This Kansas high school has The Star’s top player & the Chiefs’ best coach of the week

Basehor-Linwood junior quarterback Carson Dixon has goals of playing at the collegiate level. Colleges and universities will have little choice but to look in his direction if he keeps having performances like he did Thursday, Oct. 3, against Topeka West.

Dixon led the Bobcats to a 59-6 victory, throwing for 262 yards and five touchdowns. It caught the eyes of readers, who voted Dixon as Week 5’s high school football player of the week.

It comes at the same time as Dixon’s coach, Rod Stallbaumer, was recognized as one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ coaches 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 580 votes from readers .

Stallbaumer said Dixon is successful because he is self-driven. Dixon put in a great deal of time in the off season, in the weight room and the classroom, watching film to put himself in this position, Stallbaumer said.

“He is very intelligent and has put in the work to really understand the offense, how to read the defense and the in-game situations,” Stallbaumer said. “He has been a real leader of our offense.”

Dixon’s motivations come from wanting to be a role model for the team. The responsibility he takes on leading the offense is what makes him want to improve every day, he said.

The junior is also a two-sport athlete who showcases his abilities during track and field events in the spring. He credits those events with helping him become a better quarterback.

“Being a 100-meter runner and state long jumper in track has enhanced my speed, agility, and explosiveness, all of which are critical for excelling as a quarterback,” Dixon said. “Track has also sharpened my mental toughness and competitive edge, which translates into staying calm and focused during high-pressure football situations.”

Dixon will have another game to showcase his talents, as undefeated Basehor-Linwood takes on Tonganoxie on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

Other players considered this week include:

• TJ Shanks, Staley: 312 passing yards and 4 touchdowns in 54-28 loss to Liberty North
• James Fike, Blue Springs: 200 rushing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 receiving touchdown in 30-13 win over Rockhurst
• Kobe Westphal, Warrensburg: 357 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 71 passing yards and 1 touchdown in 50-42 win over Odessa
• Braylon Agee, Park Hill: 155 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in 21-17 win over Liberty
• Quade Chatmon, Lee’s Summit North: 4 rushing touchdowns in 36-28 win over Blue Springs South
• Aaden Hall, Belton: 165 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, 6 tackles in 27-20 win over William Chrisman

Chiefs name Stallbaumer high school coach of the week

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs had their own surprise for Stallbaumer. He was named the Chiefs’ coach of week , along with Blue Springs High School coach Jed Paulsen.

The high school coach of the week award is a joint partnership between the Chiefs and the NFL, who also work with every other team in the league to recognize and reward area high school coaches. They look at their team’s on-field performance and how the coaches affect the youth they work with, the Chiefs said in a press release.

The Chiefs visited Stallbaumer and Basehor-Linwood this week to present him with a $500 grant from the Hunt Family Foundation. a pair of Oakley sunglasses and a certificate recognizing their selection.

Stallbaumer said he had a mixed reaction to receiving the award because he doesn’t try to be the face of the football program, but was happy because the award is one that the football staff collectively should take pride in.

“We have a really great staff that all work every bit as hard as I do for our program to be successful and it’s great to spotlight our athletes and families that sacrifice a lot to be successful as well,” Stallbaumer said. “I think the recognition from the Chiefs is an indication of all the hard work our players, coaches and community put into being successful.”