Wide receiver-turned quarterback named KC Star high school football Player of the Week

Last year, Sumner Academy of Arts & Science’s Jayden Gordon was the leading wide receiver for the Kansas City, Kansas, high school’s football team.

This year, he finds himself under center as the team’s starting quarterback.

Sumner head coach Andrew Wright said Gordon’s transition to quarterback was tough in the beginning, but that he’s worked hard to get better every week.

All of Gordon’s preparation led to what he called one of the best games of his career against Wyandotte High School last Friday. In the Sabres’ 33-20 win over the Bulldogs, Gordon completed 11 of 14 passes for 143 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also added 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

HIs performance against Wyandotte Friday earned him the honor of being named The Star’s 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. The Star collects the nominations for a weekly poll, which is open from Wednesday to midnight Thursday. We received 1,842 votes from our readers for this week’s poll.

“I admired his unselfishness to put the team first,” Wright said. “He knew we needed a veteran player who has played a lot of varsity snaps to take over the offense at QB. I think he saw this as his opportunity to step up as a senior and put his stamp on the program as a player/person younger players can look up to.”

Sumner will need Gordon’s leadership this week, as they host a tough match-up against F. L. Schlagle High School Friday night for Homecoming week. Wright said for Gordon and Sumner to be successful, they need to win the turnover battle, limit penalties and mistakes and win the time of possession.

Other players nominated this week include:

• Gerard Reed III, Olathe East: 64 rushing yards and one touchdown, 71 receiving yards and one touchdown, eight tackles in 24-6 win over Lawrence

• Christian Kuchta, Liberty: 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, 145 passing yards and one touchdown in 29-25 win over Park Hill South

• Louibens Wright, Raymore-Peculiar: five tackles, four interceptions and a pick-6 in 21-6 win over Blue Valley North

• Caysen Stevenson: Blue Springs South: 160 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 30-20 loss to Grain Valley

• Dylan Dunn, Blue Valley Southwest: 390 passing yards and six touchdowns in 63-35 win over Spring Hill

• Isaiah Mozee, Lee’s Summit North: 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 34-22 win over Blue Valley Northwest

• Jaleel Black, Wyandotte: 216 rushing yards in 33-20 loss to Sumner Academy

• Brayden Bush, Pleasant Hill: 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns, 14 tackles and 1 sack in 24-21 win over Odessa

• Javon Minor, Belton: 221 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 31-20 win over William Chrisman

• Tanner McDaniel, Piper: eight tackles, a forced fumble and 50-yard touchdown run in 34-0 win over Topeka West

• Kaleb Scott, Basehor-Linwood: 155 receiving yards and two touchdowns, 10-yard rushing touchdown, three tackles in 42-14 win over Shawnee Heights

• TJ Johnson, Van Horn: 89 rushing yards, six tackles and one fumble recovery in 28-17 loss to Lincoln Prep