High school football in Kansas is heating up as the playoff season kicks into high gear. In the recent first round of the 2024 Kansas high school football playoffs, several teams made strong statements on the field.

In the 6A East division, top-seeded Gardner Edgerton dominated with a 63-0 win over Kansas City Wyandotte. Other notable wins include Shawnee Mission East defeating Lawrence 28-14, Blue Valley Northwest taking down Shawnee Mission North 31-12, and Lawrence Free State outscoring Olathe West 49-26. Blue Valley West also had a convincing victory, beating Shawnee Mission West 38-7. Olathe Northwest, Shawnee Mission Northwest, and Olathe East all secured their spots in the next round with wins over Olathe South, Shawnee Mission South, and Olathe North, respectively.

On the 6A West side, Derby led the charge with a 62-7 victory over Campus. Junction City, Dodge City, and Wichita East also advanced with significant wins over Topeka, Garden City, and Wichita West. Manhattan shut out Wichita North 59-0, while Maize and Wichita Northwest secured their places in the next round with wins over Washburn Rural and Wichita Southeast.

In the 5A East division, St. Thomas Aquinas started strong with a 35-6 win over Kansas City Turner. Pittsburg upset Topeka Highland Park 49-18, and Mill Valley had a stunning 77-0 victory over Kansas City Harmon. Spring Hill, Blue Valley North, Leavenworth, Basehor-Linwood, and St. James Academy all advanced to the next round with their respective wins.

The 5A West division saw Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal, and Goddard Eisenhower all securing their spots in the next round. Maize South had a high-scoring win over Salina Central, and Topeka Seaman dominated Topeka West 65-7. Valley Center edged out Goddard with a narrow 7-6 victory.

In the 4A East division, Atchison, Lansing, Fort Scott, and Tonganoxie all had decisive wins. Bishop Miege pulled off an upset over Louisburg, while Labette County, Chanute, and Ottawa also moved forward. The 4A West division saw Wamego, McPherson, Mulvane, Buhler, Andover Central, Winfield, Wellington, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel all advancing to the next round.

As the playoffs continue, teams are gearing up for intense competition, and fans are eagerly anticipating the next matches. With such strong performances in the first round, it's clear that this season is going to be one to remember. Stay tuned for more updates and thrilling matchups as Kansas high school football teams battle their way to the top.