Tight 50-yard spirals, long runs down the sidelines and leaping catches in the end zone are what earn the most headlines. However, coaches know that great defensive plays are just as important.
With that taken into account, this season Kpreps.com has changed its format to name an offensive and defensive player of the year for each classification.
Class 6A
Offense
Scott Gourley, Olathe South, OL, senior – The Olathe South Falcons displayed a lot of offensive firepower on their way to the 6A state championship. They scored no fewer than 29 points in a game this season and rushed for more than 4,000 yards. Gourley and the rest of the offensive line deserve a lot of credit for that.
Gourley was named a Kpreps 6A All-State offensive lineman after being a three-year starter at center for Olathe South. He was a two-time All-Sunflower League performer and was picked as a Top 11 player by The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. He also earned 6A honors by each of those publications and All-Metro honors from The Kansas City Star.
Defense
Remington Whitley, Olathe South, LB, junior – As good as the Falcons were on offense, they were equally as good on defense. Olathe South held seven of its opponents to 21 points or fewer, and Whitley was a big reason why. The linebacker was credited with 154 tackles on the season with 87 being solo tackles. Whitley also had two sacks, three tackles for loss and four interceptions.
Whitley was named a 6A All-State linebacker by Kpreps. He received honorable mentions from The Wichita Eagle and The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Class 5A
Offense
Justin Fulks, Blue Valley-Stilwell, RB, senior – Fulks helped the Tigers to consecutive trips to the 5A state championship game and a win in 2010. The running back rushed for 1,878 yards and 21 touchdowns his senior season despite missing part of three games because of an injury. Fulks also caught 22 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
A three-year starter at running back for the Tigers, Fulks is a two-time Kpreps 5A All-State selection and earned Eastern Kansas League honors all three seasons. He also has received All-State honors from The Wichita Eagle (2010 and 2011) and The Topeka Capital-Journal (2011), as well as All-Metro honors by The Kansas City Star (2011). Fulks also is a finalist for the inaugural Dylan Meier – Get Busy Livin’ Player of the Year Award through Kpreps.com.
Defense
Najahaun Tipton-Wylie, Hutchinson, DL, senior – At only 5 feet, 6 inches tall, Wylie played a big role in the Salthawks’ state championship defense. A Kpreps 5A All-State selection, Wylie recorded 95 tackles and 12 sacks to help lead Hutchinson. He also was named the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I defensive MVP. In addition, he received Top 11 and 5A honors from The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle.
Class 4A
Offense
Garrett Griffin, Louisburg, RB, senior – A year after helping the Wildcats to the 4A state championship, Griffin was relied on to be focus of the offense in his senior season. Working as a running back and a quarterback out of the Wildcat formation, he rushed for a school-record 2,135 yards, as well as 23 touchdowns in 2011. Griffin’s top games included a 323-yard outing against Spring Hill and a 37-carry, 295-yard and four-TD performance in a 27-20 win against Fort Scott in the first round of the playoffs. Griffin finished his high school career with more than 4,600 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns. Griffin also was split out as a receiver in some offensive sets.
Griffin is a two-time Kpreps All-State selection at running back and a Top 11 selection by The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. He also was a standout linebacker for Louisburg.
Defense
Derrick Decker, Rose Hill, DB, senior – Probably best known as a standout quarterback for the Rockets, Decker also was a huge part of Rose Hill’s state championship defense in 2011. The defensive back recorded 132 tackles as Rose Hill pitched four shutouts and kept opponents to 14 points or fewer in 10 out of 14 games. On offense, Decker rushed for 1,526 yards and passed for 1,123 yards to lead Rose Hill to the school’s first state championship in football.
Decker was named a Top 22 performer by The Topeka Capital-Journal and the Wichita Eagle. He also received 4A All-State honors from both of those publications.
Class 3A
Offense
Truitt Kuhlmann, Smith Center, RB, senior – The fact that Kuhlmann rushed for 2,009 yards and 34 touchdowns his senior season is impressive. The fact that he rushed 11.2 yards per carry in that senior season is downright ridiculous. He also was a dynamic kick returner and defensive back for the Redmen.
Kuhlmann was a 3A All-State selection at running back for Kpreps, The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. In 2010, Kuhlmann was named to the 3A Kpreps All-State team as a defensive back. That season, he also rushed for 969 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Defense
Logan O’Dea, Wellsville, DL/LB, senior – Playing defensive line and linebacker, O’Dea tallied 137 tackles, five sacks and four forced fumbles for the Eagles. He was a leader of a defense that didn’t allow more than 24 points in a game all season and kept opponents to 14 points or fewer in eight out of 11 games. He also was an offensive lineman for a team that rushed for 3,000 yards the past two seasons. As a junior, O’Dea registered 84 tackles and recovered three fumbles.
This past season, he was a 3A All-State selection as a defensive lineman by Kpreps, and The Wichita Eagle. The Topeka Capital-Journal named O’Dea a Top 33 performer and a 3A All-State selection on the offensive line.
Class 2-1A
Offense
Michael Glatczak, Centralia, QB, senior – A two-time Kpreps All-State selection at quarterback, Glatczak did most of his damage this season on the ground. He averaged 14 yards per carry as he rushed for 1,849 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead the Panthers to the 2-1A state championship. He also was an All-State receiver as a sophomore when Centralia won the state title in 2009.
For his career, Glatczak finished his career within 32 receiving yards of eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark as a rusher, passer and receiver. He finished his career with 3,382 yards rushing, 1,328 yards passing and 968 receiving yards with 84 total touchdowns. Glatczak was a Top 11 performer by The Topeka Capital-Journal and a Top 22 performer by The Wichita Eagle. He received 2-1A All-State honors in each of the past three seasons as either a receiver, defensive back or quarterback by both of those publications.
Defense
Andrew Casey, Plainville, LB, senior – Casey helped lead a turnaround at Plainville that saw the Cardinals win 10 games and reach the state semifinals after winning only four games combined the previous two seasons. Casey contributed with 136 tackles (11.3 per game) and two sacks.
He was a 2-1A All-State selection at linebacker by Kpreps, The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. Casey also was a unanimous All-Mid Continent League selection as both a tight end and linebacker.
8-Man Division I
Offense
Kole Schankie, Madison, RB, senior – Schankie was a key piece in consecutive state championships for the Bulldogs. He finished his career with 4,907 yards rushing and 120 touchdowns, while gaining 10 yards per carry. This past season, Schankie rushed for 2,133 yards and 50 touchdowns. He went over the 200-yard mark in both state championship wins, compiling 262 in 2010 and 232 in 2011. Schankie also was a standout defensive back, forcing 24 turnovers and recording 291 tackles for his career.
Schankie is a finalist for the inaugural Dylan Meier – Get Busy Livin’ Player of the Year Award. He is a two-time Kpreps 8-Man I All-State selection at running back. He also was recognized as a Top 33 performer and All-State running back by both The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle.
Defense
Miles Thomas, Lakeside-Downs, LB, senior – Thomas is another small school player who shined on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 1,760 yards and 30 touchdowns as the offensive focal point for a Knights squad that finished 11-1, falling to eventual state champion Madison in the playoffs. But for as big of a role as Thomas played on offense, his contributions on defense were at least equal. He recorded 96 tackles (48 solo), five sacks and three interceptions for a Knights defense that posted four shutouts on the season.
Thomas was selected as an 8-Man Division I All-State linebacker by Kpreps and The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was an honorable mention for The Wichita Eagle.
8-Man Division II
Offense
Joel Struckhoff, Thunder Ridge, RB, senior – Struckhoff rushed for more than 2,300 yards and 43 touchdowns his senior season to lead the Longhorns to their first state championship. However, that was just exclamation point on an outstanding preps career where he ran for 6,916 yards and 127 TDs. He broke the Kansas 8-Man record for career rushing yards and touchdowns.
He was a two-time Kpreps 8-Man Division II All-State pick at running back. The Topeka Capital-Journal named Struckhoff a Top 11 performer, which is an unusual honor for an 8-Man player. He also was an 8-Man All-State selection by The Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle.
Defense
Cody Heiman, Baileyville B&B, LB, senior – Heiman registered 81 tackles and three interceptions in 2011 as the Falcons reached the state championship game for the fourth consecutive season. On offense, he led an injury-riddled B&B squad with 1,131 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the state championship loss to Thunder Ridge, Heiman had 83 rushing yards and a touchdown, 96 receiving yards and a touchdown and 17 tackles. He finished with 269 career tackles for the Falcons.
Heiman was a two-time Kpreps 8-Man Division II All-State pick at linebacker. He also was given 8-Man D-II All-State honors by The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle.
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