Senior running back’s ‘workhorse mentality’ earns him KC Star Player of the Week honors

Totaling 263 yards on offense, Basehor-Linwood High School senior Nick Doering had one of the best games of his high school career on Friday, Sept. 20.

The running back carried the ball 32 times, gaining 195 yards and scoring twice on the ground. The big play came on a 68-yard receiving touchdown, his third of the game, which helped Basehor-Linwood stay undefeated and beat Shawnee Heights 42-35.

“Nick was a workhorse for us all night, and provided consistent success in the run game and some big plays that steadied our offensive in a tight game and helped us secure a big win on the road,” coach Rod Stallbaumer said via email.

Doering said he got the workhorse mentality from all the ranch work he helped with growing up on his grandfather’s farm. It’s what earned him The Star’s Week 3 high school football player of the week.

Every week, The Star reaches out to high school football coaches in the Kansas City area for their Player of the Week nominations. Nominations from the coaches and other sources are collected for a weekly poll, which is open from Wednesday until midnight Thursday. This week’s poll received 58 votes from readers .

The senior tries to soak in knowledge from his teammates to get better, but that hasn’t stopped the rest of the Basehor-Linwood squad from taking notes on his work ethic. Stallbaumer said that being the starting running back and getting the ball the most on the team comes with some leadership, and Doering’s success has motivated the team to perform at a high level.

Doering will be a key player again in Basehor-Linwood’s matchup against De Soto on Friday, Sept. 27, Stallbaumer said. Both teams are 3-0 heading into the game, and establishing the run game with Doering is a high priority against a physical De Soto team.

“I go out there and play like it’s my job and to make all my peers proud,” Doering said. “All my problems and nothing matters to me other than running people over.”

Other players considered this week include:

• Savion Stone, Washington: 232 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, 77 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 45-0 win over Harmon

• James Fike, Blue Springs: 155 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, 116 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 41-16 win over Staley

• Isaiah Mozee, Lee’s Summit North: 130 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, 61 receiving yards in 39-24 win over Bentonville

• Hudson Bailey, St. Pius X: 4 passing touchdowns in 61-0 win over Maryville

• Clay Vallery, Spring Hill: 14 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery in 13-7 win over Eudora

• Blaise Adger, Olathe North: 203 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in 42-34 win over Lawrence

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