Kansas 6A Championship
Blue Valley North (9-3) vs Derby (12-0)
1 p.m. Saturday in Emporia
Watch: 810Varsity.com

It was so much fun the first time around, why not do it again? The Kansas Class 6A state title game is a rematch of 2017’s instant classic between Blue Valley North and Derby that saw the Mustangs win 49-42 for its first state championship in school history.

We knew Derby would be here.

The Panthers have averaged 46 points a game this season with one of the most prolific offenses in Kansas high school history. The Panthers get it done on the ground, averaging 311 yards a game and 51 rushing scores. But quarterback Hunter Igo has been outstanding when has had to throw the football with 30 total touchdowns.

Derby’s defense has also been outstanding, allowing only 7.25 points a game and only 109.83 yards passing. But the Panthers haven’t faced an offense like North’s yet this season.

North has rolled to nine straight victories and Wisconsin-bound quarterback Graham Mertz has thrown for 1,495 yards and 22 touchdowns in the playoffs. Last time he faced this Derby defense, Mertz was 24 of 30 for 462 yards, four passing touchdowns and a key 15-yard touchdown in the game’s final minutes.

Stopping him is going to be tough, especially now that he’s developed other weapons with Amauri Pesek-Hickson, the running back that just committed to Michigan, and receiver Cameron Burt, who owns the state record for receiving yards in a single season.

Expect a high-scoring shootout like we had last season, and it’ll likely come down to which ever team can come up with a stop or two on defense.

Missouri Class 6 Championship
No. 2 Rockhurst (11-2) vs. Christian Brothers (12-1)
6 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia
It’s not often that you get a regular season rematch in the state championship game, but that’s what we have in the Missouri Class 6 title game. CBC destroyed Rockhurst 45-7 in early October, as CBC running back Anthony Tillman had a monster game with 165 yards rushing and four scores and Rockhurst’s normally stout rushing attack never got on track.

You also have to wonder if we got Rockhurst’s best effort in that game, because earlier that week tragedy struck the school when a classmate died in a hit-and-run accident. It was an emotional roller-coaster of a week and the game had to be moved to Saturday because of the disaster.

Here’s betting you’ll get a much more focused Rockhurst squad.

The Hawklets took control early against Blue Springs in the semifinals with 14 points in the first quarter and leaned heavily on its defense to secure the win. That defense will need to come up big again for Rockhurst to win.

Kansas Class 5A Championship
St. Thomas Aquinas (11-0) vs. Wichita Northwest (12-0)
1 p.m. in Pittsburg
Watch: 810Varsity.com
College coaches will be flocking to Pittsburg for this matchup, as at least 10 FBS level players are going to be in this game, including Oklahoma bound defensive end Marcus Hicks and Iowa State athlete commitment Breece Hall for Northwest and Oklahoma State Joe Michalski and underclass stars Matthew Roberts and Jaden Roberts at Aquinas. Expect a lot of points – and we mean a lot of points – to be scored in this game. Aquinas averages 46.3 points a game, and Northwest has already scored 58, 56, 84 and 67 points in its playoffs game. Look for Randy Dreiling to try and slow the tempo down and control the clock to keep the ball out of Northwest’s hands, but that might be tough because his offense is so good.

Missouri 5 Semifinals
Columbia Battle (9-4) at Fort Osage (8-4)
1 p.m. Saturday at Fort Osage
We’re all in on Fort Osage, especially after it’s dominating 33-3 victory over Staley last week in the quarterfinals. Yes, the Falcons were missing some key offensive weapons, but the Indian’s defense held Staley to only 161 yards and that’s something that never happens. Quarterback Ty Baker was efficient, and if he can manage this game and the Indian’s defense shows up again, a state championship appearance is next for Fort O.
 

Kansas 4A Championship
Bishop Miege (10-2) vs. Goddard (9-2)
1 p.m. Topeka
Watch: 810Varsity.com
The Stags have been tested every step along the way this season, entering the playoffs as the fifth seed, but that hasn’t stopped them from crushing their opponents, including a 46-7 victory over No. 2 seed Basehor-Linwood and a 55-21 win in the quarterfinals over top-seeded Louisburg. Miege is playing like the team we knew they were and should celebrate another state championship on Saturday.

Missouri 4 Quarterfinals
No. 11 Smithville (12-1) at MICDS (12-1)
Watch: 810Varsity.com
The Warriors are looking to advance to the state championship for the first time since 1969, and coach Jason Ambroson has his team playing the best football they’ve played all season. There was zero letdown after beating Kearney and Platte County back-to-back last week against Warrensburg. The Warriors blasted Warrensburg 45-6 and they should be the overwhelming favorite to advance to the title game.