Sub-State Teams/Ballers Rising To The Occasion

Championship week is upon us and we have some outstanding match-up's getting ready to play out later this week.   In this report, we will take a look at three intriguing teams - 4A Kapaun, 1A Sterling and 8M Hanover - and the associated ballers who stepped up to help them get to the big game.   So without further adieu, let's check out what these teams and playmakers have been up to:   KAPAUN MT CARMEL:    KMC Picture Above: From Left to Right: Isaiah Missana, 5'11, 205, DL/TE, KMC, '28, Brody O'Donnell, 6'1, 210, DL, KMC, 27; Ben Doering, 6'1, 210, DL/DE, KMC, '26; Melvin Pougoue, 6'4, 215, DE/DT, '26; Legendary Coach James Tabor, holding sub-state hardware in the middle, [player_tooltip player_id='1670215' first='Anthony' last='Salas'], 6'2, 255, DL/OL, KMC, '26; Aiden Flucas, 6'3, 235, NG/DL, KMC, '27; Max Worrell, 6'2, 210, OL/DL, '27; [player_tooltip player_id='1228926' first='Raphael' last='Oblinger'], 6'0, 205, DE/LB, '26.   So far in 4A post season this fall, the irresistible forces have met the immovable object, with the latter being known in this neck of the woods as the Kapaun Mt. Carmel Defensive Front...   That stonewall front line of the defense is populated with a host of terrorizing trench warriors like the guys pictured above; and then further reinforced by one of the most lethal linebacker units in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1114752' first='Cal' last='Purvis'], 6'3, 230, LB/RB, KMC, '26, an Air Force-commit, and all-around MLB annihilator who is a big-time playmaker wherever he lines up; Pete Keller, 5'11, 200, LB, KMC, '27, a hard-hitting outside LB who flies to the ball with excellent downhill closing speed and next-level athlete, Mason Collins, 6'4, 215, LB/ATH, KMC, '26, who is a big, hybrid baller and defensive destroyer who can play LB, DB or storm the gates rushing the passer off the edge.   So far in the playoffs this year the 11-1 Crusaders have allowed one score - dismantling offenses in the last four games by a cumulative score of 245-7. In their last four playoff games they have won on average 62-2 and have given up less than 80 yards rushing a game.   Kapaun is focused on a championship for the second time in three years after falling to Mill Valley two years ago. That team was built a little differently, as they gave up an average of 39 points per game on defense, but offset that with a high-scoring offense that averaged 50 points a game in the playoffs.   This year's team is also a juggernaut of an offense with a powerful running attack, featuring one of the state's most explosive all-purpose backs in junior Ken Huff, 6'0, 205, RB, KMC, '27, who has 1,400 yards rushing and 19 TD's so far; as well as senior Wyatt Sullenger, 5'10, 175, RB/LB, '26, who hammered defenses for 900 yards and had a nose for paydirt, scoring14 TD's so far this year. They can also bring in Purvis as a 230-pound battering ram fullback as needed.   So far the Crusaders are averaging 345 yards a game rushing and have piled up 62 TD's on the ground.   Losing to St James in game seven might have been the best thing to happen to them as they have been leaving scorched earth wherever they go since.     STERLING:   After waiting six years to get back to the title game, the unbeaten Sterling Black Bears have been a team on a mission all year and currently stand at 12-0. They will take on 10-time champion Smith Center, who is also undefeated at 11-0 this year. The Sterling offense has been explosive all year, using the flexbone to perfection while piling up 553 points and averaging 450+ all-purpose yards per game. The responsibility for keeping that high-octane offense hitting on all cylinders has been three all-purpose backs who have put on one sizzling performance after another this year. We will start with one of the most prolific backs in the state the last three years.   [player_tooltip player_id='780429' first='Zane' last='Farney']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zane-farney/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zane-farney/"></a> , 5'11, 185, RB/DB, Sterling, '26, he is the latest addition to the ultra-selective 2K-Rushing Club as he has run for 2,047 yards on 188 carries for an eye-popping 39 TD's and has averaged 11 yards per carry so far in 2025. He also added 223 return yards and was in on 61 tackles, a pair of TFL's, and two interceptions and fumble recoveries. He has elevated himself to being among the top running backs in the state, having rushed for 1,500+ yards each season before taking it to another level this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1545224' first='Wyatt' last='Newberry']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/wyatt-newberry/"></a> , 5'11, 175, ATH, Sterling, '26, he is an exciting all-purpose back who I started following early this year as he was carving up defenses every weekend. For the year he has been dynamic with 1,034 rush yards on a scant 74 carries, averaging 14+ yards per, with a long run off 88 yards and 15 total TD's. He was also a dangerous receiver and return man, picking up 600+ additional yards and a pair of return TD's to give him a total of 1,686 on the year. He was also ball-busting defender, piling up 100 tackles, eight TFL and picked off four passes on the other side of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639621' first='Logan' last='Isaac']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/logan-isaac/"></a> , 6'0, 185, QB/LB, Sterling, '26, he is the straw that stirs the drink in the powerful Sterling offense as a dual-threat QB who can throw the ball accurately when needed but has been called on to run it more often in the Black Bear flexbone. So far this year he has 400+ yards and 10 touchdowns and is averaging 7+ yards per carry. Through the air he was 8 of 17 for 209 yards, two TD passes and zero picks. On defense he is a multi-positional player who had 38 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.   Jacob Lewis, 6'0, 185, SS/QB, Sterling, '28, and last but not least, on the other side of the ball, I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to this guy who flew under the radar early in the season, but has been a dominating force all year and now word is getting out. In their sub-state win last week he had 17 tackles and was all over the field. He is one of the top headhunter defenders in the state as a sophomore heat-seeking missile, playing a hybrid strong-safety/linebacker, with a jaw-dropping 156 tackles, 16 TFL, five fumble recoveries, three sacks, and one interception so far. Wicked good numbers for a sophomore.     HANOVER:   It has been a few years since the state championship hardware resided in Hanover and after last season's loss in the second round of the playoffs these guys hit the off-season hard and were determined to flip the script in 2025. Fast forward to this fall and they have reeled off 12 straight wins, including snapping defending state champion Axtell's 58-game winning streak in game seven, 26-18 and then again last week 34-24 in sub-state, and will face a powerful Victoria squad who is also undefeated, in the title game.   Kadrick Cohorst, 5'11, 175, QB/LB, Hanover,'27, along the way this gunslinger may have been flying under the radar, but has been impressive all season, rifling 25 touchdown passes to only 3 picks, with 1,185 yards through the air. He's also added 512 rushing yards and 19 TD's on the ground, making him one of the most dynamic dual threats in 8-Man football. He had four TD's in the huge first win over Axtell in the regular season, as he and his teammates took an axe to their rival's incredible 58-game win streak. Last week it was more of the same as he led his teammates to a demonstrative 34-24 victory to advance to the championship game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250567' first='Brody' last='Sedlacek']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brody-sedlacek/"></a> , 6'0, 195, LB/RB, Hanover, '27, on the other side of the ball is a junior standout linebacker who caught my eye during his sophomore season and I have been following him closely since. He really stepped up big in the first Axtell win when they shattered the consecutive-win mark with 13 tackles and a pair of sacks and then gave them another dose of it last week in win number two. He is a heat-seeking missile of a LB with great instincts, instant read and react skills and plays a high-IQ defensive game. He is going to be a key playmaker in the championship game this week. Also a quick update on little bro...   [player_tooltip player_id='1331011' first='Ryder' last='Sedlacek']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ryder-sedlacek/"></a> , 5'10, 170, QB/ATH, Hanover, '29, he is the younger brother of Brody, who is a rising-star freshman, dual-threat QB who has been getting in quite a bit of special teams play and has seen some varsity snaps in the backfield as well. He is part of young, talented group of Wildcats who are getting a healthy dose of winning Hanover football this fall. Get this guy on your watchlists as he is a player to remember in the talented class of 2029.     In conclusion, get out and see these ballers 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'

Championship week is upon us and we have some outstanding match-up's getting ready to play out later this week.