Kansas High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Sept. 17

After the second round of games for the 2024 Kansas high school football season, the Kansas On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list for Sept. 17 shows no changes. St. Thomas Aquinas, Gardner Edgerton, and Blue Valley took the top three spots after keeping their records unblemished.

Seven of the top ten teams carry 2-0 records heading into another week of football action. Meanwhile, only one team out of the top 25 has a losing record. Here’s how Kansas’s best high school football teams fared against their counterparts.

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

Previous: No. 1
The Saints overcame the gauntlet of facing ranked teams in consecutive weeks. After edging Blue Valley West in their season opener (25-21), St. Thomas Aquinas defeated St. James Academy 28-7. Calin Arndt was the game’s best player, finishing with 31 carries for 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, limiting opponents to 14 points per game had Thomas Aquinas’s defense ranked second-best in-state. They can extend their winning streak to eight games (dating back to last season) by defeating third-ranked Blue Valley on Sept. 20.

2. Gardner Edgerton

Previous: No. 2
It isn’t difficult to see why the Trailblazers have the top-ranked offense early in the 2024 Kansas high school football season. After generating 49 points against Shawnee Mission North, they scored 66 points in their victory over Oklahoma-based Choctaw. Syre Padilla’s dominating ground attack led to 250 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Porter Swaim dealt 132 receiving yards and three touchdowns against Choctaw. Massey Ratings predicts the Gardner-Edgerton scoring machine will dominate against Shawnee Mission Northwest and Lawrence to close the month.

3. Blue Valley

Previous: No. 3
During their Sept. 13 contest, the Tigers’ top-ranked defense limited Washburn Rural to seven points. Conversely, Blue Valley tallied 34 points to improve their record to 2-0. Christopher Aiello threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Grant Westphal. Meanwhile, Charlie Stachowiak powered the ground game with 115 rushing yards and a touchdown. Blue Valley’s defense generated six sacks, two interceptions, and 11 tackles for losses against the Blues. After convincing victories in their first two assignments, Blue Valley faces a formidable challenge in three days in top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas.

4. Derby

Previous: No. 4
The Panthers devoured Campus Haysville in a one-sided affair, tallying 77 points while shutting down the Colts. Quarterback Drew Kemp had 92 passing yards, 52 rushing yards, and four touchdowns to pace fourth-ranked Derby, while Arieus Finley added 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, the Derby defense finished with six sacks, two interceptions, and 16 tackles for losses. The Panthers can secure a 3-0 start by defeating Salina South in their next game.

5. Blue Valley Northwest

Previous: No. 5
The Huskies’ fourth-ranked defense limited Shawnee Mission Northwest to seven points. Wyatt Zehr had Blue Valley Northwest’s lone sack, and the unit had five tackles for losses. More importantly, they got ample support from the offense, which tallied 38 points. Quarterback Nathan Baxter had four touchdowns (two passing, two receiving), while Trevor Garlington finished with 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. A tougher challenge awaits the Huskies as they clash with ninth-ranked St. James Academy in their next assignment.

6. Northwest

Previous: No. 6
The Grizzlies made light work of the East Blue Aces 14-0. True to his surname, Augie Fast used his speed to collect 154 rushing yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Chase Carter caught Northwest’s other touchdown off a pass from Jaylen Mason. Northwest’s defense was also on fire, tallying 17 tackles for losses, seven passes defended, and four sacks. The Grizzlies can maintain their undefeated run with a victory over Junction City Sr. on the 20^th.

7. Manhattan

Previous: No. 7
In their last match, the Indians survived the fierce challenge of 15^th-ranked Lawrence Free State. Quarterback Carter Aslin was all over the field with 169 passing yards, 194 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Likewise, scoring 95 points in two games has the Indians’ offense ranked fifth in-state. Manhattan can get its third win in the 2024 Kansas high school football season by defeating Hays in its next match.

8. Mill Valley

Previous: No. 8
After escaping the fierce resistance put up by Olathe South in their season-opener, Mill Valley suffered their first loss this year at the hands of Lee’s Summit North. Running back Reggie Reece was still sensational in defeat, finishing with 201 rushing yards and a touchdown. Blake Jay and Isaac Sauder also caught touchdown passes from quarterback Connor Bohon. Mill Valley can bounce back with a win over Lawrence Free State on Sept. 20.

9. St. James Academy

Previous: No. 9
After their season-opening win against Bishop Miege, the Thunder came up short against top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas in their last game. Tyson Beashore connected with Parker Chase for St. James’ lone touchdown against the Saints. If they are to rediscover their winning ways, St. James Academy must intensify its efforts on both sides of the ball when facing fifth-ranked Blue Valley Northwest (Sept. 20) and third-ranked Blue Valley (Sept. 27) in their following two assignments.

10. Blue Valley West

Previous: No. 10
The Jaguars are finally in the win column after a 42-12 victory over Olathe West. Tate Nagy threw three touchdown passes, while Wayne Carter dashed for 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Blue Valley West’s defense finished with seven tackles for losses, two sacks, and two interceptions. The Stilwell-based squad can start a winning streak by beating Bishop Miege on the 20^th.

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

11. Andale
12. Lawrence
13. Blue Valley Southwest
14. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic
15. Lawrence Free State
16. Bishop Miege
17. Eisenhower
18. Great Bend
19. Andover Central
20. Cheney
21. Shawnee Mission Northwest
22. East
23. Olathe East
24. Southeast Saline
25. Washburn Rural