Week 2 Ballers Playing Their Way Into The Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have the opening day jitters out of the way and with the first game of the season tucked away for statistical posterity it is time to turn our attention to the players who had standout games in week two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, in keeping with last week's format, we'll do a quick review of many of the standout performances and big team wins as opposed to highlighting a half-dozen players and taking a deeper dive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up first are some gunslinger quarterbacks, followed by a group of guys playing exceptionally well but under the radar somewhat and then wrap up with a look at the guys who helped <em>Emporia</em> get their first win last Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So without further adieu, hang on as we accelerate through some of the best performances from last Friday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEEK 2:<em> QUARTERBACKS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1643737' first='Reign' last='Illian']</strong>, 6'4, 215, QB, <em>Maize South</em>,'27, the <em>Maverick</em> gunslinger has shot out of cannon to start the '25 season as he followed up a big game one with a monster game two, completing a blazing-hot 36 of 49 for 461 yards and four TD's in the win over <em>Salina South </em>38-35. Through two games he is leading the state in passing yards with 746 and completing 71+% of his passes along the way .</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1433319' first='Cooper' last='Cranston']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-cranston/"></a>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-cranston/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-cranston/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 6'0, 185, ATH,&nbsp;<em>Holcomb</em>, '28, this guy just keeps getting better and the state is starting take notice that there is an apex predator lurking out in western Kansas and is off to a blistering start. Last Friday he put on another all-around show in his team's win over <em>Cimarron </em>50-0, with eight carries for 173 yards rushing and a pair of TD's, completed eight of 14 passes for 148 yards and two more scores. On defense he was a ballhawk, intercepting three passes and also had a 50-yard punt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578939' first='Brayden' last='Myovela']</strong>, 6'4, 205, ATH, <em>Maize</em>, '26, the dangerous dual-threat QB continued to deal a hot hand leading his team to a 27-0 win over <em>Andover</em>. I have talked about the <em>Maize </em>defense in prior articles, but their offense is loaded as well. Through two games this future D1-gunslinger has been surgical throwing the ball, completing 25 of 30 for 324 yards, an 83% completion percentage, four TD's to zero picks and has carried the ball 22 times for 164 yards and two more scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1236247' first='Sam' last='Harp']</strong>, 5'10, 195, QB, <em>Andale</em>, '26, the <em>Indian </em>dual-threat playmaker has been lethal the last couple of years and was at it again this past Friday as he piled up 307 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns in only two quarters of play as <em>Andale</em> rolled 77-20 over 4A <em>Wellington.</em> After a game one win of 104-0, through two games they are dismantling opponents 181-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FLYING UNDER THE RADAR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a>&nbsp;</strong></strong>, 5'11, 190, MLB/LS,&nbsp;<em>Salina South</em>,&nbsp;<strong>'27</strong>. The Cougars lost a tough one to a red-hot <em>Maize South</em> team 38-35 last Friday but they continue to show they are a team on the rebound who is getting ready to surprise some people and this guy is going to be front and center helping lead the way. In game two he piled up 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and delivered next-level punter long snaps, zipping it back in the high .70's to low .80's. Also delivering an impressive performance in a loss was junior,<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1566712' first='Armane' last='Redmond']</strong>, 5'9, 175, RB, <em>Salina South</em>, '27, who carried the ball 33 times for 181 yards and scored a TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1622490' first='Conner' last='Holladay']</strong>, RB/LB, 6'0, 195, <em>Great Bend</em>, '26, after a standout season a year ago as a LB, this year he is also focused on the other side of the ball as a running back and has not disappointed as GB is off to a 2-0 start after their 40-21 win on the road at <em>Olathe South.</em> Last Friday he busted out for 185 yards rushing on 22 carries, averaging 8+ yards per carry and scored two TD's. He also added three tackles and a tackle for loss on defense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>William Voos</strong>, 5'9, 175, RB, <em>Sabetha</em>, <strong>'26</strong>. He came out hot in game one rushing for over 100 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns, but last Friday poured gas on the fire and helped his team to a big win over Perry-Lecompton 34-16, with 16 carries for 188 yards, averaging 12 yards a carry and scored three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Milleson</strong>, 5'11, 200, RB, <em>McPherson</em>, <strong>'28</strong>, the suddenly powerful <em>Bullpup</em> running game was steamrolling last Friday and this young baller back was leading the way with 17 carries for 200 yards, an 11.7 average and two touchdowns. He is definitely a bright spot running behind an offense line that has gelled early as they hammered <em>Circle</em> 34-17 behind 365 yards rushing as a team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Eck</strong>, 5'11, 170, QB, <em>Garden Plain</em>, '26, led his team to a huge win as they knocked off defending state-champion <em>Conway Springs </em>33-14 last Friday. The <em>Owls </em>are unbeaten on the year behind a strong run game, with this guy being the driving force leading from his QB position and last game continued his red-hot hand with 193 yards on 15 carries, averaged 13 yards a carry and had a scorching 72-yard TD run to put an exclamation point on it. Also a huge part of their battering ram offense as well as being a spark plug on defense has been <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1466501' first='Emrick' last='Hays']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/emrick-hays/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, RB/LB, 6'0, 195,&nbsp;<em>Garden Plain</em>, '26, who set a school record in game one with 327 yards rushing and three TDs, and followed up with a big defensive game with 12 tackles last Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braxton Stroda</strong>, 6'0, 190, LB/ATH, <em>Junction City</em>, <strong>'29</strong>, he is one of the rare starting middle linebackers as a freshman, which is even more impressive being on a 6A team. He has helped his team to a great start, as they went to 2-0 after knocking off <em>Lawrence </em>14-7 last Friday. For the night he used his next-level read and react skills and closing speed to bring the hammer on seven tackles for the defense. He was also a headhunter on special teams, swarming the ball on kickoffs and punts and delivering blows on punt returns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMPORIA BUSTS OUT FOR A BIG WIN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616521' first='Oliver' last='Kline']</strong>, 6'2, 180, DB/WR,<em> Emporia</em>, '28, it was a big night for this talented sophomore as he not only helped the team win their first game of the year 52-6 over <em>Wichita West</em>, but put on a show in the process with a sizzling 102-yard interception return for a touchdown, added eight tackles, averaged 36 yards a return and even added a pancake block as a stalk-blocking WR on offense. Another bright spot was two-way playmaker <strong>Rylan Crowell</strong>, 6'1, 190, RB/LB, <em>Emporia</em>, '26, who gouged <em>West </em>for 120 yards on 21 carries and scored three times and on defense dominated with 11 tackles and a pick-six interception. Also helping in all three phases of the game was <strong>Garrett LeBlanc</strong>, 6'2, 185, DB/WR, <em>Emporia</em>, '27, who started in the secondary, rotated in on offense on the wing, returned kicks and was in on most of the special team action all night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get out and see these guys in action – you will not be disappointed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, as usual…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keep grindin'</em></strong>…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->