Friday night in Kansas is basically a religion, but the 2025 season felt different. If you were looking for predictable kansas prep football scores, you probably walked away from the stadium shaking your head more than once. The parity across the classes—from the 6A giants in the suburbs to the 6-man squads out west—hit a level we haven't seen in a decade.
Manhattan High proved the doubters wrong.
Honestly, mid-season, nobody had the Indians winning it all. They were sitting at #14 in some major power rankings while St. Thomas Aquinas looked like an absolute buzzsaw. But that's the thing about the KSHSAA playoffs; momentum is a fickle beast. Manhattan went on a tear, eventually shutting out Olathe Northwest 27-0 in the 6A final at Emporia. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the Sunflower League doesn't always own the crown.
The 5A Shockers and Salina Central’s Resurgence
If you followed the kansas prep football scores during the November cold snaps, you saw Salina Central turn back the clock. For years, Mill Valley and Aquinas have passed the 5A trophy back and forth like a family heirloom. Not this time.
The Mustangs put up a staggering 51 points in the state championship game.
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They took down Basehor-Linwood 51-34 in a track meet of a final. Basehor-Linwood was undefeated (12-0) heading into that game and looked nearly invincible after surviving a 28-20 sub-state battle against St. James Academy. But Salina Central’s offense found a gear that nobody—not even the most seasoned scouts—saw coming.
Why the 4A Result Re-wrote the Script
Down in Class 4A, Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel finally climbed the mountain. They didn't just win; they dismantled Bishop Miege 56-21. For anyone who has followed Kansas football for a long time, seeing Miege on the receiving end of a blowout in a title game is jarring. Usually, the Stags are the ones handing out the lessons.
Kapaun finished the year 12-1, with their only "hiccup" being a regular-season battle that clearly sharpened them for the postseason. Their run through the west bracket was dominant, highlighted by a 64-0 regional win over Wellington that sent shockwaves through the state.
Small Town Grit: The Lower Classes
Small-town Kansas produces some of the most disciplined football in the country. Period.
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Take Andale. Death, taxes, and Andale winning football games. They handled Topeka-Hayden 38-6 to take the 3A title. Hayden is a powerhouse, but Andale's system is just a machine. They haven't just mastered the game; they've mastered the psychology of 3A football.
In 2A, Seneca-Nemaha Central capped off a perfect 13-0 season by beating Gypsum-Southeast of Saline 35-6. It’s hard to stay that focused for three months straight, but the Thunder did it.
The 8-man and 6-man games provided the most "blink and you'll miss it" kansas prep football scores of the year.
- 8-Man DI: South Central beat Lincoln 34-8.
- 8-Man DII: Hanover took the title over Victoria.
- 6-Man: Cunningham rose to the top, beating Weskan in a game that felt more like a basketball score.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rankings
Look, rankings are fun for the water cooler, but they're often garbage by week 10. The 2025 season was a prime example. St. Thomas Aquinas was the "consensus" #1 for the majority of the year, yet they didn't even make the 5A final after falling to Mill Valley 28-27 in a sectional heartbreaker.
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The "eye test" often fails when you're comparing a 6A school in Overland Park to a 5A school in Western Kansas. Great Bend, for instance, finished 12-1 and was arguably the most physical team in the state, yet they rarely got the national "composite" respect they deserved until they pushed Salina Central to the brink.
Then you have the sadder side of the season. Chase-Raymond had to forfeit the rest of their season in October. Injuries piled up, and they simply didn't have the bodies to safely compete. It’s a stark reminder that while we obsess over scores, the "numbers" on the roster matter just as much as the numbers on the scoreboard.
Looking Toward the 2026 Gridiron
The talent pool for the upcoming season is already looking deep. If you aren't watching Ian Premer out of Great Bend or James Dunnigan Jr. from Manhattan, you're missing out on the next wave of D1 stars. These kids are the reason the kansas prep football scores stay high and the games stay competitive.
Recruiting has changed. It's not just about the local paper anymore. Kids are getting NIL looks before they even have a driver’s license.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
- Watch the Reclassifications: KSHSAA occasionally shifts schools between classes based on enrollment. A powerhouse moving from 5A to 4A can ruin everyone else's season real quick.
- Follow the Camps: The scores in November are won in the weight rooms in February. Watch the Prep Redzone showcases to see which sophomores are about to become household names.
- Check the Brackets Early: Don't wait until October. The "Week 9" bracketology usually tells the real story of who has the easiest path to the sub-state rounds.
The 2025 season is in the books, but the lessons are clear: never bet against a motivated Salina or Manhattan squad, and never, ever assume the rankings mean anything once the temperature drops below freezing.
Keep an eye on the official KSHSAA records for the finalized 2025 stats as the 2026 spring practice schedule starts to materialize.