Players from the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation were honored by the KJCCC this week as Week 4 Players of the Week. Butler running back Brock Sturges and kick returner JaQuan Durham were the league's Offensive and Special Teams players of the week. Hutchinson defensive lineman Latrell Bankston was the Defensive Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE - Brock Sturges, Butler
Brock Sturges, the freshman running back from Allen, TX, had a huge day on the ground rushing for 225 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Sturges, had two long runs of 54 and 68-yards in the first quarter to give Butler a 13-0 lead, both were the only plays of the drive for the Grizzlies. Sturges accounted for 138 of Butler's 139 total yards in the first quarter. Sturges continued to power through the Coffeyville front lines as he averaged 9.4 yards per carry in the game. After Saturday, Sturges now leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with six and is second in rushing yards per game at 115.5.
OTHERS NOMINATED: Mark Wright, Hutchinson
DEFENSIVE - Latrell Bankston, Hutchinson
Sophomore defensive end Latrell Bankston was a disruptive force for the Blue Dragon defense against No. 17 Fort Scott in a 27-7 victory for the top-ranked Blue Dragons. Bankston was in on seven total tackles, but five were tackles for loss tallying 29 yards. Bankston had a career-high four quarterback sacks against the Greyhounds. As a whole, the Dragons had eight quarterback sacks.
OTHERS NOMINATED: Kway'Chon Chisom, Butler; Krishonn Merriweather, Garden City
SPECIAL TEAMS - JaQuan Durham, Butler
JaQuez Durham, the 5-7 sophomore return specialist, broke the game open in the third quarter against the Red Ravens Saturday night with his electrifying 72-yard punt return for a touchdown. The return would give Butler a 20-13 lead and the momentum to close out the game and win 33-13. Durham finished the night with four total punt returns with an average of 28.8 per return. "That was the play of the game – without a doubt," said Butler head coach Tim Schaffner. Durham's punt score was the first time Butler had returned a punt for a touchdown since Oct. 14, 2017.
OTHERS NOMINATED: Mitchell Tinsley, Hutchinson