The 2022 High School football season is less than two weeks away and everyone is ready to go for what should be another fantastic season across Kansas. 

Catch it Kansas have released their preseason rankings ahead of the start of the season and multiple area teams are tabbed as some of the best in the state. 

We have to start with the 8-Man Division II ranks with defending State Champion Axtell ranked as the top team heading into the season. The Eagles went 13-0 in 2021 and beat Wheatland/Grinnell in the Title Game for their first State Championship since 1993 and just their second in school history. 

Axtell returns their full compliment of players from last season and should be the favorite to repeat as State Champs. 

Canton-Galva, Thunder Ridge, Victoria and Hanover round out the top five in the 8-Man Division II rankings. 

Another TVL team is primed for a big season in 8-Man Division I as the Clifton Clyde Eagles, coming off a 7-2 season last year, are ranked fourth behind Little River, Meade, and Chase County. 

Centralia and Troy will start the season ranked inside the Class 1A ranks. Centralia has a new head coach in Roger Holthaus while Derek Jasper leads the charge once again for the Trojans in what could be a big year in Troy. 

Centralia starts the season at #8 and Troy is right behind the Panthers at #9. St. Mary's, Olpe, and Smith Center are the top three teams in Class 1A. 

Nemaha Central will once again have high expectations under second year head coach Michael Glatczak. The Thunder start the season ranked fourth in Class 2A behind only Southeast of Saline, Rossville, and Beloit. 

Nemaha Central went 7-3 last season before losing to eventual State Champion Rossville in the second round of the playoffs. 

Finally, the Holton Wildcats will look to take the next step in 2022 as they made it all the way to the 3A Semi-Finals last season before losing to Frontenac. The Wildcats went 11-1, won the Big 7, and was one win away from the State Championship game. 

Holton enters 2022 ranked second in Class 3A behind only Andale. Andale has won 38 straight games and have won the last three State Championships.