Nothing soft about ‘Rosie’

Free State QB played tougher than name indicated

The story goes something like this: Free State High senior quarterback Craig Rosenstengle was having a hard time dealing with the chilly weather conditions during football practice one afternoon this season. He complained about how cold it was. He was the only one wearing long sleeves.

This prompted a less-than-flattering pair of nicknames. Teammates and coaches called him “Rosebud” and “Princess Rose,” depicting Rosenstengle as too delicate and frail for any serious contact.

But it was Rosenstengle who made sure the new moniker was not representative of his performance on the football field.

“He plays extremely hard,” senior linebacker Ryder Werts said. “His nickname is Rosie and Rosebud, and everyone gives him stuff for being soft, but the truth is, he plays harder than anyone else out there. He might even play harder than me.”

Rosenstengle was the catalyst who led the Firebirds to a 7-3 record this season and a return trip to the Class 6A state playoffs. He also displayed a fierce competitive streak while finishing second in total offense in the Sunflower League. In all, he accounted for more than 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground and through the air in being named the Journal-World’s all-area football player of the year.

What’s more, Rosenstengle’s impressive numbers came after he spent his junior year playing wide receiver and cornerback. He got few touches then as a backup quarterback on an explosive Free State team that finished 11-1.

“He was Ryan Murphy’s backup QB, and he was just a little shrimp compared to (Murphy),” Werts said. “I heard he was nervous and could barely call the plays.”

Still, Firebirds coach Bob Lisher said last year’s experiences helped make Rosenstengle’s transition to full-time varsity quarterback nearly seamless.

“I think playing receiver as a junior and playing defensive back as well worked out to his advantage,” Lisher said. “He was a three-year player in our program. That made him feel more comfortable and confident. You combine that with the athleticism he has, it made him into a very, very complete player.”

Even Rosenstengle admitted that playing other positions actually might have helped him as a quarterback this season.

“Playing receiver let me see the games in terms of how they are trying to set up blocks,” Rosenstengle said. “It showed me when to throw the ball, not to throw it too early or too late.”

As a cornerback, Rosenstengle said he learned from other quarterbacks’ mannerisms. He saw what they did to try to bait defensive backs into making mistakes. Rosenstengle, in turn, used that knowledge to his advantage, learning when to air it out and when to tuck it and run.

This season, he carried the ball 105 times, averaging more than seven yards per carry.

Despite his uncomplimentary nicknames, Rosenstengle showed he wasn’t afraid of a little contact, after all.

“He was focused,” Werts said. “Craig always had his game face on, and he always had his eye on the prize, and I really respected that about him.”

Journal-World All-area First-teamers

Craig Rosenstengle Free State

Rosenstengle finished the season second in total offense in the Sunflower League. On the ground, he totaled 754 yards and 14 touchdowns on 105 carries. Through the air, he completed 80 of 166 passes for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns.

Chucky Hunter Free State

A threat to score any time he touched the ball, Hunter rushed for 1,090 yards with 16 TDs on 168 carries. He added 13 catches for 126 yards and also was a dynamic kick returner.

Ryder Werts Free State

Werts made his presence known on offense and defense for the Firebirds this season. As a linebacker, he made 67 tackles, with nine of them going for a loss, and forced two fumbles. On offense, he had 117 yards receiving for one touchdown and 252 yards rushing for five TDs.

Tyler Hunt Lawrence High

The Lions’ workhorse carried the ball 111 times for 684 yards and eight touchdowns. He also started at linebacker all season and often was asked to carry the load on both sides of the ball because of injuries. Hunt was also the team’s punter.

Shane Gimzo Perry-Lecompton

Gimzo was a first-team Kaw Valley League pick on offense and second team on defense this season. On offense, the quarterback rushed for 899 yards with 10 touchdowns and passed for 893 yards with 11 touchdowns. On defense, he had 94 total tackles, with seven of those going for a loss.

Caleb Denton Perry-Lecompton

Denton also was a first team Kaw Valley League pick this season, finishing the year with 78 total tackles and nine tackles for a loss. He also had five interceptions. On offense, he had 426 rushing yards, nine touchdowns on the ground and two more TDs receiving, all despite missing four games due to a broken thumb.

Erik Hill De Soto

Named all-area and honorable mention all-state a year ago as a tight end, Hill was forced to move into the starting quarterback role this season despite never playing the position. He threw for 1,078 yards with 10 touchdowns and had 80 carries for 520 yards rushing and three touchdowns, improving De Soto’s season record by one game over last year.

Luke Weaver Baldwin

A 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker, Weaver led the Bulldogs with 134 tackles and had five tackles for a loss. He caused one fumble and recovered a fumble while leading a defense that gave up just 2.8 yards per carry against the run.

Jared Hall Baldwin

Hall was a dual threat on offense and defense this season. He tallied 76 tackles, with 12 of them going for a loss. He also had four sacks and two tipped passes. On offense, he rushed for more than 1,200 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was also extremely reliable. In nearly 200 carries, he didn’t fumble once.

Cameron Cauthon Santa Fe Trail

Cauthon led the Kaw Valley League in tackles in each of the past two seasons. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker had 129 total tackles with four sacks this year. That included a 24-tackle performance in the regular-season finale against Hayden.

Morgan Abel Eudora

Abel was a three-year starter for Eudora’s defense. This season, he made 60 tackles, with 15 coming for a loss despite drawing double teams on virtually every play. He led a defense that held teams to 180 yards a game and was named the Cardinals’ defensive MVP.

Mike Sledd Eudora

At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Sledd was an intimidating force on Eudora’s offensive line. A three-year starter, he anchored an offense that averaged over 2,500 yards per year rushing and more than 40 points a game. He also was named to his all-conference team in each of the past three seasons.

Honorable Mention:

Scott Williams, Free State; Joel Gantz, Perry-Lecompton; Clinton Smethers, Mike Sprowl and Shane Miller, De Soto; Beau Elder and Sam Beecher, Baldwin; Cameron Adcox, Tonganoxie; Cody Godshall and Jesse Bahner, Santa Fe Trail; Mark Stewart and Ryan Smith, McLouth; Matthew Abel and Travis Clarke, Eudora; Michael Kay Veritas Christian.