Kansas All-State Football Team presented by Suddenlink by Altice

Video: Season highlights of Ky Thomas

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." SUDDENLINK BY ALTICE KANSAS ALL-STATE

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.

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.

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.

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. Second Team

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.

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.

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.