The 2015 Journal-World All-Area Football Team, from left: Logan Koch, Mill Valley; Bryce Torneden, Free State; JD Woods, Lawrence; Zach Strawn, Wellsville; Coach of the Year Joel Applebee, Mill Valley; Price Morgan, Lawrence; Grant Elston, Eudora; Anthony Brown, Mill Valley; Sam Skwarlo, Free State; Seth Burnett, Mill Valley. Not pictured: Player of the Year Amani Bledsoe, Lawrence.

Player of the Year: Amani Bledsoe, Lawrence

The Sunflower League’s Andre Maloney Most Valuable Player, Bledsoe dominated on both sides of the ball. A 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end, Bledsoe had 89 tackles and 11 sacks. He earned the Buck Buchanan Award, selected as the most outstanding lineman/linebacker in the Kansas City metro area. He added 48 pancake blocks on the offensive line and blocked three punts.

Lawrence High Lineman Amani Bledsoe has been named Sunflower League MVP.

Coach of the Year: Joel Applebee, Mill Valley

The Jaguars won their first state championship in school history with a 35-14 victory over Wichita Bishop Carroll in the Class 5A title game. With an explosive offense that averaged 43 points per game and a stout defense, Mill Valley outscored its opponents 551-177 and finished the season with 12 wins and one loss.

First team

Anthony Brown, Mill Valley — Brown solidified the defensive line for the Jaguars, recording 61 tackles, including 18 for loss. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior was a first-team All-Kaw Valley League selection, adding 21 quarterback hurries, three sacks, two interceptions and one defensive TD.

Seth Burnett, Mill Valley — The leading tackler for one of the top defenses in the state, Burnett finished with 120 tackles, including 71 solo tackles. Burnett added 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions, earning first-team All-Kaw Valley League honors.

Grant Elston, Eudora — Elston led the Cardinals to the state semifinals for the first time since 2012. The 5-foot-8 senior quarterback ran for 2,184 yards and 30 touchdowns, adding 296 passing yards and four touchdowns. A first-team All-Frontier League pick on both sides of the ball, Elston made 101 tackles and grabbed seven interceptions.

Logan Koch, Mill Valley — A dual-threat quarterback, Koch helped the Jaguars to their first state title, throwing for 2,483 yards and 32 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. An Eastern Illinois basketball signee, Koch added 781 rushing yards for 13 touchdowns.

Price Morgan, Lawrence — A hard-hitting linebacker, Morgan led the Lions to a 10-1 record and their first Sunflower League title since 1993. Picked for the All-Simone team, Morgan recorded 123 tackles. The first-team all-league selection on both sides of the ball made 14 catches for 265 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end.

Sam Skwarlo, Free State — After missing nearly all of last season because of a foot injury, Skwarlo earned first-team All-Sunflower League honors on both sides of the ball and was picked for the All-Simone team. The senior ran for 1,492 yards and 21 touchdowns, scoring in all but one game. At linebacker, Skwarlo had more than 100 tackles, including more than 60 solo.

Zach Strawn, Wellsville — A running back with elite speed, Strawn rushed for 1,192 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the Eagles to a 10-3 record and a spot in the 3A state semifinals. He had 32 receptions for 401 yards and three touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pioneer League honors. At defensive back, Strawn made 61 tackles and grabbed two interceptions.

Bryce Torneden, Free State — One of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, Torneden ran for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for 1,323 yards and 12 touchdowns. The North Dakota State commit had 84 tackles and four interceptions at free safety, earning a spot on the All-Simone team and first-team All-Sunflower League honors.

JD Woods, Lawrence — The most accomplished running back in LHS history, Woods ran for 1,933 yards and 34 touchdowns, earning a spot on the All-Simone team. The 5-foot-7 senior broke the school’s career rushing record during the season, finishing his three-year varsity career with 3,909 yards and 58 touchdowns. For the second straight year, he was a first-team All-Sunflower League pick.

Honorable mention

Tanner Beebe, Eudora; TJ Boatwright, De Soto; Mitchell Bond, Perry-Lecompton; Drew Bones, Ottawa; Trevor Boudeman, Santa Fe Trail; Daniel Courtwright, Santa Fe Trail; Jay Dineen, Free State; Austin Downing, Eudora; Trey Georgie, Lawrence; Jake Hastings, Santa Fe Trail; Ben Hecht, Mill Valley; Ivan Hollins, Lawrence; Kyle Hopkins, Oskaloosa; Christian Jegen, Mill Valley; Jake Katzer, Baldwin; Joel Katzer, Baldwin; Lucas Krull, Mill Valley; Cole Morris, Mill Valley; Zack Sanders, Free State; Bryce Smith, Wellsville.