they could be untested this year behind standouts Luke Albers, Dylan Halderson and Will Wegerer...WESKAN improved to 2-0 with a blowout win over Rolla in the school's first game under their new lights. The Coyotes are getting ultra-efficient play from junior Nick Cottrell who is 16-20 passing for 263 yards with four touchdowns. Nine different players have recorded at least two tackles for WHS...INGALLS survived a solid Golden Plains squad 52-21 on the strength of 323 yards rushing and seven touchdowns from senior Langston Nothern. The Bulldogs could get another stiff test from defending 6A champ Cheylin this week.