Back to all Experts
Move the Chains: Chris Duderstadt 10/16Photo Credit: Chris Duderstadt

Just like that, we’re three-fourths of the way through the Kansas high school football season. The last two weeks of the regular season feature several possible late-round playoff preview matchups. Here are seven games in Weeks 7 and 8 to keep your eyes on.

Week 7

Basehor-Linwood (6-0) at Topeka Seaman (5-1)
I thought Basehor-Linwood would get a tough test from Tonganoxie last week, but I thought wrong. The Bobcats made quick work of Tongie in 44-6 homecoming victory, getting big contributions from all three phases.

First place in the United Kansas Conference is on the line for the Bobcats when they square off against Topeka Seaman on Friday. Basehor-Linwood is one of two remaining undefeated teams in the 5A East—St. Thomas Aquinas being the other. If the Bobcats can get past the Vikings, they’ll play host to Lansing for a shot at completing an undefeated regular season.

Blue Valley Northwest (4-2) at St. Thomas Aquinas (6-0)
Speaking of Aquinas, the Saints are coming off a thrilling 14-13 overtime win against Rockhurst. Aquinas now gets to finish the regular season the back-to-back home tilts against Blue Valley Northwest and Blue Valley North. The Saints are in sole position of first place in the Eastern Kansas League.

The Huskies started the season 4-0 but are looking to rebound from back-to-back one-score losses to Blue Valley West and Blue Valley. They’re one of four teams in the 6A East that are 4-2. Blue Valley Northwest will round out its rugged EKL schedule against Blue Valley Southwest.

Blue Valley West (5-1) at Blue Valley (5-1)
Blue Valley West and Blue Valley are tied for second place in the EKL behind Aquinas. The Jaguars have rattled off five straight victories since falling to the Saints in their season opener. Blue Valley West and Gardner-Edgerton are atop the 6A East standings at 5-1. The Jaguars will take on St. James in their regular season finale.

Blue Valley’s lone loss is also at the hands of Aquinas. The Tigers have won three straight and join Washington, Spring Hill, Mill Valley, and De Soto in a five-way tie for second place in the 5A East standings. Blue Valley will close out the regular season on the road against Bishop Miege.

Gardner-Edgerton (5-1) at Olathe Northwest (4-2)
Gardner-Edgerton fell from the ranks of the unbeatens last week after coming up just short in a 41-35 barnburner against Mill Valley. The Trailblazers are tied with Free State for second place in the Sunflower League behind undefeated Mill Valley. After its Week 7 matchup against Olathe Northwest, Gardner-Edgerton will take on Olathe West to end the regular season.

Olathe Northwest played yet another close game against a fellow Olathe school in Week 6, edging Olathe North 27-26. The Ravens also earned a one-point win over Olathe South but suffered a three-point loss to Olathe East in their season opener. Olathe Northwest will play Shawnee Mission West in its final regular season contest.

Louisburg (6-0) at Ottawa (5-1)
Louisburg has been on a roll, especially over the past three weeks. The Wildcats outscored Bonner Springs, Eudora and Wichita West by the combined score of 142-31. Louisburg is the only unbeaten team in the Frontier League and the 4A East, but its remaining schedule isn’t easy, as it features matchups against two 5-1 teams in Ottawa and Spring Hill.

Ottawa is just one game back of the Wildcats in the 4A East standings along with Chanute and Atchison. The Cyclones are only a three-point loss to Eudora away from being undefeated. Ottawa will end the regular season with a road tilt against Tongie.

Olathe East (4-2) at Shawnee Mission East (4-2)
Olathe East and Shawnee Mission East are two of the teams in the seven-way tie for second in the 6A East standings. The Hawks started the season 4-0 before falling to Shawnee Mission Northwest and Lawrence High. They’ll end the regular season on the road against Mill Valley.

Shawnee Mission East has scored 35-plus points in its four wins, but tallied just three points and 14 points, respectively, in its two defeats. The Lancers will close the regular season on the road against Olathe South.

Shawnee Mission Northwest (4-2) at Free State (4-2)
Shawnee Mission Northwest and Free State is another matchup between 4-2 squads, so the 6A East standings should be very interesting to keep tabs on in the next two weeks. The Cougars are winners of three straight, and it was very close to being four if they didn’t come up just short in a one-point loss to Gardner-Edgerton. Shawnee Mission Northwest will wrap up the regular season against Shawnee Mission South.

Just like SM Northwest, Free State has also won three straight contests after starting the season 1-2. The Firebirds will have the challenge of not looking past the Cougars, as they’ll clash with crosstown rival Lawrence High to close out the regular season.

Week 8

De Soto (5-1) at Topeka Seaman (5-1)
De Soto has averaged 55.2 points per game in its five wins but managed just seven points against Basehor-Linwood. The Wildcats are just a half game behind Seaman and Basehor-Linwood in the UKC standings, but Basehor-Linwood does hold the tiebreaker over the Wildcats (and could over the Vikings as well with a win against Seaman in Week 7). De Soto plays a non-league matchup against Blue Valley Southwest prior to its regular season finale against Seaman.

Lawrence (4-2) at Free State (4-2)
The aforementioned City Showdown also features two teams that are 4-2. The Lions have averaged 44 points per game, while the Firebirds have allowed 21 points or less in their four victories. Lawrence High will take on Olathe South prior to squaring off against Free State.

Olathe East (4-2) at Mill Valley (5-1)
If Olathe East can’t get back on track against SM East, they’ll have another tough task awaiting them in Week 8 with a road matchup against Mill Valley. Mill Valley’s lone loss came to Lee’s Summit North, but the Jaguars have responded by winning four straight contests. The Jaguars will play Shawnee Mission West in Week 7.

Olathe West (3-3) at Gardner-Edgerton (5-1)
Olathe West has won two out of its last three (defeating Olathe South and SM South and falling to Free State) heading into a Week 7 road tilt with Olathe North. The Owls will close the regular season against Gardner-Edgerton.

Ottawa (5-1) at Tonganoxie (3-3)
While Ottawa is a three-point loss to Eudora away from being undefeated, Tongie was a combined five points away from being 5-0 before its Week 6 loss to Basehor-Linwood. The Chieftains will try to get back on track against another 3-3 squad in Eudora before going up against Ottawa in the regular season finale.

Spring Hill (5-1) at Louisburg (6-0)
Spring Hill coasted to wins against Bonner Springs and Paola, but three of their other four games have been deciding by one score. The Broncos edged Tongie, Eudora, and Piper, but fell to Ottawa. They’ll play Emporia in Week 7 before the big matchup against Louisburg to end the season.

Washington (5-1) at Topeka Highland Park (4-2)
Washington joins Blue Valley, Spring Hill, Mill Valley and De Soto in a five-way tie for second place in the 5A East. In Washington’s five wins (Sumner, Bishop Ward, Harmon, Central and Wyandotte), the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 214-38. Their lone loss was a 55-6 loss to Atchison in Week 5. Washington will try to upend Schlagle in Week 7 prior to taking on Highland Park in Week 8.

The Scots outscored their first four opponents 174-0, as they cruised against Wyandotte, Sumner, Schlagle, and Harmon. Highland Park has since lost back-to-back games against Wichita East and Atchison by the combined score of 136-27. The Scots will try to bounce back against East before taking on Washington in Week 8.