All-State football 2023: Liberty, Liberty North and Kearney
LIBERTY, Mo. — An extraordinary 2023 high school football season concluded in December at the state championships in Columbia. For our local teams, it was a banner year. The youngest team in the KC Metro, the Liberty Blue Jays, started the season with two losses but came back to win seven of their next nine games, including two exciting overtime wins. The Kearney Bulldogs became the fifth team in school history to win the Class 4 state championship, with mercy-rule turbo clock wins over their final three opponents. And Liberty North, after a 28-27 overtime nail-biter with Rockhurst in the state semifinal, got a win over CBC in the postseason, smashing their way to the Class 6 state title.
Congratulations to all the football players who have successfully completed the high school season. For many seniors who have played football since kindergarten, this season was their last opportunity to wear a helmet and pads. We acknowledge the players who received special honors in 2023. Still, we also recognize the efforts of everyone else who played an integral role in their team’s success:
Student trainers.
Equipment managers.
Head and assistant coaches.
Every single player on the team went through summer training and practices six days a week through their season.
Everyone is important. It takes everyone working together to make a team.
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi
LIBERTY NORTH EAGLES
The Liberty North Eagles seniors have had quite a run the past few years. They were in a state final their sophomore season and semifinals last season. The Eagles’ offense this year averaged a school record of 37 points a game, while their defense gave up only 12.5 points a game. Their season concluded with a 13-1 record and a Class 6 state championship. The Eagles also won a third consecutive conference title and a fourth consecutive district championship. Head Coach Andy Lierman was named the Class 6 Coach of the Year.
LIBERTY NORTH — ALL STATE PLAYERS
Melvin Laster, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior linebacker, is the three-time Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a three-time Buch Buchanan Award winner, which goes to the best lineman or linebacker in the Kansas City metro area. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year for the Suburban Gold Conference for the second time. He is most proud of the pick-six he had this year. He is committed to attending UNLV in the Fall.
Tillman Martin, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior quarterback, led the Eagles to their most prolific offense in school history, passing for almost 200 yards per game. Martin was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District.
Keelan Smith, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior receiver, was the Class 6 Offensive Player of the Year. Smith, who had over 1,000 yards receiving this season, was also First-Team All-Conference and Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He was a finalist for the Otis Taylor Award for the best receiver in the KC Metro. Keelan was named the 2023 MaxPreps Missouri Player of the Year. Smith is committed to attending the University of Nebraska in the Fall.
Motie Williams, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound junior offensive lineman, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. He was a Class 4 state heavyweight wrestling champion as a sophomore.
Jay Ross, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior defensive end, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. He was a finalist for the Simone Award for the best high school player in the KC Metro. Ross is committed to attending Alabama in the Fall.
Jacorey Love, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior defensive back, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. This is his third time earning All-State honors. Love is committed to attending D1 SEMO in the Fall.
Blue Renfrow, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior kicker, was also Second-Team All-Conference and was First-Team All-District. In the state championship game, he kicked a 52-yard field goal on a cold, icy field.
Micah Barnett, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior running back, had over 1,300 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns this season. He was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. One cut, and he can take it to the house.
Cole Young, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior defensive back, was also First-Team All-Conference as a defensive back and HM as a returner. Young was also All-District.
Ryan Hudson, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior linebacker, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. Always a threat for a sack or a big play.
Liberty North All-District Players
Juniors: Ryne Jensen, DE; Jordan Ivy, DE; Jordan Ivy, DL; Gray Carter, Specialist
Seniors: Trey Snyder; DB Braden Gifford, OL; Wyatt Richardson, OL: Theo Gibson, WR
LIBERTY BLUE JAYS
Head Coach Frigon was excited about the incoming sophomore class (undefeated as Freshmen) at the start of the season, and with good reason. Nine sophomore Jays earned All-Conference honors this season. The young Blue Jays squad started the season with a close 10-17 OT loss to Lee’s Summit West and then a loss to North. However, the Jays won seven of their next eight games with breathtaking plays and OT magic. They had big wins over Blue Springs South, Staley, and Ray-Pec.
Senior leader and All-State tight-end Ace Bindel said, “It was great to see the young players do what they did. I can’t wait to see what they do next season. It is going to be great.”
LIBERTY — ALL STATE PLAYERS
Dominic Revels, a 6-foot-0, 165-pound senior running back and return man, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. An excellent receiver and incredible on reverses and bubbles, he had over 1,300 all-purpose yards in his career. He returns to the track in the Spring with a 10.45 100m PR from last season and will be the favorite to win the state title.
Trevor Bindel, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound junior offensive lineman, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. A standout college prospect, Trevor was also an All-Conference on the offensive and defensive lines in 2022.
Trenton Bindel, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound junior defensive lineman, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. An all-state heavyweight wrestler on the state-champion Blue Jays squad, he is another Bindel with great talent in the trenches.
Ace Bindel, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior tight-end, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District.
A tremendous horizontal threat with excellent speed, Ace set the school record for the most receptions in a single game. He had 718 yards receiving this season. It’s one of the top numbers in the KC Metro for all receivers.
Kyler Craigg, a 6-foot-0, 225-pound senior linebacker, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District.
Craigg carries a 4.139 GPA and earned Academic All-State honors in 2022 and 2023 and was a Burlsworth Character Award Winner for 2023.
Liberty All-District Players
Sophomores: Brooks Ragland, LB; Grady Coppinger, LB
Juniors: Isaiah Hung, LB; Jaxon Hicks RB
Seniors: Christian Kuchta, QB
KEARNEY BULLDOGS
For a football town like Kearney, expectations were high for the Bulldogs, who returned from a 10-1 campaign in 2022 with eight starters on both sides of the ball. They had a slow start with a landslide of injuries but were an unstoppable force once they got going. One of the key players who came back from injury was quarterback Casey Rooney, who missed the first three games.
“Getting Casey back was huge for us. And down the stretch, I don’t know if I’ve seen a better quarterback play throughout the playoffs than how Casey played,” says Head Coach Logan Minnick.
The Bulldogs scored turbo clock wins in 8 of their final 12 games, dominating both sides of the ball. They won Kearney’s fifth state football title. Minnick was named the 2023 Class 4 Coach of the Year by MSHSAA.
KEARNEY — ALL STATE PLAYERS
Casey Rooney, a 6-foot-0, 185-pound quarterback, was also All-Conference and All-District. He led one of the most prolific offenses in the history of Kearney football. He had a postseason completion rate of 80%. In games he started this year, the team averaged 43.3 points per game, higher than any team since 2003.
He finishes his career with 4,573 passing yards, 52 touchdown passes, a 65% completion percentage, and a touchdown pass of 91 yards—all school records. Rooney has committed to attending Southwest Baptist University.
Cameron Emmons, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound senior running back, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. Emmons averaged over 7 yards a carry and had 27 touchdowns for this senior campaign. He was a finalist for the Frank Fontana Award for the best Class 1-4 player in the KC Metro.
Manny Linthacum, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior wide receiver, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. This is his second time winning All-State honors in football. He is a three-sport athlete and was All-State in baseball last season. He recorded over 1,000 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns in 2023. Linthacum earned a spot on the KMZU Radio Class 4/5 Dream Team.
Aiden Smith, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior defensive end, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. He was named the Class 4 Defensive Player of the Year. He had over 70 tackles, 5 sacks, and 12 tackles for a loss. He led a starting defense that allowed just 10 points per game in the postseason.
Aiden earned a spot on the KMZU Radio Class 4/5 Dream Team.
Theo Grace, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior linebacker, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. He is also an All-State track athlete. Theo was a semifinalist for the Bobby Bell Award and was selected to the All-Simone team. He missed the first three games this season but still had 124 tackles.
Cohen Jacobs, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound senior wide receiver, was also All-Conference and All-District. He finished the season with 839 yards and 10 touchdowns, including clutch plays in the district championship game win over Smithville.
Tyler Jarrett, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound senior defensive lineman, was also All-Conference and All-District. He made a tackle, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble, all in one play in the state championship game. A big part of the reason the Kearney defense was lights out in the postseason.
Bryce Page, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior tight end, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. He finished the season with 19 receptions for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is committed to attending Missouri Western in the Fall.
Joe Schranz, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound junior offensive lineman, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. Joe is also a long snapper and has a 4.0 GPA.
Ty Smith, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound junior offensive lineman, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. Another talented piece of an outstanding line returning in 2024.
Jacob Dillon, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior kicker, was also First-Team All-Conference and All-District. Jacob, who has a 4.0 GPA, does an excellent job of pinning opponents deep.
Kearney All-District Players
Juniors: Grant Noland, DB
Seniors: Cayden Harris, DB; Danny Stansbury, LB; Trace Dunlap, OL; Gavin Warren, DB
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