Kansas high school football: Top teams, games, players and prospects ahead of 2020 season

The fourth week of the high school football season kicks off with six more states ready to get their seasons underway. Kansas is among those with teams taking the field as early as Thursday. As things stand, the postseason is set to begin Oct. 30 with championship games scheduled for Nov. 28.

Kansas is one of 34 states planning to play football this fall. Sixteen others plus the District of Columbia have moved their respective seasons to 2021.

In Kansas, a total of 180 games are set to kick off Thursday through Saturday.

In advance of season openers, here's a look at what you need to know about Kansas football in 2020.

Top games

Northwest (Wichita) at Bishop Carroll (Wichita), Sept. 4
Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission) at Aquinas (Overland Park), Sept. 18
Derby at Bishop Carroll, Sept. 18
Aquinas at Blue Valley (Stilwell), Sept. 25
Bishop Miege at Blue Valley, Oct. 9

Top teams

1. Derby
2. Aquinas
3. Mill Valley (Shawnee)
4. Andale
5. Bishop Miege

Defending champions

6A: Derby
5A: Mill Valley
4A: Bishop Miege
3A: Andale
2A: Nemaha Central (Seneca)
1A: Centralia
8-man I: Canton-Galva (Canton)
8-man II: Osborne
6-man: Moscow
KCAA St. Mary's Academy (St. Marys)

Top recruits
National ranking per 247Sports in parenthesis

1. Devin Neal, RB, Lawrence, (317)
2. Davonte Pritchard, ATH, Gardner-Edgerton (Gardner), (601)
3. Noah Bolticoff, G, Rose Hill, (707)
4. Tank Young, RB, Aquinas, (939)
5. Darell Jones, WR, Field Kindley (Coffeyville), (NA)

Returning stat leaders

Passing
Ty Black, Shawnee Mission Northwest | 210-320, 2,655 yds., 24 TD
Williams Welch, Perry-Lecompton (Perry) | 169-265, 2,316 yds., 27 TD

Rushing
Arland Bruce IV, Olathe North (Olathe) | 371 car., 2,479 yds., 43 TD
Tank Young, Aquinas | 217 car., 1,867 yds., 32 TD

Receiving
Kyun Jackson, Sumner Academy (Kansas City) | 45 rec., 796 yds., 7 TD
Trey Harmison, Riley County (Riley) | 44 rec., 716 yds., 6 TD