1. St. Thomas Aquinas

Last week: Defeated Lansing 50-20

The East Kansas League outright champion Saints flexed their muscles in the opening round with an easy win against Lansing. Now comes a chance to avenge the only loss of the season to Blue Valley with a spot in the Kansas 5A semifinals on the line.

2. Blue Valley West

Last week: Defeated Topeka Seaman 54-21

The Jaguars are playing scary offense right now, running right over any opponent that gets plopped in their path. Running behind a big, physical offensive line, BV West and its two-headed rushing attack, quarterback Ryan Ralston and game-breaker Conley Wilkins, will be tough to beat.

3. Gardner Edgerton

Last week: Lost to Lawrence 34-32

Despite another 300-yard performance by Traevohn Wrench, who closed the season with four straight games with at least that many rushing yards, the Trailblazers weren’t able to take down Sunflower League power Lawrence in the school’s first Kansas 6A playoff game.

4. Bishop Miege

Last week: Defeated Mill Valley 41-23

The Stags finally are playing like the state-title contenders many pegged them to be before the season. The pressure seems to be off after a 4-5 regular season followed by a dismantling of Kaw Valley League champion Mill Valley in the playoff opener.

5. Blue Valley

Last week: Defeated Shawnee Heights 17-10

Outlasting a Thunderbirds team that has been dangerous in the playoffs the last several seasons was a solid start, but the Tigers are going to have to pick it up even more to reach a third straight Kansas 5A championship game. St. Thomas Aquinas hasn’t forgotten its only loss, a 29-28 defeat Oct. 4 by Blue Valley.

6. Blue Valley Northwest

Last week: Lost to SM West 34-14

The Huskies couldn’t shut down the Vikings’ run game and paid the price with a lopsided season-ending playoff loss, but there were a lot of positive things to take from the season, including a third-place finish in the East Kansas League.

7. Blue Valley Southwest

Last week: Did not qualify for the playoffs

8. Blue Valley North

Last week: Did not qualify for the playoffs

| Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com