Sunflower League Elite 11 Team

The Sunflower League Elite 11 team is essentially a bigger collaboration of my weekly player ratings. I felt that these 11 players were the top playmakers in the Sunflower League during the 2010 season. Of course there were a few players who were on the fringe of this list that I had to leave off. Overall, however, I feel these 11 were the biggest headliners in the Sunflower League. Included in the list are my MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and if you scroll to the bottom my Coach of the Year.

Most Valuable Player
Brandon Willingham, Olathe East
Olathe East’s senior running back gets the nod as my Sunflower League Most Valuable Player for the 2010 season. He joins former Hawks Derek Miller and Anthony Parks on the list of MVPs. What separated Willingham for this distinction? Simply put, Willingham was the heart and soul of Olathe East’s 10-win season. The Hawks had enough confidence in Willingham to basically scrap their passing game this season. Opposing defenses knew they had to do one thing to beat Olathe East—shut down Willingham. Yet, this task was much more complicated when the defenses actually lined up across from him and the Olathe East offense. Willingham’s most impressive game came against Free State in the Regional round of the playoffs. Trailing 16-0 entering the third quarter, things weren’t looking good for the Hawks. Willingham took his game to another level in the second half, scoring three touchdowns on runs of 59, 53, and three yards to give the Hawks a 20-16 advantage and the win. While some may argue that other players were as talented or produced as good of stats, no player consistently did more for his team than Willingham.

Rushing stats: 1,714 yards, 23 TDs
Defensive stats: 40 tackles

Offensive Player of the Year

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North
While Saunders had a reputation around the Sunflower League of being, well, boisterous, he was usually pretty good at backing it up often in the form of long touchdown runs. Saunders took his first carry of the season 77 yards for a touchdown, and he rattled off four touchdowns runs of 60 or more yards through Olathe North's first four games. The former Kansas Class 6A 100-meter champ was probably the league's fastest player this season, and if you wanted further proof all you had to do was watch Olathe North for a quarter or so. Saunders was pretty much gone once he broke past the second level of a defense. His rushing efforts helped Olathe North to reach their second straight 6A title game, and while Olathe North did come up short, it was fitting that Saunders' last touchdown of the season came on a 79-yard pass reception.

Rushing stats: 1,554 yards, 20 TDs

Defensive stats: 1 interception

Defensive Player of the Year

Kyle Swartz, Olathe North
Big, playmaking linebackers are hard to come by at the high school level, but Olathe North's Kyle Swartz fit the mold and earned my vote as the Sunflower League Defensive Player of the Year. Swartz' most impressive statistic was the 148 tackles he totalled in 13 games from his linebacker position. The 148 tackles were 30 more than any other player in the Sunflower League totalled during the season, and 60 of his tackles came during the Eagle's four playoff games. One of the better examples of Swartz' dominance was in Olathe North's Sectional round playoff game against Olathe South. Up 10-0, the Eagles were looking for a big play to kill any hopes Olathe South had of winning. Swartz jumped in front of an Olathe South pass and intercepted it, then a few plays later pounded in a one-yard run to effectively seal the victory.

Defensive stats: 148 tackles, 1 interception

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest

In some ways it’s a head scratcher that Bandy didn’t get more touches. He was probably among the top five fastest players in the league and he seemed to have the “Midas touch” for the Ravens. Bandy was an excellent contributor for the Ravens on offense, defense, and special teams and he made big plays nearly every week. Of course, that was what everyone had come to expect of the talented senior. One thing I am confident of, had Bandy played for a more successful team he would have been one of the headliners of the league this season.

Offensive stats: 33 catches, 494 yards, 3 TDs
Defensive stats: 44 tackles, 9 pass break ups, 3 interceptions
Special Teams stats: 1 kick return touchdown

Austin Fulson, Olathe East

It was Austin Fulson who led the Sunflower League in tackles last season with 125. We knew those abilities were going to transfer over to his senior year on the defensive side of the ball, but who knew he was going to have such a stellar season on the offensive side? Fulson’s efforts were often overshadowed by coverage of Brandon Willingham, but he was nonetheless a quiet force that kept Olathe East among the league’s best. Perhaps the game that epitomized Fulson’s efforts the most was Olathe East’s Sectional playoff game against SM Northwest. Olathe East was struggling to get anything going offensively, and Willingham was being shut down. Fulson’s number was called on a run play early in the fourth quarter and he ended up taking that carry 89 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. It was fitting that he was what put Olathe East over the top in that game. Fulson’s defensive efforts shouldn’t be looked past either, as he was one of the league’s leading tacklers for the second season in a row.

Rushing stats: 896 yards, 13 TDs
Defensive stats: 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 touchdown

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest
Mings, like several other players on this list, really came into his own as a senior. His ability to impact a game from all three aspects—offense, defense, and special teams—was what made him such an asset to SM Northwest and their run to sectionals. Another thing you couldn’t discount about this kid was his ability to make plays on the ball in the air. Mings rarely lost battles with receivers or defensive backs for jump balls. Mings basically willed SM Northwest to their upset of SM West in the playoffs after he returned a blocked punt 65 yards for a touchdown, then sealed the game with an interception at his team’s own one-yard line in the waning seconds of the game.

Receiving stats: 29 catches, 413 yards, 6 TDs
Defensive stats: 38 tackles, 12 pass break ups, 4 interceptions
Special Teams stats: 1 Punt Return TD, 1 blocked punt return for a touchdown

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State

There were questions as to whether Lawrence Free State would be able to carry on their stellar tradition of top notch quarterback play this year, following the graduation of Camren Torneden. Perry proved the doubters wrong and established his name among the best in Free State history. The only disappointment is that we we’re only able to see Perry play the starting quarterback role for one season. His numbers were spectacular—and despite playing with a bum ankle for half the season he still helped Free State to a 5-5 record and a berth in the playoffs. Perry’s explosiveness and speed made him one of the league’s biggest scoring threats in 2010.

Passing stats: 1,124 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing stats: 1,022 yards, 9 TDs
Defensive stats: 1 interception, 1 blocked kick return for a touchdown

Nick Sands, Olathe South
Who was the top workhorse running back in the Sunflower League? You didn’t have to look any further than Nick Sands to find it. Sands was the feature back in Olathe South’s first year of transitioning to a wing based offense. Sands had a lot of carries, and he tallied a lot of yards. After a rough start to the season (for Sands and the Falcons) the team began to click and Sands rushing totals soared. While his hard-nosed running style wasn’t as fun to watch as backs like Willingham or Saunders, Sands got the job done and put up some of the best numbers in the league.

Rushing stats: 1,578 yards, 17 TDs

John Schrock, SM East
John Schrock in some ways reminds me of another former stud from the Shawnee Mission School District. SM West’s breakout season came in 2004, when they went 9-3 and reached the Sub-State round. SM West’s “rebirth” that year had a lot to do with the play of running back DJ Barnett who rushed for over 1,900 yards and was truly the Vikings go-to player. Still to this day, SM West’s arrival in the 2000s is recognized by the name DJ Barnett. Schrock, much like Barnett, will carry that distinction if SM East can keep up the quality level of play in years to come. Schrock, who was easily the best pocket passer in the league, gave SM East that extra something they always needed and it was a shame he wasn’t able to help the Lancers in the playoffs following his collarbone injury. On the bright side, Schrock’s legacy could be tied pretty strongly to SM East football in the future.

Passing stats: 1,634 yards, 9 TDs
Rushing stats: 9 rushing TDs

Victor Simmons, Olathe North
The one player who could have legitimately challenged Adonis Saunders in a foot race this season was Simmons, his explosive teammate. While Simmons was listed as a quarterback his role for Olathe North was hardly that. The senior rarely passed the ball, instead he was used predominately out of the shotgun/pistol offense on option and designed run plays. Simmons topped 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive year and also made key contributions on the defensive side of the ball. His 85 tackles were a good indicator of what the coaches at Kansas will be expecting of Simmons next season when he joins the Jayhawks.

Rushing stats: 1,455 yards, 10 TDs
Defensive stats: 85 tackles

Denzell Simpson, SM West
Every Monday I would receive Mid-Statesports’ weekly league statistic updates, and the first thing I would do was check the tackles category to see if Simpson still led it. And he did for the final eight weeks of the regular season. The most impressive thing about his tackle totals was that he was doing it from the safety position. Rarely does a safety lead his team in tackles, let alone the entire Sunflower League. It was Simpson’s tenacity that really made him so good on the defensive side of the ball. I was fortunate enough to catch a few games in which Simpson really laid out an opposing player—and let me tell you, the kid truly defined “hard hitter.”

Defensive stats: 102 tackles (38 solo), 4 tackles for loss

Coach of the Year

Chip Sherman, SM East
Of all the awards this was the easiest to choose. In just two seasons Sherman has transformed SM East from a team that was nicknamed the smurfs into a legitimate league and playoff contender. The Lancers went 8-2 this season, claiming a share of the Sunflower League championship (the school's first since 1966) and winning their district outright. Perhaps two of Sherman's most impressive underlying accomplishments were his helping of the development of John Schrock into the Sunflower League's best passer, and also the intensity and passion his Lancers have started to show on the field.

Photos courtesy Facebook, Olathe North Eagle football, the Kansas City Star, Rivals.com, Mid-Statesports.com, OSfalconfootball.com

Stats courtesy Mid-Statesports.com

Thursday Report

Sectional Round Playoff Matchups

All game times 7 p.m. on Friday

SM Northwest (6-4) at Olathe East (9-1)

Where: CBAC

Last Meeting: Olathe East defeated SM Northwest 28-0 on September 12, 2008.

Who to Watch For

SM Northwest

I named dropped Kenny Mings in yesterday's post, and I will do so again here. Mings is SM Northwest's best all-around weapon and perhaps the biggest reason why they upset SM West in last week. Stephen Mangelsdorf (right) has developed into one of, if not the best signal callers in the league over the past six weeks and he's the cog that usually gets the Cougars offense going. Also, you can't mention SM Northwest without bringing up Drew Goodger. The 6-foot-5 Goodger is among the top defensive lineman and tight ends in the league.

Olathe East

Without Brandon Willingham Olathe East probably wouldn't have come back to win against Free State last week. Willingham, the league's leading rusher, is a highlight reel waiting to happen and you can almost mark him down for 100+ rushing yards and two or more touchdowns per game. Willingham's running mate is Austin Fulson who might make more contributions on both sides of the ball than any player in the league. Quarterback Trent Kuhl hasn't thrown for many yards this season (because he hasn't had to) and Olathe East would probably prefer it stays that way. If Kuhl doesn't do alot of passing, it probably means Olathe East is doing well, and likely winning.

What to Expect

On one side you have a team (SM Northwest) with no inhibition. The Cougs started the season 0-3, won two games, got beat by Olathe North, and then swept an easy district and pulled an upset in Regionals. SM Northwest has no pressure in this game and they will likely play a pretty free spirited game, with Mangelsdorf getting his fair share of passes in. Olathe East could be described as the opposite. The Hawks narrowly escaped with a win last week and the last thing the Hawks want is another close game--because there are no guarantees that Willingham will go off for three second half touchdowns again.

Historical Stat

The Sectional Round game hasn't treated Olathe East well. Since 2002, the Hawks have advanced to an 11th game six times, losing in four of those games, including twice (2003 and 2004) when they were heavy state title favorites.

Olathe South (7-3) at Olathe North (9-1)

Where: ODAC

Last Meeting: Olathe North defeated Olathe South 30-7 in week two.

Who to Watch For

Olathe South

Nick Sands is second in the league in rushing yards at 1,470, while Jake Crist has added 676 yards on the ground to compliment Sands. Make no mistake, the Falcons are going to run the football, and run it alot. The Falcons are led defensively by Tanner Ginavan who now leads the league in tackles with 112. Dylan Hanson and Dylan DeVries are also great at stopping the run.

Olathe North

Olathe North will be leaning on its two biggest playmakers, Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons, to get the offense going much the way they have throughout the entire season. But the Eagles are also loaded with speed and skill at other positions. Dominick Wilson is always capable of making a big play, and Tanner Gentry has been the go to receiver for Olathe North this season. Kyle Swartz and Sam Todd make the majority of the tackles for the Eagles on defense and they will both have to play well to curtail Olathe South's run game which is much improved since the team's week two matchup.

What to Expect

Olathe North had no problem dispatching Olathe South earlier in the season, but it seems unlikely that that Falcons will go down without much of a fight again. Olathe South seems to have found an new wind of confidence and it was evident in their victory last week versus SM East. Of course the same could be said for Olathe North. The Eagles' tandem of Saunders and Simmons is nearly impossible to stop when the two are clicking, and they have the speed to run free if Olathe South's linebackers can't keep them contained within the hashes. Only once in Olathe North's history has a team failed to make the state championship game the year after claiming a state title (the Eagles have won eight titles)--this year's Eagles know that and they will be doing all in their power to advance to the Sub-State game.

Historical Stat
Since the 1996, Olathe North and Olathe South have combined to make the 6A state championship game in 11 of the the 14 seasons.

Photo courtesy the Shawnee-Disptach

Sunflower League Extra: Sectional Round Edition

Eli's First and Ten

1. The smack talk between the Olathe South and Olathe North folks has been pretty intense ... it would be interesting to see what level it would be at if Olathe North plays Olathe East (right) in the Sub-State round.

2. You can call SM Northwest this year's darkhorse. Who would of thought the Cougs would make Sectionals after their disappointing 0-3 start to the season?

3. The Sunflower League's top three rushing offenses still remain in the playoffs--this doesn't seem like a coincidence to me.

4. Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons combined to rush for 339 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries. Those totals equate to 12.5 yards per carry. Sickening numbers, regardless of the defense.

5. If this year's Sectional matchups look familiar there's a reason for it. In 2007 the Sectionals featured the exact same four teams. Olathe East, Olathe North, and SM Northwest all sat at 9-1, while Olathe South was 7-3. Who came out on top? The team with the worst record--the Olathe South Falcons who went on to lose to Hutchinson in the state championship game.

6. With their Regional victory Olathe East claimed their ninth win of the season. The nine wins marks the sixth time the Hawks have reached that win total in the past eight years, which is more than any other Sunflower League team during that stretch.

7. We're nearing the announcement of the 2010 Simone Award candidates. While Gardner-Edgerton's Bubba Starling seems to be the clear favorite at this point in time, watch out for a Sunflower League invite or two. Brandon Willingham (1,617 rushing yards and 21 TDs) will most certainly be in the discussion.

8. The player with the ability to impact a game the most? Perhaps that title belongs to SM Northwest's Kenny Mings. His prowess on offense, defense, and special teams made him a nightmare for SM West last week, and he could cause similar headaches for Olathe East.

9. During the summer Olathe South head coach Jeff Gourley predicted that Nick Sands would rush for 2,000 yards. Sands currently sits at 1,470 yards rushing (147 ypg), 530 yards short of that plateau. It's highly unlikely Sands will reach those numbers unless Olathe South makes it to the state title game--but we'll keep it in mind just in case.

10. The team with the most pressure to perform? It's either Olathe East or Olathe North. The Hawks hold the top seed and are playing a four-loss SM Northwest team, while Olathe North is working on defending a state title.

Stat Leaders (among those still playing)

Passing Yards

Stephen Mangelsdorf, SM Northwest: 1,345

Frankie Suerer, Olathe South: 424

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 376

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 299

Rushing Yards

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 1,617

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 1,470

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 1,413

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 1,268

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 749

Jake Crist, Olathe South: 676

Receiving Yards

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 413

AJ Spencer, SM Northwest: 296

Tanner Gentry, Olathe North: 276

Tackles

Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 112

Kyle Swartz, Olathe North: 96

Dylan Hanson, Olathe South: 93

Sam Todd, Olathe North: 79

Dylan DeVries, Olathe South: 77

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 76

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 74

Greg Fry, Olathe South: 68

Interceptions

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 4

Taylor Sheffield, Olathe South: 3

Derec Olson, SM Northwest: 2

*SM Northwest player statistics do not include last week's game

Stats courtesy Mid-Statesports.com

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Regional Round Review

The Good

**Three of the first round games turned out to be quite thrilling, with SM Northwest and Olathe East both making substantial comebacks to claim victory.

**The Sunflower League's top four rushers (Brandon Willingham, Nick Sands, Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons) will be playing for another week.

The Bad

**While second-stringer Robby Moriarty (above) played great in John Schrock's absence, it would have been nice to see what SM East could have done with Schrock--their starter for the first eight weeks--at the helm.

**Only three weeks remain on the 2010 Kansas high school football schedule.

The Ugly

**SM West's first round loss marked the third year in a row in which the Vikings have been dropped in the opening round of the playoffs.

**Lawrence Free State will have an entire off season to think about the 16-0 halftime lead they lost at the hands of Olathe East.

Individual Highlights

**Brandon Willingham recorded 33 carries for 190 yards and three second-half touchdowns in Olathe East's 20-16 victory.

**This is not an individual highlight, but it's worth noting that of Olathe North's seven touchdowns, five came on plays of 35 yards or more.

**SM Northwest's Kenny Mings returned a blocked kick 65 yards for a touchdown, caught a key 17-yard pass that led to SM Northwest's final score, and intercepted a SM West pass at his team's one-yard line which sealed the victory.

The Remaining Four

Olathe East (9-1): The Hawks' second half was spectacular but they can't afford any more first half let downs from here on out.

Olathe North (9-1): For the past several weeks the Eagles have been playing the best football of any team left in the 6A East bracket and they will be a tough out for any team.

Olathe South (7-3): It's been hard to gauge the Falcons this season but their win Friday was impressive. A win against Olathe North would be something else.

SM Northwest (6-4): Perhaps the easiest district in the state wasn't such a detriment after all? The Cougars made big plays when they needed to on Friday.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Game Scores and Notes

Regional Round Playoff Review

Olathe East 20, Lawrence Free State 16

Olathe East looked bound for their third straight opening-round playoff loss trailing Lawrence Free State 16-0 at halftime. Free State's offense played a stellar opening half . In the first quarter they jumped to a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal from Antonio Schoneich. Their offense really started clicking in the second quarter starting with a four-yard touchdown run by Dylan Perry that gave them a 10-0 lead. Later in the quarter Perry added another four-yard touchdown run. The Firbirds' conversion attempt failed, but they still had a 16-0 lead. Just before the half things almost got more lopsided when Olathe East fumbled the ball away to Free State at the Hawks' own eight yard line. Fortunately for Olathe East, cornerback Junior Williams intercepted a Perry pass in the endzone to hault the onslaught.

Something clicked at halftime for Olathe East. On the Hawks' first offensive play of the second half Brandon Willingham (above) took a carry 59 yards for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion pulled the Hawks within eight points of Free State. Both sides turned the ball over on their next possessions before Willingham scored a big one in the third quarter, busting lose on a "Simone-esque" 53-yard touchdown run. Olathe East failed on the two-point try, but had closed the game to a 16-14 score. Free State fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Olathe East made quick work of a scoring drive with Willingham punching in his third touchdown of the day, this time from three yards out to give the Hawks a 20-16 lead. The score proved to be the decisive one.

Olathe North 48, SM North 21

Olathe North made some big plays early, as usual, but credit SM North for not backing down at the challenge. Olathe North's first score came on a two-yard run from Dominick Wilson. The Eagles added another touchdown when Victor Simmons scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. Things looked like they were headed for ugly, but SM North was able to respond with a nice drive that was capped off with a four-yard touchdown run from Kyle Goodburn. Olathe North scored their third touchdown on their next possession on a four-yard run from Adonis Saunders to go ahead 20-7. SM North was able to answer with several big plays on a drive that was closed out by Mitch Padden from one yard out, pulling SM North within seven. Simmons took a carry 54 yards into the endzone on the Eagles next possession. That score was matched by two-yard touchdown pass from Goodburn to Mason Perez seconds before the half. Olathe North led 27-21.

SM North wasn't able to hang with Olathe North in second half, however. The defending Class 6A champs scored first on a 67-yard run from Saunders. They followed that up with a 54-yard touchdown run from Simmons, and finally a 50-yard toss pass from Kyle Swartz to Brandon Davis to go ahead 48-21.

Olathe South 28, SM East 24

This game proved to be the biggest seesaw battle of the night. SM East looked right on course with their aerial success in the first quarter when Robby Moriarty connected with Elliot Faerber on a 63-yard touchdown pass. Olathe South responded in the second quarter with a drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run from Nick Sands (below) to pull ahead, 7-6. SM East got the last punch in during the half when their kicker Chase Woofter connected on a 24-yard field goal to give the Lancers a 9-7 haltime edge.

Olathe South established the second half attitude on their first possession of the third quarter, going 47 yards on an eight play drive that was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Sands. The touchdown put Olathe South ahead 14-9. SM East answered the score with a one-yard touchdown run from Jeff Cole, and a successful two-point conversion to jump ahead 17-14. It looked like the Lancers may have been able to hold that lead but Olathe South scored another touchdown on a two-yard run from Sands on their next possession. That score gave Olathe South a 21-17 lead, but SM East struck quickly yet again.

Moriarty led the Lancers down the field and Cole was able to punch in another touchdown from two yards out. Olathe South, keeping up with the flow of the game, drove down and scored a touchdown on a one-yard run from Frankie Seurer. With just over four minutes remaining it looked like "now-or-never" time for SM East. Moriarty was able to lead the team in Falcon territory, but a failed fourth down conversion turned the ball over. Olathe South's Jake Crist then busted loose on a 47-yard run into SM East territory that effectively ended the game.

SM Northwest 14, SM West 10

At halftime it looked like SM West was finally going to be able to shed the playoff victory drought that has plagued the program since 2007. The Vikings had established a comfortable 10-0 lead despite the absence of their top two running backs Tre Burt and Will Livingston due to injures. Defensively the Vikings had looked amazing, holding SM Northwest to a mere 14 yards of total offense in the first half. Armani Williams had scored from one yard out in the first quarter, and kicker Mark Whitrock stayed perfect on field goals with a 32-yarder in the second quarter. The second half was, however, a complete dichotomy for the Vikings.

Holding the 10-0 lead, SM West took a drive into SM Northwest territory early in the third quarter. The drive stalled, but they appeared to be in range for a Whitrock field goal. The ensuing field goal try was blocked by SM Northwest's Drew Goodger, who also managed to recover the fumble and begin advancing the ball. He then lateralled the ball to the speedy Kenny Mings who took it 65 yards to the house. SM Northwest was trailing by three, but they had all the momentum in the world. SM West fumbled on a drive early in the fourth quarter which resulted in a SM Northwest drive that started at the Vikings' 43-yard line. Seven plays later SM Northwest quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf found Goodger on a six-yard touchdown pass. The score gave the Cougars a 14-10 lead with six minutes left. SM West managed to get as close as the SM Northwest 30-yard line but failed to score when Mings picked off a Williams pass at the one-yard line.

Photos courtesy the Kansas City Star

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings

Player ratings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East

Week Five Stats: 14 carries, 185 yards, 2 TDs

Willingham's two lost fumbles certainly didn't help Olathe East's cause on Friday, but he still had a great game overall, scoring two touchdowns and averaging 13 yards per carry. Willingham (right) now also leads the Sunflower League in rushing with 738 yards.

2. Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State

Week Five Stats: 12-of-26 passing, 101 yards; 21 carries, 176 yards, 2 TDs; 1 defensive interception

Perry continues to put up the most impressive numbers of any player in the Sunflower League. He ranks second in the Sunflower League in rushing yards, fourth in the league in passing yards, and he's scored a combined 12 touchdowns.

3. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North
Week Five Stats: 6 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs

Saunders had no problem cutting his way through the Leavenworth defense on six carries for two touchdowns while averaging just under 20 yards per carry. Saunders' big play potential is essential for Olathe North's success.

4. John Schrock, Quarterback, SM East
Week Five Stats: 16-of-21 passing, 180 yards; 46 yards rushing, 2 TDs

Schrock was impressive on Friday night and he was much more accurate with his passing. The 16 for 21 performance bumped his pass completion percentage from 55% to 59% on the season. Schrock also ran the ball well between the tackles, scoring two touchdowns.

5. Victor Simmons, Quarterback, Olathe North

Week Five Stats: 7 carries, 31 yards

Simmons has slipped quite a bit the past several weeks. Obviously his services weren't all that necessary in Olathe North's blowout of Leavenworth, so he made minimal impact in the game. Simmons has the tools to be one of the best players in the league, and we'll see if it shows this Friday.

Honorable Mention: Brad Strauss, Tre Burt, Nick Sands, Preston Schenck, Austin Fulson, Stephen Mangelsdorf, Will Livingston

Week Five Power Rankings
*Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis
**See previous post for commentary on Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (4-1)

2. Olathe North (4-1)

3. SM West (4-1)

4. SM East (4-1)

5. Lawrence Free State (3-2)

6. Olathe South (3-2)

7. SM Northwest (2-3)

8. Lawrence (3-2)

9. Olathe Northwest (2-3)

10. SM South (1-4)

11. SM North (0-5)

12. Leavenworth (0-5)

Stat Check

Passing Yards

John Schrock, SM East: 1,062, 6 TDs

Brad Strauss (right), Lawrence: 742, 8 TDs

Stephen Mangelsdorf, SM Northwest: 612, 3 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 600, 3 TDs

Corey Kipp, Olathe Northwest: 442, 3 TDs

Armani Williams, SM West: 440, 4 TDs

Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 319, 2 TDs

Alex Forslund, SM South: 279, 1 TD

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 253, 1 TD

Ryan Lundgren, Olathe Northwest: 203, 3 TDs

Rushing Yards

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 738, 10 TDs

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 646, 8 TDs

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 584, 7 TDs

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 580, 3 TDs

Tre Burt, SM West: 493, 5 TDs

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 422, 2 TDs

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 401, 6 TDs

Charles Jackson, Lawrence: 391, 4 TDs

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 390, 6 TDs

Will Livingston, SM West: 350, 6 TDs

Receving Yards

Elliot Faerber, SM East: 367, 3 TDs

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 275, 2 TDs

Krey Bradley, SM East: 255, 2 TDs

Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 239, 3 TDs

Anthony Buffalomeat, Lawrence: 212, 2 TDs

Grant Ellis, SM East: 210, 1 TD

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 209, 2 TDs

Aaron Gile, Lawrence: 184, 1 TD

Gabe Guild, SM South: 158, 2 TDs

Austin Flory, Lawrence: 156, 2 TDs

Tackles

Denzell Simpson, SM West: 61

Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 54

Josh Mais, SM East: 46

Tanner Ginavan, Olathe South: 43

Brock Burrows, SM North: 42

Kyle Swartz, Olathe North: 42

Vince Gerstner, Olathe East: 39

Nate Davis, Lawrence Free State: 38

Samir Vogan, SM South: 38

Todd Sam, Olathe North: 37

Interceptions

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 3

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 2

Grant Ellis, SM East: 2

DeAndre Graves, SM West: 2

Mason Perez, SM North: 2

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 2

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 2 (2 TDs)

Kick/Punt Return Touchdowns

Nick Bandy, Olathe Northwest: 1 KR TD

JaQuan Brunt, SM East: 1 KR TD

Kendal Harland, Olathe South: 1 PR TD

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 1 PR TD

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 1 KR TD, 1 PR TD

Field Goals

Nick Prologo, Olathe Northwest: (4/5)

Daniel Gutierrez, Olathe North: (3/5)

Sean Jones, SM West: (2/2)

Jared Douglas, Olathe South: (2/3)

Anthony Rosen, Lawrence: (1/1)

Alex Allen, SM Northwest: (1/2)

Chase Woofter, SM East: (1/2)

Kyle Goodburn, SM North: (1/3)

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy (from top) OEhawksfootball.com, the Lawrence Journal-World

Week Five Review

Three Up

Lawrence

Props to the Chesty Lions (right) for forgetting about their dreadful 2009 season when they went 1-8. This year's team has a new attitude and they played a great game at home on Friday in upsetting Olathe East.

SM Northwest

The Cougars are back on track, or so it seems. Kenny Mings has emerged as one of the league's top playmakers and quarterback Stephen Mangelsdorf has done a great job distributing the ball.

SM East

The Lancers have beefed up their run game in recent weeks after previously relying heavily on the passing game. This will benefit the team come district and potentially playoff time.

Three Down

Olathe East

Olathe East had been on fire leading up to their game with Lawrence. The team's four lost fumbles proved too much to overcome in their loss.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth has been a hapless group this season, and their 76-point loss to Olathe North was awful, especially considering the 62-point beatdown they received the week before.

Olathe Northwest

The Raven's have improved quite a bit from last season to this one, but they still haven't proven that they have what it takes to be considered a legitimate threat amongst the Olathes.

Individual Highlights

**SM East's John Schrock became the first quarterback to surpass the 1,000 yard passing mark, throwing for 180 yards which puts him at 1,062 yards for the season.

**Free State's Dylan Perry (right) had another game which filled the box score, rushing for 176 yards and two touchdowns and passing for 101 yards.

**Lawrence High's quarterback Brad Strauss threw for three touchdowns, giving him eight passing touchdowns this season, good for tops in the Sunflower League.

Week Six Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (4-1): My initial inclination was to drop the Hawks a spot, but I didn't see how Olathe North should jump Olathe East when just two weeks ago the Hawks shutout the Eagles.

2. Olathe North (4-1): The Eagle's 76 points marked the highest scoring output by any Sunflower League team this season.

3. SM West (4-1): SM West is a different animal in the second half of games. They dropped 34 second-half points on SM North, and made fourth quarter comebacks the previous two weeks.

4. SM East (4-1): After another solid win on the road at Free State it's looking like SM East is fielding the best team the school has had in years.

5. Lawrence Free State (3-2): Free State's two losses have been very close and they could just as easily be 5-0 right now.

6. Olathe South (3-2): After a third consecutive win the Falcons are starting to look more and more like the team they were hyped to be in the preseason.

7. SM Northwest (2-3): The Cougars had a nice showing on Friday, easily taking care of business against SM South.

8. Lawrence (3-2): The Chesty Lions pulled the biggest upset of the season so far with their win over previously undefeated Olathe East.

9. Olathe Northwest (2-3): The Raven's just can't seem to get over the hurdle with their Olathe opponents.

10. SM South (1-4): The Raiders have been playing poorly lately and their 51-12 loss to SM Northwest was brutal.

11. SM North (0-5): SM North had a bad day giving up 41 points and scoring zero despite a fairly competitive first half.

12. Leavenworth (0-5): Giving up 138 points in two weeks is downright ugly.

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy the Lawrence Journal-World.

Week Four Review

Three Up

SM Northwest

After four long weeks the Cougars (led by Kenny Mings, on the right) finally collected a win. On an even brighter note, SM Northwest could easily go 4-1 in the final month of the regular season.

Olathe East

The Hawks scored nine touchdowns against Leavenworth with relative ease, and further illustrated why they are the league's lone undefeated team.

Olathe North

The only way Olathe North was going to get over last week's loss was with a victory in week four and they were successful, handling a previously undefeated SM East team.

Three Down

Lawrence

SM Northwest practically invited the Chesty Lions to overtime by turning the ball over on downs late the fourth quarter, but Lawrence botched a field goal attempt that would have tied it.

SM North

SM North was clearly overmatched, once again. Free State had no trouble putting 32 points on the Indians by halftime.

Leavenworth

Olathe East's 62 points marked the 10th time in the past four years (or 31 games) that a team has scored 50 or more points against the Pioneers.

Individual Highlights

**SM West's Tre Burt (right) rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in his team's 36-20 win over Olathe Northwest.

**Olathe East's Brandon Willingham had an encore performance to his impressive week three totals. Against Leavenworth Willingham rushed for 115 yards and four touchdowns on only eight carries.

**In workhorse-like fashion, Olathe South running back Nick Sands ran the ball 39 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns and he now leads the Sunflower League in rushing with 560 yards.

Week Five Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (4-0): The Hawks have meshed well and are playing the best football in the Sunflower League.

2. Olathe North (3-1): Olathe North got back on track with a solid victory over previously undefeated SM East.

3. SM West (3-1): For the second week in a row the Vikings were able to wear down their opponent and seperate themselves in the fourth quarter.

4. SM East (3-1): The Lancers played well despite their loss, and the team is ten times better than what they were at this point in time last season.

5. Lawrence Free State (3-1): Quarterback Dylan Perry's injury did little to slow down the Firebird's potent offensive attack.

6. Olathe South (2-2): The Falcons look and play like a completely different unit when they have success early with the run game.

7. Olathe Northwest (2-2): Olathe Northwest is no longer the punching bag they were in the 2000s--this team has developed quite a bit.

8. SM Northwest (1-3): The Cougars will likely make up for their terrible start with a finish above .500.

9. Lawrence (2-2): Lawrence still has a ways to go before they are a threat again, but this year's team plays with alot of heart and could pull an upset or two down the road.

10. SM South (1-3): The Raider's offensive woes continued in week four--this team needs a victory, soon.

11. SM North (0-4): SM North's latest loss pushes their losing streak to 11 games and makes you wonder just how much better they are than Leavenworth, if at all?

12. Leavenworth (0-4): The Pioneers' October 15th matchup with Wyandotte can't get here soon enough.

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy (from top) the Lawrence Journal World, the Kansas City Star

Game Scores and Notes

Week Four Game Results

Olathe North 24, SM East 13

On Olathe North's second play of their first offensive possession Adonis Saunders busted loose for a 61-yard touchdown run. Saunders had similar big runs early in the Eagles two previous wins, and it was a good omen for the team on Friday. Olathe North built a 10-0 lead in the second quarter before SM East's John Schrock scored on the ground from three yards out to put the Lancers within four points at halftime. In the third quarter SM East claimed their first lead of the game when Schrock hit Krey Bradley for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Down 13-10, Olathe North responded late in the third quarter when backup quarterback Jordan Bruce connected with Saunders for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown gave Olathe North the lead which they didn't relinquish. Victor Simmons tacked on the final score with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Gentry late in the fourth quarter.

SM West 36, Olathe Northwest 20

Early on it looked like Olathe Northwest may be able to pull of an upset against SM West. A 68-yard run by Connor Middleton and a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Nick Bandy gave the Raven's an early 14-3 lead. SM West scored on run plays of one and five yards by Danny Dowling and Cordi Pascal, respectively, pushing the Vikings ahead 16-14. Just before the half Nick Prologo added a field goal to give the Ravens a 17-16 halftime lead. In the third quarter Prologo tacked on another field goal, before SM West went on to score 20 unanswered points on three rushing touchdowns. Tre Burt (right) scored two of the touchdowns, on runs from 20 and 27 yards.

Olathe East 62, Leavenworth 6
Olathe East made sure there would be no letdown after their big win last week. The Hawks recorded nine touchdown on the night, and led 49-0 at halftime. Brandon Willingham, who did not play in the second half, led Olathe East in rushing with four touchdowns and 113 yards on only eight carries. In total, Olathe East's 51 carries went for 358 yards and eight touchdowns. Leavenworth's lone touchdown came on a fourth quarter run by Gregg Lowery.

Olathe South 31, SM South 7

Olathe South looked dominant on the ground once again, rushing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in their victory against SM South. Kendal Harland put Olathe South on the board with a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Nick Sands added touchdowns on runs of 45 and one yards before the half. Leading 24-0 in the fourth quarter, Harland had another big play when he returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown. SM South got on the board late in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run by Alex Forslund.

SM Northwest 23, Lawrence 20

A questionable call late in this game nearly cost SM Northwest their first victory. Leading 23-20, SM Northwest gained possession and proceeded to down the ball on three consecutive plays. With 15 seconds left the Cougars elected to pass the ball instead of punting it away. The play failed miserably, and Lawrence gained possession at the SM Northwest 15-yard line for an easy field goal. A botched snap ruined those chances and SM Northwest claimed their first victory of the season. SM Northwest was led by the defensive effort of Drew Goodger who recorded four first half sacks, and Kenny Mings whose late game interception prevented Lawrence from tying or gaining the lead.

Lawrence Free State 46, SM North 7

An injured ankle did little to slow down Dylan Perry and Free State, despite the fact that he only played the first half. Preston Schenck (right) scored early on a 60-yard touchdown run, and added two more scores on runs of 21 and three yards. The Firebirds led 32-0 at the half, and never looked back.

Photos courtesy (from top) the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal World

Thursday Report

Week Four Matchups

All games times 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

SM South (1-2) at Olathe South (1-2) (Thursday night game)

After a difficult two game stretch to begin the season Olathe South may finally be settling into their offense--which is a scary thought for the Raiders. SM South played poorly in their 28-7 loss at Lawrence last week, and while their offense should do better against the Falcons it's hard to say if they will be able to shut down Jake Crist (right), Nick Sands and the Olathe South running game. Olathe South's 396 rushing yards last week are a hint as to what the Falcon's approach may be in this game.

Leavenworth (0-3) at Olathe East (3-0)

Olathe East goes from playing a team with a 15-game winning streak in week three to playing Leavenworth, a team with an 18-game losing streak in week four. It's quite the change around in opponents. The only concern Olathe East could have going into this game is letting their guard down and not playing to their potential--regardless, this will be Olathe East's first game to prove themselves as the "top dog" in the Sunflower League.

SM West (2-1) at Olathe Northwest (2-1)

If I had to evaluate both of these school's performances this season I would say Olathe Northwest is playing at a consistently high level given their quality of talent, while SM West still hasn't put everything together for an entire four quarters. The Vikings appear to be the better team on paper, but another lackadaisical effort could prove costly this week against a motivated Olathe Northwest team.

Lawrence (2-1) at SM Northwest (0-3)

Will this be the week SM Northwest finally claims a victory? The Cougars are head and shoulders better than the two other winless teams in the league (Leavenworth and SM North) and they have a solid core of skill position seniors in Stephen Mangesldorf, Drew Goodger, and Kenny Mings. But, Lawrence is saying "not so fast my friend!" The Chesty Lions have looked impressive in their two wins and they are easily capable of sticking loss number four to the Cougars.

Lawrence Free State (2-1) at SM North (0-3)

This game could get ugly if the Indians don't come prepared to play some defense. Free State is operating the league's top ranked offensive at 397 yards and just under 40 points per game. SM North on other hand is giving up just under 34 points per game, and ranks second worst in the league in total defense. The past few seasons have shown us that it's hard to stop Free State's offense once it gets rolling, and it very well may on Friday. Kyle Goodburn and Kendall Kelly must step it up early for SM North if they have any chance in this one.

Game of the Week

SM East (3-0) at Olathe North (2-1)

Most didn't expect SM East to have more wins than Olathe North by the time of their week four meeting, but that's where we stand. SM East handled their first three opponents with ease, winning by a combined score of 99-37. Meanwhile, Olathe North is coming off their first loss in 16 games. Both teams have alot to play for, espcially SM East whose fanbase is amped at the prospects of knocking off the heavyweight Olathe North (a Facebook page has even been started to build up more hype for the game). A key matchup to watch? SM East leads the Sunflower League in passing at 239 yards per game, while Olathe North ranks second against the pass on defense and has only given up 10 completions. Whoever controls this aspect of the game could very well determine the winner.

Photo courtesy OSfootball.com

Week Three Review

Three Up

Olathe East

Not only did Olathe East (right) snap Olathe North's 15 game win-streak, but they also pitched a shutout and had no problems running the football straight at Olathe North.

Olathe South

Olathe South broke a five game losing-streak dating back to last season by rushing for some 392 yards Friday night. The transition to a run based offense appears to be taking hold.

Lawrence

The Chesty Lions played their best game of the last two seasons against SM South and they looked good across the board.

Three Down

Olathe North

It was hard to imagine Olathe North losing this season, especially by a 25-point margin. The fact that the loss came at the hands of their biggest rival just added salt to their wounds.

SM Northwest

The Cougars are 0-3 and have not showed much life this season. The team's remaining three games before district play aren't necessarily a cake walk either.

SM South

The Raiders' offense was absolutely brutal in their loss to Lawrence on Friday. Their 125 yards of total offense just won't cut it in the Sunflower League.

Individual Highlights

**Olathe East's Brandon Willingham had a monster game on Friday, running the ball 28 times for 188 yards the three touchdowns.

**Even in his team's loss, Lawrence Free State quarterback Dylan Perry (below center) was impressive. He had 22 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed 10 of his 17 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown.

**SM Northwest's Kenny Mings caught six passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a rushing touchdown.

Week Four Power Rankings

1. Olathe East (3-0): For the first time since the inception of the Power Rankings a team not named Olathe North sits atop the list.

2. Olathe North (2-1): The Eagles can't be downtrodden this week--they play undefeated SM East on Friday.

3. SM West (2-1): The Viking's 21-20 comeback victory wasn't pretty but it was the type of gritty effort the team has lacked in losses over the past several years.

4. SM East (3-0): The Lancers are playing great football right now and they have a chance to prove their worth Friday against Olathe North.

5. Lawrence Free State (2-1): The Firebirds high powered offense didn't slow down Friday, but their special teams play was awful and it cost them the game.

6. Olathe South (1-2): The Falcon's offense looked great in their win but they will need to step things up defensively if they ever plan on contending in the Sunflower League.

7. Olathe Northwest (2-1): Olathe Northwest has been playing a quality brand of football this season, and it showed in their shutout win over Leavenworth.

8. SM Northwest (0-3): Despite another loss, the Cougars still have high hopes for the season--their district opponents have gone a combined 1-8.

9. Lawrence (2-1): Lawrence claimed a homecoming game victory and surpassed their 2009 win total.

10. SM South (1-2): The Raiders need to figure out their problems on the offensive side of the ball quickly before their Thursday night game against Olathe South.

11. SM North (0-3): SM North's losing streak has now reached the double digit mark at 10 games.

12. Leavenworth (0-3): Thus far Kevin Kopecky's presence and a new stadium have done little to lift the football program.

Stats courtesy Mid-statesports.com

Photos courtesy (from top) the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal World

Game Scores and Notes

Week Three Game Results

Olathe East 25, Olathe North 0

Olathe North's 15-game win streak came to a stop with a thump, courtesy of Brandon Willingham (right) and the Hawks from Olathe East. Willingham led Olathe East's charge, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Fellow running backs Austin Fulson and Treyshawn Root combined for another 89 yards and a touchdown. The reality of the Hawk's dominance set in in the third quarter, when they began an 18 play, 86-yard drive that was finalized with a Willingham touchdown run from two yards out. The loss was Olathe North's first since November of 2008.

Lawrence 28, SM South 7

A strong defensive effort from Lawrence helped the team collect their second win of the season, surpassing last season's one win campaign. The Chesty Lions smothered SM South's offense, holding the Raiders to a mere 95 yards of total offense. Lawrence's offensive production wasn't too shabby either--the team was led by Charles Jackson's 15 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Olathe Northwest 35, Leavenworth 0

Olathe Northwest didn't skip a beat in Korey Kipp's first start as their quarterback on Friday. The junior passed for 78 yards and three touchdowns on seven completions. Olathe Northwest's Nick Bandy also had a solid game, recording two interceptions, a rushing touchdown, and 101 yards of total offense in the first half before he left the game with a minor injury.

SM East 40, SM North 21

SM East wasted no time setting the tone they wanted on Thursday scoring rushing touchdowns on their first four possessions. Running back Adam Lowe contributed two of the touchdowns on runs of 25 and 48 yards. The flow of the game didn't change much in the second half as John Schrock found Elliot Faerber on a 54-yard touchdown pass off a deflection, and Robby Moriarty added a two-yard touchdown run to build a 40-0 Lancer advantage in the third quarter. SM North was able to add late scores on two touchdown runs from Kendall Kelly, and a touchdown pass from Kyle Goodburn to Mason Perez.

SM West 21, Lawrence Free State 20

Despite what appeared to be a Lawrence Free State domination on paper, SM West was able to snag a victory on the Firebirds' home turf. The only score of the first half came on a 42-yard pass from Dylan Perry to Cody Schmidt. Leading 7-0, the Firebirds tacked on another score in the third quarter when Perry capped off a Free State drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point was missed, which proved to be huge late in the game. A botched punt allowed SM West to get on board quickly with a 14-yard touchdown run from Tre Burt. Perry then scored on an 80-yard run to give Free State a 20-7 advantage. SM West drove and scored their second touchdown on a 20-yard run from Will Livingston (right). Free State's next possession stalled, and their punt was blocked by a SM West defender. The Viking's Bryan Meeker scored on a one-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game winner.

Olathe South 27, SM Northwest 25
Olathe South's power-running game finally showed signs of life Friday, as the Falcons grinded out 392 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries for the win. The two teams traded scores all night. Olathe South started with a 5-yard touchdown run from Kendal Harland, before SM Northwest responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Mangelsdorf to Kenny Mings. Olathe South touchdown runs from Nick Sands, Jake Crist, and Harland were answered by touchdowns runs from Mings, Mangelsdorf, and then another Mangelsdorf to Mings touchdown pass, this time from 49 yards out with 3:10 to go in the fourth quarter. That score put SM Northwest within two points of tying Olathe South, but the Cougar's two-point conversion failed, as they fell to 0-3 on the season.

Photos courtesy (from top) the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal-World

Sunflower League Extra

Top 5 Player Ratings

Player Ratings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

1. Brandon Willingham, Running Back, Olathe East

Week One: 12 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD; 15 yard TD reception

Willingham played great in his senior debut Friday. On Olathe East's first offensive play of the game he took a carry 44 yards. A good omen to say the least. With the emergence of fellow senior running back Austin Fulson, it looks like Willingham will be splitting carries at the running back position again. This worked great for the Hawks last year, and if anything it allows Willingham to be more dynamic defensively and in the return game.

2. Victor Simmons (right), Quarterback, Olathe North

Week One: 23 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD; 1-of-5 passing, 19 yards

Based on statistics alone it doesn't appear that Simmons became a polished passer during the offseason--but it doesn't look like it will make much of a difference for the Eagles. Simmons was, as usual, nearly impossible to tackle on Friday. His highlight play came in the second quarter when he busted through the middle of the SM West defense for a 41 yard touchdown run.

3. Adonis Saunders, Running Back, Olathe North

Week One: 6 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs

Saunders first carry of the season went for 77 yards and a touchdown, and his first carry of the third quarter nearly matched it, when he ran 72 yards for a touchdown. It seems Olathe North has found the next running back to carry on the school's legacy at the position. It will be interesting to see how many yards Saunders can put up with more carries.

4. Will Livingston, Running Back, SM West

Week One: 22 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs; 75 yard TD reception

Livingston's rushing yardage wasn't very impressive, but his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter were. SM West will need to develop more offensive threats to take some of the focus of opposing defenses off Livingston. On Friday, he was the Viking's offense.

5. Dylan Perry, Quarterback, Lawrence Free State

Week One: 9-of-13 passing, 150 yards, 1 TD; 22 carries, 132 yards; 1 defensive interception

Perry replaces Olathe South's Nick Sands in the #5 slot after a breakout home opener against the Falcons. It would have been hard to predict such a dominant performance from the Firebird's new quarterback, but he played as good of a game as any player in the Sunflower League in week one.

Honorable Mention: Preston Schenck, John Schrock, Austin Fulson

Week Two Power Rankings
*Power Rankings are subject to change on a week-to-week basis

**See previous post for commentary on Rankings

1. Olathe North (1-0)

2. Olathe East (1-0)

3. SM West (0-1)
4. SM East (1-0)

5. Lawrence Free State (1-0)

6. Olathe South (0-1)

7. SM Northwest (0-1)

8. Olathe Northwest (1-0)

9. Lawrence (1-0)

10. SM South (0-1)

11. SM North (0-1)

12. Leavenworth (0-1)

Stat Check

Passing Yards

John Schrock, SM East: 153

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 150

Ryan Lundgren, Olathe Northwest: 140

Armani Williams, SM West: 108

Brad Strauss, Lawrence: 101

Alex Forslund, SM South: 99

Kyle Goodburn, SM North: 78

Frank Seurer, Olathe South: 74

Stephen Mangelsdorf: 72

Trent Kuhl, Olathe East: 68

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 17

Rushing Yards

Adonis Saunders, Olathe North: 160

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 132

Justin Pamatmat, Olathe Northwest: 128

Brandon Willingham, Olathe East: 127

Austin Fulson, Olathe East: 120

Victor Simmons, Olathe North: 118

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 112

Alex Forslund, SM South: 95

Nick Sands, Olathe South: 82

Kendall Kelly, SM North: 79

Will Livingston, SM West: 69

Receiving Yards

Leonard Parks, Olathe Northwest: 81

Elliot Faerber, SM East: 77

Will Livingston, SM West: 75

Shawn Laurent, SM South: 67

Kendall Kelly, SM North: 62

Drew Johnson, Olathe South: 61

Austin Flory, Lawrence: 54

Tucker Fritzel, Lawrence Free State: 53

Desmond Wyatt, Lawrence Free State: 46

Kenny Mings, SM Northwest: 38

Tackles

Matt Denmark, SM North: 9

Josh Mais, SM East: 9

Tristan Opie, Olathe Northwest: 9

Matt Cole, Lawrence Free State: 8

Brandon Bishop, SM North: 7

Drew Boyce, Olathe Northwest: 7

Jeff Cole, SM East: 7

Nate Davis, Lawrence Free State: 7

Mike Eichenberg, Olathe Northwest: 7

Mason Perez, SM North: 7

Interceptions

Quan Brunt, SM East: 1 (1 TD)

Kenny Mings (right), SM Northwest: 1

Mason Perez, SM North: 1

Dylan Perry, Lawrence Free State: 1

Matt Roenigk, SM Northwest: 1

Preston Schenck, Lawrence Free State: 1 (1 TD)

Stats Courtesy Mid-statesports.com; Photos Courtesy (from top) Kansas City Star, Shawnee-Dispatch