Sunday on KSHB 41’s Sunday Sound off the finalists for the 39th Annual Simone Awards Presented by The McCarthy Auto Group were announced.
The winners of the Otis Taylor, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan and Frank Fontana will be announced this week on the following schedule.
Starting Monday each individual award will be announced with the Simone Award and Chiefs Coach of the Year reveled at the Simone Awards Ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Simone Award Winner’s high school.
The Announcement schedule is as follows:
11/29 - Monday - 6PM Sports - Taylor winner announced
11/30 - Tuesday - 6PM Sports - Bell winner announced
12/1 - Wednesday - 6PM Sports - Buck Buchanan winner announced
12/2 - Thursday - 6PM Sports - Fontana winner announced
Thomas A. Simone Award – Top all-around player
Tre Baker, Sr., QB, Lee’s Summit North
The senior led Lee’s Summit North to its best season ever going 11-2 losing in the Missouri Class 6 semifinals to eventual champion CBC. Baker finished the year with 2,274 yards passing with 29 touchdowns. He only had one interception and completed 62.8 percent of his passes. Baker also ran for 263 yards and four touchdowns.
Jet Dineen, Sr., QB/S, Lawrence Free State
The Firebirds leader did it on both sides of the football. On offense he threw for 1,441 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 1,505 scoring 18 more TDs. He was the Sunflower League Player of the Year and led the team in tackles as Free State rebounded a winless 2020 season to go 8-3 losing to Derby in the Kansas Class 6A quarterfinals.
Mikey Pauley, Sr., QB, Blue Valley Northwest
Led the Huskies to their first-ever state championship with a dominant 41-21 win over three-time Kansas Class 6A defending champion Derby. In the title game Pauley ran for 178 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 112 yards and another score. He finished his senior year with 1,945 yards passing and 23 touchdowns and 1,235 yards rushing with 22 more touchdowns.
Sam Van Dyne, Jr., QB, Liberty North
The Eagles reached their first ever state championship game led by Van Dyne’s outstanding play at quarterback. The junior threw for 2,141 yards and 21 touchdowns completing 65 percent of his passes. He triggered an offense that averaged 35.2 points per game and total 4,992 yards of total offense on the season.
Frank Fontana Award – Top All Around player Small Class 1-4
Keyshaun Elliott, Sr., QB, Richmond
Andrew Hedgecorth, Jr., QB, Smithville
Jackson House, Jr., QB, St. James Academy
John Price, Soph., RB, Lincoln College Prep
Buck Buchanan Award – Top Lineman/Linebacker Big Class school 5-6
Melvin Laster, Soph., LB, Liberty North
Armand Membou, Sr., OL, Lee’s Summit North
Domonique Orange, Sr., DL, North Kansas City
James Williams, Sr., OL/DL, Park Hill South
Bobby Bell Award – Top Lineman/Linebacker Small Class school 1-4
Camden Beebe, Jr., OL/DL, Piper
Caden Crawford, Sr., LB, Lansing
Antonio Jones, Sr., LB, Lincoln College Prep
Cody Simoncic, Sr., LB, Smithville
Wade Spencer, Jr., DL, St. James Academy
Otis Taylor Award – Top Wide Receiver/Tight End all classes
Zach Atkins, Sr., WR, Blue Valley Southwest
Devin Blayney, Sr., WR, Lee’s Summit North
Tyler Claiborne, Sr., WR, St. James Academy
Cannon Clark, Sr., WR, University Academy
Mudia Reuben, Sr., WR, Park Hill South
Chiefs Eric Driskell Coach of the Year
Jason Ambroson – Smithville
Justin Hamilton – Pleasant Hill
Greg Jones – Liberty North
Clint Rider – Blue Valley Northwest
