QUARTERBACK

Brad Strauss, Lawrence, senior. A two-way star, Strauss (6-1, 180) completed 163 of 267 passes — 61 percent — for 2,278 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He threw at least two TDs in nine straight games for the Chesty Lions, 8-3, who reached the Kansas 6A quarterfinals. Strauss, who was a two-time All-Sunflower League first-team selection at quarterback and safety, also rushed for 679 yards and 13 scores in addition to punting (36.7 avg.) and returning kicks.

RUNNING BACK

Brett Sterbach, SM West, senior. Sterbach (5-7, 155) became the first running back in Vikings’ history to top 2,000 yards when he dashed 75 yards for a score on the first play in the Kansas 6A state championship game. He finished with 322 carries for 2,228 yards and 22 touchdowns, including a 273-yard performance in SM West’s 19-14 win over Hutchinson in the state championship game.

Dalvin Warmack, Blue Springs, junior. The second-ever junior to win the Thomas A. Simone Award, Warmack (5-9, 177) was the offensive force behind Blue Springs’ state championship in Missouri Class 6. He finished the season with an astounding 45 touchdowns and 2,294 rushing yards while averaging more than nine yards per carry.

Traevohn Wrench, Gardner Edgerton, junior. Despite suffering from turf toe that limited him to less than 60 yards in the first two games, Wrench (6-1, 191) finished with 256 carries for 2,269 yards and 25 touchdowns. Wrench, the East Kansas League offensive player of the year, closed the campaign with four straight 300-yard games and is 23 yards shy of the Trailblazers’ career rushing record (Bubba Starling, 4,849).

OFFENSIVE LINE

Austin Chambers, SM West, junior. A two-way standout for the Kansas 6A state champions, Chambers (6-5, 285) was a force at right tackle and helped pave the way for Brett Sterbach’s 2,000-yard season. The All-Sunflower League and all-state performer, Chambers also recorded 67 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.

Zach Hannon, Rockhurst, senior. A Nebraska commit, Hannon was part of a talented offensive line that helped the Hawklets give Blue Springs a scare in the Class 6 sectional round. Hannon (6-4, 305), has been chosen to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 4.

John Keltner, Blue Springs, senior. Running back Dalvin Warmack wouldn’t have reached 2,294 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns without the aid of Keltner (6-0, 260), the Wildcats’ most reliable lineman who was an all-state selection and a member of the All-Simone team.

Clay Rhodes, Blue Valley senior. Selected first-team all-state and All-East Kansas League, Rhodes (6-6, 265) was once again among the area’s top linemen. He was a key cog for a line that paved the way for nearly 3,500 yards and helped the Tigers reach the Kansas 5A quarterfinals. Committed to Missouri.

Braden Smith, Olathe South, junior. Arguably the best football player in Kansas and primed to be one of the most highly recruited players in Kansas City-area history, Smith (6-6, 275) was a force once again on the offensive and defensive lines for the Falcons. He is a Top 11 player in Kansas, according to The Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal.

WIDE RECEIVER

Craig Scott, Park Hill South, senior. The winner of the Otis Taylor Award for the area’s most outstanding receiver, Scott (6-0, 168) has reliable hands, blazing speed and an unmatched vertical leap. He caught 71 passes, turned those into 1,110 yards and 19 touchdowns. All set school records.

Connor Rellihan, SM East, senior. Rellihan was an Otis Taylor Award finalist as well as an all-state and All-Sunflower League performer for the Lancers. He finished with 55 catches for 785 yards and five touchdowns. Rellihan (5-11, 175), who also punted, often caught the ball near the line of scrimmage and made yards largely on his own.