photo by: Adobe Stock

The Journal-World All-Area teams are carefully selected by the Journal-World sports staff.

Coach of the Year: Preston Troyer, Tonganoxie

Tonganoxie High School finished its season with an 8-4 record and reached the substate round where the Chieftains lost to the eventual 4A runner-up Bishop Miege.

Player of the Year: Eli Dean, Perry-Lecompton

photo by: Contributed

Eli Dean

In his senior season, Eli Dean had over 1000 all-purpose yards offensively while adding 44 tackles and five interceptions as a defensive back. Dean finished with 476 receiving yards, 270 rushing yards and 310 kickoff return yards.

Jaxon Becker, Lawrence

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence wide receiver Jaxon Becker stiff arms an Olathe South defender in the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Lawrence.

Becker finished with 55 receptions, 731 yards and seven touchdowns and was a first-team all-Sunflower League receiver. He led the league in those three statistical categories during the regular season.

Banks Bowen, Lawrence

photo by: Mike Shaw/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Banks Bowen looks to make a pass during a game at Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Overland Park.

Bowen threw for 2,368 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 861 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. His year earned him Sunflower League Offensive Player of the Year.

Todd Brown, Tonganoxie

photo by: Contributed

Todd Brown

Brown finished with 832 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a first-team all-Frontier League wide receiver, which was the second time in his career he earned the honors.

Cage Crabill, Eudora

photo by: Contributed

Cage Crabill

Crabill was a first-team all-league selection on both the offensive and defensive lines. He is a two-year starter at center and had 34 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles on defense.

Brett Davidson, Baldwin

photo by: Contributed

Bredd Davidson

For his entire four-year Baldwin career, Davidson was a two-way starter in the trenches. He finished with all-league honors on both sides of the ball and had 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks on defense.

Tanner Hand, Tonganoxie

As the lead back for the 8-4 Chieftains, Hand rushed for 1,101 yards with 14 touchdowns.

Christian Jarrett, Eudora

photo by: Contributed

Christian Jarrett

Jarrett played both ways as a defensive back and a receiver. He was a unanimous all-league defensive back and was a first-team all-league multipurpose offensive player.

Parker Moore, Free State

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Parker Moore (8) high-fives junior Ethan Prescott (7) during the season opener against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Lawrence.

Moore capped his Free State career with a 74-tackle season including 11 tackles for loss and three sacks, an interception and both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Offensively, Moore carried the ball 42 times for 242 yards and nine touchdowns.

Hyrum Vaeono, Free State

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Free State sophomore defensive lineman Hyrum Vaeono is jubilant after his team recovered a loose ball against Olathe North on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Vaeono manned the middle of Free State’s defensive line and had 63 tackles, a sack, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Honorable Mention: Josh Galbreath, Lawrence; Tristan Gorden, Silvy Janovec, Eudora: Koltyn Kaniper, Perry-Lecompton; Talon Langford, Tonganoxie; Brenden O’Connor, Baldwin; Bralin Preston, Free State; Jake Van Horn, Baldwin