The VK Top 25: Where the Wichita teams fall heading into the playoffs
Derby had its toughest test since last year’s 6A title game and stood up for it.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Derby 35, No. 3 Maize 21
Week 8 ranking: 1 (-)
Week 9: vs. Lawrence (1-7)
Prediction: Derby 56, Lawrence 7
Northwest has score more than 60 points in the past three games, helping earn the No. 1 seed in 5A west.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Wichita Northwest 61, Wichita Southeast 12
Week 8 ranking: 2 (-)
Week 9: vs. Salina South (1-7)
Prediction: Wichita Northwest 56, Salina South 14
Maize was the most impressive team in Week 8, standing up to Derby after going down 21-0.
Record: 7-1
Week 8: No. 1 Derby 35, Maize 21
Week 8 ranking: 3 (-)
Week 9: vs. Liberal (1-7)
Prediction: Maize 49, Liberal 14
Andale had little to play for in its district standings but got the job done and is rolling to the postseason.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Andale 35, Cheney 13
Week 8 ranking: 4 (-)
Week 9: vs. Halstead
Prediction: Andale 35, Halstead 14
Carroll put the pieces together Friday against Wichita South in all three phases.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Bishop Carroll 52, Wichita South 6
Week 8 ranking: 6 (+1)
Week 9: vs. Newton (3-5)
Prediction: Bishop Carroll 42, Newton 14
McPherson earned the No. 1 seed in 4A west with a dominant performance to end the regular season.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: McPherson 56, Circle 12
Week 8 ranking: 5 (-1)
Week 9: vs. Independence (0-8)
Prediction: McPherson 64, Independence 7
Pratt had its district title wrapped up and still looked outstanding over Nickerson.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Pratt 49, Nickerson 14
Week 8 ranking: 7 (-)
Week 9: vs. Concordia (3-5)
Prediction: Pratt 42, Concordia 7
Smoky Valley, too, had its district championship on ice, but the defense came to play Friday.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Smoky Valley 32, Rock Creek 0
Week 8 ranking: 9 (+1)
Week 9: vs. Cheney (2-6)
Prediction: Smoky Valley 34, Cheney 12
Conway Springs clinched its second straight undefeated regular season with a win over Garden Plain.
Record: 8-0
Week 8: Conway Springs 28, Garden Plain 7
Week 8 ranking: 8 (-1)
Week 9: vs. Eureka (3-5)
Prediction: Conway Springs 45, Eureka 7
Kapaun’s offense came to life and held Heights in check in an eye-opening win.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Kapaun 33, No. 18 Wichita Heights 7
Week 8 ranking: 10 (-)
Week 9: vs. Hays (3-5)
Prediction: Kapaun 32, Hays 6
Maize South is one of the hottest teams in Kansas having won five straight heading into the playoffs.
Record: 5-3
Week 8: Maize South 59, Wichita North 22
Week 8 ranking: 14 (+3)
Week 9: vs. Andover (3-5)
Prediction: Maize South 34, Andover 14
Salina Central must avoid the redemption bug in the first round against Eisenhower.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Salina Central 43, Hays 21
Week 8 ranking: 13 (+1)
Week 9: vs. Eisenhower (3-5)
Prediction: Salina Central 35, Eisenhower 14
Goddard won its third straight AVCTL II championship in dominant fashion over Andover.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Goddard 32, No. 23 Andover 3
Week 8 ranking: 15 (+2)
Week 9: vs. Circle (2-6)
Prediction: Goddard 42, Circle 14
West will get East in back-to-back weeks. Expect the offenses to make adjustments.
Record: 5-3
Week 8: Wichita West 28, Wichita East 7
Week 8 ranking: 16 (+2)
Week 9: vs. Wichita East (3-5)
Prediction: Wichita West 35, Wichita East 14
Campus should be on an emotional high heading into the postseason after a rocky middle to 2018.
Record: 5-3
Week 8: Campus 49, Hutchinson 12
Week 8 ranking: 17 (+2)
Week 9: vs. Wichita South (3-5)
Prediction: Campus 41, Wichita South 21
Mulvane beat its rival on the last week of the regular season and will ride that momentum into Week 9.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Mulvane 14, No. 11 Wellington 13
Week 8 ranking: 21 (+5)
Week 9: vs. Arkansas City (2-6)
Prediction: Mulvane 34, Arkansas City 21
Wellington’s offense was rough at home against Mulvane, but the defense kept the Crusaders in it.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: No. 21 Mulvane 14, Wellington 13
Week 8 ranking: 11 (-6)
Week 9: vs. Rose Hill (1-7)
Prediction: Wellington 35, Rose Hill 7
Heights has gone on a two-game skid, and now must travel to Emporia.
Record: 4-4
Week 8: Kapaun 33, Wichita Heights 7
Week 8 ranking: 18 (-)
Week 9: at Emporia (4-4)
Prediction: Emporia 35, Wichita Heights 21
The Celtics’ win over Chaparral was impressive. It meant staying at home rather than going on the road.
Record: 7-1
Week 8: Hutchinson-Trinity 26, No. 12 Chaparral 22
Week 8 ranking: 19 (-)
Week 9: vs. Belle Plaine (4-4)
Prediction: Hutchinson-Trinity 49, Belle Plaine 14
The Roadrunners lost back-to-back games to end the regular season and now must win on the road.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: No. 19 Hutchinson-Trinity 26, Chaparral 22
Week 8 ranking: 12 (-8)
Week 9: at Fredonia (5-3)
Prediction: Chaparral 42, Fredonia 14
Collegiate will host one of the more high-profile first-round games against Hesston.
Record: 6-2
Week 8: Collegiate 35, Clearwater 28
Week 8 ranking: 22 (+1)
Week 9: vs. Hesston (5-3)
Prediction: Collegiate 35, Hesston 28
Andover Central is winning ugly but still winning heading into a rematch with Augusta.
Record: 4-4
Week 8: Andover Central 20, Arkansas City 17
Week 8 ranking: 20 (-2)
Week 9: vs. Augusta (3-5)
Prediction: Andover Central 14, Augusta 7
Sedgwick earned the rare bye in the first round. The Cardinals will get Syracuse or Meade in the second round.
Record: 7-1
Week 8: Sedgwick 49, Inman 14
Week 8 ranking: 24 (+1)
Week 9: Bye
The Swathers struggled in the middle of the season but have corrected their errors and gotten healthy.
Record: 5-3
Week 8: Hesston 54, Clay Center 0
Week 8 ranking: NR
Week 9: at No. 21 Collegiate
Prediction: Collegiate 35, Hesston 28
The Owls finished with three straight losses in their last four, but they fought against Conway Springs.
Record: 5-3
Week 8: No. 8 Conway Springs 28, Garden Plain 7
Week 8 ranking: 25 (-)
Week 9: at Douglass (7-1)
Prediction: Garden Plain 34, Douglass 28
Dropped Out
- Andover Trojans (23)
Highest Risers
- Mulvane Wildcats (+5)
- Maize South Mavericks (+3)
Farthest Fallers
- Chaparral Roadrunners (-8)
- Wellington Crusaders (-6)