Standout senior quarterback voted The Star’s high school football Player of the Week
Rockhurst High School football is off to an undefeated start to the 2024 season as the team tries to win its first state championship since 2010. It’ll help if Rockhurst gets more performances from senior quarterback Charlie Loose like he had against Olathe North on Friday, Sept. 13.
The quarterback had 261 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in the 42-25 win, bumping his season total to 575 yards and 7 touchdowns through the air. His performance, which included an 87-yard score to wide receiver Blake Thomas, earned him The Star’s high school football Player of the Week.
Every week, The Star reaches out to high school football coaches in the Kansas City area for their Player of the Week nominations. Nominations from the coaches and other sources are collected for a weekly poll, which is open from Wednesday to midnight Thursday. This week’s poll received 427 votes from readers.
A two-sport athlete with baseball, Loose said part of his preparation is not letting the previous game linger onto the following week, even if he performed well. It’s a part of the routine that helps him make sure his body and mind are both ready to go for the team’s next opponent.
Loose was recently offered a chance to continue his football career at Southwest Baptist University, an NCAA Division II football program in Bolivar, Missouri. He said his biggest motivation for playing comes from his family.
“They have done so much for me and this sport for me to develop,” Loose said. “I could never thank them enough.”
He’ll look to help improve Rockhurst to 4-0 and continue their momentum against a Lee’s Summit West team that Loose said loves to try to beat the Hawklets on Friday, Sept. 20. It’s all a part of the journey of achieving his biggest goal: winning the state championship with his on-field brothers.
“He always has very high goals for himself,” coach Kelly Donohue said in an email.
Other players considered this week include:
- Nathan Baxter, Blue Valley Northwest: 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns in 35-7 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest
- Isaiah Mozee, Lee’s Summit North: 9 catches for 106 yards and 1 touchdown in 26-13 win over Mill Valley
- Ryan Specht, Blue Valley Southwest: 202 passing yards and 1 touchdown, 79 rushing yards and 1 touchdown, 11 tackles in 40-33 win over Bishop Miege
- Larry Porter, Raytown: 12 catches for 219 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in 30-27 win over Belton
