All 10 Topeka-area high school football schedules and what game to watch for each school
Seth KinkerIt's a year of change for the Topeka-area sports scene.
With the 10 Topeka-area schools belonging to the Centennial League, the United Kansas Conference and the Mid-East League last year in KSHSAA play, this year will look much different as changes decided upon in the past few years go into effect.
Here are the 10 Topeka-area football schedules this fall as well as a game we're looking forward to this season for each team.
More:What are the biggest Topeka-area sports stories this fall? Here are 16 teams to watch out for.
What league each Topeka-area high school football team is playing in
Here are the classifications of the 10 Topeka-area schools along with their opponents in their conference based on 2021-22 enrollment.
The Centennial League, longtime home of the USD 501 schools, will see a shake-up this fall that has it consisting of just six teams in Hayden (4A), Topeka High (6A), Washburn Rural (6A), Emporia (5A), Junction City (6A) and Manhattan (6A).
Seaman (5A) and Topeka West (5A) are moving to the United Kansas Conference, which now also consists of Shawnee Heights (5A), De Soto (5A), Basehor-Linwood (5A), Lansing (5A), Leavenworth (5A), Piper (5A) and Turner (5).
Highland Park (5A) will be joining the newly formed Kansas City, Kan.-Atchison League, where other members are Washington (5A), Schlagle (5A), Wyandotte (6A), Atchison (4A), Sumner (5A) and Harmon (6A).
Cair Paravel (1A), fresh off an undefeated 2021 season that saw it win a KCAA state title, will join KSHSAA play this fall in the Kaw Valley Conference, which also has Bishop Ward (3A), Bishop Seabury (2A), Heritage Christian (3A), Kansas City Christian (2A) and Marantha Christian Academy (2A) .
Rossville, the 3A state champion for the fifth time last year, and Silver Lake (3A) remain in the Mid-East League.
More:Private school athletics: Hayden and Cair Paravel talk about KSHSAA recommendation
Topeka-area football schedules
Schedules posted at the time of publication are subject to change. All start times for football games are 7 p.m. for varsity unless otherwise noted.
Cair Paravel
*Cair Paravel plays its home football games at Highland Park High School.
Cair Paravel 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 vs. Axtell
- 9/9 at Doniphan West
- 9/16 vs. Marais Des Cygnes Valley
- 9/23 at Lyndon
- 9/30 at Burlingame
- 10/7 vs. Madison
- 10/14 at Chase County
- 10/21 vs. Maranatha Christian Academy
Game to watch out for: Cair Paravel's first foray into KSHSAA competition could be likened to jumping in a cold pool or lake just to get it over with.
The game to watch for in week one, Sept. 2, is when Cair Paravel will host Axtell, the reigning 8-Man DII state champion, which went undefeated last year on its way to its second state title in program history. The first was in 1993.
Cair Paravel is coming off an undefeated state title run itself, leaving the Kansas City Christian Association (KCAA) in style, but it has to replace some talented pieces from that team. The first game will be a great measuring stick to see where it stacks up against some new, quality competition.
Hayden
Hayden 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 vs. Olpe
- 9/9 at Silver Lake
- 9/16 vs. Rossville
- 9/23 vs. Jefferson West (Homecoming)
- 9/30 at Perry
- 10/7 vs. Royal Valley
- 10/1 at Holton
- 10/21 at Hiawatha
Game to watch out for: Hayden football has been punching above their weight for quite some time to say the least, and this year they will be playing more schools around their size.
But that's not to say the competition will get any easier.
Hayden opens the season against two-time 1A state champion Olpe at home on Sept. 2 and since 2017, Olpe has gone 55-5 in those five years.
Week one will shoe how Hayden responds right out of the gate against quality competition, but week three against Rossville may be a better measure of success.
Rossville is coming off its fifth state title and second in a row.
Both teams pride themselves on defense and return experience in the trenches but also will need to replace skill position players on offense.
According to KansasFootballHistory.com, Hayden first played Rossville six times between 1925 and 1937, with Rossville holding a 6-0 series lead.
More:KSHSAA recommends utilization of multiplier formula for private school classification
Highland Park
Highland Park 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 vs. Wyandotte
- 9/9 at FL Schlagle
- 9/16 vs. Sumner
- 9/22 vs. JC Harmon
- 9/30 at Lincoln Prep
- 10/7 at Atchison
- 10/14 at Northeast KC
- 10/21 at Washington
Game to watch out for: Highland Park is moving to the Kansas City Kansas-Atchison League this fall, and week one against Wyandotte may provide the opportunity for Highland Park to break its ongoing 58-game losing streak, which started in 2015.
Highland Park returns three of its best weapons in running back Tyrell Reed, athlete Tre Richardson and quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson. The speed of that offense will give its new opponents trouble this year.
Wyandotte is a program that's struggled recently too. During the same time frame in which Highland Park's losing streak has taken place, Wyandotte is 12-38 including a pandemic canceled 2020.
Rossville
Rossville 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 at St. Marys
- 9/9 at Riley County
- 9/16 at Hayden
- 9/23 vs. Atchison County
- 9/30 vs. Silver Lake
- 10/7 vs. Holton
- 10/14 vs. Pleasant Ridge
- 10/21 vs. Maur Hill Prep
Game to watch out for: The War on 24 may be low-hanging fruit but the week five matchup is the game to watch for Rossville.
Week three at Hayden will be a good test, no doubt, as Rossville replaces a really good senior class that contributed heavily in the past two years of state title wins.
With a schedule that has all five of its last games at home, the first three games on the road will provide those new guys stepping into bigger roles a taste of what it's like to get every team's best shot while in a hostile environment leading up to an even bigger game in week five.
Silver Lake currently leads the all-time series with Rossville (63-43-3) but Rossville is now 6-5 against Silver Lake under Derick Hammes with the two wins last season putting Rossville against Silver Lake under Hammes over the .500 mark.
Silver Lake is, of course, replacing the legendary CJ Hamilton with alum Logan Pegram taking over this offseason. Pegram knows the intensity of this rivalry and what it means to this community.
With two teams replacing strong senior class production from last season, the latest iteration of the War on 24 will be a good one.
More:These six Topeka-area football teams will have a new quarterback this fall
Seaman
Seaman 2022 football schedule
- 9/1at Topeka West
- 9/9 at Turner
- 9/16 vs. Shawnee Heights
- 9/23 vs. Lansing (Homecoming)
- 9/30 - BYE
- 10/7 at Leavenworth
- 10/14 vs. Basehor-Linwood
- 10/21 at Piper
Game to watch out for: Seaman's first true test will be in week three at home when it hosts Shawnee Heights.
Both teams are replacing productive pieces at key positions from their teams last year, which saw Seaman go 6-4 and Shawnee Heights go 5-5.
Seaman is in year two of a pass-friendly offense but is replacing its quarterback and top three receivers.
Shawnee Heights secondary, meanwhile, returns Jaye Jones (46 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, six pass breakups) and Jayden Berry (18 tackles, seven pass breakups).
How will a young Seaman passing game rise to the occasion?
With Seaman joining the United Kansas Conference (UKC) this season, Shawnee Heights will be a consistent opponent again for the former Centennial League member, which was a founding member of the UKC. Seaman will face Shawnee Heights for the first time since 2017.
Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 at Piper
- 9/9 vs. Lansing
- 9/16 at Seaman
- 9/23 vs. Basehor-Linwood
- 9/30 vs. De Soto
- 10/7 at Wamego
- 10/14 vs. Leavenworth
Game to watch out for: A big three-game stretch for Shawnee Heights comes during the heart of its schedule with a game at new UKC member Seaman in week three, followed by Basehor-Linwood and De Soto at home.
The game against Basehor-Linwood in week four may be an indicator of its skills.
Last year, Shawnee Heights traveled to Basehor-Linwood, who went 9-1 with its only loss to eventual 4A state champion St. James Academy, and De Soto, which made it to sectionals, in back-to-back games in weeks five and six.
Shawnee Heights lost to Basehor-Linwood, 42-7, but responded with a 21-20 win over De Soto that spurred it into winning four games to end the season before losing to eventual 5A state champion Mill Valley.
Shawnee Heights returns five starters on both sides of the ball but has positions that need to be addressed. Week four against Basehor-Linwood will be a good test against quality competition to see who has started to carve out a role on the roster.
More:Keep an eye on these 7 Topeka-area high school linemen this fall. They're difference makers.
Silver Lake
Silver Lake 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 at Riley County
- 9/9 vs. Hayden
- 9/16 vs. St. Marys
- 9/23 at Rock Creek
- 9/30 at Rossville
- 10/7 at Pleasant Ridge
- 10/14 vs. Maur Hill Prep
- 10/21 at Atchison County
Game to watch out for: Silver Lake at Riley County is another week one matchup indicator.
Riley County went 9-1 last season, losing in the regional finals, and hasn't had a losing season since 2013.
Silver Lake is breaking in a new head coach, an alum in Logan Pegram, while replacing a lot of production on both sides of the ball last year, including one of the most important pieces in a quarterback.
Silver Lake was one of few teams to know its guy under center for fall heading into the offseason. How a team with a lot of history starts the era of a new coach on the road for a league game in a hostile environment will be an interesting watch.
Topeka High
Topeka High 2022 football schedule
- 9/3 vs. Maize at 1 p.m.
- 9/9 at Manhattan
- 9/16 at Liberal
- 9/23 vs. Emporia (Homecoming)
- 9/30 at Wichita Northwest
- 10/7 vs. Washburn Rural
- 10/14 at Junction City
- 10/21 vs. Hays
Game to watch out for: Topeka High starts the season out with two tough opponents in 5A state runner-up Maize and a Manhattan team that went 9-2 and reached 6A sectionals
The game to watch out for comes in week three when Topeka High travels to Liberal.
Topeka High has won just two games the past two seasons, with a lot of the talent from the previous senior classes having graduated.
Topeka High graduated a lot of experience from last year's seniors too, but saw guys such as quarterback Peyton Wheat and defensive end BJ Canady get another year of valuable varsity experience under their belt.
Just like many area schools, there are a lot of roles up for grabs this year.
A week three road test at Liberal, which has also struggled the past couple of seasons, will allow some players to begin to earn their spot.
Topeka West
Topeka West 2022 football schedule
- 9/1 vs. Seaman
- 9/9 vs. Leavenworth (Homecoming)
- 9/16 at De Soto
- 9/24 vs. Piper at 11 a.m.
- 9/30 at Lansing
- 10/7 at Turner
- 10/14 vs. Shawnee Heights
- 10/21 at Washburn Rural
Game to watch out for: Topeka West is one of two Topeka-area schools breaking in a new head coach.
Russell Norton came to Topeka West from Oskaloosa and looks to turn around the fortunes of the football program, which hasn't had a winning season since 2005.
The game to watch comes in week two against Leavenworth for Homecoming.
Their most recent meeting was in the postseason two years ago when Leavenworth won, 62-15.
That's two more classes of players gone, but with Topeka West joining the United Kansas Conference (UKC) this year with Leavenworth, their game should be a great measuring stick against a team that has also struggled to find success having been around .500 at best in recent years.
With some of the same players in the program now two years older and a new coaching staff and philosophy being present, it remains to be seen how well Topeka West will perform against a Leavenworth program that beat it handily two years ago.
More:Sara Burgess wears many hats as a coach for Topeka West football: 'This is not a token hire'
Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural 2022 football schedule
- 9/2 at Wichita East
- 9/9 at De Soto
- 9/16 vs. Piper
- 9/23 at Manhattan
- 9/30 vs. Junction City
- 10/7 at Topeka High
- 10/14 vs. Emporia (Homecoming)
- 10/21 vs. Topeka West
Game to watch out for: Week five against Junction City is the game to watch for Washburn Rural.
A one-point, overtime loss last year was one of just two losses for a young Washburn Rural team. That was a hard-fought game, which could have gone either way.
With one more year of experience for a young team on both sides of the ball and revenge on their mind, the rematch this year at home will be a great game to see.
After two down years since going 7-3 in 2018, Washburn Rural won its first league title and split with Junction City and Manhattan, since 1996 on the way to going 8-2 with a regional loss to Free State returns playmakers at just about every spot on both sides of the ball.
Tips or story ideas? Email Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com or DM him on Twitter @SethKinker