Ryan Wood’s Weekly Football Report

Area Top Five

Players of the Week

School Record Previous Rank Last Week This Week Comment
1. Baldwin 1-0 NA defeated Anderson County 40-6 vs. Paola Aggressive Bulldogs defense forced 10 fumbles last week.
2. Mill Valley 1-0 NA defeated Perry-Lecompton 42-6 at Lansing Reloaded after last year’s 8-2 campaign.
3. Ottawa 1-0 NA defeated Spring Hill 42-6 vs. KC Ward Explosive offense had 35 first-half points in rout.
4. Tonganoxie 1-0 NA defeated Wamego 40-13 vs. Bonner Springs Offensive attack gave Wamego no chance.
5. Eudora 1-0 NA defeated Prairie View 20-13 at Anderson County Wasn’t easy, but getting the “W” is the bottom line.

City

Jeff Colter

Lawrence High

Class: Junior.

HT: 5-8. WT: 155.

Position: Running back/defensive back.

The Game: Colter emerged Friday as a competent replacement to Brandon McAnderson and Chris Fulton, who combined for 3,100 rushing yards as seniors last year. Colter rushed for 128 yards on just six carries with a touchdown, leading Lawrence to a 43-22 victory over Leavenworth. An honorable mention all-Sunflower League defensive back as a sophomore, Colter had two of the Lions’ seven interceptions.

Comment: “He’s a talented young man,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “He started for us in the secondary last year, and we knew he could contribute for us on offense, too. He just needed the opportunity, and Friday night he got it and made the most of it.”

Honorable Mention: Ian Handshy, junior, LHS; Dain Dillingham, senior, Free State; Jamie Huston, senior, LHS.

Area

Billy Baska

Tonganoxie

Class: Senior.

HT: 6-0. WT: 180.

Position: Running back/defensive back.

The game: Baska showed remarkable versatility in Tongie’s 40-13 victory Friday over Wamego, rushing the ball 11 times for 124 yards and also catching four passes for 139 receiving yards. He had two rushing touchdowns from 49 and five yards out and two receiving touchdowns from 60 and 76 yards. Defensively, Baska recorded an interception and led a Chieftain defense that never let Wamego get back into the game.

Comment: “He played the best game of his career so far,” Tonganoxie coach Mark Elston said. “He’s had flashes of being able to do what he did Friday, but that’s the first time he put his whole game together.”

Honorable mention: David Woods, junior, Mill Valley; Vashon Perryman, senior, Ottawa; Kevin Stewart, sophomore, McLouth.