Photo courtesy LJworld.com
Photo courtesy LJworld.com
Photo courtesy LJworld.com
Olathe North had steamrolled their way to a 12-0 record, prior to the state championship loss. If there was ever a team I would have bet money on to win a state championship, it was the 2004 group of Eagles. Their loss still goes down as one of the biggest upsets the Sunflower League saw during the 2000s. Looking back, much of the championship loss could be credited to Moomau's injury.
Photo couresy CJonline.com
As a junior, SM West running back DJ Barnett was knocked around quite a bit by opposing defenders. This picture was taken on September 19, 2003, when Lawrence Free state beat Barnett and the Vikings 23-14. SM West went 2-7 that season, and Barnett didn't finish with much in the accolades department. The following season, in 2004, Barnett exploded for 1,900 rushing yards and over 20 touchdowns to lead SM West to a 9-3 record, and the school's first berth in the Sub-State round of the playoffs since 1999.
Photo courtesy LJworld.com
Olathe North has easily been the most successful high school football program in the Kansas City metropolitan area in the last fifteen years. The school has won eight state championships, and claimed six Simone Award winners. The winners picture's above are, starting at the top from left to right, Arland Bruce in 1995, Josh Brewer in 1997, Darren Sproles in 2000, Maurice Mack in 2001, Jim Bouknight in 2002 and James Franklin in 2009.
Photos courtesy theSimoneAward.com
Sunflower League All-Decade Team member David Leonard of SM West, right, deflects a pass intended for Free State's Craig Rosenstangle in a Sub-State game in 2006.
I've always liked this photo for some reason. It was shot in September of 2010 when Olathe North hosted Olathe East in the cross-city rivalry game. Olathe North quarterback Victor Simmons (who was a heck of a player for Olathe North, rushing for over 2,500 yards in two seasons as a quarterback) lost his helmet on the play and the bewildered look on his face perfectly describes Olathe North's performance in the game. The Eagles had a 15-game winning streak going when they took the field--they left it with the taste of a nasty 25-0 defeat. The lopsided score was completely unexpected. All told, Olathe North avenged the loss later on with a 13-6 victory in the Sub-State round.
Another great Olathe North shot here...Maurice Mack is seen huddling with his teammates, in tears, after his team's 21-7 state championship victory over Manhattan in November of 2001.
The Sunflower League has seen it's fair share of dominant runners who were vertically challenged--Olathe North's Darren Sproles, Olathe East's Dee Bell, and SM West's DJ Barnett were all outstanding runners who were under 5-foot-8--but none of them played quaterback. Free State's Camren Torneden was only 5-foot-7, but it didn't stop him from tormenting the league for back-to-back to seasons. Torneden was as elusive as they come as a runner and surprisingly good as a passer. He's the only quarterback of the last decade to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 2,000 yards in a two season stretch.
Former Sunflower League Players in the NFL and CFL
Olathe North graduate Darren Sproles ('01) is in his seventh season in the NFL as a running back and return specialist. He spent his first six seasons as a member of the San Diego Chargers, before signing with the New Orleans Saints prior to the start of the 2011 season.
SM Northwest graduate Ryan Lilja ('00) has spent eight seasons in the NFL. He originally signed with the Chiefs after going undrafted, but the Chiefs waived him and he was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent six seasons as a starter for the Colts, helping them to a Super Bowl victory in 2006. He signed with the Chiefs as a free agent prior to the 2010 season and he's been with the Chiefs ever since.
SM Northwest graduate Ryan Torain ('04) has played in the NFL for four seasons now as a running back. He spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Denver Broncos, before heading to the Washington Redskins for the last two years. He was waived by the Redskins on December 27, 2011, and he's currently a free agent.
Lawrence Free State graduate Christian Ballard ('07) is a defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Vikings.
Olathe North graduate Arland Bruce ('96) spent time early in his career with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, but he's made his mark as one of the top receivers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Bruce has spent 12 years in the CFL, playing for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers from 2001 to 2002, the Toronto Argonauts from 2004 to 2009, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2009 to 2011, and he is currently a member of the B.C. Lions. He has over 10,000 yards receiving and 84 touchdowns in his CFL career.
SM Northwest graduate Mike Rivera ('04) has bounced around the NFL the past three seasons. He is currently on the New England Patriots practice squad.
More photos to come...
