Nine Kansas high school state football championships will be played Friday and Saturday at three sites — Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson, Welch Stadium in Emporia and Kiowa County-Greensburg Stadium.
The 2024 state champions were Gardner-Edgerton, 6A; St. Thomas Aquinas, 5A; Andover Central, 4A; Andale, 3A; Southeast of Saline, 2A; Conway Springs, 1A; Hoxie, Eight-Man I; Axtell, Eight-Man II; and Weskan, Six-Man.
Andale, Southeast of Saline and Weskan are going for repeats.
Class 1A: Sterling vs. Rossville
The Kansas Class 1A state football championship game between Sterling and Rossville is 1 p.m. Friday at Gowans Stadium on the campus of Hutchinson Community College.
The Sterling Black Bears, coached by Derek Schneider, are 12-0. Sterling knocked off Smith Center 14-6 in the semifinals Friday night at Sterling.
Sterling is making its first state championship bid in 43 years since winning the 2A title in 1982.
Zane Farney scored two first-half touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards. He has more than 2,000 rushing yards this season. Jace Darnauer rushed for 50 yards.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be playing football during Thanksgiving week,” Schneider told Sports in Kansas. “It has been 43 years since Sterling has been to the state championship game. Our kids are enjoying the ride and are locked in and ready to go.”
The Rossville Dawgs are coached by Derick Hammes.
“It’s great to be back in Hutch for the 1A state championship,” Hammes told Sports in Kansas. “Like me, our kids are excited to play a quality opponent in what should be a great game. We’re all looking forward to the opportunity to achieve our ultimate goal. Go Dawgs.”
Class 3A: Andale vs. Topeka Hayden
Gowans Stadium also will be the site for the Class 3A football state championship game between Andale (12-0) and Topeka Hayden (12-0) at 6 p.m. Friday.
Andale won 3A state titles in 2019. 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024 and Class 4A Division II state title in 2014. The Indians won 4A state titles in 2006 and 2007.
The Andale Indians have won 25 straight games. Head coach Dylan Schmidt has posted a career record of 109 wins, 4 losses.
“This is our seventh trip to state in the last nine years and making the state championship game never gets old,” Schmidt told Sports in Kansas. “We pride ourselves on ‘perfect effort,’ and that’s what it takes to get to the state title game.
“What an exciting time to be an Andale Indian. I’m proud of our players, coaches, school and community. Roll Tribe.”
Topeka Hayden won Class 4A state titles in 1998, 2004 and 2008.
Class 2A: Nemaha Central vs. Southeast of Saline
The Kansas Class 2A football state championship game between Seneca-Nemaha Central (12-0) and Gypsum-Southeast of Saline (12-0) will take place at noon Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
Southeast of Saline head football coach Mitch Gebhardt and his squad are aiming to go back-to-back.
“The Southeast of Saline football team is excited to represent our community in the state championship game this year,” Gebhardt told Sports in Kansas. “Our players have worked extremely hard to get back to this game and we will try and go 1-0 again this week.”
The Trojans’ Grady Gebharrdt has rushed for 1,941 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also has 585 receiving yards with 10 TD catches. He’s also made 79 tackles defense.
Brody Jackson has made 73 tackles, 4 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
Tiernan Ptacek is the Trojans’ quarterback. He replaced Gannon Jackson midway through the season and has more than 1,400 combined rushing and passing yards and 19 TDs.
Southeast of Saline’s defense has allowed 113 points in 12 games.
Head coach Michael Glatczak has Nemaha Central back in familiar territory as the Thunder return to the biggest stage in 2A football against Southeast of Saline. Nemaha Central won 2A state titles in 2022 and 2023.
“This team is relentless and continues to find ways to win,” Glatczak told Sports in Kansas. “This team has battled through the highest of highs and lowest of lows this season as we have a teammate fighting brain cancer.
“They come to work everyday and continue to find a way to get better. So glad we get to spend another week with these kids. We’re excited for an exciting championship game against a really good SES team.”
According to Sports in Kansas, Carter Hajek of Nemaha Central is one of the best Kansas Class 2A players of all time. He has led the Thunder to four straight state title games.
Hajek has rushed for 7,670 career yards, 127 rushing touchdowns and has rushed for more than 2,300+ yards in three seasons.
During his senior year, Hajek has rushed for 2,406 yards and 39 TDs and has passed for 809 yards and 12 TDs.
Hajek also has 2,993 yards passing for his career with 37 TD passes and has 10,663 total yards for his career.
“It all (Hajek’s success) comes behind one of the most physical, consistent offensive lines in Kansas,” said Sports in Kansas. “And despite his production, he is flying way under the radar to college recruiters.”
Class 5A: Basehor-Linwood vs. Salina Central
The Kansas Class 5A football state championship game between Basehor-Linwood (12-0) and Salina Central (11-1) will be played at 2 p.m. Friday in Emporia.
The Basehor-Linwood Bobcats will try to bring home their first-ever state championship.
“Basehor-Linwood is a special community and we are proud to represent them in the school’s first football state championship game,” said Bobcats’ head coach Rod Stallbaumer told Sports in Kansas.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by so many people and a special group of young men and we are blessed to get another week together as we try to accomplish something historic.”
In the 5A state semifinals, Saline Central defeated Great Bend 30-28.
The Salina Central Mustangs, coached by Mark Sandbo, will make their first state championship appearance since 2005 when they defeated Blue Valley 29-21.
The Mustangs have a 49-30 record since Sandbo became head coach in 2018, including a 4-5 record in 2024.
Salina Central has won six Class 5A state titles, all under legendary Kansas Hall of Fame coach Marvin Diener. The state titles came in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Class 6A: Manhattan vs. Olathe Northwest
Emporia will host the Class 6A football state championship game between Manhattan (10-2) and Olathe Northwest (9-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Manhattan has defeated Wichita Southeast 45-9, Maize 55-31 and perennial power Derby 38-7 in the Class 6A state playoffs to reach the state title game.
Kha’Mario Davis rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries against Derby, including a 41-yard TD run. Joseph Mortensen scored two TDs and rushed for 48 yards.
Greyson Wassen caught a 19-yard TD pass from wide receiver JJ Dunnigan. Quarterback Finn Watson passed for 52 yards and threw two interceptions.
Watson has passed for 1,311 yards, including nine TDs and 11 picks. Manhattan has rushed for 2,941 yards and has seven players with 160 or more yards and five players with five or more rushing TDs.
Davis leads with 807 yards. Mortensen has scored 11 rushing TDs. Six Manhattan players have between 11 and 18 catches.
Dunnigan is a University of Miami commit. He originally made a verbal commitment to the University of Kansas in January, but decommitted and flipped to Miami on Oct. 27.
The Manhattan Indians won 6A state titles in 1988 and 2022. Olathe Northwest, which defeated Gardner Edgerton 42-28 in the 6A state semifinals, is playing for its first state title.
“I am super excited about our program and the growth over the last four years of our senior class,” Olathe Northwest head coach Lorne Clark told Sports in Kansas.
“Our coaches and athletes have done a great job this year of competing each week, and we are excited for the opportunity to play in a state championship game.
“We also want to thank our community for all the support they have given to Raven football this season.”
Class 4A: Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege vs. Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel
The Class 4A state title game featuring Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege (7-5) against Wichita Kapaun-Mount Carmel (11-1) will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Welch Stadium.
Kapaun won Class 3A state titles in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976 and 1977. The Crusaders won 5A state titles in 1981, 1982 and 1987.
Kapaun-Mount Carmel Crusaders’ head coach Weston Schartz has posted a 51-15 record that includes a 5A runner-up finish in 2023.
“Our kids have worked their tails off and have competed well from day one,” Schwartz said. We’ve gotten better each game and we couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve responded this year.
“We have a big test in front of us with Bishop Miege and it’s going to be a heck of a battle. We’re very honored to be in this position and excited to play a great team in Miege.”
Bishop Miege won the 5A state title in 2022 and 4A state titles in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1977.
Bishop Miege head coach Jon Holmes has the Stags playing their best football when it matters most.
“We are very excited to be playing for a state championship,” Holmes told Sports in Kansas. “Since the end of last season we have had one goal, to win a state championship. This has been a team on a mission.”
Eight-Man I: South Central vs. Lincoln
South Central (11-0) will play Lincoln (11-1) in the Kansas Eight-Man I championship at 11 a.m. at Kiowa County-Greensburg Stadium.
Lincoln head coach Colby Hamel and his squad are headed to the Eight-Man I state championship for the first time in school history.
The Leopards will try to bring home the football program’s first-ever state title.
From 2000-22, Lincoln football went 80-128 with only two seasons above five wins.
In 2010, the Leopards posted an at 8-2 record and fell to Hill City in the playoffs. In 2015, Lincoln went 6-3, narrowly missing the postseason.
In just the last three years, Hamel has led Lincoln to a 22-8 record.
“Our team is fired up and beyond grateful to make it to the state championship for the first time in school history,” Hamel told Sports in Kansas.
“We’re ready to give everything we have and make our community proud.”
South Central High School in Coldwater, formed by the consolidation of Coldwater High School and Protection High School in 1999, is looking for its first state title since consolidating. The school’s sports teams are known as the Timberwolves.
Protection won the Eight-Man II championship in 1978 and 1983 and lost in the Class 1A state title game in 1971. Coldwater won Eight-Man I championships in 1985, 1994 and 1995.
South Central football coach Brett Westrup, now in his fourth season, has compiled a 35-10 record, including a title game appearance two years ago and a Final Four run last year that ended against Hoxie.
This season, Westrup leads South Central to his second career state title game appearance.
Since Week 5 of 2023, the South Central program has lost only two games, both to the reigning state champions: Axtell and Hoxie.
Six-Man: Cunningham vs. Weskan
The Six-Man football title game between Cunningham (11-1) and Weskan (11-1) kicks off at 3 p.m. in Greensburg.
In the Six-Man semifinals, Cunningham shut out Tescott 44-0 and Weskan edged South Barber 26-21.
Cunningham is making its fifth straight Six-Man championship appearance and won the 2022 title game 38-16 over Ashland.
Cunningham football has thrived under Lance McGuire, now in his 19th season as head coach.
During his career, McGuire has compiled an 89-80 record. However, since Cunningham transitioned to 6-man football in 2019, the Wildcats are 59-13 overall.
Cunningham lost the 2021, 2023 and 2024 title games. In 1985, Cunningham lost in the Eight-Man state championship game (when there was only one Eight-Man division).
Weskan has won Six-Man state titles in 2016, 2018 and 2024. Weskan football coach Brett Clow has fashioned a career record of 68-23.
Six-Man football became official by the KSHSAA in 2016.
Eight-Man II: Hanover vs. Victoria
The Eight-Man II championship game between Hanover (12-0) and Victoria (11-0) kicks off at 7 p.m. in Greensburg.
The Hanover football program continues to define excellence under Head Coach Matt Heuer, now in his 21st season with a career record of 198-43, posting a .500 or below season only three times.
This season, Hanover not only reached the state title game for the 10th time under Heuer and will try to win him a seventh state title.
Under Heuer, Hanover has captured six state titles (2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008) and finished second in 2015, 2014 and 2007. Hanover won the 2A state championship in 1979.
Hanover ended Axtell’s longest win streak, defeating the four-time defending 8-Man Division II state champions. Hanover then defeated Axtell again in the Final Four.
Doug Oberle is now in his 20th season as head coach at Victoria and has compiled a 108-27 record. He is looking for his fourth state title.
Oberle has never experienced a losing season and has guided the program to six state title game appearances.
Under Oberle’s leadership, Victoria has captured three state championships in 2006, 2014 and 2015 and placed second in 2008 and 2024.
Victoria also won state titles in 1981, 1985, 1988 and 2004.
(Thank you to the Facebook pages for KCMC Sports, Sports in Kansas, Kansas Pregame, the Kansas High School Football History website and Ad Astra Sports).
