Week 7 Ballers Showcasing Their Next-Level Game

Week 7 lived up to it's billing as sports fans saw a ton of top performances. There were also some wild games throughout the state as teams starting shifting into overdrive for post season play.   Some of the games were beyond big as Hanover knocked off #1-ranked Axtell 26-18 and snapped their 58-game winning streak. Others were crazy, as Cedar Vale-Dexter nipped Oswego 88-86. It was also tough for 4A ranked teams as six of the top ten lost including the top two teams.   There were also so many standout individual performances, it made it hard to narrow down who would be included, and who would have to wait until later in the week.   In this report we will take a look at some large and in charge trench warriors to start with, shift gears to a handful of two-way ballers and then finish off with some high-flying quarterbacks who are going scorched earth so far in 2025.   So without further adieu, let's check out what these guys have been up to.     TRENCH WARRIORS:   [player_tooltip player_id='1125648' first='Maddox' last='McGinnis'], 6'4, 300, OL, Wichita NW, '27, he is already a well-known trench warrior in the Sunflower state and one who has been getting significant D1-attention from blue-chip programs all over the country. He has helped his team to a sparkling 6-1 record and playing like one of the top teams in the state. With his next-level size and reach, powerful frame and aggressive attitude he hammers defenders in the run game, jacking the opposition in the jaw on down blocks, chipping off to pick up second-level defenders or pulling on the edge to lead sweeps and screens downfield. In pass pro, he has well-schooled mechanics and gets leverage with a quick-strike initial positioning step, before walling off to protect his QB. This guy is just getting warmed up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1742091' first='Kameron' last='Joel Geathers'], 6'2, 305, C/DL, Leavenworth, '27, next up is Big Kam, who has put the team on his back from his center position and helped the squad to an excellent 6-1 start to the year. The big man has been a stabilizing force in the middle on offense as the team's center but he is versatile enough to play guard or tackle as needed. With his size, quick feet and explosiveness he can expertly crush the rush in pass pro or steamroll defenders in the run game. He had a productive off-season and it is reaping benefits as he has been off to a great start to his junior year of balling in the trenches. He is a dominating force along the line of scrimmage and is shifting gears for a huge post-season run.   TWO-WAY BALLERS:   [player_tooltip player_id='1310337' first='Christian' last='Henderson'], 6'3, 215, DE/WR, Newton, '27, it has been a challenging year for the Railroaders and this past Friday it was even more so as they lost a gut-wrenching game to Hutchinson 15-14. One bright spot has been this two-way playmaker who is lining up at tight end on offense and as a gate-crashing edge rusher/defensive end on the other side of the ball. With standout size, catch radius and soft hands, he can make the contested grab over the middle or quickly find gaps in zone coverage. With his size and athleticism he consistently picks up yards after the catch. On defense he is ball-buster edge who hits blockers in the mouth and demonstrates good closing speed when tracking the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1597293' first='Logan' last='Gaither'], 6'2, 215, FB/LB, Oxford, '27, he is another junior baller who is off to an outstanding start helping lead the Wildcats to an unbeaten start. On offense he is a big all-purpose back who usually lines up as a bulldozing fullback with speed to burn who tramples defenders in his path on offense. On defense he is a ball-busting linebacker who shuts down the run game between the tackles or amps it up to motor out on the perimeter to make plays. So far this season he is averaging a team-high 145 yards and three TD's per game in the ground attack. On defense he is headhunter of a middle linebacker who delivers helmet-thumping hits and is averaging 10 tackles per game. This guy and his teammates are on a roll.   [player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard'], 5'11, 190, MLB/LS, Salina South, '27. It has been a challenging season for the Cougars as they have played a brutal schedule and are a better team than their record indicates. One of the team's glimmers of hope is this two-way baller who helped his team to a big victory last Friday, 55-6 over Campus. Although he only played a little over a quarter he still piled up six tackles, four tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks as his team denied the Colts from scoring on nine straight defensive stops. On the year he has 50 tackles, four TFL and three sacks. He is also a versatile long snapper who has fine-tuned his craft and consistently delivers snaps in the .78-.83 range, which is next-level proficiency.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250567' first='Brody' last='Sedlacek'], 5'11, 185, LB/RB, Hanover, '27, he is a baller linebacker that caught my eye during his sophomore season as a rising star to add to my watchlist and he has proven to be just that. This year he and his teammates are off to an undefeated 7-0 start after pulling off a victory for the ages last week when they knocked off powerhouse #1-ranked Axtell and shattered their 58-game winning streak. This hard-hitting playmaker has been off to a standout season so far but really came up big against Axtell with 13 total tackles, and a sack. Also a quick update on little bro [player_tooltip player_id='1331011' first='Ryder' last='Sedlacek'], 5'10, 170, QB/ATH, Hanover, '29, who is a freshman, dual-threat QB and a rising star on his own and is getting in quite a bit of special teams play and has taken some varsity snaps once the Wildcats started drubbing teams. Keep this guy in focus as he is getting ready to produce some fireworks of his own in the coming years.     GUNSLINGER QB'S:   [player_tooltip player_id='1643737' first='Reign' last='Illian']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/reign-illian/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/reign-illian/"></a> , 6'4, 205, QB, Maize South, '27, he is a junior gunslinger who entered the year as an almost unknown and one I have had my eye on since this summer. He wasted little time displaying his next-level skill sets as so far he is the #2 passer in the state overall and the top junior with 1,800+ passing yards, completing 147 of 224 passes for a 66% completion percentage and 19 TD's. Most recently, in a losing effort against Derby, he erupted for a 500+ total yard night, completing 29 of 47 passes for 474 yards and four TD's through the air. He also added 50 yards rushing. He recently returned from a Vanderbilt visit where he got to see them beat LSU, and where my old college teammate and coaching partner, Jerry Kill, is the chief consultant to the head coach and senior offensive advisor. Illian is the real deal, with an elite arm and is already getting a ton of attention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1452155' first='Will' last='Quinn']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/will-quinn/"></a> , 6'2, 195, QB/DB, Andover, '27, it has been a strong season for the Lions as they absorbed an opening-day loss to #1-ranked Maize before reeling off five wins in the last six weeks and are already geared up for post-season play. Last Thursday this dual-threat gunslinger QB led his team on seven straight scoring drives and a huge win over previously unbeaten Salina Central 48-21. On the night he led a brutally-effective offensive attack and was smoking hot from behind the center, accounting for six total touchdwns, four running and two through the air. On the ground he was effective all night with 103 yards on 15 carries and was perfect in the air completing three for three with two of them going for scores. Watch out for this guy and his 'mates in the coming weeks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1955813' first='Brett' last='LaDuke'], 6'4, 215, QB, Blue Valley West, '26, he is another gunslinger making his mark for the first time in the Sunflower state this year as he transferred to Blue Valley West from Highland Park in Dallas in the off-season. He wasted little time hitting the ground running and so far in '25 is one of the top passers in the state, having completed 134 of 201 passes for 1,615 yards and 14 TD's. Last week in a close loss to Blue Valley he rifled 34 completions in 46 attempts for 325 yards and three touchdowns. With prototype size and the ability to rapid-fire surgical strikes with exacting ball placement as well as launch the long touch pass in the vertical game, he is going to be a hot commodity.   John Hornback, 6'0, 185, QB, St James Academy, '27, he is a baller of a dual-threat QB who has led the Thunder to a 6-1 record, with their only loss coming in the second game of the season against powerful Aquinas. This past week he came through when his team needed him most as he led the troops to an eye-popping 38-35 win over 4A #1-ranked Kapaun. In that game he completed 19 of 28 passes for 283 yards, four touchdowns and an impressive 140 passer rating. On the year he has played a hot hand, slinging 75 completions in 125 attempts for 1,039 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has also carried the ball 66 times for another 422 yards and four TD's, for almost 1,500 total yards and 18 TD's. This guy is a ringer and he and his team are peaking at the right time.   Izrael Telles, 6'1, 170, QB, Salina South, '28, he is another Cougar who came up big in last week's huge win over Campus when he was razor sharp before sitting out a big chunk of the game once they got ahead. While in he completed 12 of 13 passes for 276 yards, a wicked 92% completion percentage and a sizzling six touchdowns, including an 82-yard bomb. He has been a standout sophomore gunslinger all year running the gauntlet of a tough schedule and has delivered week in and week out. Through the first seven games he has completed 101 out of 198 passes for a state-leading 1,618 yards (for sophomore QB's). This playmaker has been flying under radar somewhat but is rapidly changing that with his outstanding underclassman play.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys while you still can.   And, as always -   Keep Grindin'

Week 7 lived up to it's billing as sports fans saw a ton of top performances. There were also some wild games throughout the state as teams starting shifting into overdrive for post season play.