By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Choosing a most valuable player for this season’s Kansas All-Class football team was a tough chore to say the least. Plenty of Sunflower State high school football players were worthy in 2008.
However, star power and record-breaking ability placed a couple of Wichita athletes higher on the pedestal than the rest of the field.
Bishop Carroll quarterback Blake Bell earned the accolade of Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year in 2008 and that alone is reason enough to give him MVP status.
Throw in numbers that ranked the junior signal caller third all-time on the Kansas single season passing charts, with 3,240 yards and 37 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions and the decision is a no brainer.
The Greater Wichita Athletic League’s all-time leader in passing yards is expected to be one of the top QB recruits across the nation in 2009.
But Wichita East running back Bryce Brown is not about to allow his cross-town rival to overshadow him.
The senior finished his prep career ranked No. 2 all-time on the Kansas career rushing charts behind Wichita Collegiate running back DeAngelo Evans, who ran for 8,472 yards during his career.
After rushing for 1,873 yards and 30 touchdowns on 120 carries in 2008, the Greater Wichita Athletic League’s all-time leading rusher finished his career with 7,114 yards and 84 touchdowns.
Below is a look at the Kansas All-Class football Team as well as All-State teams for Kansas’ large school classes.
Kansas All-Class Football Team
Offense
QB – Blake Bell, Bishop Carroll 6-6 215 Jr.
RB – Bryce Brown, Wichita East 6-0 215 Sr.
RB – Josh Smith, Hutchinson 5-9 201 Jr.
RB – James Franklin, Olathe North 6-0 180 Jr.
WR – Zach Bourquin, St. Thomas Aquinas 6-1 150 Sr.
WR – Joe Brown, Bishop Carroll 6-3 215 Sr.
WR – Luke Rampy, Blue Valley 5-9 195 Sr.
Line – Jake Morin, St. Thomas Aquinas 6-6 290 Sr.
Line – Kyle Westmoreland, Derby 5-11 320 Sr.
Line – Riley Spencer, Hesston 6-6 276 Sr.
Line – Justin Nixon, Smith Center 6-1 345 Sr.
Line – Justin Aumen, Junction City 6-4 280 Sr.
Kicker – Evan Engwall, Derby 6-0 180 Sr.
Defense
Line – Forrest Stucky, Hutchinson 6-1 240Sr.
Line – Jake Woten, Olathe East 6-4 255 Sr.
Line – Kevin Young, Olathe North 6-4 225 Sr.
Line – Ian Knight, Wichita Heights 6-3 250 Sr.
LB – Nate Dreiling, Hutchinson 6-3 200 Sr.
LB – Jaydan Bird, Conway Springs 6-3 210 Sr.
LB – Marshall Musil, LaCrosse 6-3 225 Sr.
LB – Doug Peete, Olathe North 6-4 205 Sr.
DB – Dorrian Roberts, Wichita Heights 6-0 190 Sr.
DB – David Hedgepeth, Derby 6-0 175 Jr.
DB – Darron Harvey, Shawnee Mission West 6-2 205 Sr.
DB – Derahn Williams, Olathe East 5-9 175 Sr.
Class 6A
Offense
QB – Ty Zimmerman, Junction City 6-3 200 Sr.
RB – Bryce Brown, Wichita East 6-0 215 Sr.
RB – James Franklin, Olathe North Sr.
RB – Chucky Hunter, Lawrence Free State 5-9 180 Sr.
WR – Landon Head, Dodge City 6-3 190 Jr.
WR – Luke Rampy, Blue Valley 5-9 195 Sr.
WR – Tyler Dunham, Derby 6-4 195 Sr.
Line – Justin Aumen, Junction City 6-4 280 Sr.
Line – Darion Hillman, Shawnee Mission Northwest 6-2 285 Sr.
Line – Michael Lisher, Lawrence Free State 6-2 245 Jr.
Line – Kyle Westmoreland, Derby 5-11 320 Sr.
Line – Ryan Miller, Blue Valley 6-4 330 Sr.
Kicker – Evan Engwall, Derby 6-0 180 Sr.
Defense
Line – Ian Knight, Wichita Heights 6-3 250 Sr.
Line – Lucas Vincent, Olathe North 6-3 255 Jr.
Line – Jake Woten, Olathe East 6-4 255 Sr.
Line – Kevin Young, Olathe North 6-4 225 Sr.
LB – Drew Nuckolls, Blue Valley West 6-4 220 Sr.
LB – Doug Peete, Olathe North 6-4 205 Sr.
LB – Justin Scott, Shawnee Mission West 6-0 225 Sr.
LB – Charles Melton, Manhattan 6-2 205 Sr.
DB – Darron Harvey, Shawnee Mission West 6-2 205 Sr.
DB – David Hedgepeth, Derby 6-0 175 Jr.
DB – Derahn Williams, Olathe East 5-9 175 Sr.
DB – Dorrian Roberts, Wichita Heights 6-0 190 Sr.
Class 5A
Offense
QB – Blake Bell, Bishop Carroll 6-6 215 Jr.
RB – Josh Smith, Hutchinson 5-9 201 Jr.
RB – Nicholas Woods, Mill Valley 5-8 180 Sr.
RB – Austin Flohrschutz, Shawnee Heights 5-9 185 Sr.
WR – Zach Bourquin, St. Thomas Aquinas 6-1 150 Sr.
WR – Nick Johansen, Bishop Carroll 6-4 185 Sr.
WR – Joe Brown, Bishop Carroll 6-3 215 Sr.
Line – Brad Lambertus, Hutchinson 5-11 230 Sr.
Line – Mark Matteson, Salina South 6-4 270 Sr.
Line – Cameron McLain, Gardner-Edgerton 6-3 270 Jr.
Line – Jake Morin, St. Thomas Aquinas 6-6 290 Sr.
Line – Zach Rose, McPherson 5-10 235 Sr.
Kicker – Luke Pray, Winfield 5-9 130 Sr.
Defense
Line – Jacob Cole, Bishop Carroll 6-0 220 Sr.
Line – Andre Jolly, Gardner-Edgerton 6-1 215 Sr.
Line – Zach Peterson, McPherson 6-2 240 Sr.
Line – Forrest Stucky, Hutchinson 6-1 240 Sr.
LB – Nate Dreiling, Hutchinson 6-3 200 Sr.
LB – Fred Sellars, Pittsburg 5-10 205 Sr.
LB – Ryan Nelson, St. Thomas Aquinas 6-0 191 Sr.
LB – Taylor Counts, Salina Central 6-0 230 Sr.
DB – Tanner Rainbolt, Mill Valley 6-0 165 Sr.
DB – Spencer Vanderbogart, Topeka Seaman 5-11 180 Sr.
DB – Jonathan Walker, Bonner Springs 5-11 205 Sr.
DB – Jordan Brandenburgh, St. Thomas Aquinas Sr.
