Week 2 Battle of Top-Ranked Teams In Each Class

Week 2 is upon us and there are already season-defining games coming up between highly-ranked teams.   And, although there were some surprises last week among the elite teams, there was plenty to like about their play and with a ton of football to be played in the '26 season, expect them to rally.   Kind of like Manhattan last year, who suffered a couple of early losses before roaring back to claim the 6A State Championship.   In this report, we are taking a quick look at some of the top-ranked matchups in each of the classes coming up in week 2 and some of the players expecting to standout.   So, without further adieu, let's check it all out:     6A: #2 Manhattan (0-1; lost to Rockhurst 28-32) @ #1 Mill Valley (1-0; won vs SMNW 56-25)   [player_tooltip player_id='1612742' first='Joseph' last='Mortensen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joseph-mortensen/"></a> , ATH/DB/KR, 5'11, 185, Manhattan, '27, [PICTURED] the defending 6A champs lost a close battle with Missouri powerhouse Rockhurst, 28-32 last week in the opener, but this multi-positional baller did his part, taking a 97-yard pick-6 interception to the house and had 7 tackles on defense. On offense he carried the ball 12 times for 84 yards, including a 76-yard TD run. He is a seasoned vet when it comes to turning setbacks into comebacks as that was the path they took a year ago to defy the odds and win the 6A crown and as a team captain this year will be key in helping the team flip the script again this fall. He is a versatile 3-way athlete and multi-positional playmaker with 4.45 speed who plays a high-IQ game. Look for this playmaker to make it happen this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='2065113' first='Max' last='Piva'], RB/ATH, 6'2, 215, Mill Valley, '27, on the other side of the ball is one of the top RBs in the state. He wasted little time putting an exclamation point on his game last week in the opener when he rushed for 182 yards and scored 4 touchdowns in the team's 56-25 win over SMNW. He is coming off a standout junior season when he carried the ball 190 times for 1,812 yards and 17 TDs, which included a game in October when he had a jaw-dropping 404 yards on 23 carries. He also caught 12 passes for another 132 yards and 4 TDs to give him 1,944 APY and 21 TDs on the year. With a next-level speed:power ratio he can pound the ball between the tackles but has the burst to torch the turf on the perimeter.     5A: #1 Kapaun (1-0; won vs Washburn Rural 58-13) @ 6A "Others" Wichita Northwest (0-1; lost to Carroll 10-14)   [player_tooltip player_id='2168684' first='James' last='Guyer']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/james-guyer/"></a> , 5'10, 180, RB/DB, Kapaun, '28, after a state-championship season a year ago as a sophomore, this two-way running back and defensive back got busy in the off-season training with Coach Tabor and PIA and the work is already reaping dividends as he helped his team win big in the season opener, 58-13 over Washburn Rural, with 7 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and allowed zero receptions in coverage. He is a versatile playmaker who is a slashing runner with good instincts and quickness pounding the rock. On the other side of the ball he is a multi-positional ballhawk who can play anywhere in the secondary. I saw him in action showcasing his game at the KU camp in June and I was impressed with his athleticism. This guy is getting ready for a breakout season.   [player_tooltip player_id='403631' first='Cordale' last='Johnson'], 6'1, 175, DB/WR/ATH, Northwest, '27, for this South Dakota commit, it wasn't the kind of start to the season anticipated as the Grizzlies started slow, falling to Bishop Carroll 10-14. Despite the disappointing start, he had a solid game, making seven tackles and had a 42-yard punt return. He is coming off a sizzling junior season when he had 30 tackles, picked off four passes including a pick-6 TD, had 482 APYs and ran a punt back 50 yards for another score, despite missing two games to injury. This off-season he trained with Coach Rashad and had a stellar track season. He and his teammates have a challenge this week against KMC, but expect him to help provide the senior leadership to turn it around and go on to have a D1 kind of season.     4A: #2 Aquinas (0-1; lost to SJA 21-28) @ #1 Bishop Miege (won vs BVW 41-14)   [player_tooltip player_id='823254' first='Terrence' last='Bryant']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/terrence-bryant/"></a>  , 6'1”, 185, DB/LB/RB, Aquinas, '27, speaking of not starting the season as they would have liked, this hybrid defensive back/linebacker was in the same boat as above as he and his teammates fell to a strong St. James Academy team 21-28 to start the season at an uncharacteristic 0-1. He is coming off an impressive junior season, earning all-state honors with 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. An athletic, multi-positional playmaker, he has good lateral quickness and a nose for the ball whether coming off the edge or sinking back in the secondary to disrupt the pass game. This guy is primed for a big year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2101266' first='Jaylen' last='Johnson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaylen-johnson-13/"></a> , 6'4, 225, Edge/OLB, Bishop Miege, '28, on the other side of the ball in week two will be this relentless edge rusher who helped his team to a convincing 41-14 win in the season opener against Blue Valley West, with two sacks, six QB hurries and two pass break ups. He is already off and running building his brand and showcasing his game and has reeled in an impressive 15 D1-offers to date. This off-season he impressed coaches in the camp-combine circuit as well as playing hoops and is another athlete who trained with Coach Rashad. With prototype size, reach and closing speed he is going to continue to draw top-level attention.     3A: #5 Hoisington (1-0; won vs Hillsboro 26-8) at "Others" Hesston (1-0; won vs Halstead 35-6)   [player_tooltip player_id='1113168' first='Brody' last='Pfannenstiel']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brody-pfannenstiel/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brody-pfannenstiel/"></a> , 6'4, 235, DE/TE, Hoisington, '27, it was more of the same for this future D1 baller and his teammates as they beat Hillsboro 26-8 in the season opener last week. He is a multi-positional two-way dominator who has developed into one of the top players in the state. Last year he helped lead his team to a sparkling 10-1 record, only losing to the eventual state champion, Andale. Along the way he piled up 60 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, while also operating as a hybrid TE/All-Purpose back who generated 464 receiving yards and six TDs, added 326 rushing yards and six more scores. He was also the non-Senior Defensive Player of the Year 3A & Below. Get your popcorn ready, he's going to put on a show.   [player_tooltip player_id='1594489' first='Joshua' last='Duerksen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joshua-duerksen/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joshua-duerksen/"></a> , LB/ATH, 5'11”, 205, Hesston,  ‘27, on the other side of the ball is an athletic, jackhammer of a LB who helped his team get off to a fast start with a 35-6 win over Halstead last week. Along the way he had 9 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. He is coming off a monster season when he had 107 tackles, averaging 11 per game, and added two tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and had a pick-6. With his next-level speed and explosive game, he plays with physicality, arriving fast and delivering a blow on arrival. His off-season work is already paying off, as he put on 10 pounds and improved key measurables: (550 Squat; 335 Bench; 38" VJ; 10'2" BJ; 4.55 40). The offers are starting to come in and he is ready to continue to dominate this fall.     2A: #4 Council Grove (1-0; won vs Mission Valley 62-6) @ #3 Osage City (1-0; won vs Olpe 20-7)   [player_tooltip player_id='1113114' first='Luke' last='Stewart']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/luke-stewart-2/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/luke-stewart-2/"></a> , 5'11, 175, Council Grove, '27, after a junior year when he was limited to six games due to injuries, he hit it hard in the off-season getting ready for a big senior season and it has paid off as he led his team to a 62-6 win in the opener, going 10-13 for 203 yards and rifled five TD passes, including three to hybrid 6'3, 235 WR/TE [player_tooltip player_id='1447083' first='Mason' last='Samuels'] who will be a dangerous weapon this fall. Even though he missed games as a junior he still set numerous game and career passing records and led the team to an 8-4 record and the first Final Four finish in the school's history. After last week it appears he is ready to open fire again in '26.   [player_tooltip player_id='2338865' first='Zachariah' last='Green'], 6'3, 235, Edge, Osage City, '27<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zachariah-green/"></a> on the other side of the ball is a mauling, brawling defensive end/edge rusher who is starting to generate a significant amount of next-level attention and last week he helped lead his team to a 20-7 win over Olpe in the opener. He is a physical, ball buster coming off the edge who can use his 4.8 speed to bend and burn around blockers or hit them in the mouth and bull rush over the top. He is coming off a season when he had solid stats (34T, 11TFL, 3 FR) and after a strong camp season this summer he is ready to take it to the next level this fall.     1A: #2 Rossville (1-0; won vs Perry-Lecompton) @ 2A #2 Silver Lake (1-0; won vs St Marys 27-0)   Landen Lewis, 6'1, 195, QB/ATH, Rossville, '28, after backing up a senior all-state QB last year he busted out big time last week in a win over Perry-Lecompton 35-14 in the season opener. Along the way he completed 13 of 17 passes for 159 yards, completed 70%, carried the ball 21 times for 167 yds for 326 APYs and 5 touchdowns. With an early-season test this week against 2A #2 Silver Lake, who put on a defensive show blanking their opponent in game one, he is going to have to use all the arrows in his quiver this Friday. Get this guy on your watchlists, he is on his way to a big year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1694269' first='Kipton' last='Kruger']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kipton-kruger/"></a> , 5'11, 190, QB, Silver Lake, '29, on the other side of the ball is a young gun who had one of the best freshman QB seasons in the state last year completing 178 of 252 passes for 2,118 yards, an impressive 71% completion rate and threw 16 touchdown passes. He was one of only a few freshman QBs in the state to throw for 2,000+ yards as well as complete over 70% of his passes. Last week he continued to impress leading his team to a 27-0 win over St. Mary's with 165 yards passing and a TD. He helped lead the baseball team to a state runner-up finish last spring and is looking for similar success in football this fall.<a href="https://x.com/cargile_wade"></a>   <a href="https://x.com/cargile_wade"></a>In conclusion, get out and see these guys dominate this fall - you will not be disappointed. Also, DM me via X if you know of any players flying under the radar.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

Week 2 is upon us and there are already season-defining games coming up between highly-ranked teams.