Record-setting tailback Ky Thomas of Topeka is the state's Player of the Year; Derby's Brandon Clark is Coach of the Year after second straight perfect 6A season.
Video: Season highlights of Ky Thomas Topeka senior running back is the Kansas Player of the Year.
Ky Thomas finished with a flurry, just not a win. But nobody will ever say he didn't go down with a huge fight.
The
ridiculously athletic senior running back for
Topeka (Kan.) rushed a
staggering 49 times for 366 yards and three touchdowns against the
eventual state 6A champion Mentor Panthers.
But
it wasn't enough in the 6A state semifinals, losing 63-35 to the now
two-time defending champions. Thomas, the state's No. 3 recruit
according to 247Sports who will attend Minnesota next season,
definitely left his mark.
He finished a brilliant season with a state-best 3,009 yards and an equally amazing career with 7,703 rushing yards, leaving him No. 2 in state
history behind only DeAngelo Evans. His team finished 11-2 in 2019 and
28-6 during his final three years.
Add it all up and Thomas is our MaxPreps Kansas Player of the Year presented by Suddenlink by Altice.
After
the semifinal loss, Topeka coach Walt Alexander told the Topeka
Capital-Journal: "Ky, you know, I can't even explain it. He's just a
tremendous football player. ... They don't come around like that very
often. I don't see him like the media sees him. He just did what we've
come to expect from him tonight."
Derby's Brandon Clark is the Kansas Coach of the Year, while leading the Panthers (13-0) to their third perfect season in four
years and fifth title in seven. This might have been his best.
They became the first 6A school to outscore every opponent by at least three touchdowns. Led by playmakers
Tre Washington, senior quarterback
Grant Adler, versatile junior wingback
Lem Wash and a dominating offensive line that included 6-foot-6, 280-pound Nebraska-bound tackle
Alex Conn,
the Panthers put up 54 points and more than 500 yards per game.
In the
playoffs they were even more dominating, winning 69-7, 49-13,
56-0, 63-35 and 63-25 in the finals, a Class 6A record for points in a championship game.
"This group has been special," Clark told the
Kansas City Star. "It's been smooth sailing. They've taken care of business on and off the field. It's very delightful."
Olathe North coach Chris McCartney, whose team was beat in the finals, bowed to Derby's dominance and Clark's coaching.
"They're perfect," he told
prepskc.com. "They don't make mistakes. Every time we adjusted to something; they had an answer."
Timothy Dorsey, Bishop Miege
Photo by A.J. Hildreth
The
running-back-turned-quarterback rushed for 2,487 yards and
43 touchdowns for the 6A state finalist. He carried the ball a
remarkable 371 times. He also threw for 405 yards and five scores.
Led
the Stags (11-2) to a state 4A title by throwing for 2,500 yards and
state-best 35 touchdowns, against five interceptions.
RB — Ky Thomas, Topeka, 6-0, 207, Sr.
The
state's No. 3 recruit lived up to all the hype with a special senior
season that included 3,007 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns to finish as
the state's No. 2 career rusher.
Ranked
the No. 1 junior recruit in Kansas, Young piled up 1,867 yards and 32
touchdowns for the 10-1 Saints. He also caught three touchdowns.
The
state's second senior recruit didn't rest on his commitment to
Minnesota and instead had a banner season with 58 catches for 1,216
yards and 21 touchdowns for the state 4A champs.
The
state's leading receiver hauled in 70 passes for 1,358 yards and 16
touchdowns for the 7-3 Cougars. Lindenman was also the team's punter and
kick returner.
The
Oklahoma State commit was not only a first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm
Trial League selection, but also a second-team linebacker. He's the No.
6 senior recruit in the state.
The
Nebraska commit paved the way to a perfect
13-0 record, a second straight undefeated 6A state title, 54 points and
more than 500 yards of offense per game.
The
Arkansas State commit led the Jaguars (11-3) to a state 5A state title.
They averaged more than 40 points and 415 yards per game.
The
exact size as Conn, Corcoran is the state's top senior recruit and
also headed to Nebraska. He led the Firebirds to an 8-2 record.
Ranked
the No. 5 senior prospect in the state, the Iowa State commit led
Emporia to a 6-4 record and more than 230 rushing yards per game.
The state's fourth-rated senior recruit led Tigers (8-4) into the 6A semifinal playoffs. Richman is headed to Iowa.
AP — Tre Washington, Derby, 5-10, 195, Sr. If
the game-breaker played three-quarters of every game, he would have
rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. As it is, he
approached 2,000 yards and more than 20 scores for state champions.
One
of the nation's top field goal kickers, Tennant booted 14 this season
in 17 attempts and made 48-of-49 extra points for the state champs.
The
AVCTL-1 Defensive Player of the Year was both a run stopper and a
strong rusher of the quarterback for the state 6A two-time defending
champions.
Not only a top offensive lineman, Kremer had 61 tackles and 9.5 sacks for the state 5A champions.
The
defensive end and Kansas State commit is rated the seventh best senior
recruit in the state by 247Sports. He led the Hawks to a 7-3 record.
A
finalist for the Bobby Bell Award for top lineman or linebacker in the
small class school, Van Meter helped carry his team to a 4A state crown.
The
state's No. 13 senior recruit led the Firebirds to an 8-2 record in
2019. He has reported offers from Kansas State, Illinois State and
Northern Iowa.
The
state's No. 21 senior recruit overall had 80 tackles, seven for losses
and four interceptions for the 8-4 Tigers. Palmer has an offer from
Kansas State.
The
state's No. 16 senior recruit helped the Red Raiders to a 6-3 record in
2019. He also was a standout running back for the team.
The
versatile Kansas-bound athlete did it all for the 5-4 Stallions,
including 24 tackles, two scoop-and-scores, six pass deflections and a
pick-six. On offense, he accounted for almost 1,000 yards and 10
touchdowns
The
physical and athletic corner led the state with 11 interceptions,
four returned for touchdowns, for the 6-3 Wildcats. Muturi also had nine
pass deflections, added a scoop-and-score and had five TD receptions.
The
active junior cornerback had eight interceptions to go along with 35
tackles and 13 pass deflections for the 12-2 Grizzlies, who lost in the
state 5A finals to Mill Valley.
AP — Conor Haviland, Humboldt, 6-0, 185, Sr. The
versatile athlete led the Cubs to a 10-1 record as the team's starting
QB, LB, punter and kicker. He passed only 48 times for 473 yards and
seven TDs, but rushed for 2,436 yards and 40 scores and added 74 tackles
and four interceptions on defense.
A
three-sport standout and also a defensive end for the Owls, Jenkins
averaged a whopping 45.9 yards per punt, with more than one-thirds of
his punts landing inside the opponents 20.
Talor Warner, Gardner-Edgerton
Photo by A.J. Hildreth
QB — Ty Black, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 6-1, 185, Jr. Led
the state with 2,655 passing yards for the 7-3 Cougars while completing
24 touchdown passes and rushing for 700 more yards and 15 more scores.
The
three-sport athlete threw for a state-best 275.9 yards per game (2,483
in nine games) to go along with 22 passing touchdowns and six rushing
TDs.
In
10 games, Krone rushed for 2,452 yards and 31 touchdowns for the 7-3 Braves.
He rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns during a three-game
win streak. He also started at middle linebacker.
Rushed
259 times for 2,124 yards and 26 touchdowns for the 10-1 Chieftains.
Also caught a touchdown, had 32 tackles from his strong safety spot,
added two interceptions and six pass deflections.
Averaged
a remarkable 29.7 yards per catch for 10-1 Owls with 17 of his 29
catches going for touchdowns. Also had 27 tackles, two interceptions from
safety spot.
Hauled in 71 catches for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns for the 11-2 Jaguars who lost in the state 4A finals to Bishop Miege.
The Kansas-bound standout had 26 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns. Huggins is the 10th ranked senior recruit in the state.
The Kansas State-bound guard led Gardner-Edgerton to a 10-2 record in 6A play. He's ranked the No. 9 senior recruit in the state.
Another
Kansas State commit, the state's No. 15 recruit led the Broncs to a
10-2 record. He also starred on the defensive line and had 182 career
tackles and 13 sacks.
First-team
All-AVCTL-1, the athletic guard help pave the way to Derby's second
straight unbeaten season and 6A town. The Panthers averaged more than 53
points and 500 yards per game.
The
standout guard is ranked the state's No. 14 senior recruit and in 2019
he led the state's No. 12 team to a 9-2 record, 452 points and almost
300 rushing yards per game. He's another Kansas State recruit.
The
state's No. 20 senior recruit overall according to 247Sports, Kurth led
the Eagles to a 9-1 record and No. 51 rankings in the state.
AP — Lem Wash, Derby, 5-11, 195, Jr. Both
a standout receiving and running the ball, Wash was pressed into
quarterback duties late in the season and responded by accounting for
more than 300 yards and five TDs in the first half of state title game.
Not
only was Parkinson perfect on field goals — 6-for-6 with a long of 40 —
but he also made 37-of-38 extra points for the Bobcats.
Also the team's center, Montgomery had 108 tackles for the Redman who reached the 1A finals and finished 12-1 on the season. Montgomery caused four fumbles and deflected three passes.
A
semifinalist for the Bobby Bell Award, given to the region's top
linebacker or lineman, Essex was dominant on both sides of the ball for
the 11-1 Panthers.
Led
the state in sacks with 13 to go along with 70 tackles for the 6-3
Wildcats. Overall, Jacobs had 18 tackles for losses and 11 quarterback
hurries.
Had
remarkable 156 tackles and 10 sacks for the 9-4 Blue Jays, who were a
2A finalist. Wiltfong nine times recorded double-digit tackles,
including a combined 33 in his final two games.
Led
the state with 169 tackles in 10 games for the Pirates, including
19 for loss. He also caused four fumbles, had two interceptions and five
sacks.
Registered
88 solo tackles and 76 assists for a whopping 164 total for the 11-2
Jaguars, including 44 total in his last three games.
Made
up for his lack of size, with superb instinct, quickness and technique.
A model of consistency, Patillo recorded double-digit tackle totals in
every game but one for ninth-ranked Eagles (10-3) and finished with 157.
In 11 games, had seven interceptions and 42 tackles for the 10-2 Buffaloes, who lost in the 3A quarterfinals. Schweer also averaged 26.2 yards per his 21 receptions.
Had 118 tackles, three interceptions, recovered two fumbles and three pass deflections for the Eagles (10-3), who lost in the 6A state finals to Derby.
The
two-sport free safety finished sixth in the state with 143 tackles,
including a whopping 85 solo tackles in just 10 games for the 6-4 Owls.
Krause also had three interceptions and six pass deflections.
Also the team's quarterback, the tremendous all-around athlete had four interceptions and 35 tackles from his strong safety spot for the 11-1 Bullpups. As a QB, he accounted for almost 2,500 yards and 30 TDs.
What he did for 3A runner up was nothing short of amazing: 1,364 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns; 30 catches, 342 yards, five TDs; 113 tackles, five interceptions, 3.5 sacks; Kick return for TD; Scoop-and-score.
