Previewing the top first-round playoff matchups + the Varsity Kansas Game of the Week
No. 24 Hesston at No. 21 Collegiate
The Kansas high school football playoff system isn’t designed to have many high-caliber, tight games in the first round.
Collegiate (6-2) vs. Hesston (5-3) is the exception in 2018.
Both teams come in with momentum and a belief that this could be their chance at a deep run.
Last year, Hesston upset Conway Springs in the second round, but after a few losses and a lot of injuries, this year’s Swathers will have to pull the upset in the first round.
Collegiate is still looking for its best win since beating Mulvane at home in Week 2.
The winner of this game will likely go on to play undefeated Smoky Valley on the road in the Class 3A regionals.
Prediction: Collegiate 35, Hesston 28
Andover at No. 11 Maize South
This first-round matchup is a testament to how much can change in seven weeks.
In Week 2, Andover went on the road and handed Maize South an 0-2 record with a 20-3 loss.
In Week 9, the Mavericks enter the postseason at 5-3. Andover is 3-5 and is trying to get back on track after back-to-back losses.
Maize South is one of the hottest teams in the Wichita area after going from 0-3 to a contender in Class 5A and a home favorite in the postseason.
Prediction: Maize South 34, Andover 14
No. 25 Garden Plain at Douglass
This isn’t the same Douglass team.
In Week 2, Garden Plain beat the Bulldogs 31-0. Douglass hasn’t lost since and has all of the momentum heading into the postseason.
Garden Plain (5-3) had a brutal end to the regular season, losing to Conway Springs, Chaparral and Hutchinson-Trinity. But turning a 31-point loss on its head will be a massive challenge for Douglass nonetheless.
Douglass will have to get excellent offensive line play to lead the run game against a stout Garden Plain defense.
Prediction: Garden Plain 34, Douglass 28
No. 18 Wichita Heights at Emporia
Emporia and Heights are two of the most talented 4-4 teams in Kansas.
Outside of Emporia’s 41-14 loss to Manhattan, the Spartans’ other three defeats have been by a combined eight points.
Wichita Heights has hit a lull in the season with back-to-back losses to Wichita Northwest and Kapaun, but everyone in Kansas knows the constant threat of senior K’Vonte Baker, who has 1,311 rushing yards this season.
Heights has had a rough time traveling outside of Wichita this season, and Emporia is one of the most sneaky-good teams in the state.
Prediction: Emporia 35, Wichita Heights 21
Halstead at No. 4 Andale
Halstead is not an easy first-round opponent.
The Dragons come in 5-3 with losses to some of the best teams in Class 3A: Pratt and Smoky Valley. Andale will be their third undefeated opponent of the 2018 season.
The Indians have been one of the most consistent teams in Kansas and the Wichita area, but Halstead has a tendency to give great teams a test, losing to Pratt and Smoky Valley by 22 points combined.
Prediction: Andale 35, Halstead 14
Augusta at No. 22 Andover Central
Don’t expect points.
Augusta and Andover Central have been primarily defensive teams in 2018, and that started in Week 1, a game that resulted in a 13-3 Jaguars win.
The Orioles (3-5) have been playing much better lately, with wins over Abilene and El Dorado.
Andover Central (4-4) has been winning, but not in the way it would like, beating Andover by two and Arkansas City by three.
Prediction: Andover Central 14, Augusta 7
Wichita East at No. 14 Wichita West
They know each other well.
West beat East 28-7 Friday and will try to do it again seven days removed.
East (3-5) has proven it can hang with the Pioneers, but West (5-3) is among the hottest teams in the area, with four straight wins and an offense that is rolling.
Prediction: Wichita West 35, Wichita East 14
Eisenhower at No. 12 Salina Central
Eisenhower shouldn’t need any extra motivation.
The Tigers have been upset monsters in the postseason in recent years and will try to do it again Friday against the team that beat them 44-7 in Week 1.
Eisenhower (3-5) ended the regular season on a high note with a win over Valley Center. The Tigers will need that momentum and energy against Salina Central (6-2).
Prediction: Salina Central 35, Eisenhower 14
This story was originally published October 25, 2018 at 1:35 PM.