Player Capsules for the 2022 Sports in Kansas Top 11 Football Team
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Dylan Edwards – Derby RB
Derby senior running back Dylan Edwards repeats as the clear choice for 6A Offensive Player of the Year. Edwards is the consensus No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2023 behind Maize quarterback Avery Johnson. Edwards is headed to Notre Dame.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Edwards is ranked as the No. 10 running back nationally and No. 197 overall player. Dylan’s dad, Leon, played at Kansas State. Dylan has posted a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.
As a junior, Edwards was SIK Top 11, 6A OPOY and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. Derby finished 9-3 with a pair of close losses to eventual 6A champion Manhattan and a 52-51 defeat to 5A runner-up Maize. The Panthers scored 49.5 points per game, second only to Wichita Northwest’s 52.7 for the 6A lead. Last season, Derby went 11-1 and led Kansas with 52.2 points a game.
Derby finished with the state’s No. 1 offense in 11-man football, per nationally recognized Massey Ratings, a site that combines points scored with strength of schedule. In 2022, the Panthers defeated 5A’s Bishop Carroll (45-38) and Hutchinson (28-21), two teams that spent the bulk of the fall ranked in the top-five in 5A. Derby beat Washburn Rural, 36-21, in the state quarterfinals.
Edwards enjoyed another massive season: 203 carries for 1,900 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns with 11 100-yard rushing games. Derby rushed for 314 yards a game and nine yards a carry. He caught 15 passes for 227 yards and tied for the team lead with three receiving scores. Overall, Edwards, who again served as the Panthers’ primary returner, delivered 2,406 all-purpose yards.
In the win against Carroll, BC led 24-14 in the third quarter when Edwards returned a kickoff 60 yards for a score. Carroll scored late in the game to tie the contest at 38. However, Edwards ripped off a game-winning 85-yard run.
Even in the losses, Edwards had big performances. In Week 1, he rushed 19 times for 191 yards and two scores. Against Hutchinson, he rushed 17 times for 72 yards with a touchdown. Against Manhattan in the state semifinals, Edwards had 33 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Edwards finished with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards as a sophomore and 3,000 as a junior.
In 36 career games, Edwards delivered 7,944 all-purpose yards and 17.8 points per game.
Special recognition to Manhattan quarterback Keenan Schartz, a Top 11 all-classes selection. He delivered more than 1,200 rushing and 1,200 passing yards for the 13-0 Indians. Manhattan won its first state title since 1988 and reached its first final since 2001.
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Jack Kraus, Andale OL/DL
Perhaps no player exemplified hard work more in the 2022 football season than Andale senior lineman Jack Kraus. In the offseason, Kraus frequently awakes at 3:30 a.m. to work at a meat locker in Goddard. He then lifts after school.
On the field, Riley Marx and Kraus were Andale’s top players and among the team captains. Kraus helped Andale to a 13-0 mark and extended its winning streak to 51 games.
Kraus has cleared 60 feet in the shot put. He was second in the shot put and third in the discus in the 4A state meet last spring. He broke the Andale shot put record that had stood since 1971. Kraus has a clean of 365 pounds and helped an Andale team average over 50 points of offense per game while allowing just 5.2 points per game.
The streak of 51 games is the fifth longest streak in Kansas history and currently second in the country. Kraus has put himself on the map as one of the states strongest players and one of the top multiple sport athletes in the state as the top returning shot put thrower in Kansas and one of the best two-way lineman in all of Kansas.
While he wont have many looks in football because of his height, Kraus will have several opportunities to throw in college at the Division I level. Andale was loaded on both sides of the ball and Kraus gives his teamamates and coaches credit for his success.
Congrats to Jack Kraus and Riley Marx for Sports in Kansas Top 11 and Riley for 3A Defensive Player of the Year.! 4 time 3A State Champs and undefeated high school careers. Andale Booster Club is proud of you. Roll Tribe!
Congrats to Jack Kraus for Sports in Kansas Top 11! Stroot Lockers is proud of his excellent season!
Way to go Jack on earning Sports in Kansas Top 11! Your family is so proud of you. Keep up all your hard work! Love, Mom, Hannah, Will and Alex
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Ty Weber, Washburn Rural LB
This was a very tough call for this POY honor as many were considered in the loaded class. Washburn senior linebacker Ty Weber broke several school records, led Rural one of its best two seasons in the last 30 falls, and helped to completely transform the Junior Blues’ defense. Weber was Top 11 all classes.
Weber has delivered a huge change in the Junior Blues’ defense. In 2019, WR allowed 25.7 points per game and were No. 47 in Massey. In 2020, the Junior Blues permitted 34.1 points a game and ranked No. 67 in Massey.
Washburn Rural permitted 18.2 points per game, second-best among the 6A quarterfinalists. That’s even better when strength of schedule is considered. The Junior Blues were No. 12 for all classes in the Massey Ratings. Rural allowed 17.5 points last season, fifth-best in 6A, though were No. 33 in Massey Ratings, which combines strength of schedule and points allowed.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Weber has interest from Kansas State and South Dakota. Weber is generally considered Kansas’ best linebacker. For 2022, Weber delivered a huge line: 134 tackles (82 solo), 19 for loss, two sacks, a pick-six, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Washburn Rural finished 8-3 and advanced to the 6A quarterfinals. Since 1992, 2016 and this fall are Rural’s deepest playoff runs. Weber finished his career with 413 tackles (237 solo), 35 for loss, three sacks, an interception, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He has the school record for solo tackles, assisted tackles and tackles for loss.
Rural lost to three 6A squads: Derby, Junction City and state champion Manhattan. They beat 6A Wichita East and 5A quarterfinalist De Soto. Weber was an all-state baseball player at designated hitter. Jordan Allen, FBS offer DE from Olathe South, Zach Darche of BV West, one of the best two way players in the state, and Miles Wash of Derby also were strong candidates for the nod that all would’ve been solid POY choices had the votes fallen their way.
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Avery Johnson, Maize QB
Maize senior quarterback Avery Johnson is easily Kansas’ most well-known football players and one of the top overall recruits in the last 15 years. Johnson repeats as 5A Offensive Player of the Year and a Top 11 selection. Johnson, Kansas’ top recruit, is a four-star national recruit and has committed to Kansas State. He is first team all-state basketball and baseball.
Johnson is a finalist for MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
Maize went 12-1 and set a school mark for single season victories. Maize scored 47.9 points per game, which led 5A and easily set a new school record for offense. The Eagles significantly upped its offense after 35.2 points scored a contest in 2021.
Maize lost by the same 28-14 score to Mill Valley in the last two 5A state title games. Those are the only two state title games in Eagle football annals. Maize had a plus-two win improvement from ’21.
This season, Johnson completed 153 of 228 passes (67.1 percent) for 2,768 yards with 29 touchdowns against three interceptions. He rushed 98 times for 817 yards and 15 scores. As a junior, Johnson completed 162 of 296 for 2,549 yards with 20 scores against six interceptions.
Johnson benefited from a highly experienced offense, including running back Daeshaun Carter, receivers Bryce Cohoon (Syracuse commit), Justin Stephens, Jaeden Martin and sophomore Bryson Hayes, perhaps the state’s fastest player. Maize won the AVCTL Division I title, its first football conference crown in more than 10 years.
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Mac Armstrong, Bishop Miege QB
Bishop Miege is long known for its remarkable quarterback play under Jon Holmes, including Montell Cozart, Ryan Willis and Carter Putz. Cozart and Willis played Division I football. Putz, Kansas’ all-time 11-man leader in passing scores, was a top player for Notre Dame baseball.
However, none of them threw for the yardage that Miege senior quarterback Mac Armstrong posted this fall. Putz’s all-time best was 3,264 yards in 2016, which was the school record. Willis threw for 3,003 yards as a senior in 2014. Cozart threw for 2,759 yards as a senior.
In 2022, Armstrong easily paced Kansas in passing for the 11-2 Class 4A state champions.
Armstrong finished with 265 of 369 passing for 3,865 yards with 39 touchdowns against six interceptions. He completed a remarkable 74 percent of his passes. In a 29-26 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas on Oct. 7, Armstrong throw for 257 yards with two scores against two INTs. In the state semifinal win versus Aquinas, Armstrong went for 323 yards with four touchdowns against no picks.
The all-time record for a Kansas 11-man player is Sunrise Christian’s Zach Howell, who threw for 4,208 in 2017, per the Kansas Sports of Hall of Fame. Sunrise is a non-KSHSAA school.
Miege led the eight 4A quarterfinalists with 41.1 points per game, a huge leap from 27.4 points a contest in 2021. The Stags enjoyed a seven-win improvement from 5-7 to 12-1, which tied the biggest jump of any state championship team. Division I Wichita County improved from 6-3 to 13-0. Miege has won 11 state titles, which now stands alone in Kansas history. The Stags were tied with Lawrence and Smith Center at ten. This marked Miege’s first since 2019. Miege won six in a row from ’14-19.
In the state finals, Armstrong threw for 370 yards with three scores and two interceptions in a 35-14 win against Wamego. Armstrong’s top target was Isaiah Coppage, considered the state’s top receiver.
Congrats to Mac Armstrong on being named the Sports in Kansas 4A Player of the Year! The Miege Activities Booster Club and the 2022 Bishop Miege State Champion Football Team are very proud of you. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Coach Holmes on Twitter! Go Stags Go!
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Riley Marx, Andale LB/DL/FB
Andale senior Athlete Riley Marx has a strong case for Kansas’ best male athlete. Last spring, Marx was the No. 1 javelin thrower nationally. He has Division I offers in football and track. Marx was Andale’s best player on the highest accolade-laden senior class in Indian boys’ history. Andale went 13-0 and won its fourth straight 3A state title.
Andale ended the season with three straight shutouts and led all of Kansas with 5.2 points allowed a game. Last season, Andale also paced 3A and was second in Kansas with 5.2 points permitted a contest. Andale has won 51 consecutive contests, the fifth-longest streak in Kansas history. The Indians currently have the second longest streak nationally.
Last season, Andale set team scoring offense and scoring defense with a total margin of 692-68. This season, the Indians were nearly the same at 689-67. Marx played a variety of positions, including nose guard, in the 48-0 win against Rock Creek in the state quarterfinals. Andale picked off seven passes against RC’s offense that was ranked No. 1 in Kansas in passing at the time. Marx mainly played fullback and defensive end, though was also used as a receiver.
Marx comes from the well-known Marx/Fairchild family in Andale. His older sister, Samantha, throws for Wichita State. His uncle, Tim, in Andale’s longtime defensive coordinator. Marx has thrown 209 feet, 9 inches in the javelin and was a state runner-up in wrestling. He cleans 385 pounds.
Kansas Custom Carpentry, Inc in Andale would like to congratulate Riley Marx on Top 11 and 3A DPOY. We are proud of the 4x state champion Indians, 51-0! Kansas Custom Carpentry, Custom Carpentry is our Specialty, would like to congratulate Andale on a fantastic season! Give us a call at 316-519-8359
Congrats to Jack Kraus and Riley Marx for Sports in Kansas Top 11 and Riley for 3A Defensive Player of the Year.! 4 time 3A State Champs and undefeated high school careers. Andale Booster Club is proud of you. Roll Tribe!
Sports in Kansas Top 11– Cooper Hajek, Nemaha Central RB/LB
In the summer, Nemaha Central was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A. NC was known for its defensive standouts, including linemen Connor Deters and Holden Bass, defensive back Brayden Uphaus and linebacker Cooper Hajek. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hajek led NC with 73 tackles as a junior, picked up offers from Benedictine, Bethel and Nebraska Wesleyan and showcased great sideline to sideline speed.
This season, Hajek played offense – and completely transformed the Thunder attack. He rushed for 2,093 yards, 42 rushing touchdowns and 81 tackles. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Hajek can run 4.73 in the 40-yard dash. This week, he picked up a Hutchinson Community College offer. Hajek was Top 11 all classes.
Nemaha Central had a six-win improvement and won the Class 2A state title with 13-0 record. Hajek played the last three games with a shattered thumb.
The run game significantly increased for the Thunder. Last season, NC rushed for 2,064 yards as a team in 10 games. This year, Nemaha Central produced 2,450 rushing yards in its first nine contests.
Nemaha Central won its second 2A title in four years, and first under coach Michael Glatzcak. This also marked the first undefeated season in NC history. The Thunder led 2A with 48.3 points a game, including a 33-17 win against Kingman in the state championship game.
Nemaha Central enjoyed a big jump after a 7-3 season and 34.3 points a contest last year. In the state title year of 2019, NC went 11-2 and scored 33.5 points per game.
Congrats to Cooper Hajek on the 2A Offensive Player of the Year and TOp 11 from Sports in Kansas. Your family is proud of you!
Bergman Remodeling, LLC is very proud of Cooper Hajek for being named 2A Offensive Player of the Year and Top 11 from Sports in Kansas! We are very proud of you!!
Congrats to Cooper Hajek on the 2A Offensive Player of the Year by Sports in Kansas. The Friday Nighters and the whole community is proud of you and the team on the 2A state championship!
Sports in Kansas Top 11– Keller Hurla, St. Marys QB/DB
St. Marys senior quarterback Keller Hurla delivered a drive for the ages in a 44-41 state championship victory in the Class 1A state game against Inman at Fort Hays State University that solidified his case as 1A POY and Top 11. Hurla led St. Marys on a 99-yard touchdown drive and scored the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left. Hurla was Top 11 all-classes and led the Bears to an 11-2 record and first ever state title in program history.
Hurla is an exceptional athlete with 51 career passing touchdowns, 37 rushing scores and zero fumbles. He is all-state in football, basketball, track and golf. Last winter, Hurla helped St. Marys to a 2A state runner-up in basketball.
St. Marys paced 1A with 41.7 points a contest. St. Marys went 5-4 last season and moved down to 1A. The Bears were projected to have a breakout year and was preseason No. 1 in 1A. St. Marys opened 1-2, and then won 10 straight.
This marks St. Marys first all-time football title after seconds in 1983, ’99 and ’06.
In the state championship, Hurla completed 21 of 33 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 25 times for 94 yards and three scores. For the season, Hurla passed for 2,656 yards and 27 scores, along with 1,272 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.
He significantly improved in his three seasons of quarterback play. As a sophomore, he completed 54 percent of his passes for 722 yards with seven scores against nine interceptions. His junior season, he threw for 1,581 yards with 15 TDs against two INTs. He was also an all-class Top 15 basketball player last season from Sports in Kansas, even scored over 50 points in a single game. He’s a four sport all-state athlete earning all-state in golf and track & field as well.
“Couldn’t be prouder of my nephew and his accomplishments. Way to keep fighting, Keller!!” – Cindy Glynn – Realtor – Coldwell Banker American Home – Give us a call at 785-207-5464 – Lawrence – Topeka – Manhattan
Congratulations to our Bear Football Team and Coaches for bringing home the State Championship! Proud to be Bears! – St. Marys Jr/Sr High Booster Club
Sports in Kansas Top 11 Keenan Schartz, Manhattan QB
There are dream seasons – and then there’s Manhattan 2022. The Indians finished 13-0 and won the 6A state championship after it was unranked in the preseason. Manhattan had significantly struggled against Derby in the playoffs in recent falls. The Indians had one-score games versus the Panthers in Week 1 and the state semifinals. The season opener came in overtime. In the state championship, Mahanttan defeated Gardner-Edgerton, 21-20, in double overtime.
The Indians also won games by 10, three and nine points. Manhattan senior quarterback Keenan Schartz significantly upped his production for his dad, longtime Indian coach Joe Schartz. As a junior, Keenan passed for 926 yards, rushed for 743 and accounted for 16 offensive touchdowns.
Against a much harder strength of schedule than 2021, Keenan upped his numbers to 31 touchdowns accounted for and 2,700-plus yards of offense. He went over 1,500 rushing and 1,200 passing yards.
Keenan has recently picked up a Washburn and Emporia State offer. Joe played quarterback at Washburn and set several Ichabod passing records.
Sports in Kansas Top 11 Joe Otting, Topeka Hayden OL/DL
Also, the inaugural lineman of the year. We feel like sometimes the lineman (offense or defense) fly way under the radar with skill players earning the majority of the player of the year awards from every publication in existence of time. Voters like stats so its understandable but those stats arent possible without the people up front on either side of the ball. Topeka Hayden senior Joe Otting is a consensus all-classes top-five recruit and the state’s best lineman The 6-foot-4.5 inch, 275-pound Otting has committed to Notre Dame. Otting helped Hayden to a 10-2 mark and two losses to eventual 3A state runner-up Topeka Hayden. Otting helped Topeka Hayden to 38.6 points per game.
That’s up from an 8-2 season and 34.5 points a contest in 2021. Otting and his line helped Hayden up its scoring despite the Wildcats having a first-year starting quarterback, no returning receiver with more than 11 catches and no returning rusher with more than 611 yards. In addition to Otting, Hayden had Ben Evans and Carter Charvat as returning starters up front.
Congratulations Joe Otting, Sports in Kansas Top 11, and Lineman of the Year! We are proud of you! – Wendling, Noe, Nelson & Johnson LLC
Sports in Kansas Top 11 – Isaac Detweiler, Axtell QB/LB
Axtell senior Isaac Detweiler tied or set a bevy of state records and completed possibly the most statistically productive career of any eight-man quarterback in Kansas history. He repeats as classification offensive player of the year.
Detweiler accounted for 205 touchdowns (passing, rushing, receiving, non-offensive), including 201 offensive. This is the most for any player in recorded Kansas history, per Sports in Kansas research and other sources.
In a 76-28 win against Thunder Ridge in the state championship game, Detweiler tied the eight-man state title passing record with seven touchdowns. Overall, he threw for 2,135 yards with 45 touchdowns against one interception. He rushed for 906 yards and 20 scores. Axtell has back-to-back 13-0 seasons and a 26-game winning streak.
Axtell averaged 60.5 points per game and set the eight-man single season scoring record, a mark that stood for a few hours before Wichita County broke it later Saturday in the Division I state game.
Axtell led Division II in scoring offense the last two years.
The Eagles have three all-time titles: 1993, 2021 and 2022.
