Photo Courtesy Olivia Butts, Sterling High School Journalism

2025 ALL-STATE TOP 11, COACH OF THE YEAR BIOS

STEPHEN CARROLL, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

6-foot-1, 280

Senior Right Guard

2025 STATS

83 pancakes, top blocker for offense that had 3,469 yards of total offense

CAREER STATS

366 pancakes, four-year starter

WORTH NOTING

One of two repeat selections on this year’s Top 11 team along with Manhattan’s JJ Dunnigan. … Helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas to two state titles in four years as starter with Saints going undefeated to capture 2024 Class 5A state championship and also winning the Class 4A state title in 2023. … Helped Aquinas to an 8-2 mark this year with season ending with one-point loss to Mill Valley in second round of playoffs. … Is only freshman to ever start on offense for a Randy Dreiling-coached team. … Saints rolled up 17,344 yards of total offense in his four seasons as starter. … Aquinas ran for 2,811 yards as a team this season, an average of 281.1 per game, with 35 rushing TDs. … Was first-team All-Class 5A selection last year. … Is a two-time state wrestling placer at 285 pounds, placing fifth last year after finishing as state runner-up at as a sophomore. … Has committed to Central Arkansas.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“He was the only freshman that has ever started for me all four years,” Aquinas coach Randy Dreiling said. “He was a dominating blocker all four years, too. He had 83 pancakes this year and I made him stop because he would go to the whistle and sometimes draw a penalty, so I told him no more pancakes. He’s just powerful and wore on defenders. … As I’ve always said, if he were three inches taller, I would want to be his agent.”

20537

BRODY CHAMBERS, SOUTHEAST OF SALINE

6-foot, 285 pounds

Senior Right Guard/Defensive End

2025 STATS

85 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4 sacks

CAREER STATS

224 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 14 sacks

WORTH NOTING

Was a four-year starter on the offensive line and three-year starter at defensive end. … Helped Southeast to a 45-3 record in his four years as starter. … Helped pave the way for an offense that rolled up 5,735 yards of total offense this season (441.1 per game) and 20,551 yards in the past four seasons. … Led the Trojans to the Class 2A state championship and undefeated season in 2024, the first state title for the program since 2005. … Also led Trojans to runner-up finish at state this year with loss to Nemaha Central in the title game ending a 25-game winning streak. … Was one tackle away from leading team this season with 44 of his 85 tackles solo stops. … Had 77 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and six sacks as a junior. … Also recovered four fumbles in his career. … Captured Class 3-2-1A state wrestling championship at 285 pounds last March and is ranked No. 1 this season.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“Brody has been a beat for us the last three years,” Southeast of Saline coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “He is always working to get better and has become very coachable. He is a leader and wants others around him to get better. Brody brings a great attitude every day and goes to work.”

20441

JJ DUNNIGAN, MANHATTAN

6-foot-3, 190

Senior Wide Receiver/Cornerback/Returner

2025 STATS

861 all-purpose yards, 57 tackles, 12 total TDs

CAREER STATS

2,007 all-purpose yards, 151 tackles, 21 total TDs

WORTH NOTING

Is one of two repeat selections from 2024 Top 11 team along with St. Thomas Aquinas lineman Stephen Carroll. … Despite missing four games was team’s leading receiver with 18 catches for 446 yards and 9 touchdowns. … Also completed only pass he threw this year for a touchdown in playoff win over Derby. … A lockdown cornerback that teams threw away from this season after he picked off three passes last year. … Was big-time weapon in return game, taking two punts and one kickoff back for touchdowns this season. … His 87-yard punt return was the game-winning touchdown in Manhattan’s 10-8 win over Hays and he also preserved win with a blocked field goal. … Led Indians to 10-2 record this season and Class 6A state championship after leading them to runner-up state finish in 2024. … Had 3 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns in 27-0 win over Olathe Northwest in 2025 championship game with his TD catches covering 68 and 50 yards. … Three-year starter at cornerback as a sophomore. … Four-star recruit that signed with the University of Miami.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“He's a difference-maker, in all three phases,” Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said. “His return ability on special teams is amazing. He’s a threat to take it the distance any time he gets his hands on the ball. Offensively, when he’s on the field we become very difficult to defend because people have to pay attention to him. Defensively, (against Derby in the playoffs) I saw him make the best play he made all year long. A deflected pass bounced around a bit and Derby ended up catching it and he was about 15 yards behind and was able to make up the difference and tackle the kid and hold them out and we end up getting an interception on that drive. Effort plays like that with his talent, he’s unstoppable. He gives us confidence and when JJ’s on the field, we’re a different team.”

ZANE FARNEY, STERLING

6-foot, 185 pounds

Senior Running Back/Cornerback

2025 STATS

2,326 rushing yards, 42 TDs

CAREER STATS

6,712 rushing yards, 90 TDs

WORTH NOTING

Led Sterling to first state championship since 1982 as Black Bears edged Rossville 35-34 in Class 1A title game, completing 13-0 season for the Black Bears – the most wins in program history with the 1982 team going 12-0. … Farney enjoyed best game of season in title game, rushing for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns while defensively shadowing Bulldawgs’ leading receiver, holding him to just two catches. … 200-yard game was fifth of this season and 10th of his career and he also had two games of 300-plus yards with a career-high of 313. … A four-year starter who ran for at least 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns each of his four seasons. … Broke all of Sterling’s single-game, season and career rushing yardage and touchdown records. … Averaged 10.8 yards per carry this season and just over 8 yards per carry for his career. … Had 65 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles this year. … Had 268 career tackles and 8 career interceptions. … Was a dangerous returner with a punt return TD this year and 223 total return yards. … Also was starting point guard for Sterling’s basketball team that captured the Class 2A state championship last March. … Was state track qualifier in three events and holds school record in the 300 hurdles.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“He makes me look good, that’s for sure,” Sterling coach Brent Schneider said. “You can call dive plays and Zane’s going to house them. He’s going to break about 50 tackles. But you ask him and he’s going to start talking about his linemen and his wings and (quarterback) Logan (Isaac). He’s just an unselfish kid. We’re definitely going to miss him. Zane has been an integral piece in the development of the culture we have created in our football program. The impact he has had on our program – the career rushing yards, the season he had – it’s all pretty special.”

20539

CARTER HAJEK, NEMAHA CENTRAL

5-foot-11, 215 pounds

Senior Quarterback/Safety

2025 STATS

2,638 yards rushing, 41 TDs; 830 yards passing, 12 TDs

CAREER STATS

7,902 yards rushing, 129 TDs; 3,014 yards passing, 37 TDs

WORTH NOTING

Led Nemaha Central to its third Class 2A state championship in the past four years as Thunder rolled past Southeast of Saline 35-6 in this year’s title game, avenging 36-28 loss to Trojans in last year’s title game. … Ran for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns in this year’s state championship game, including a 68-yard TD run late in the first half that broke the game open. ... Thunder were 37-2 during his three year’s as starting quarterback. … His 7,902 yards rank No. 2 all-time in state history, second only to Wichita Collegiate’s DeAngelo Evans, who rushed for 8,472 yards in his career from 1992-95. … Ran for at least 2,300 yards and 40 touchdowns each of the past three seasons. … Has 132 overall TDs in his career (2 kickoff returns, 1 interception return) which ranks him No. 1 all-time in TDs scored, one ahead of Evans’ 131. … Had 33 games where he ran for at least 100 yards, 15 of 200 yards or more, one of 300 and career-high of 409 yards and 6 TDs his junior season against Royal Valley. … Ran for 364 yards and 6 TDs in win over 1A state runner-up Rossville this season. … Ran for 266 yards and 4 TDs in Thunder’s 2023 state championship game victory over Hoisington in the snow. … Also ran for 234 yards in 2024 state championship game. … Holds every rushing and touchdown record at Nemaha. … Had 167 career tackles, including 71 his junior season. … Also had 10 career interceptions, including 6 his sophomore season. … Threw for 1,143 yards and 13 TDs his junior season and had career-high game of 210 yards and 4 TDs against Atchison County that year. … Is younger brother of former Top 11 pick Cooper Hajek, whom he played with on the 2022 Nemaha Central state championship team. … Has multiple MIAA offers.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“I would have loved to have had him up here when was an eighth-grader,” Nemaha Central coach Michael Glatczak said. “We knew he was a special kid, a generational type kid. His work ethic is off the charts and each year he just works so hard in the offseason and that translates. As the game goes on, he gets tougher and tougher. I’m sure people are going to be, ‘Well, coach gave him the ball 40, 45 times per game.’ But look at his yards per carry, but look at his yards per game and its at 7 for his career and that’s pretty incredible and a testament to him and his offensive line. He’s just a special kid.”

20444

SAM HARP, ANDALE

5-foot-11, 185 pounds

Senior Quarterback/Defensive Back/Returner

2025 STATS

1,519 yards rushing, 33 TDs; 885 yards passing, 12 TDs

CAREER STATS

3,345 yards rushing, 67 TDs; 2,266 yards passing, 38 TDs

WORTH NOTING

A three-year starter at quarterback, led Andale to its second straight Class 3A state championship this season as Indians beat Hayden 38-6 in title game. … Also led Indians to 36-19 win over Hayden in 2024 state championship game and both championship seasons were 13-0 campaigns. … Ran for 144 yards and 3 TDs in this year’s title game and 163 yards and 2 TDs in 2024 championship game. … Held 36-2 record as starting quarterback. … Set school record for career points with his combined TDs and 2-point conversions producing 502 career points. … Had career-best 301 yards and 5 TDs in win over Wellington. … Averaged 11.7 yards per carry this season and 9.2 yards per carry for his career. … Had 26 tackles and 3 interceptions from his defensive back spot this season, returning one of those interceptions for a touchdown. ... Also averaged 19.3 yards per punt return and 26 yards on kickoff returns. … Accounted for 46 total touchdowns this season and ran in 13 two-point conversions. … Only threw two interceptions this season and just four in his career. … Led an Andale offense that ran for 4,425 yards and 84 touchdowns and averaged 60.1 points per game. … Named Offensive MVP of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV League. ... Drawing college interest from multiple MIAA schools.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“My wife asked me, ‘What are you going to to do when he leaves?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know,’” Andale coach Dylan Schmidt said. “You’re a smart play caller when you’ve got the best guy on the field. In the weight room, he’s phenomenal. He can move some serious, serious weight. You watch him run and it’s incredible the way he accelerates, and then he’s just tough. The thing I appreciate about him is he’s not a big media guy. He’s not a ‘Hey, look at me’ guy. You would expect him to be, but he really wants to defer to other people.”

20540

SYRE PADILLA, GARDNER EDGERTON

6-foot-2, 200 pounds

Senior Running Back

2025 STATS

2,882 rushing yards, 43 TDs

CAREER STATS

5,152 rushing yards, 62 TDs

WORTH NOTING

Was part of four straight Gardner Edgerton teams that reached at least the sub-state finals and was leading rusher for 2024 state championship team. … Ran for 181 yards in 36-33 win over Manhattan in 2024 title game. … Set Gardner’s single season records for rushing yards and rushing TDs this season with his 2,882 yards ranking as the eighth-best single season total in state history. … Also ranks No. 2 all-time in Gardner history for both career rushing yards and TDs, ranking behind only former All-Stater Trae Wrench. … Averaged 10.8 yards per carry this season and averaged 240 yards per game. … Single-game high was 365 yards against Olathe South and he had two games of 300 or more, scoring 5 TDs in both of those contests. The 365 ranks as third-best single-game mark at Gardner. … Had a 92-yard TD run this year for a career-long and averaged 8.6 yards per carry for his career. … Also had a receiving touchdown this season. … Named Offensive MVP of the Sunflower League and was two-time first-team selection. … Finalist for the Simone Award, given to the top player in the Kansas City Metro area. ... Has committed to Pittsburg State.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“Syre has been an outstanding teammate throughout his career at Gardner Edgerton,” Trailblazer coach Jesse Owen said. “He is an extremely humble young man who consistently leads by example. He is also an excellent student and a terrific role model within our school community. His leadership has had a profoundly positive impact on both our student body and our football program. His rare combination of size and speed made him a dominant running back.”

20541

IAN PREMER, GREAT BEND

6-foot-6, 230 pounds

Senior Tight End/Wide Receiver/Defensive Back

2025 STATS

752 receiving yards, 14 TDs; 69 tackles, 6 INTs

CAREER STATS

1,869 receiving yards, 31 TDs; 234 tackles, 14 INTs

WORTH NOTING

Regarded as the No. 1 overall prospect in Kansas and has signed with Notre Dame. … Led Great Bend to Class 5A state semifinals and 20-2 record over the past two seasons. … Also ran for 620 yards and 14 TDs this season with a single-game high of 134 yards, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. … High receiving game was 126 yards against Liberal with 3 TDs grabs in that game. … Set school record with 5 TD catches in 167-yard game against Buhler his junior season. … Also set school record with 31 career TD catches. … Scored 2 defensive TDs this year, including a pick six in a 5-TD game in regular-season win over Hays where he also ran for three touchdowns and caught another. … Had 6 tackles for loss and recovered and forced a fumble to go with his team-high 6 interceptions. … Scored four career defensive touchdowns and had a total of 52 career touchdowns overall. … Recorded 3,429 career all-purpose yards. … Nearly half of his career 234 tackles were solo stops (101). … Named Offensive and Defensive MVP of the Western Athletic Conference. ... Was an All-State Top 5 selection in basketball last year and also has been a first-team All-Class 5A selection in baseball as well, making him one of the top three-sport athletes in state history.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“Heading into this year, all the attention was on him. Yet, he was so locked in on his team and how he could get better and do everything possible to help us win,” Great Bend coach Erin Beck said. “He got so much stronger as the year went on. Sometimes a kid can get wrapped up in the attention, but he was so focused on the work. … He's the greatest high school football player I've ever seen or coached. I think he will go down as one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in Kansas history. He's that special.”

20447

CAL PURVIS, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL

6-foot-3, 225 pounds

Senior Linebacker/Running Back

2025 STATS

85 tackles, 7 tackles for loss; 489 rushing yards, 10 TDs

CAREER STATS

191 tackles, 27 tackles for loss; 969 rushing yards, 21 TDs

WORTH NOTING

Led 12-1 Kapaun to its first state championship since 1987 as Crusaders dominated Bishop Miege 56-21 in Class 4A title game. … Purvis had best offensive game of the season in the championship game, running for season-high 96 yards and 3 touchdowns. … Led a defense that allowed just 12.5 points and 205 yards per game this season with the first-team defense not allowing a postseason touchdown until the championship game this year. … Took opening kickoff of state semifinal win over Wamego back for a touchdown to set the tone in a 56-7 win. … Averaged 7.2 yards per carry this season and 7.3 for his career. … Was lead blocker for fellow back Ken Huff, who ran for 1,618 yards and 21 TDs. … Of his 85 tackles, 67 were solo and he had 4 sacks, a fumble recovery, and interception and 5 pass breakups. … Also scored a defensive touchdown. … Had 8 sacks in his career and 135 solo tackles. … Blocked a punt for a TD this year as well. … Is choosing between service academies Air Force and Navy, following in the foosteps of older brothers Ben, who is a starting offensive lineman for Navy, and Hank, who is a starting offensive lineman for Purdue.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“He’s a leader. Just an unbelievable leader, one of the best ones I’ve ever had,” Kapaun coach Weston Schartz said. “And he leads by example. In the weight room over the summer, if somebody left a weight out, he’d pick it up. He’s very humble, but he brought that tenacity that said, ‘This is what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.’ He did a lot of that type of the leading that made it a lot easier for me as a coach. The thing about him that a lot of people don’t know is he played about 70% of the season with a bad shoulder. He never let on and didn’t want to talk about it. When you asked about it, he’d just shrug you off. We tried to limit him to about 9 to 14 or 15 carries a game. He could have been a 1,000-yard rusher easily. He could have played quarterback for us, he’s that type of athlete. He could have been a great offensive guard, tight end. There wasn’t a spot he couldn’t have played.”

20448

COOPER REVES, SALINA CENTRAL

6-foot, 210 pounds

Senior Running Back

2025 STATS

2,817 rushing yards, 32 TDs

CAREER STATS

3,958 rushing yards, 45 TDs

WORTH NOTING

Reves was workhorse back for Central team that finished 12-1 and captured program’s first state championship since 2005, beating Basehor-Linwood 51-34 in title game. … Reves ran for 246 yards and 4 TDs in championship game with 208 of those yards and all four scores coming in the second half. … Ran for at least 200 yards in 10 of Central’s 13 games this year, posting a career-best 309 yards and 6 touchdowns in Mustangs’ quarterfinal victory over Salina South. … Averaged 9.1 yards per carry this season. … In five playoff games, ran for 1,207 yards and 19 TDs. … His 2,817 yards rank as the 10th-best single season total in state history, but just fourth on Central’s all-time single season list behind Jake Sharp (3,304 yards in 2005), Donnie Anders (3,255 yards in 2001) and Parker Wallace (3,064 yards in 1996). … More than doubled his rushing total from his junior season when he ran for 1,141 yards and 13 touchdowns. … Career total of 3,958 yards ranks seventh in school history. … Also had 254 receiving yards and a TD. … Is a two-time wrestling state champion, winning titles at 175 pounds as a sophomore and 190 pounds last year. … He’s ranked No. 1 at 215 pounds to start this season and has signed to wrestle at Northern Iowa.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“He’s an extremely physical and heavy back,” Central coach Mark Sandbo said. “Every coach wants a back like Cooper and back in the 90’s they would have been fighting over him. He is a heavy runner and when he gets to full tilt, he was almost impossible to get down if you tackled him high. Coach (Mark) Vaughn (running backs) and Coach (Tony) Chesney (offensive line) did such a great job of coaching him up and getting him comfortable within our scheme and lowering his pad level. His anticipation and feel for what was happening in front of him improved so much from his junior to senior year. As impressive as he is on the field, he is even better off the field. He is a kid that will give you a hug after every game and thank you after every practice. My Tuesday practices always ended a little better when Coop would walk up and shake my hand, thanking me for a great practice.”

20542

KADEN SNYDER, SALINA CENTRAL

6-foot-6, 295 pounds

Senior Left Tackle

2025 STATS

82 pancakes

CAREER STATS

219 pancakes

WORTH NOTING

Was top offensive lineman for Mustang team that captured the Class 5A state championship this fall, beating undefeated Basehor-Linwood 51-34 in title game. … Paved way for offense that rolled up 5,861 yards of total offense and school-record 80 touchdowns, including 3,988 rushing yards and 50 rushing TDs. … Graded out at 91% and did not give up a sack and allowed only two pressures this season, allowing just two sacks in his career. … Started at right tackle as a freshman before spending last three seasons manning Central’s left tackle spot. … In four years as starter, Central amassed 18,637 yards of total offense and 232 touchdowns with 10,586 yards and 140 touchdowns on the ground. … Played a total of 2,052 offensive snaps in his career. … Played limited snaps on defense in big situations and had 8 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss this season. … Has signed with the University of Kansas.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“Kaden was blessed with great measurables and feel,” Central offensive line coach Tony Chesney said. “The most impressive thing is how hard he has worked to develop his football IQ. He makes other guys around him better by how he can communicate what things we are trying to accomplish while out on the field. In my biased opinion he is the best offensive lineman in Kansas and the most complete one that I have ever coached.”

20543

MARK SANDBO, SALINA CENTRAL

Coach of the Year

2025 STATS

12-1, Class 5A state champions

CAREER STATS

50-30 in 8 years

WORTH NOTING

Led Central to its first state championship in 20 years as Mustangs finished 12-1 and topped previously undefeated Basehor-Linwood 51-34 in state title game. … Championship was first for Sandbo, but seventh overall for Central, the last coming in 2005. … Son of the late Gary Sandbo, who was an offensive revolutionary and led Smoky Valley to Class 3A state title in 1988. … The Sandbos join the Bartas (Roger and Brooks) and Glatczaks (Larry and Michael) as the only father-son combinations in state history to each win state titles as head coaches. … Is a Smoky Valley alum who played collegiately at Fort Hays State from 2003-06. … Served as assistant coach at Dodge City from 2010-17 before taking Central job. … Went 7-3 in first year after Mustangs had gone 0-18 in the two previous seasons, earning Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division I coach of the year honors that season as well as being named the Kansas Football Coaches Association’s Class 5A coach of the year. … Was a Shrine Bowl assistant coach in 2022. … Directed 2023 team that set school record for yards per game. … This year’s team broke record for total yards with 5,861 and averaged 44 points per game. … In addition to beating unbeaten Basehor in title game, Mustangs knocked off undefeated and No. 1 Great Bend 30-28 in state semifinals.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“I could not be happier for the team, our seniors, the program, our school and community,” Sandbo said. “We played some really good football in some really big games this year and it took execution and elite effort in all phases of the game for us to be able to accomplish what we did. Our kids were prepared and executed at a championship level and that is a testament to our staff. It is an honor to be recognized in such a manner but I’m not naive to the fact that this award aligns directly in relation to the quality of football coaches we have as well as the caliber of our players.”

🏈 Sterling's Farney named to KSHSAA Covered Top 11