Ryan Wood’s weekly football report
Area Top Five
City player of week
School (Record) | Previous Rank | Last Week | This Week |
1. De Soto (1-0) | 1 | beat Osawatomie, 34-22 | at Prairie View |
Comment: Offense stepped up in opener. | |||
2. Eudora (1-0) | 2 | beat Wellsville, 21-0 | at Osawatomie |
Comment: As expected, defense was smothering. | |||
3. Ottawa (1-0) | 4 | beat Spring Hill, 30-13 | vs. K.C. Turner |
Comment: Cyclones’ high-scoring offense is back. | |||
4. Baldwin (1-0) | 5 | beat Gardner, 34-7 | at Paola |
Comment: Bulldogs haven’t missed a beat, it seems. | |||
5. Mill Valley (0-1) | 3 | lost to K.C. Turner, 28-21 | vs. Lansing |
Comment: Just like last year, late score crushes Jaguars. |
Ryan Murphy, Free State
HT: 5-10
WT: 160
Class: Sophomore
Position: Cornerback/kick returner
The week: Murphy was the city’s biggest playmaker this week, contributing on offense, defense and special teams for the Firebirds, who lost to Shawnee Mission North, 35-13. The sophomore put FSHS on the board in the third quarter by returning a kickoff 97 yards for the score, then contributed to Free State’s other score by throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass to Nick Ayre on a razzle-dazzle play. He also intercepted a pass that would have been a North touchdown.
Area player of week
Kevin Stewart, McLouth
HT: 5-11
WT: 160
Class: Junior
Position: Running back
The week: Stewart’s offensive line made it possible, but the junior was impressive once he was given the necessary blocking. Stewart rushed for 268 yards Friday, leading McLouth to its first victory since 2001, a 20-8 win over Horton. Stewart made the move from quarterback to running back this season and propelled a rushing attack that totaled 336 yards on 38 carries.