The 2-minute preview for every Kansas high school football state championship game

The Kansas high school football state championship games are Saturday and here are game previews of each title matchups.

You can watch every KSHSAA state championship football game streaming through NFHS Network with a monthly subscription package starting at $10.99.

Class 6A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Emporia State’s Welch Stadium, Emporia

Who: Derby (11-0) vs. Blue Valley Northwest (11-1)

Championship history: Derby is playing in its seventh straight Class 6A state championship game and looking for its fourth straight title. The Panthers have reached the state finals in eight of the last nine years and have a 6-1 record in those games, winning in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Derby has won seven state titles (1994 being the first) and Saturday will be their 12th total appearance in the state finals. Meanwhile, this is BV Northwest’s first appearance in a state championship game.

How they got here: Derby is undefeated, but it has been tested this season in one-score games against Bishop Carroll, Maize and most recently, Lawrence Free State in the quarterfinals. The Panthers enter on a 17-game winning streak and looking for the first four-peat in program history. Derby’s offense is generating 55 points per game behind arguably the most dynamic running back in the state in Dylan Edwards. BV Northwest conquered the always-difficult Eastern Kansas League, including a 47-10 romp over St. James, which is now in the 4A finals. The lone loss came back in Week 7 to St. Thomas Aquinas, a 35-16 defeat, while BV Northwest has plowed through the rest of its competition, scoring 44 points per game and winning all 11 games by at least 13 points.

Derby players to watch

BV Northwest players to watch

Class 5A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Pittsburg State’s Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg

Who: Maize (10-2) vs. Mill Valley (11-1)

Championship history: Mill Valley is the two-time defending state champions in Class 5A and is playing in its fifth state championship game in the last seven seasons. Mill Valley is 4-0 in the state finals after winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, then 2019 and 2020. The Jaguars will seek their first three-peat, while Maize will be playing in its first state championship game in program history.

How they got here: After losing in the state semifinals in 2018 and 2019, Maize finally got over the hump with last week’s thrilling 22-21 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel that featured a go-ahead two-point conversion in the final minute. Since losing 42-41 at Derby, where Maize failed to convert a go-ahead two-point conversion in the final minute, the Eagles (10-2) have won five in a row behind do-everything junior quarterback Avery Johnson with a balanced attack. Since losing 41-20 at Lawrence Free State in Week 5, Mill Valley has been dominant in a seven-game winning streak where it has defeated every opponent by at least 15 points. Mill Valley’s defense has allowed just 40 total points in the last six games.

Maize players to watch

Mill Valley players to watch

Class 4A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hummer Sports Park, Topeka

Who: Andover Central (11-1) vs. St. James Academy (8-4)

Championship history: Andover Central will play for its third state championship in the last seven seasons, as the Jaguars lost in the 4A title game to Bishop Miege in 2015 and 2019. St. James is the defending Class 4A state champion after winning the program’s first title in its first title appearance in last season’s 56-34 win over Arkansas City.

How they got here: Andover Central is playing its best football of the season, as it has been dominant so far in the playoffs, outscoring opponents 187-31 to reach the finals. Since losing 21-14 at Salina Central in Week 6, Andover Central has reeled off six straight wins behind a ground-and-pound attack with a passing game capable of explosive plays, highlighted in a 42-21 rout at Buhler last week. Playing in the loaded Eastern Kansas League, St. James started the season 0-4. But the Thunder turned their season around and have since reeled off eight straight games on the strength of their passing game against arguably the toughest schedule in 4A, including two wins over 4A rival Bishop Miege, including last week’s 42-19 drubbing in the semifinals.

Andover Central players to watch

St. James players to watch

Class 3A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hutchinson Community College’s Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson

Who: Andale (12-0) vs. Frontenac (10-2)

Championship history: Andale is looking for its third straight Class 3A state championship on Saturday and its sixth overall in program history. The Indians are 5-1 in state title games, previously winning the 4A title in 2006, 2007 and 2014 and losing in 2017. Meanwhile, Frontenac is 1-4 all-time in state championship games with its lone win coming in 1994 for the 2-1A title. Frontenac most recently reached the state title game in 2017, while it also lost in the finals in 1981, 1987 and 1992.

How they got here: Andale (12-0) owns the state’s longest winning streak at 37 games, which includes wins in the last two Class 3A state championship games over Perry-Lecompton by a combined score of 55-7. Despite heavy graduation losses, Andale’s machine-like domination has continued on this season with a tremendous defense combined with a hard-nosed running style. Opponents have only scored 62 points in 12 games against Andale’s defense and 30 of those have come in the last two weeks. After losing its regular-season finale at Girard, 13-6, Frontenac has survived a difficult road in the playoffs, winning at Galena and Rock Creek, before returning home and defeating traditional power Holton, 32-13, to reach the championship game. Frontenac is led by a dominant defensive line anchored by seniors Cruz Blair and Landon Dean.

Andale players to watch

Frontenac players to watch

Class 2A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: USD 305 District Stadium, Salina

Who: Beloit (9-3) vs. Rossville (12-0)

Championship history: Beloit will play in its sixth state championship game on Saturday and first since 2013, its only loss in the finals in program history. Beloit will be looking for its first state title since 1996, as it also has titales in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Meanwhile, Rossville has built somewhat of a dynasty the past decade with state championship wins in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. Rossville is 4-1 in state finals with its only loss coming in 1992.

How they got here: Beloit shook off a 1-2 start to the season by winning nine of its next 10 games, including holding on for a 22-19 win over Kingman in last week’s semifinals. After a Cinderella run to the state semifinals last season, Beloit has followed that up with a run to the title behind a strong rushing attack, although leading rusher Benson Berndt (1,832 rushing yards) will miss the title game with an injury. Rossville will be looking for its second straight undefeated state championship, bolstered by the return of all-state quarterback Torrey Horak from an early-season injury. Outside of a 24-19 win at Silver Lake, Rossville has won every game by at least 20 points.

Beloit players to watch

Rossville players to watch

Class 1A state championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fort Hays State’s Lewis Field, Hays

Who: Inman (12-0) vs. Olpe (12-0)

Championship history: This will be the first appearance in program history for Inman in a state championship game, while Olpe will be playing in its third straight 1A state championship game. After losing in the finals 2019, Olpe won in 2020 and will be looking for the program’s first back-to-back titles. Olpe is 2-3 all-time in the state championship game, previously winning in 2014 and losing in 1976 and 2008.

How they got here: After losing in the state semifinals last season, Inman has come back stronger and better than ever this season. The Teutons (11-0) kept their undefeated season alive with a thrilling 21-6 comeback last week to knock off Sedgwick, 26-21, in last week’s semifinals. Inman didn’t allow a touchdown for the first seven weeks of the season and has advanced to its first title game behind a balanced offensive attack. After a dominant defensive season in last year’s title run, Olpe’s defense has been even better this season — allowing 18 points total and registering nine shutouts in 11 games. Olpe also boasts an explosive offense led by senior quarterback Damon Redeker, which has produced just shy of 50 points per game this season.

Inman players to watch

Olpe players to watch

8-man Division I state championship game

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Fischer Field, Newton

Who: Little River (12-0) vs. Meade (12-0)

Championship history: Little River is the defending state champion in 8-man Division I and will be looking for its seventh state championship in program history on Saturday. Little River won 11-man titles in Class 1A in 1970, 1971 and 1981, while it has 8-man titles in 1996, 1999 and 2020 with losses in 8-man finals in 1997 and 2001. Meade has never lost in a state championship game, although all four of its titles (1972, 1980, 2010, 2012) have come in 11-man.

How they got here: Little River is back in the 8-man Division I championship game with an undefeated record, despite heavy graduation losses. With a new cast on offense, Little River has racked up 51.8 points per game that has helped the team survive shootouts against Canton-Galva (60-52 in regular season, 76-68 in last week’s semifinals) to return to the title game. In their second season playing 8-man football, Meade has become a dominant team with an offense producing more than 51 points per game and winning every game by at least two touchdowns.

Little River players to watch

Meade players to watch

8-man Division II state championship game

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fischer Field, Newton

Who: Wheatland-Grinnell (11-1) vs. Axtell (12-0)

Championship history: This will be the first appearance in a state championship game in program history for Wheatland-Grinnell. Axtell will be making its fourth state championship game appearance and will be looking to win its first title since 1993. Axtell most recently played in the 8-man Division II title game in 2019, while it also lost in an 8-man title game in 1985.

How they got here: The championship game will be a rematch of a Week 1 game that Axtell won 62-16 at home. Since then, Wheatland-Grinnell has won 11 straight behind an offense averaging more than 50 points per game behind the brother combination of Trey and Jett Vincent in the passing game and Isaac Mendez in the running game. Outside of a 30-24 win at Hanover in Week 4, Axtell has won every game this season by at least 26 points this season. Axtell is averaging 55 points per game with junior quarterback Isaac Detweiler doing a lot of the heavy-lifting on both sides of the ball.

Wheatland-Grinnell players to watch

Axtell players to watch

Taylor Eldridge

The Wichita Eagle

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Wichita State athletics beat reporter. Bringing you closer to the Shockers you love and inside the sports you love to watch.