Bobby Bell Award Winners

Brayden Bush

Pleasant Hill Linebacker

Pleasant Hill’s Brayden Bush was named the 2023 Bobby Bell Award winner given to the best small school offensive lineman/defensive lineman/linebacker. Bush finished his senior season with 128 total tackles with 89 of those being solo he also had 21 tackles for loss leading the defense for the Roosters to a 9-2 season losing in the Class 4 quarterfinals.

Harold Tsafack

Center

Tsafack earned the honor after an outstanding senior season that saw him finish with 118 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass break-ups and a 37-yard scoop and score for a touchdown.

Cody Simoncic

Smithville

Simoncic is a leader of a defense that has led the Warriors to the Missouri Class 4 state title game Friday against Hannibal. It’s only the second state championship game appearance for Smithville and the first since 1969. In a year where the Warriors gave up an average of seven points per game, Simoncic stood out currently with 52 solo tackles, 90 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions.

Branden Martin

Tonganoxie Linebacker

The senior linebacker was dominant in the middle of the defense for the Chieftains. He finished the season with 157 total tackles with 76 of those solo. He also had 18 tackles for loss and four sacks helping Tonganoxie to a 9-2 record advancing to the Kansas Class 4A quarterfinals were they lost to Bishop Miege.

Garret Watson

Platte County Linebacker

Watson finished with 18 tackles for loss, 86 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had six games with at least one sack and five games with multiple tackles for loss.

Dylan Downing

Bishop Miege Linebacker

During his senior year at Miege, Downing recorded 131 total tackles for the Class 4A state champions.

Michael Smith

Platte County Defensive Lineman

recorded a school record 17½ sacks this season with at least one sack in 12 of 14 games during the Pirates’ run to the Class 4 semifinals. He also notched 62 total tackles (11 for loss) and 20 quarterback hurries.

Ethan Luft

Kearney Linebacker

Luft tallied 172 tackles, including 107 solo stops, for the state finalists. He set a school record with 21 solo tackles in the Class 4 Quarterfinals. Luft was named to the 2016 Class 4 First-Team All-State squad and was named the Suburban Blue Defensive Player of the Year,

Cale Garrett

Kearney Linebacker

Colton Beebe

Piper

Colton Beebe

Piper

Maliek Collins

Center

Travis Britz

Harrisonville

Tyler Ewy

Louisburg

Joe Windsor

Kearney

Tever Wilson

Pleasant Hill

Brian Kagarice

Harrisonville

Michael Keck

Harrisonville

Sean Whiters

Lee's Summit West

Brock Christopher

Kearney

Brock Christopher

Kearney

Charlie Simone

St. Pius X

Anthony Simone

St. Pius X

Brian Koechner

Platte County