VK Top 25: Upsets change the landscape of Wichita’s top teams ahead of Week 8

After Aquinas’ win over Bishop Miege, there is little argument that Derby isn’t the best team in Kansas.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Derby 48, No. 14 Campus 13

Week 7 Ranking: 1 (-)

Week 8: at No. 3 Maize (7-0)

Last Meeting: Derby 60, Maize 28 (Week 3, 2017)

Prediction: Derby 21, Maize 17

Although Derby almost undeniably has the state’s best defense, Northwest has to take the top offense with six straight 60-point nights.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Wichita Northwest 65, No. 15 Wichita Heights 26

Week 7 Ranking: 2 (-)

Week 8: at Wichita Southeast (2-5)

Last Meeting: Wichita Northwest 68, Wichita Southeast 28 (Week 9, 2017)

Prediction: Wichita Northwest 64, Wichita Southeast 14

No matter what happens in Week 8, Maize has proven to be among the best teams in Kansas. But beating Derby would show more.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Maize 48, No. 11 Salina Central 26

Week 7 Ranking: 3 (-)

Week 8: vs. No. 1 Derby (7-0)

Last Meeting: Derby 60, Maize 28 (Week 3, 2017)

Prediction: Derby 21, Maize 17

Someone finally scored a point on Andale. The Indians went five weeks, but the streak is over. Time to start it again.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Andale 55, Clearwater 6

Week 7 Ranking: 4 (-)

Week 8: at Cheney (2-5)

Last Meeting: Andale 49, Cheney 6 (Week 9, 2013)

Prediction: Andale 56, Cheney 7

The Bullpups are AVCTL III champions, likely the weakest league in Kansas. Circle is the only team outside of McPherson with two non-league wins.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: McPherson 57, Rose Hill 7

Week 7 Ranking: 6 (+1)

Week 8: vs. Circle (2-5)

Last Meeting: McPherson 62, Circle 7

Prediction: McPherson 64, Circle 14

Carroll should have beaten North by more than 20 points. The Golden Eagles likely won’t lose Friday in their last shot at a statement.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: Bishop Carroll 39, Wichita North 19

Week 7 Ranking: 5 (-1)

Week 8: vs. Wichita South (3-4)

Last Meeting: Bishop Carroll 42, Wichita South 6

Prediction: Bishop Carroll 49, Wichita South 14

Holcomb is down this year, but Pratt won by 36 over the defending Class 4A-Division II champion. There are no signs of slowing.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Pratt 51, Holcomb 15

Week 7 Ranking: 7 (-)

Week 8: at Nickerson (2-5)

Last Meeting: Pratt 28, Nickerson 14 (Week 3, 2017)

Prediction: Pratt 49, Nickerson 14

Conway Springs as one of the most impressive wins of the Wichita area after thumping Chaparral on the road.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Conway Springs 53, No. 8 Chaparral 23

Week 7 Ranking: 9 (+1)

Week 8: vs. No. 25 Garden Plain (5-2)

Last Meeting: Conway Springs 26, Garden Plain 6 (Week 7, 2017)

Prediction: Conway Springs 35, Garden Plain 14

Smoky Valley makes a late appearance in the rankings. The Vikings should have been listed from the beginning.

Record: 7-0

Week 7: Smoky Valley 20, Halstead 14

Week 7 Ranking: NR

Week 8: at Rock Creek (0-7)

Last Meeting: Smoky Valley 36, Rock Creek 0 (Week 7, 2017)

Prediction: Smoky Valley 42, Rock Creek 14

St. James has one win this season, but winning by 25 on the road against a Kansas City area team is impressive.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: Kapaun 25, St. James Academy 0

Week 7 Ranking: 12 (+2)

Week 8: at No. 18 Wichita Heights (4-3)

Last Meeting: Wichita Heights 34, Kapaun 24 (Week 6, 2017)

Prediction: Kapaun 31, Wichita Heights 21

Wellington has its biggest game of the season to this point Friday. A win over Mulvane would prove a lot of people wrong.

Record: 6-1

Week 7: Wellington 22, Winfield 7

Week 7 Ranking: 13 (+2)

Week 8: vs. No. 21 Mulvane (5-2)

Last Meeting: Mulvane 35, Wellington 7 (Week 8, 2017)

Prediction: Wellington 35, Mulvane 21

It was the way Chaparral lost Friday that was surprising. The Runners were beaten soundly and are in a must-win road game to make the playoffs.

Record: 6-1

Week 7: No. 9 Conway Springs 53, Chaparral 23

Week 7 Ranking: 8 (-4)

Week 8: at No. 19 Hutchinson-Trinity (6-1)

Prediction: Chaparral 28, Hutchinson-Trinity 21

Friday proven more about Maize than it did for Salina Central. The Eagles are outstanding, and the Mustangs are good.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: No. 3 Maize 48, Salina Central 26

Week 7 Ranking: 11 (-2)

Week 8: vs. Hays (3-4)

Last Meeting: Salina Central 41, Hays 14 (Week 9, 2013)

Prediction: Salina Central 35, Hays 21

Few teams can match the momentum the Mavericks have. With four straight wins, Maize South is a team no one wants to see.

Record: 4-3

Week 7: Maize South 23, No. 10 Goddard 22 (overtime)

Week 7 Ranking: 19 (+5)

Week 8: vs. Wichita North (2-5)

Last Meeting: None

Prediction: Maize South 28, Wichita North 12

The Lions are young, were relatively inexperienced heading into 2018, but few expected a pair of losses to this point.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: No. 19 Maize South 23, Goddard 22 (overtime)

Week 7 Ranking: 10 (-5)

Week 8: vs. No. 23 Andover (3-4)

Last Meeting: Goddard 65, Andover 7 (Regional, 2017)

Prediction: Goddard 21, Andover 14

West has a chance at five regular season wins for the third time since 2015 with a win Friday at East.

Record: 4-3

Week 7: Wichita West 57, Wichita South 21

Week 7 Ranking: 16 (-)

Week 8: at Wichita East (3-4)

Last Meeting: Wichita West 16, Wichita East 0

Prediction: Wichita West 42, Wichita East 14

Few expected Campus to keep up at Derby. Now the Colts have another crack at Hutchinson, a team they beat twice last season.

Record: 4-3

Week 7: No. 1 Derby 48, Campus 13

Week 7 Ranking: 14 (-3)

Week 8: vs. Hutchinson (2-5)

Last Meeting: Campus 27, Hutchinson 21 (Week 9, 2017)

Prediction: Campus 35, Hutchinson 14

K’Vonte Baker did not play against Northwest. His status will dictate the Falcons finish to the 2018 regular season.

Record: 4-3

Week 7: No. 2 Wichita Northwest 65, Wichita Heights 26

Week 7 Ranking: 15 (-3)

Week 8: vs. No. 10 Kapaun (5-2)

Last Meeting: Wichita Heights 34, Kapaun 24 (Week 6, 2017)

Prediction: Kapaun 31, Wichita Heights 21

The Celtics are another late addition to the rankings. With a chance to make the playoffs in one of the state’s deepest districts, they are legit.

Record: 6-1

Week 7: Hutchinson-Trinity 24, Remington 6

Week 7 Ranking: NR

Week 8: vs. No. 12 Chaparral (6-1)

Prediction: Chaparral 28, Hutchinson-Trinity 21

Tha Jaguars will be flying high after beating Andover late last week. They must avoid falling to Ark City, a team that beat Valley Center soundly last week.

Record: 3-4

Week 7: Andover Central 16, No. 17 Andover 14

Week 7 Ranking: 23 (+3)

Week 8: vs. Arkansas City (2-5)

Last Meeting: Andover Central 49, Arkansas City 14 (Week 7, 2013)

Prediction: Andover Central 18, Arkansas City 6

Mulvane drops in the rankings despite the win because of a couple of late additions, but the Wildcats will fire up with a win at Wellington.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: Mulvane 41, El Dorado 6

Week 7 Ranking: 18 (-3)

Week 8: at Wellington (6-1)

Last Meeting: Mulvane 35, Wellington 7 (Week 8, 2017)

Prediction: Wellington 35, Mulvane 21

Like Mulvane, Collegiate drops despite a win. The Spartans can’t slip against a pesky Clearwater team.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: Collegiate 46, Haven 8

Week 7 Ranking: 22 (-2)

Week 8: vs. Clearwater (4-3)

Last Meeting: Collegiate 40, Clearwater 20 (Week 7, 2017)

Prediction: Collegiate 35, Clearwater 21

Sophomore quarterback Eli Fahnestock went out with a knee injury last week. Now the Trojans are in an AVCTL II title game.

Record: 3-4

Week 7: No. 23 Andover Central 16, Andover 14

Week 7 Ranking: 17 (-6)

Week 8: at No. 15 Goddard (5-2)

Last Meeting: Goddard 65, Andover 7 (Regional, 2017)

Prediction: Goddard 21, Andover 14

That Sedgwick offense is alive and well. Now the Cardinals get one of the biggest surprise teams of 2018.

Record: 6-1

Week 7: Sedgwick 59, Sublette 14

Week 7 Ranking: 24 (-)

Week 8: vs. Inman (5-2)

Last Meeting: Sedgwick 66, Inman 0 (Week 8, 2017)

Prediction: Sedgwick 56, Inman 28

Garden Plain is locked into the No. 4 seed in Class 2A, District 6, but the Owls game at Conway Springs would go a long way for their psyche.

Record: 5-2

Week 7: Garden Plain 52, Independent 12

Week 7 Ranking: 22 (-3)

Week 8: at No. 8 Conway Springs (7-0)

Last Meeting: Conway Springs 26, Garden Plain 6 (Week 7, 2017)

Prediction: Conway Springs 35, Garden Plain 14

Dropped Out

• Douglass (25)
• Valley Center (21)

Biggest Risers

• Maize South (+5)
• Andover Central (+3)
• Kapaun (+2)
• Wellington (+2)

Farthest Fallers

• Andover (-6)
• Goddard (-5)
• Chaparral (-4)

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 1:55 PM.