Kansas High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Oct. 2

As of Oct. 2, there’s not much movement on the Kansas On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list. The rankings have stayed the same, except for the swap between Cheney and Shawnee Mission Northwest. Here’s how Kansas high school football’s top teams fared after the games during the last weekend of September.

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

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1. St. Thomas Aquinas

What’s impressive about the Saints’ four-game winning streak is that they defeated ranked opponents. However, they’ve had their most impressive victory of the season, scoring 59 points and winning by 49 against 13^th-ranked Blue Valley Southwest. Meanwhile, limiting their opponents to 15 points per game makes the St. Thomas Aquinas defense the best unit in Kansas. The Saints can extend their undefeated run to five games against 23rd-ranked Bishop Miege on Oct. 4.

2. Gardner Edgerton

No team has solved the Gardner Edgerton offense through four games. However, after scoring 66 points against Choctaw, Oklahoma’s 17^th-ranked team, the Trailblazers scored 63 in the next two games. The reduced production is a minor concern, as Gardner Edgerton found ways to extend their winning streak. After their 35-21 win over Lawrence, the Trailblazers can extend their undefeated run to five games against Shawnee Mission East on Oct. 4.

3. Blue Valley Northwest

After a three-point win against St. James Academy, the Huskies won convincingly over Washburn Rural. Nathan Baxter threw four touchdown passes, and LJ Bowens punished the Blues with 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Ayden McGibboney finished with 103 receiving yards and a touchdown. Blue Valley Northwest’s defense imposed their will, registering six sacks. However, despite their excellent fortunes early in the 2024 Kansas high school football season, their schedule gets more challenging as they face eighth-ranked Blue Valley West and sixth-ranked Blue Valley in their following two assignments.

4. Manhattan

The Indians completed a 52-0 demolition of Junction City Sr., their first shutout victory this year. The Bluejays couldn’t stop Manhattan’s ground attack, as Kha’mario Davis, Carter Aslin, and Jaydin Hudley combined for 43 carries for 304 yards and five touchdowns. That domination from the backfield will help the Indians improve to 5-0 by defeating winless Emporia on Oct. 4.

5. Derby

The Panthers have roared in their first four games, outscoring their opponents 235-21. That lopsided margin includes back-to-back 59-7 victories against Salina South and Maize. Derby quarterback Drew Kemp torched the Eagles’ defense with four touchdown passes, while Arieus Finley had 116 rushing yards and a touchdown. Da’saahn Brame led all receivers with 95 yards and three touchdowns. Waiting on the wings for the Panthers are the Hutchinson Salthawks, their Oct. 4 opponents.

6. Blue Valley

After losing to top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, the Tigers responded with a 20-10 win over St. James Academy. Blue Valley hasn’t been dominating by scoring an insane number of points. Instead, their defense triggers their impressive run, limiting opponents to 11.25 points per game. That low average has Blue Valley as the second-best defense in Kansas high school football. Blue Valley Nort will be the Tigers’ next challengers in the first of two road games for Blue Valley.  

7. Mill Valley

The Jaguars completed their first winning streak this season by blanking Shawnee Mission South, 49-0. Reggie Reece trampled over the Raiders defense, completing 209 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Mill Valley’s defense contained their latest opponents with 56 tackles, six tackles for negative yardage, and four sacks. Improving to 5-1 will depend on their performance against two ranked teams: No. 24 Olathe North and No. 2 Gardner Edgerton.

8. Blue Valley West

The Jaguars’ shocking loss to Bishop Miege must have inspired them to defeat Blue Valley North. After all, losing to two lower-ranked teams will drastically affect their ranking in the Kansas high school football top 25 list. However, winning against the 34^th-ranked Mustangs by only six points at home could be a concern. Blue Valley West must follow the lead of Wayne Carter, Quin Myers, and Tate Nagy to

9. Northwest

The Grizzlies’ undefeated run continues through a 48-24 domination of Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic. Augie Fast punished their opponent with 215 rushing yards. Meanwhile, in addition to his two passing touchdowns, Jaylen Mason had 104 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Northwest should have an easy game on Oct. 4 against the West Pioneers before facing No. 4 Manhattan a week later.

10. Andale

From giving up 55 points in their first two games, the Indians have surrendered only six points in their last two. In their latest game, Wichita Collegiate School was no match for them as they finished with 47 points. While Andale is ranked tenth overall, they have the state’s second-best offense, averaging 55.75  points per game. Their high-powered offense should be on full display when they encounter Nickerson on Oct. 4.

Teams 11-25 in the latest Kansas High School Football Rankings

11. St. James Academy
12. Olathe East
13. Blue Valley Southwest
14. Lawrence Free State
15. Eisenhower
16. Andover Central
17. Cheney (+1)
18. Shawnee Mission Northwest (-1)
19. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic
20. Southeast Saline
21. Shawnee Mission East
22. Lawrence
23. Bishop Miege
24. Olathe North
25. Great Bend