Week One Playmakers Off To Sizzling Hot Starts

The first week of the new season got off to a wet sloppy start in some regions but for many the unseasonably mild weather made for ideal fall football weather.   And, just as the weather threw some for a loop, there were some suprising results that few saw coming. Just ask Derby, who fell to rival Hays 22-21, after being the top-ranked 6A team in the state in some pre-season rankings. Hays drove 96 yards in the last three minutes to score and then tacked on the two-point conversion to edge the powerful Panthers. In another surprise in week one was when Lawrence Free State stepped up to the challenge and upset long-time power Gardner Edgerton 35-34.   We will get into a little more detail on the playmakers involved in both below.   In this report, which will be the first of a weekly series during the '25 season that will highlight playmakers and performances from throughout the state. It will be more of a highlight reel of big games and names as opposed to my usual approach which is to focus on more of a deep dive on each player.   On the bright side, this approach will increase the number of players getting recognized each week.   I will continue to write the deep dive articles as well and think the variety and the broader range of coverage should be a good thing.   In this report we will kick things off by looking at some team performances featuring multiple players stepping up with big games and then wrap up recognizing individual performances.that were noteworthy from this past week.   So, without further adieu, let's jump in and take a look.   Multi-Player Performances:   Blue Valley 28, Blue Valley Southwest, 21: my KC-counterpart, Santino Bernal has already written him up and top scout Coach Buckets plans on having him on his podcast this week, but I wanted to give [player_tooltip player_id='1582714' first='Blake' last='Thomas'], ATH, 5'11, 185, BVSW, '29, a quick shout as well. Not many times a freshman starts in his first varsity game, and rolls up 255 yards and three TD's, which included a long kick return for a score. He wasn't done there, as he also held on extra points for fellow freshman kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1743366' first='Rhys' last='Poggio'], kicker/punter, BVSW, '29, who went three for three on PAT's in his first varsity game.   Valley Center 38, Eisenhower 28: VC broke out their weapons and opened with a strong win, toppling Eisenhower on opening night. Leading the way was dual-threat gunslinger QB Connor Thatcher, 6'2, 205, QB, Valley Center, '26, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 278 yards, adding four TD's, two passing and running. Sedgwick transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1433331' first='Spencer' last='Crumrine'], 5'10, 165, WR, VC, '28, had an excellent debut as a Hornet with five catches for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On the other side of the ball [player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas'], RB, 5'8, 185, Eisenhower,'26, did a little bit of everything to help his team claw back with an incredible three kick returns for TD's (one called back), as well as piling up 151 yards rushing on 17 carries, averaging nine yards a carry, and two TD's. On the night he had 343 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.   Hays 22, Derby 21: The Indians were a team on a mission Friday night pulling off one of the bigger upsets in the state knocking off 6A powerhouse Derby in an exciting come-from-behind win. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='904445' first='Zane' last='Viegra'], 6'3, 190, QB, Hays, '26, who was injured in the playoffs last year, bounced back to lead his team on a stunning 96-yard scoring drive in the last three minutes of the game. With five seconds left on the clock he fired the TD pass and then converted the two-point conversion. Also coming up big was all-state running back Holden Linn, 5'9, 180, RB, Hays, '26, who was the workhorse all evening with 32 carries for 161 yards and two scores. Watch for the Indians this fall.   Ulysses 47, Colby 46: Both teams broke out the fireworks in a wild one out west as Caden Ledesma, QB/DB, 5'11, 175, Ulysses, '27, was an eye-popping 25 of 29 for 358 yards and five TD's, with two touchdowns going to primary target [player_tooltip player_id='1591270' first='Julian' last='Meraz'], 5' 10, 165, WR/DB, Ulysses, '26, who hauled in 14 receptions for 195 yards. On the other side of the ball [player_tooltip player_id='1327831' first='Maxson' last='Smiley'], 6'0, 185, QB, Colby, '28, passed for 274 yards and four touchdowns while teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1333005' first='Cody' last='Wright'] 5'10, 185, ATH, Colby, '26, added 286 total yards and a TD, which included 185 yards in returns and a sizzling 86-yard return for a score.   Lincoln 60, Ellis 14: The Leopards weren't messing around as they scored on the dreaded "hook and lateral" on the first play of the game as [player_tooltip player_id='1604524' first='Benjamin' last='Bell'], 6'1, 190, ATH, Lincoln, '27 took the lateral to the house after the Miller connection set it up, and then added four receptions for 110 receiving yards and a TD. Also coming up big as expected was dual-threat dynamo Jeremiah Miller, QB, 6'1, 195, Lincoln, '27, who completed 13 passes in 20 attempts for 226 yards and two TD's and added 132 yards rushing and three more scores. Not to be out done, Xavier Miller, 6'1, 185, ATH, Lincoln, '27, had seven catches for 138 receiving yards and three TD's, two receiving and one rushing. Along the line of scrimmage big, bad brawler [player_tooltip player_id='1566706' first='Brody' last='Shearer'], 6'0, 275, OL/DL, Lincoln, '26, handled business in the trenches all evening.   Wamego 40, Concordia 6: The Red Raiders came out firing on all cylinders as Coach Moody was pushing the right buttons in the blowout win. Junior gunslinger [player_tooltip player_id='1113129' first='Logan' last='Fulton'], 6'1, 195, QB, Wamego, '27, took off where he ended last year, dismantling defenses with his accurate arm week in and week out. This past Friday he piled up 332 yards and rifled five TD passes, with four of those touchdowns going to Dominic Falco, 6'0, 165, WR/K, Wamego, '26, who had a big night with 10 receptions for 213 yards and four TD's.   Hutchinson 34, Andover Central 0: Less than a year ago AC was wrapping up a state championship season but the Salthawks brought them back to earth with a shutout win last Friday night. Led by baller [player_tooltip player_id='1229113' first='Jackson' last='Anderson'], 5'11, 195, LB, Hutchinson, '26, who stacked up 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and also picked off a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. Also coming up big was standout athlete [player_tooltip player_id='904442' first='Robert' last='Hunter'] , 6'0, 185, QB/ATH, Hutchinson, '26, who transferred back to Hutch after playing with Wichita East last fall, who contributed three touchdowns and ran and passed for just under 200 yards.   Wichita Northwest 42, Bishop Carroll, 21: The loaded Northwest squad came out of the blocks strong and picked up standout performances from some of their top talent, as game-breaker wideout, [player_tooltip player_id='1660346' first='Griffin' last='Baker'], 6'3, 190, WR/ATH, Wichita NW, '26, busted out in a big way, snagging 10 passes for 175 yards, and setting a school record in the process. Also showing why he is one of the top QB's in the state and KU commit, [player_tooltip player_id='585904' first='Jaylen' last='Mason'], 6'3, 195, Wichita NW, '26, opened up scorching hot, completing 18 of 26 passes for 306 total yards, completed 70% of his throws and had a pair of scoring passes.     Other Top Performances:   [player_tooltip player_id='1466501' first='Emrick' last='Hays'], RB/LB, 5'10, 175, Garden Plain, '26. Speaking of setting school records, this guy put on a show Friday night and added one as well, rushing for 327 yards and three TDs as the Owls pummeled Trinity Academy 34-15. It came as no big surprise to Owl fans as last year he was an all-state performer who piled 1,157 yards and 18 TD's on offense and added 77 tackles and eight TFL on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='517090' first='Finn' last='Moore'], QB, 6'0, 195, Lawrence Free State, '26. The Firebirds came out with both barrels blazing and upset powerhouse Gardner Edgerton 35-34 in a huge game-one victory. Leading the charge was this junior signal caller and ace dual threat QB who carried the ball 20 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns and also was perfect through the air, completing three of three passes for 110 more yards and added another TD for a four TD night in his first start in the '25 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1656510' first='Bryis' last='Alford'], QB/LB, 5'11,175, Baldwin, '27. It was a dual-threat day for this playmaker as he posted a six TD night right out of the chute this season. In the air he completed six of seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground he carried the ball 10 times for 126 yards and three more scores.   [player_tooltip player_id='780341' first='Parker' last='Schwarz'], RB/ATH, 6'1, 215, Prairie View, '26. Another ho-hum Friday for this baller as he only carried the ball eight times and played in less than a quarter and a half of the game, but that enough time to pound the rock for a jaw-dropping 289 yards and five touchdowns. He also added an interception on defense. After a junior season when he rushed for 2,000+ yards and averaged over 200 a game, he is the favorite to crack the 2K barrier again this year.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys in action – you will not be disappointed.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'…

The first week of the new season got off to a wet sloppy start in some regions but for many the unseasonably mild weather made for ideal fall football weather.