Week 8 Game Balls: 5A & 4A

In the final week of the regular season, there were several players in class 5A and class 4A whose play significantly helped their team win and build momentum going into the first round of the playoffs.  Here are the top 5. [player_tooltip player_id="35369" first="Tyler" last="Bowden"] RB Tonganoxie The Senior RB looked very impressive in last weeks 49-7 win over Ottawa.  During the game, he rushed for 295 yards and 5 TD on 19 carries.  It was his 7th 200+ yard rushing game and he has rushed for at least 150 yards in each game this season.  In 2020, he rushed for 2,020 yards and 29 TD on 236 carries.  He displays an excellent combination of power and speed as he shows very good contact balance and can break tackles from LB and DB with ease but also uses his excellent athletic ability to score on long gains once he gets into the open field.  Tonganoxie is 7-1 and the 3rd seed in the 4A East playoffs where they will play the 14th seed Labette County at home who are 2-6. <strong>LJ Phillips</strong> RB Wichita Northwest The 5’8 176 lb Sophomore played incredibly well last week against Wichita South in a 63-0 victory.  During the game, he had 59 yards on 6 carries and 2 rushing TD and also caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.  For the season, he has 316 yards on 38 carries and 8 TD and caught five passes for 151 yards and a TD.  When looking at the film, he shows very good burst through the hole, accelerating quickly into the secondary and lowers his shoulder to drive through DB and LB while falling forward for a few extra yards.  Wichita Northwest is undefeated this season at 6-0 and they are the #1 seed in the 5A West playoffs.  This week, they will play the Mustangs of Salina Central in the 1st round of the playoffs. <strong>Caeden Meredith</strong> DB Seaman The 5’8 160 lb Senior had an awesome game last week against Washburn Rural.  He made 16 tackles with 2 TFL and 2 sacks in a 45-21 victory.  For the season, he has 48 tackles (with 28 tackles in just the last two games), 3 TFL and 3 sacks.  He is a smart player who quickly keys and diagnoses the play and uses his play speed in pursuit of the ball carrier and plays with good leverage while using his good play strength to bring down larger RB.  Seaman is 7-1 this season and they hold the #1 seed in the 5A East playoffs.  They have a bye in the first round and will play the winner of the Emporia/Blue Valley Southwest game next week at home. [player_tooltip player_id="35362" first="Ethan" last="Kramer"] DT Mill Valley The 6’0 265 lb Senior was in the backfield of Olathe East all game long last week in a 34-10 victory.  During the game, he had 7 tackles with 4.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks.  Sacking the QB is especially difficult for an interior defensive lineman due to the near constant double teaming from the offensive line but he makes it look easy as he pays at a good pad level and uses his very good play strength to bullrush the OG backwards into the lap of the QB and is athletic enough to beat the OL with his speed.  Against the run, he keeps his eyes on the ball carrier when engaged in 1on1 combat with the OG or OT, easily sheds his block and brings down the RB with force.  The 5-2 defending 5A state champs are the 3rd seed in the 5A East playoffs and they have a bye in the 1st round but they will play the winner of the Spring Hill/Shawnee Heights game next week at home. <strong>Anthony Onstott</strong> LB Basehor-Linwood The 5’9 190 lb Senior was a big contributor on defense in last weeks 27-10 victory over Pittsburg.  During the game, he had 8 tackles with 1.5 TFL and half of a sack.  In 2020, he has had 34 tackles with 3.5 TFL and half of a sack.  On film, he quickly and effectively diagnoses the play, uses his good closing speed while in pursuit of the ball carrier and uses his play strength to bring down RB,WR and TE with ease.  Basehor-Linwood is 5-3 and the 4th seed in the 4A East playoffs where they will face the 13th seeded Atchison who is 2-6 at home on Friday. &nbsp; &nbsp;