The much-anticipated start to the 2020 football season begins Sept. 4 in Kansas. Many of the top teams from 2019 are right at or near the top of the MaxPreps preseason rankings, including No. 1 Derby which finished 13-0 last season.
The Panthers dominated opponents last season, averaging 54 points a game while giving up just 12 en route to a 6A state championship, beating Olathe North 63-26 in the championship game. Derby's Brandon Clark was the MaxPreps Kansas Coach of the Year.
His team was even more dominating in the playoffs, winning games 69-7, 49-13 and 56-0 before the title win, the most lopsided in state history.
Derby returns 2019 All-State wingback
Lem Wash, who was pressed into quarterback duties late in the season. He accounted for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns alone in the first half of the title game.
Aquinas starts the season at No. 2 after going 10-1 in 2019 and losing a 34-31 overtime game to eventual champion Mill Valley in the 5A semifinals. The Saints are led by first-team All-State running back
Tank Young, a 5-foot-6, 185-pound senior who rushed for 1,867 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2019.
Mill Valley returns 14 starters from last season, including top players
Cole Clauder a defensive back, linemen
Ethan Kremer and
Robbie Dervin, and wide receiver
Jacob Hartman, and is No. 3 to start the season. Kicker
Chris Tennant (6-4, 195) is one of the best in the country after booting 14 field goals in 17 attempts last season, while making 48-of-49 extra points.
See the complete list below. Click on team links for schedules, rosters and previews.
Kansas Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
2.
Aquinas (Overland Park), 10-1
3.
Mill Valley (Shawnee), 10-3
4.
Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission), 11-2
5.
Andale, 13-0
6.
Blue Valley (Stilwell), 8-4
7.
Olathe North (Olathe), 10-3
8.
Bishop Carroll (Wichita), 8-3
9.
Northwest (Wichita), 12-1
10.
Manhattan, 9-2
11.
Perry-Lecompton (Perry,), 9-4
12.
Hayden (Topeka), 10-2
13.
Cheney, 9-3
14.
Tonganoxie, 10-1
15.
Centralia, 12-1
16.
Lawrence, 8-2
17.
Maize, 10-2
18.
De Soto, 10-1
19.
Blue Valley North (Overland Park), 5-6
20.
Junction City, 8-3
21.
Hoisington, 11-1
22.
Topeka, 11-2
23.
Maize South (Wichita) 10-1
24.
Holton, 7-3
25.
Jefferson West (Meriden), 8-2
Top-ranked Derby and No. 7 Olathe North played in last year's state 6A championship game.
Photo by Aj Hildreth
