Playmakers Stepping Up Their Game In Week 4

It was another crazy week of high school football in the Sunflower state as many of the top-ranked teams got punched in the mouth.   Case in point, in 6A, top-ranked Manhattan, as well as #2 Derby, #3 Wichita NW and #5 BVNW all lost...   4A was crazy as well, with #1 Kapaun clawing back from a first-half beat down to win in OT against 6A Wichita NW, #2 Miege got hammered by powerful Rockhurst, MO, #4 Ottawa fell to 3A #2 Hayden and #5 Wamego lost to Eudora.   There were a few others sprinkled throughout the other classes, but none faced the firing squad like 6A and 4A.   And, as usual, with so many intriguing games on tap, I couldn't decide which game I wanted to see more last Friday, so I went ahead and packed 10 pounds of you-know-what in a five-pound bag, and decided to hit two games in the same night by attending the first half of the Wichita NW @ Kapaun game and then gunning the lambo across town to catch the second half of Derby @ Maize.   When I left Kapaun in late-Q2 they were behind 28-0 and it looked like USAFA-commit [player_tooltip player_id='1114752' first='Cal' last='Purvis'] was the only one making any tackles, so I went ahead and high-tailed it to Maize - a trip that typically takes me approximately 30 minutes, and did it in 19-flat Friday night.   Just in time to see the Eagles put the hammer down to win 42-21 over the powerful Panthers.   But, as enjoyable as that was since I have been bragging up Maize this fall to anyone who will listen, it meant I whiffed on seeing in person one of the great second-half comebacks by a Kapaun team that seems to have that "it" factor this year.   I can already imagine hearing it from KMC Coach Tabor...   And, as expected from these crazy games there were quite a few baller performances paving the way.   In this report we will take a look at some guys who have been flying under the radar somewhat so far but are rapidly getting more and more of the spotlight.   So, without further adieu, let's jump in and see who played well last Friday:   Kenneth Huff, 6'0, 205, RB, Kapaun, '27, is a junior running back who has been flying under the radar early-on but after his standout performance in Kapaun's huge comeback win last Friday over 6A Wichita NW 43-42 in OT that will no longer be the case. Trailing 0-28, Huff supercharged the Crusader running attack with a clutch second half, scoring three touchdowns and then converted the winning two-point conversion. This guy is an explosive playmaker who burns through arm tackles and has the burst to take it to the house on every play. KMC is for real folks...and so is this playmaker baller of a back.   [player_tooltip player_id='856864' first='Pearce' last='George']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/pearce-george/"></a> , 6'0, 195, ATH/WR/QB, '27, Maize is a juggernaut in the making and one I have been talking up all summer and fall. They put an exclamation point on it last Friday with a pounding 42-21 win over #2 Derby. The Eagles are loaded with talent and they skillfully execute in all phases of the game. They have a smothering defense led by headhunter [player_tooltip player_id='944905' first='Drake' last='Blasi'], 5'11, 205, LB/ATH, Maize, '27, and jackhammer edge, [player_tooltip player_id='1615986' first='Rendor' last='Hada'], 6'1, 225, DE/TE, Maize, '27; but their offense is starting to shift into overdrive as well with George showing what a versatile all-purpose weapon he is, delivering a 10-catch game, with 100+ yards and a pair of TD's (one called back) performance on Friday. He and D1 super-talent [player_tooltip player_id='1578939' first='Brayden' last='Myovela'], 6'4, 215, QB/WR/ATH, '26, who had a monster game of his own, have been lasered in all season, connecting on 10 out of 10 targets on Friday and hooking up on a variety of creative passes while extending plays. Get your popcorn ready when you watch these guys.   [player_tooltip player_id='780458' first='Conrad' last='Gomez']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/conrad-gomez/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/conrad-gomez/"></a> , 6'1, 185, QB, Junction City, '26, the senior gunslinger is leading his team through a gauntlet of a schedule, facing Lawrence-Wichita NW, Manhattan so far and coming up on Hays shortly in consecutive weeks. He set the tone early this season with a six-TD performance in game one. In game three the Bluejays lost a close one to #2 at the time NW before rallying the troops against #1 Manhattan the next week and delivered an upset 28-14 on the strength of 8-12 passing for 132 yards, a pair of scoring strikes and a rushing TD, with five of his passes going for 115 yards to sticky-fingered senior wide receiver Lovell Autry, ATH/WR, '26. On the other side of the ball, Khaliel Walker, 5'11, 185, LB, '27, piled up 10 tackles to give him just under 40 on the year along with a pair of tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and forced a fumble so far this fall. Marcus Boganowski , 6'0, 195, LB, '27, was key as well, adding 10 tackles, while coming up big out of the secondary was Marshall Karmann, 6'0, 170, DB, '26, who delivered seven tackles and picked off two passes on the night. JC has that look in their eye...   [player_tooltip player_id='1529989' first='Ashton' last='Malm'], 5'10, 165, ATH, McPherson, '27, he is coming off a big game in the third week of the season with five receptions for 218 yards and 4 TDs, and then opened both barrels again last Friday with eight catches for 216 yards, averaging 27 yards a catch, scored two TD's and ran a kick back 97 yards for the score in a 46-27 win over Winfield. He is a dangerous weapon who has been on quite a tear so far this fall with 575 yards receiving and nine TD's. Not to be out done, on the other side of the ball, multi-sport athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1644566' first='Evan' last='Hutto'], 6'1, 165, WR/DB, Winfield, '26, stepped up big in a losing cause when he set the all-time school record of 275 receiving yards on nine receptions and scored a touchdown in the loss to McPherson last Friday. A versatile two-way baller for the Vikings he is an athletic receiver with an excellent catch radius and snags the contested ball over the middle when his team needs it. He is also a ballhawk in the secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='1536103' first='Jaylen' last='Wilson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaylen-wilson/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaylen-wilson/"></a> , 6'3, 265, DL, Andover Central, '26. The Boogieman helped his team to a state championship last fall and this year so far is off to a fast start with 15 tackles, two TFL and a PAT block. He is a versatile force in the defensive trenches who destroys plays between the tackles as a bone-busting nose tackle, or can flex out as a DT/DE in Central's odd-front look. With his powerful base, quick feet and deploying a penetrating pad level he rips through double teams and last Friday helped his team beat a strong 5A Valley Center team 28-16 to move to 3-1 on the season. On the other side of the ball, Jaxson Green, 5'9, 175, RB, Andover Central, '27, is a baller I reported on recently and talked about how he is finally getting a chance to go scorched earth after backing up an all-state RB. Since then he has not wasted any time moving to among the top five backs in the state in rushing yards through the first four games. So far in 2025 he has carried the ball 96 times for 768 yards, averaging eight yards a carry and just under 200 a game. He also has seven TD's on the year, including an 81-yard score.   Trey Zorn, 5'10, 175, QB/DB, Russell, '26, he is a baller not getting much spotlight yet but after his 18 for 25, 352 yard-game Friday in a 28-6 win over Plainville, that is getting ready to change. And it will change in a hurry. On the year he is off to a blazing start in leading his team to a 4-0 record, rifling 69 completions in 96 attempts for 1,036 yards, a 72% completion percentage and zero interceptions and a sparkling 140 passer rating. The QB position appears to be in solid hands for awhile as his backup, rising star Braigan Dinkel, 5'10, 175, QB, '29, who we took a look at recently and were impressed, is learning the ropes while contributing on special teams.   [player_tooltip player_id='780429' first='Zane' last='Farney'], 5'11, 185, RB/DB, Sterling, '26, and as we wrap up, I wanted to give a shout out to a guy who is not flying under the radar but I wanted to include him since he recently hit a rare milestone. The two-time OPOY finalist and 1,500+ RB is off to another sizzling start and last Friday in a 43-8 win over Ellinwood, he broke the 5,000+ rushing yard barrier for a career to move to 4-0. In game three the prior week, he was brutally effective, carrying 18 times for 222 yards rushing and five TDs. This past Friday he cruised for 130 yards and three more TD's to give him 688 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. The scary thing is the 5K+ man is just getting warmed up.   In conclusion, get out and follow their progress – you will not be disappointed. And, as always, if you run across any teams or players flying under the radar or are injured, give me a shout via DM on X.    And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

It was another crazy week of high school football in the Sunflower state as many of the top-ranked teams got punched in the mouth.