Back to Kpreps this fall, our contributors will hand out helmet stickers to a team or individual that delivered the most important performance of the week in their opinion. Check back each week to see the most recent helmet stickers, and follow @Kpreps on Twitter and Facebook to watch as the Kpreps helmet fills up with stickers as the season goes on.
Helmet sticker: Inman (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
In Class 1A, District 3 play, Inman captured its third straight victory with a 39-13 win at Oakley. Inman moved to 3-1, 3-0 in district action. The only loss was a 26-20 defeat to Hutchinson Trinity, currently ranked No. 4 in 2A, in the season opener. The Teutons went 0-9 in ’17, though finished 6-4 and 6-5 the last two falls. The quarterfinal finish in ’19 yielded the best playoff showing in 25 years.
Inman’s top linemen have been seniors Dairien Dawes and Cole Hase on the offensive side, and Dawes and junior Grant Thimmesch defensively. Inman led 26-7 after the first three quarters against an Oakley squad that had permitted 27 total points in the first three weeks.
Tanner Heckel returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a score, and added scoring runs of six and five yards in the second quarter. In the third, senior Carter Brown delivered a 16-yard run. Junior Jace Doerksen had with a one-yard run in the fourth and also threw a 35-yard TD pass to senior Derick Johnson. Overall, Doerksen finished 10 of 11 passing for 99 yards and a TD. Brown helped on 11 tackles with a sack. Junior Kyler Konrade helped on 14 tackles.
For the season, Doerksen has passed for 622 yards on 40 of 55 with six touchdowns against one interception. Blank has rushed 24 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns.
Johnson has nine catches for 229 yards and four TDs, while Konrade has 42 tackles. Last year, Johnson finished with 311 receiving yards and four scores, while Brown had 112 tackles with 455 rushing yards. Doerksen passed for 762 yards and 10 TDs.
Doerksen, Brown, Dawes, Hase, Johnson, Konrade, Blank and Thimmesch are among the returning starters. Inman is just outside the 1A state rankings.
Helmet sticker: Minneapolis (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
After an 0-2 start, Minneapolis has pulled off back-to-back upsets. The Lions beat Republic County at home, 20-14, and then won at Norton, 30-7. Norton was ranked fourth in Class 2A. Hoisington, Beloit and Minneapolis are all 1-0 in District 8. This marks the fourth straight year Minneapolis has started at least 2-2, though the Lions are looking for its first winning season since an 8-4 record in ’14. Minneapolis was 0-3 against Norton since ’13 and had scored just 26 total points in the games. Quarterback Trent Moeckel had delivered 40 total rushing yards in the first three ’20, though finished with 17 carries for 148 yards and three TDs in the victory.
He also completed eight of 14 passes for 140 yards with a touchdown. Junior Gannon Cleveland and senior Spencer Davidson have served as the team’s top rusher and receiver, respectively. Keyon Baccus anchors the line. Gage Carlson leads with 20 tackles, one more than Cleveland and two ahead of Baccus.
Helmet sticker: Thomas More Prep (Alex Hammeke -- Kpreps)
My helmet sticker goes to Thomas More Prep for their best start on the season since 2011.
After dropping their opener at Oakley, the Monarchs have been on a tear notching victories over Russell, Plainville, and Syracuse. TMP will continue to navigate District 7 with road games at Ellis (1-3) and Southwestern Heights (1-3) in the next two weeks. The Monarchs then return home one last time against Cimarron before traveling to Lakin to close out the regular season.
Kade Harris has been a dominant threat so far, with 383 yards and five touchdowns on 61 carries. Through the air, Harris has gone 26 of 52 for 489 yards and four touchdowns to one interception. The Monarch defense has recovered six fumbles on the year and intercepted three passes.
Class 2A, District 7 is wide open this year, with only TMP and Syracuse posting winning records so far this year. Cimarron had a slow start against Holcomb and Colby in their inaugural year in the Greater West Activities Conference, but since have rebounded with their first victory over Scott City since 1941, and Lakin has suffered losses against Stratford (TX) and Goodland.
ACA Sportsmanship Award (Week 4): Preston Miller of Meade
Kpreps is excited to bring back the A Class Athlete (ACA) weekly sportsmanship award for the 2020 season. We have teamed up with 'A Class Athlete' (ACA) to recognize those individuals or groups that demonstrate sportsmanship and high character during the heat of action. This award is open to students or student-athletes who goes above and beyond to demonstrate an act of kindness or sportsmanship.
This week, we are pleased to recognize senior Preston Miller of Meade High School.
In our constant efforts to recognize acts of sportsmanship, Preston Miller was captured in a photo assisting up an opposing player during the Buffaloes Week 1 victory over South Central. The photo and nomination was submitted by photographer Jennifer Godfrey.
Meade went on to defeat South Central 40-20 for their first victory since moving to eight-man football this season. Meade won its first two gams before having to quarantine and being unable to play the past two weeks.
Each week during the season, we will choose an individual or group as recipient of this award. Winners will receive the Sportsmanship Excellence Award Certificate, and the unique ACA helmet sticker as part of our Kpreps Helmet Stickers feature. At the end of the season, we will choose one overall winner, for the annual Kpreps-ACA Sportsmanship Award.
Please help us by emailing your nomination stories, pictures, or videos to matt@kpreps.com and ACA@kpreps.com. You can also send to Kpreps via social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Please include the name of the person(s) involved and a description of the act or event that you are nominating. Nominations for the award will be accepted through Tuesday of each week, with the winners announced thereafter. We will list the weekly winners here, at kpreps.com, and also on aclassathlete.com. The overall winner will be announced after the State Championship games.
ABOUT A Class Athlete:
A Class Athlete was started in 2016 to encourage young athletes in all sports, to play hard, play to win, but also to play with class and dignity. Originally targeting youth sports, ACA quickly expanded to include middle school and high school sports, and beyond (coaches, cheerleaders, fans – everyone!). In recent years, participation in youth sports has continued to decline, and the #1 reason according to the kids: 'It's not fun anymore.' ACA is determined to bring the fun and the kids back!
Participating in sports is very beneficial in many areas. It helps build confidence and self-esteem, teaches respect, teamwork, and leadership skills, and improves communication and cooperation – all qualities needed to be successful in life. It is said that participation in sports reveals a persons’ character. But ACA believes, when sportsmanship is emphasized, it is a very important aspect in building a young person's character and integrity.
For more information, please visit www.aclassathlete.com.
Helmet Stickers (2020 Season)
Week 1 – Cunningham, Goodland, Norton, Wichita Trinity
Week 2 – Bishop Ward, Burrton, Oakley, Wichita Collegiate
Week 3 – Blue Valley Northwest, Hutchinson, Lakeside-Downs, Syracuse
A Class Athlete Sportsmanship Award (2020 Season)
Week 1 – Drew Schmelzle, Sabetha High School
Week 2 – Herington High School
Week 3 – James Lynn, Wichita Heights
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