Monday Review - Round 2 Playoff Performances

The 2025 playoffs have delivered a little bit of everything so far and round two last Friday was much of the same.   There were a number of blowout games that were expected and just enough upsets to keep things interesting.   And, along the way the over-the-top baller performances keep rolling in.   In this report, we have segmented it into three sections:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>SALINA SOUTH RISING TO THE OCCASION</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>GAME-BREAKER BACKS</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>HEADHUNTER DEFENDERS.</li> </ul>   So without further adieu, let's check out what these guys have been up to.     SALINA SOUTH RISING TO THE OCCASION:   The improbable show rolls on as Salina South edged Liberal 22-16 last Friday for their second playoff upset in a row and will face Salina Central this Friday. It will be a rock-fight rematch of the opening game of the year when Central won 31-21. After the loss South would go on to be 0-6 to start the the year before picking up win number one in week 7 over Campus. The next week they ran into a buzzsaw losing to 6A #1-ranked Maize, but regrouped and then went on to win a pair of playoff games and are winners of three of their last four games after losing their first six   [player_tooltip player_id='1125656' first='Kobie' last='Henley']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kobie-henley/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kobie-henley/"></a> , 6'3”, 185, ATH/DB, Salina South, ‘27, he caught my eye earlier in the season as headhunter of a safety who used his size, speed and athleticism to shut down passing attacks. He was also an excellent run-stuffer as he collapses down to make punishing open-field tackles at the line of scrimmage. That was evident last Friday when he helped lead the defense with 13 tackles and an interception. For the year he piled up 77 tackles and a two tackles for a loss. Keep an eye on this guy, as he is just getting warmed up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> , 5'11, 195, MLB/LS, Salina South, '27, I have been following this guy since last year as a pounding linebacker and ace long snapper, and he stepped up once again to help the Cougars continue their playoff run. Last Friday was much of the same as he helped shut down the run game with seven tackles, one tackle for a loss and a sack. For the season he was a mauling, brawling force between the tackles, delivering 66 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery.   [player_tooltip player_id='1566712' first='Armane' last='Redmond']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/armane-redmond/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/armane-redmond/"></a> , 5'10, 175, RB, Salina South, '27, he is another rising star running back who has been on my radar for awhile now and last Friday he stepped up once again with a big game when his team needed it. Against Liberal he pounded the rock 25 times for 135 yards and a TD. It was his second straight game over 100 yards rushing and bumped his total yards for the season to 1,001 yards running and receiving. For the year in the ground game he carried the ball 216 times for 932 yards and scored six times.   [player_tooltip player_id='1620555' first='Ra'shawn' last='Jones'], 6'3, 190, LB/DB, Salina South, '26, he caught my eye a year ago as a versatile defender with excellent size, speed and athleticism. He has amped that up this year and came through with a key TFL and created a fumble off a sack that helped seal the win last Friday. He was also a swarming force on the ball and added seven tackles from his LB position. He is looking forward to the approaching game with Central as the last time the two teams played he piled up 15 tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1425448' first='Jaxon' last='Myers'], 5'11, 170, WR/DB, Salina South, '26, also stepping up when the Cougars needed it was this two-way baller who grabbed six receptions for 134 yards, averaging 22+ yards per catch and hauled in two touchdowns on receptions. On the season he has 43 catches for 821 yards, averaged 19+ per catch and had nine touchdowns, including a scorching 82 yarder earlier in the year.   Izrael Telles, 6'1, 165, QB, Salina South, '28, this sophomore gunslinger has been flying under the radar and has quietly delivered all year. Last Friday he stepped up to complete 13 of 19 passes for 214 yards and a pair of TD passes to Myers. He has been smokin' hot the last two games, going 25 of 33 for 331 yards and four scores. On the year he has thrown for 2,104 yards and 22 touchdowns. This guy can wing it.     GAME-BREAKER BACKS:   [player_tooltip player_id='1229095' first='Grady' last='Gebhardt'], 5'10, 185, ATH, SE Saline, '26, coming off a state-champion season and an incredible junior stat line a year ago, he didn't rest on his laurels this year and put an exclamation point on it last Friday when he went scorched earth in their second-round win over Russell, 44-12. On the night he carried 25 times for an eye-popping 341 yards, averaging 14 yards a carry and scored four TD's. So far this year he leads the state with 38 TD's and has stacked up 2,194 yards rushing and receiving. Next up: Phillipsburg, who defeated Haven 52-22.   [player_tooltip player_id='904436' first='Augie' last='Fast']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/augie-fast/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/augie-fast/"></a> , 6'1, 195, RB, Wichita NW, '26, he has been the primary weapon in the Grizzly running-attack this year and that was evident last Friday when he helped his team roll over Washburn Rural 52-28. On the night he was practically unstoppable carrying the ball 25 times for 294 yards and five TD's, and caught a 62-yard TD pass to give him a six-touchdown night. For the year he has carried the ball 128 times for 1,413 yards, 12 yards a carry and 26 TD's. He also added 265 yards on receptions and three more scores to give him 1,681 total yards and 29 total TD's for the year. Next up: Derby, who defeated Junction City 28-7 to proceed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113368' first='Daxton' last='Minton'], 6'0, 190, QB, Great Bend, '26, he has led his team to an unbeaten 10-0 mark so far this year and continued dealing a hot hand last Friday, breezing by Bishop Carroll, 49-7. On the night he showed why he is one of the top dual-threat QB's in the state, carrying the ball eight times for 193 yards, averaging a jaw-dropping 24+ yards per carry and scored three times. He didn't have to pass much with the lopsided score but completed 8 of 13 for 70 yards. On the year he put up impressive stats, firing 93 completions in 138 attempts for 1,505 yards , 23 TD passes and only three picks. Next up, Hays, who took care of Hutchinson, 27-6 last week. These teams played each other in October when GB prevailed 43-19, the closest any team has gotten to them all season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672694' first='Brody' last='Hale'], 6'0, 185, QB, Olathe West, ‘26, he has been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the state this year and stepped up again last Friday to help his team win in a shootout over Olathe South 55-44. In that game the dual-threat sharp shooter was sizzling hot, completing 13 of 18 passes for 251 yards and five TD passes. He also carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards and two more scores to give him a 7-TD night. For the year he has been a stud from the start, completing 122 of 188 passes for 2,119 yards and 31 TD passes to only six picks and a glittering 129 passer rating. He also added 435 yards rushing to give him 2,567 total yards and 38 total TD's for the year. Next up, Olathe NW who beat Blue Valley West last Friday 38-14.   Cade Liggett, 6'0, 195, ATH, Pratt, '28, he caught my eye earlier in the year when he showed off his wheels in track as one of the fastest sprinters in the state. He has parlayed that blazing speed into a standout sophomore season, and last Friday was much of the same as he carried the ball 21 times for 201 yards and a pair of scores, caught two passes for 55 yards and another TD and added seven tackles on defense. For the season he has carried the ball 125 times for 1,031 yards, an 8+ average and nine TD's. He also caught 10 passes for 132 yards and two more scores to give him 1,187 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns. Next up: #1-ranked and undefeated Andale, who pounded Clay Center last week, 51-6.     HEADHUNTER DEFENDERS:   [player_tooltip player_id='904440' first='Dalton' last='Hornback']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dalton-hornback/"></a> , Edge/OLB, 6'2, 220, Derby, '26, the Panthers have had an up and down season but have made some late-season adjustments to once again be in the discussion for winning a state championship. Last week they made a statement defeating a strong Junction City team 28-7 and this guy once again stepped up to help lead a rock-solid defense. In Derby's last three games they have shut down teams, only allowing a little over eight points a game. Last Friday he was penetrating force with six tackles, four tackles for loss and at least a half-dozen QB hurries. Next up: powerful Wichita Northwest, who disposed of Washburn Rural 52-28 last week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1114751' first='Jesus' last='Delgado']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jesus-delgado/"></a>  , 6'1, 220, LB, Salina Central, '26, he is a standout defender who I recently covered and he just continues to deliver when his team needs it. Last week he helped his team defeat Goddard 62-31 with an impressive 15 tackles and a pair of TFL. Central has defeated Goddard twice this year and in those two games this pounding LB had 31 tackles and two TFL. For the year he has been a headhunter of an inside linebacker who has piled up 109 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. Next up: a rematch with South who they beat in the first game of the year 31-21. Last week South upset Liberal 22-16, and have won 3 of their last 4 games.   [player_tooltip player_id='1229113' first='Jackson' last='Anderson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jackson-anderson-3/"></a> , 5'11, 185, LB, Hutchinson, ‘26, his season ended sooner than he and his teammates would have liked, falling to Hays 27-16 last week. In that game he stepped up with 14 tackles, four TFL and a sack. In the last two games he had 32 tackles, six TFL and a pair of sacks, and it was a continuation of how he has played all year. Currently he is the top tackler in the state regardless of class with 128 tackles and has added 14 TFL, six sacks and two interceptions with one of them a pick-6 TD. This guy is a ball-buster of a backer who has next-level instincts and closing speed and will be playing somewhere on Saturdays next fall.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys while you still can.   Note: if your stats referenced above are inaccurate let me know - my stat source is usually MAXPREPS and lately have caught numerous errors in their numbers.   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

The 2025 playoffs have delivered a little bit of everything so far and round two last Friday was much of the same.