6-touchdown game from this KC area high school QB earns Player of the Week award
Pembroke Hill High School football coach Sam Knopik said players like senior Josh Stahl are fun to coach but can sometimes test his limits.
Stahl’s confidence is his great asset and flaw, Knopik said. Nothing seems to shake him up, which leads to great results for Pembroke Hill. But he said sometimes it’s better to step out of bounds or throw the ball away instead of forcing an unsafe pass or taking an unnecessary hit.
Knopik said the quarterback, defensive back and punter’s confidence was on full display against Van Horn on Friday, Oct. 25, as he helped Pembroke Hill finish the regular season undefeated and win the Crossroad Conference championship in the Kansas City school’s first season in the new conference.
Stahl totaled six touchdowns — three passing and three rushing — in the 43-26 win over Van Horn. He threw for 238 yards, rushed for 133 yards and on the defensive end, had four tackles, one pass breakup and four punts that went for an average of 35 yards.
“Josh knows that we have several playmakers he can use to get the ball downfield,” Knopik said. “Without a doubt, the defense’s attention given to the other guys Josh is surrounded with greatly improves his ability to run the ball as well.”
His performance stood out in the eyes of high school football followers, as he was named The Star’s 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, the last of the season, received 150 votes from readers.
“While (Stahl) won’t admit it, it’s been rewarding to see him mature through the season, often promoting his teammates’ performance in film sessions,” Knopik said.
The win moved Pembroke Hill to 9-0 and secured the football program’s fourth undefeated regular season in school history. The team has a bye week in the Class 2 state tournament Friday, Nov. 1, and will play either Sherwood High School or Butler High School on Friday, Nov. 8.
Other players considered this week include:
Connor Bohon, Mill Valley: 98 passing yards and 1 touchdown, 60 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in 48-17 win over Olathe East
Brayden Layman, Lee’s Summit: 197 passing yards and 4 touchdowns in 36-28 loss to Lee’s Summit North
Jamo Sarver, Olathe North: 179 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, 64 rushing yards in 47-46 win over Shawnee Mission North
Draivyn Colvin, Staley: 219 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 31-22 win over Raymore Peculiar
Erickson George, Turner: 127 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in 69-30 loss to Shawnee Heights
Jaxon Hicks, Liberty: 204 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 42-7 win over North Kansas City
Trevor Garlington, Blue Valley Northwest: 4 receptions for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 interception in 40-13 win over Blue Valley Southwest
