Esch KSHSFB Index | Second-round recap and state quarterfinal projections for all 6-4A teams

The second round of the Kansas high school football playoffs is in the books and the Esch Index predicted the winner of 19 games correctly and five incorrectly. That’s an accuracy of 79.2% and brings the season average to 75.5%.

Week 11/Round 3 projections

Last season, the Index projected the correct winner in eight of the 12 Week 11 matchups.

Quick facts:

• All higher-seeded teams are projected to win, except for one: Olathe West. The team with 6A East’s second-best record is projected to lose to Olathe Northwest. Olathe West defeated Olathe Northwest by three in the regular season.

• The closest projection is Hays’ projected victory over Salina Central. The second-seeded team in 5A West is projected to defeat the third-seed by just one point at home.

• In 4A, St. James Academy defeated St. Thomas Aquinas by four in the regular season. However, St. Thomas Aquinas is projected to win the rematch this week with a trip to the state semifinals on the line.

Featured matchups and Brett’s picks:

Blue Valley West 25 @ Gardner-Edgerton 28

• Brett’s Pick: Gardner-Edgerton

Olathe Northwest 36 @ Olathe West 30

• Brett’s Pick: Olathe Northwest

Salina Central 31 @ Hays 32

• Brett’s Pick: Hays

Andover Central 27 @ Wamego 29

• Brett’s Pick: Wamego

The full slate:

Brett is a Communication Arts major at Bethel College, Editor-in-Chief of the Bethel Collegian, and Newton (KS) High School football beat writer. You can reach him via email or on Twitter.