The 2022 high school football season will be here soon and once again, I’ll be posting my weekly rankings. As always, the previous year’s state champion will have a spot in the preseason Top 5 in their respective class, provided they are still in the same class. Also, new this season, I have added the 6-Man rankings as it is now a classification sanctioned by KSHSAA. The record you see here indicates last season’s finish. Thanks to Kansas Pregame magazine for the resource to help out with my preseason research. My OPINION is not that of my employer. Best of luck to all the teams in the 2022 season.
Super 10
1. Derby (11-1)
2. Mill Valley (12-1)
3. Maize (10-3)
4. Lawrence (9-3)
5. Wichita Northwest (8-3)
6. Blue Valley Northwest (12-1)
7. Bishop Carroll (7-3)
8. Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (10-2)
9. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-5)
10. Andale (13-0)
6A
1. Derby (11-1)
2. Lawrence (9-3)
3. Wichita Northwest (8-3)
4. Blue Valley Northwest (12-1, 6A Champs)
5. Free State (8-3)
Notes: #1 was the 6A state runner-up in 2021 and returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. Leading the pack is Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards, the #3 rated prospect in Kansas according to 247 Sports. #2 Lawrence made the state semis in 2021 and returns five starters on offense and seven on defense. #3 Wichita Northwest moves up from 5A and returns eight offensive starters and five on defense. #4 Blue Valley Northwest is the defending state champion. They will need to replace some key pieces with five starters back on offense and just two on defense. #5 Free State returns seven starters on offense and six on defense, headlined by OT Calvin Clements, the #8 ranked prospect in Kansas, who is committed to Baylor.
Big game in Week 1: #1 Derby hosts Manhattan on Friday, September 2.
5A
1. Mill Valley (12-1, 5A Champs)
2. Maize (10-3)
3. Bishop Carroll (7-3)
4. Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (10-2)
5. Blue Valley Southwest (4-7)
Notes: #1 Mill Valley has won two-straight 5A titles and returns seven starters on each side of the ball. #2 Maize was the state runner-up in 2021 and returns seven starters on offense and six on defense. Eagles QB Avery Johnson, a K-State commit, is the #1 ranked player in Kansas for 2023 according to 247 Sports. #3 Bishop Carroll brings back nine starters on each side. #4 Kapaun-Mt. Carmel looks to keep the momentum going from a 5A state semifinal appearance in 2021 as they return four starters on offense and five on defense. TE Will Anciaux is the 9th-ranked prospect in Kansas and is committed to K-State. #5 Blue Valley Southwest brings back seven starters on offense and nine on defense and are poised to make an improvement on their 4-7 record from last season.
Big game in Week 1: #3 Bishop Carroll hosts 6A #3 Wichita Northwest on Friday, September 2.
4A
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-5)
2. St. James (9-4, 4A Champs)
3. Bishop Miege (5-7)
4. McPherson (7-3)
5. Andover Central (11-2)
Notes: #1 St. Thomas Aquinas moves down from 5A. They bring back five starters on offense and ten on defense from a squad that made the 5A semifinals in 2021. #2 St. James is the two-time defending 4A state champion. They have five starters back on offense and seven on defense. #3 Bishop Miege has six starters returning on both sides after making the 4A semis last season. #4 McPherson returns seven starters on each side. #5 Andover Central was the 4A runner-up in 2021. They will look to reload as they have six starters back on both sides of the ball.
Big games in Week 1: #2 St. James Academy hosts 6A #5 Blue Valley Northwest in a matchup of defending state champions on Friday, September 2.
3A
1. Andale (13-0, 3A Champs)
2. Holton (11-1)
3. Wichita Collegiate (8-2)
4. Rock Creek (7-4)
5. Girard (10-1)
Notes: #1 Andale has won three straight 3A state titles and are poised for a fourth consecutive. The Indians bring back nine starters on each side of the ball in 2022. #2 Holton has eight starters back on offense and six on defense after making the state semis in 2021. #3 Wichita Collegiate brings back eight on offense and six starters on defense as well. Spartan QB Wesley Fair is the 6th best prospect in Kansas and is committed to K-State. #4 Rock Creek is very experienced with 11 starters back on offense and ten on defense. #5 Girard returns ten offensive starters and eight on defense.
Big game in Week 1: #2 Holton is at 2A #3 Nemaha Central to open the season on Friday, September 2.
2A
1. Rossville (13-0, 2A Champs)
2. Southeast of Saline (11-1)
3. Nemaha Central (7-3)
4. Beloit (9-4)
5. Kingman (10-2)
Notes: #1 Rossville has won two straight 2A titles. They keep the top spot in my rankings but will need to reload with just five starters back on offense and three on defense. #2 Southeast of Saline moves down from 3A after a trip to the state semis. The Trojans bring back five starters on offense and eight on defense. #3 Nemaha Central brings back eight starters on both sides of the ball. #4 Beloit was the 2A state runner-up in 2021. They have eight starters back on offense and six on defense. #5 Kingman made it to the State semis before falling to Beloit. They return seven offensive starters and eight on defense.
Big game in Week 1: #2 Southeast of Saline hosts 3A #4 Rock Creek on Friday, September 2.
1A
1. Olpe (12-0, 1A Champs)
2. Inman (11-1)
3. Smith Center (9-2)
4. St. Marys (5-4)
5. Pittsburg-Colgan (4-5)
Notes: #1 Olpe has won two straight state titles in 1A. They return just six starters on offense and five on defense but have shown the ability to reload in the past, so they stay in my top spot to start the season. #2 Inman was the state runner-up and has virtually every starter back with 11 on offense and ten on defense with starting experience. #3 Smith Center brings back seven starters on offense and eight on defense. St. Marys moves down from 2A and they are set to make an impact in 1A with seven starters back on both sides of the ball. #5 Pittsburg-Colgan had a tough season in 2021, but they bring back experience with nine starters returning on offense and ten on defense.
Big game in Week 1: #4 St. Marys hosts 2A #1 Rossville on Friday, September 2.
8-Man DI
1. Little River (12-1)
2. Clifton-Clyde (7-2)
3. Meade (13-0, 8M-DI Champs)
4. Chase County (8-2)
5. Hill City (10-2)
Notes: #1 Little River was the state runner-up in 2021 after winning the title in 2020 in 8-Man DI. They have five starters back on both sides of the ball in 2022. #2 Clifton-Clyde brings back a load of experience with seven offensive starters and six defensive starters returning. #3 Meade won the state title in their second season at the 8-Man level. They have four starters back on offense and three on defense. #4 Chase County brings back all eight starters on each side of the ball. #5 Hill City has four starters back on both sides after reaching the state semis in 2021.
Big game in Week 1: #1 Little Rivers opens the season at 8M-DII #2 Canton-Galva on Friday, September 2.
8-Man DII
1. Axtell (13-0, 8M-DII Champs)
2. Canton-Galva (10-2)
3. Thunder Ridge (11-1)
4. Victoria (10-2)
5. Lebo (9-2)
Notes: #1 Axtell brings back every starter from their undefeated state championship team in 2021. #2 Canton-Galva moves down from 8M-DI and brings back seven starters on each side. They also have Wheatland-Grinnell transfer Jett Vincent to add to the mix. #3 Thunder Ridge broke out as a state semifinalist in 2021 and they bring back seven players on both sides with starting experience. #4 Victoria has five starters back on each side after a state semifinal appearance. #5 Lebo has six starters return on both sides.
Big game in Week 1: Same as 8M-DI with #2 Canton-Galva hosting DI #1 Little River on Friday, September 2.
6-Man
1. Natoma (9-0, 6-Man Champs)
2. Ashland (8-2)
3. Northern Valley (7-3)
4. Waverly (7-2, 8M-DII)
5. Cunningham (9-1)
Notes: Since this is an addition to my rankings in 2022, it will take some time for me to get accustomed to what these rankings should look like. I open with Natoma at #1 with five starters returning from their squad that won the Wild West Bowl in 2021. #2 Ashland has six starters returning. #3 Northern Valley brings back five starters. #4 Waverly is in the 6-Man ranks for the first time, bringing back four starters from a team that lost just two games in 8-Man DII in 2021. #5 Cunningham was the 6-Man runner-up in 2021 and brings back five starters.
Big game in Week 1: #3 Northern Valley hosts #1 Natoma on Friday, September 2.
These are my picks for the 2022 Preseason. Last season, four of my preseason #1’s ended up winning the state title (4A: St. James; ; 3A: Andale; 2A: Rossville; 1A: Olpe). Thanks for reading, and as always, any feedback is welcomed.
dusty40 