It's a Wrap - Week 8 Monday Morning Chatter

Week 8 has come and gone and with it plenty of great games and gaudy performances throughout the state.   Playoff time is when the ballers in the state don't just play the game, they live playoffs and all it represents - winning and losing as a team, leaving every fiber on the field and for the best of the best ballers, the opportunity to demonstrate grace under pressure and coming through in the clutch.   But before we shift gears to the critical season-within-a-season finale, I am going to take a step back and shine a quick spotlight on how we wrapped up the regular season.   In this report we will be taking a quick look at a dozen multi-positional performers and key support personnel who stepped up this past Friday in taking their game to a whole different level.   First up are some headhunter defenders coming in hard and fast from outside the trenches, followed by a look at the other side of the ball and some of the best skill players in the state.   So without further adieu, let's check out how these guys wrapped up the regular season last Friday.     [player_tooltip player_id='617465' first='Jamiere' last='Armstrong']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamiere-armstrong/"></a> , 6'0, 175, DB/ATH, Heights, '26, he is a headhunter of a defender whose team has had a challenging year, but his play has been exceptional and finished the regular season as one of the top tacklers in the state. With his top-end closing speed and standout instincts he has piled up a state-leading 118 tackles in eight games, which includes a two-game span earlier in the year when he had a jaw-dropping 46 tackles. He finished the regular season last Friday with a big game, accounting for 16 tackles and solidifying his 15-tackle-a-game average. With his burst and athleticism he can play as a shutdown corner or blanket receivers in zone as a safety.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241209' first='Jackson' last='Reed']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jackson-reed/"></a> , 6'1, 215, LB, Eisenhower, '26, another baller backer who cracked triple digits with 101 tackles through his first eight games, averaging 13 per game. He had a one-game high of 15 tackles earlier in the year and never dipped below double digits all season. Lining up most of the year at inside LB, he is also comfortable as an outside linebacker who can storm the gates rushing the passer off the edge. Against the running game he is a ballbuster of a hitter who collapses down to destroy backs before they can hit the gap. He moves well laterally, takes good pursuit angles and plays the game with a ruthlessly combative attitude.   [player_tooltip player_id='812781' first='Trent' last='Rymer']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/trent-rymer/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/trent-rymer/"></a> , 5'11”, 175, LB/RB, Piper, ‘26, following a junior season when he had 100+ tackles he has picked up where he left off last season and has accumulated 91 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack through eight games. He is also an impact on the other side of the ball as a RB who is averaging seven yards a carry with just under 200 yards in the ground game. As a LB he quickly diagnoses plays and is all gas and no brakes blowing up gaps between the tackles and has the burst and athleticism to shoot down backs trying to hit the perimeter. His read and react skills are next level and he is adept at disengaging from the blocker before delivering bone-crushing hits.   [player_tooltip player_id='904445' first='Zane' last='Viegra']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zane-viegra/"></a> , 6'3, 195, QB, Hays, '26, after a frustrating injury in last season's playoffs he hit it hard in the off-season and came back locked in and is a man on a mission. With prototype size and athleticism, he is a dangerous dual-threat gunslinger who has thrown for 631 yards and 12 touchdwns, while running for another 214 yards. He has a versatile arm with solid mechanics and delivers with good ball placement attacking all three levels of the defense. The Indians have played a brutal schedule, only losing to #2 Great Bend, and to #5 Manhattan by two points. They offset those close loses with big-time wins over Derby, Junction City and highly-ranked Choctaw, OK.   [player_tooltip player_id='1229066' first='Manny' last='Myers']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/manny-myers/"></a> , 6'0, 185, QB/ATH, Mulvane, '26, he elevated his game last year as one of the top dual-threat QB's in the state and has once again delivered a sizzling season so far in '25. After a close loss in game one, he and his teammates have ripped off seven straight wins, have won the last three games by an average score of 50-3 and are currently ranked #4 in 4A. Along the way this lethal dual-threat gunslinger has amped up the Wildcat run game with 1,017 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per run and 12 TD's. Through the air he has completed 39 of 69 for 493 yards and six more TD's and has only thrown one pick in the last seven games. Also delivering the goods has been younger brother, Grady Myers, 5'10, 170, RB/DB, Mulvane, '27, and between the two of them have super-charged the Wildcat running game. At the start of the season he was largely flying under the radar but started changing all that in game two when he scored three TD's and rushed for 135 yards. From there he hammered teams the rest of the year, piling up a team-high, 1,109 yards on 120 carries and has scored 18 TD's. He is more than a dangerous runner, as he is also a standout DB and return man.   [player_tooltip player_id='1593671' first='Jesiah' last='Gooch']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jesiah-gooch/"></a> , 6'2, 215, RB/LB, Hillsboro, '26, the Washburn-commit had a productive off-season turning heads with his speed and athleticism and the hard work produced immediate results. Coming off an all-state junior year, he is a jackhammer of a running back who uses his size and speed to trample through defenders running inside or utilize his next-level quickness and burst to hit the corners running wide. So far this year he has 909 yards on 95 carries, averaging just under 10 yards per carry and 18 TD's, including a six-TD night against Lyons a couple weeks ago. On defense he has been even more dominating as a seek-and-destroy LB with 81 tackles, and 11 TFL.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113405' first='Keedrin' last='Jones']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/keedrin-jones/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/keedrin-jones/"></a> , 5'10, 185, RB/DB, Rose Hill, '26, he and his teammates have been one of the surprise success stories this year after coming off a disappointing season a year ago. This multi-talented, two-way running back/defensive back has been a big part of the flip to a winning record and receiving "others" votes in the rankings, with 1,000+ yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, including a blistering-hot game last week with five touchdowns, carrying the ball 16 times for 205 yards. He is a slashing, pounding runner with great instincts who hits the hole with a quick burst delivering blows between the tackles or using his 4.5 speed and acceleration to burn defenders off the edge.   [player_tooltip player_id='1613501' first='Kedrick' last='Harrison']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kedrick-harrison/"></a> , 5'9”, 185, RB, Wichita Southeast, ‘27, another surprise team who is starting to get some well-deserved attention, sitting at 6-2 and receiving "others" votes in the rankings. Helping spearhead the offense has been this multi-positional, three-way playmaker who has 1,200+ total yards, with 1,052 yards rushing, averaging seven yards a carry and scoring seven TD's and added another 175 yards in receptions and returns. In their game seven win over Wichita West he carried 28 times for 261 yards and scored three touchdown. With his versatile baller-back game and the team dealing a hot hand, these guys are going to be a dangerous draw in the playoffs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1644566' first='Evan' last='Hutto']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/evan-hutto/"></a> , 6'1, 165, WR/DB, Winfield, '26, it has been a disappinting season for the Vikings but one bright spot has been this two-way playmaker who has stepped up on both sides of the ball as a wideout and defensive back. On the year he has piled up right at 700 yards and 22+ yards per reception and peaked against McPherson by setting a school record of 275 receiving yards on nine receptions and scored a touchdown. He is a versatile two-way baller with an excellent catch radius in the receiving game and is also a baller in the secondary with 20 tackles and three tackles for loss and can also drop back and return kicks if needed.   [player_tooltip player_id='403631' first='Cordale' last='Johnson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cordale-johnson/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cordale-johnson/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cordale-johnson/"></a> , 6'1, 165, DB/WR, Northwest, '27, the junior three-way baller has delivered all year as a guy who is a dangerous wideout on offense, a ballhawk defensive back on the other side of the ball and is also a scorched-earth return man on special teams. He is coming off concussion protocol a couple games ago by only returning kicks last Friday and he promptly responded with a 50-yard punt return for a TD. On the year he has 348 yards in receptions and returns and has a pair of TD's. On defense he has piled up 26 tackles, a TFL and has three interceptions. With the injury behind him and the team rolling along as the #2 team in the state get ready for fireworks.   In conclusion, get out and see these guys while you still can.   And, as always -   Keep Grindin'

Week 8 has come and gone and with it plenty of great games and gaudy performances throughout the state.