Playoff Playmakers Making A First-Round Difference

It has taken a couple of months and eight games along the way but the post-season finally ascended on the Sunflower state last week.   This year's edition of the post-season officially kicked off last Thursday and then opened the flood-gates on Friday for the rest of the match-up's. Most of the games went as expected with the favored teams winning but with just enough upsets tossed in to keep things interesting.   Games like #14-seed Salina South knocking off #3-seed Andover, 24-20...   However, games like that are outliers; typically, when high-seeds face low-seeds, the outcome is a lopsided matchup, with backups seeing most of the action and starters posting low stat lines due to sitting out most of the game.   This year's first round of the post season has played out like it usually does, but in doing so it has set up some interesting next-round matchup's.   In this report we will take a look at a baker's dozen of players from a variety of positions who are off and running making a difference right out of the chute in the 2025 post season. First up, we take a look at a handful of "seek-and-destroy" defenders, followed by playmakers who have been bringing the fireworks all year and then call it a wrap with a few gunslinger QB's who have been dealing a hot hand coming down the homestretch.   So without further adieu, let's check out what these guys have been up to.   SEEK-AND-DESTROY DEFENDERS:   [player_tooltip player_id='1615986' first='Rendor' last='Hada']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rendor-hada/"></a> , 6'1, 220, DE/RB, Maize, '27, first out of the chute is a headhunter coming off the edge for the relentless Eagle defense. He has been one of the unsung heroes on the Maize defense, starting the season as a relative unknown but quickly raising his profile with consistently standout play. He has an aggressive game, using his powerful frame and heavy hands to dismantle double teams and shut down the perimeter on his side. With his instincts, attitude and quick lateral movement he blows up plays all along the line of scrimmage. In the regular season he accounted for 51 tackles, six tackles for loss, six sacks and three fumble recoveries, including a scoop and score TD. Following #1 Maize's 76-0 opening win they will face a Wichita East team that defeated Dodge City last Friday.   [player_tooltip player_id='1599037' first='Marcus' last='Johnson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/marcus-johnson-6/"></a> , 6'1, 215, LB/P/K, Wichita Southeast, '26, he is a multi-positional player who has helped spearhead an excellent resurgence for the Golden Buffaloes, marking the first team since 2000 to post a 7-win season. This past week he was all over the field, making nine tackles with a pair of TFL, lining up as an inside linebacker or moving out to crash the gates off the edge and helped his team to a 7-0, first-round win over Heights. With next-level instincts and closing speed, he quickly works through blockers tracking the ball carrier and is a punishing open-field tackler upon arrival. Through the regular season he had 66 tackles, 13 TFL, eight sacks and one fumble recovery while handling punting and kicking duties. Next up a big matchup with a now-healthy Manhattan squad.   [player_tooltip player_id='1881280' first='Brooks' last='Bayer'], 6'2, 240, DE/Edge/TE, Spring Hill, '27, he is a rising star three-way baller who has had a standout season and is just returning from his most recent game-visit, this time to Illinois State over the weekend. In last Friday's demolition of KC Harmon 74-0, he didn't see much action but was effective when in, picking up two tackles and a pair of tackles for a loss. With his prototype size, explosiveness and overall athleticism, word is getting out that he is an edge rusher who can muscle up and man-handle blockers on the edge, but also has the burst and bend to slide past OT's into the backfield. On the year he has 57 tackles, 21 TFL, 11 sacks, three fumble recoveries, all scoop and score TD's, and two interceptions, both returned for TD's, to give him an eye-popping five defensive TD's total. He is also averaging 44+ yards a punt. Next Up: powerful St James Academy.   [player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/maddox-girard/"></a> , 5'11, 190, MLB/LS, Salina South, '27, it has been a challenging season for the Cougars up until a couple of weeks ago as they started the year losing their first six games, with three by a TD or less. However they started putting things together in October and the result was winning two of their last three games, including an upset win in the first round of the playoffs last Friday over Andover 24-20, who at one time was ranked #7 in 5A and on a six-game winning streak. In that October run this two-way baller MLB and long snapper, played a pivotal role on defense and special teams. In the playoff opener he racked up 10 tackles, a pair of TFL, and had a fumble recovery. On the year he has 60 tackles, six TFL and three sacks. He is also a next-level long snapper who has been fine-tuning his craft all year. Next up: Liberal.   [player_tooltip player_id='1585530' first='Mason' last='Moaliitele']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/mason-moaliitele/"></a> , 6'0, 210, LB/RB, Derby, '27, it has been an up and down season for this versatile linebacker as the Panthers absorbed three regular-season losses, which is uncommon for this program, and then was injured in week five, suffering a torn labrum with chipped bone. As expected he was diligent in his rehab and was able to return last Friday and help his teammates to a shellacking of Topeka 49-0 in the first round of the post season. He is also back just in time to help the Panthers take on a dangerous Junction City team this coming Friday. He is an athletic baller who was an all-conference RB last year, but focused on being a heavy-hitting linebacker this year and was off to a great start with 77 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions in only five games. Next up: Junction City.     PLAYMAKERS BRINGING THE FIREWORKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1403609' first='Arley' last='Morrell'], 6'6, 215, TE/DE/ATH, Pratt, '26, this multi-sport, D1-talent and Colorado State-commit was off to a somewhat slow start this year but in the last three games has been sizzling hot and seeming to get better every game. Over that span he accounted for 327 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. Last Friday was much of the same in the first round of post season as he helped his team to a big win over Chaparral 42-14, with four receptions for 122 yards, 10 tackles and scored three TD's. On defense for the year he piled up 61 tackles, three tackles for a loss, a pair of sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries, and also averaged 39 yards a punt and had 17 total touchdowns. Next up: 8-1 Hugoton.   [player_tooltip player_id='1590403' first='Braylen' last='Dold']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/braylen-dold/"></a> , 5'11, 175, RB/DB, Garden Plain, '28, this three-way rising star is a sophomore I have had my eye on since earlier in the year and he has not disappointed. This past Friday he helped his team to a 56-14 win over Douglass and along the way ran for 172 yards on 17 carries, scored a touchdown and picked off a pass. On the year, he has been a versatile playmaker who can do a little bit of everything, piling up 926 all-purpose yards, including 543 rushing yards on 57 carries, two receptions for 63 yards, both for TD's, 150 yards in kick returns, 170 in punt returns, and seven total touchdowns. On defense he has made 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, intercepted four passes, and added a fumble recovery. Next up: 6-3 Beloit.    [player_tooltip player_id='1566712' first='Armane' last='Redmond']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/armane-redmond/"></a> , 5'9, 175, RB, Salina South, '27, he is another Cougar rising star all-purpose RB and receiver who came up big on the other side of the ball to help them pull off the stunning 24-20 upset win over Andover, a team who had been rolling along on a six-game winning streak. Last Friday he was a man on a mission who went off with 175+ all-purpose yards and scored a key TD. It was a big night and similar to how he performed in week two when he rushed for 181 yards and scored a TD. Overall, in the regular season he ran and caught passes for 750+ total yards and scored six TD's. This week he and his 'mates will need all the mojo they can muster as they take on a talented Liberal squad, who is coming off a win over Topeka Seaman.   [player_tooltip player_id='933824' first='Coy' last='Barta'], 6'3, 170, ATH, Topeka Seaman, '27, speaking of Seaman, the season was challenging and ended sooner than hoped last Friday, but this guy was a bright spot after coming off an injury in the off-season and then posting a good stat line this fall despite the 3-6 record. With his ideal size, catch radius and next-level athleticism he is adept at running precise routes and generating separation. He is fearless going over the middle and has consistent hands and concentration in heavy traffic but can also torch secondaries on the long ball. Last week in a first-round loss to DeSoto he averaged 20 yards a reception and scored two TD's. On the year he caught 33 passes for 558 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Expect Barta to bust out next fall.     SIZZLING-HOT GUNSLINGER QB'S:   [player_tooltip player_id='780458' first='Conrad' last='Gomez']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/conrad-gomez/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/conrad-gomez/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/conrad-gomez/"></a> , 6'1, 185, QB, Junction City, '26, it has been a baller season for this dual-threat QB as he has led his team to a 7-2 record and important wins playing week in and week out against some of the best 6A schools in the state. The senior sharpshooter set the tone early this season with a six-TD performance in game one and kept a red-hot pace all year completing 108 passes out of 200 attempts for 1,655 yards, rifled 25 touchdown passes and impressively only threw two picks all year. He has operated the high-octane Bluejay offense expertly all year and carried it over into the post season, as he led his team to a 55-7 win over an out-manned Wichita West squad. On the night he had 158 yards running and passing and three TD's in limited minutes. Up next: the always dangerous Derby Panthers.   [player_tooltip player_id='585904' first='Jaylen' last='Mason']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaylen-mason/"></a> , 6'3, 205, Wichita NW, '26, the KU-commit has played all season like the force multiplier, D1-dual threat that he is, and continued in that razor-sharp mode last Friday, leading NW to a 57-14 thrashing of Campus in the opening round of post season play. In that game he was effective in limited time, completing 8 of 9 passes for 237 yards, an 89% completion percentage, and four TD's to zero picks. For the year he has completed 98 out of 148 passes for 1,487 yards, a 66% completion percentage, a 17:1 TD-to-Interception ratio and an impressive passer rating of 135. He has also picked up 425 yards rushing and two more TD's for 1,912 total yards and 19 TD's, while averaging 47 yards a punt the last three games. Also a quick shout out to younger bro, Peyton Mason, 6'0, 175, QB/LB, Wichita NW, '29, who was off and running getting acclimated to the varsity game and saw some action early in the year, running and passing for 139 yards, before sustaining a knee injury in week five that ended his season. With his brother moving on to KU next year, this young gun is well positioned for his next steps.   Canann Mitchell, 6'1, 175, QB, Rossville, '26, he is a dual-threat quarterback who has been lighting up scoreboards and leading his team to wins week in and week out all year. Last Friday, in the first round of post season he saw limited action in his team's 71-0 rout of Mission Valley, but was his usual dangerous self while in the game, going 4 of 5 for 85 yards passing, carried the ball three times for 52 yards for 137 total yards and scored three touchdown's. He has been a lethal dual threat who is equally effective destroying teams on the ground or in the air, and for the year completed 76 of 113 passes for 1,184 yards, a 67% completion percentage, and 15 TD passes to only one pick, and a sparkling 136 passer rating. He also carried 83 times for 684 yards and 11 TD's, for 1,868 total yards and 26 TD's. Next up Jefferson County.   Caden Ledesma, 5'11, 175, QB, Ulysses, '27, last and certainly not least we have a western Kansas gunslinger who caught my attention earlier in the year with his impressive performances and I have been following since. In particular, he was en fuego in the season opener, going a blistering 25 of 29 for 356 yards and five TD's. This past week he and his teammates lost the playoff opener to a surging Rose Hill team 36-13, but he played well in a losing effort, completing 21 of 34 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. On the year the junior completed 166 of 242 passes for 1,733 yards, a 69% completion percentage, threw 14 TD passes and had four picks (only one pick in regular-season play). He has been flying under the radar somewhat playing in western Kansas but is well on his way for a big senior season.   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'

It has taken a couple of months and eight games along the way but the post-season finally ascended on the Sunflower state last week.