Kansas high school wide receiver’s big moment earns Star Player of the Week
Basehor-Linwood junior wide receiver Nash Morrison knew his time to shine would come.
So did his coach, Rod Stallbaumer.
Stallbaumer said the team has a talented group of wide receivers and any one of them can break freeat any moment. Morrison got his shot on Friday, Oct. 11 against Tonganoxie, and said he knew the team was in for a good night after the offense’s first drive ended in a touchdown.
In a 44-6 win over Tonganoxie to move to 6-0 on the season, Morrison had seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think we knew that a performance like this was coming,” Stallbaumer said. “We knew if Nash got one-on-one opportunities that he would make plays. He has been so consistent with his work ethic all season we were confident he would make the most of his opportunities.”
Nash’s performance caught the eyes of readers, as he was voted The Star’s Week 6 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 until midnight Thursday. This week’s poll received 144 votes from readers.
Morrison also plays basketball for Basehor-Linwood, and Stallbaumer said the skills he learned on the court has transferred to the football field.
“I think there is a great deal of cross-over skills between basketball and football,” Stallbaumer said. “His hand-eye coordination, learning body positioning, and angles, I think, have all helped him as a receiver.”
Basehor-Linwood will take its undefeated into a big matchup against Topeka Seaman at 7 p.m. Friday. Both teams are unbeaten in the United Kansas Conference and a win by either team would clinch a share of the regular season championship.
Other players considered this week include:
- Anthony Thompson, Fort Osage: 262 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 77 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 sack in 57-25 win over Raytown.
- Reggie Reece, Mill Valley: 193 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in 41-35 win over Gardner Edgerton.
- Wyatt Erickson, Blue Springs: 262 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in 61-17 win over Park Hill South.
- Jaxon Hicks, Liberty: 185 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 receiving touchdown in 41-24 loss to Blue Springs South.
- Erickson George, Turner: 128 rushing yards, 1 touchdown and 8 tackles in 32-20 loss to Topeka West.
- Robert Palmer, Grain Valley: 172 yards and 3 touchdowns in 57-22 win over Belton.
