BonnerSprings.com

Oftentimes, football teams with 3-6 records get overlooked when it comes to postseason awards.

It is always harder to tell if an individual had a great season if his team did not perform great itself. That was certainly the case for the 2009 Bonner Springs Braves in the Kaw Valley League.

Last week though, opposing coaches voted Jake Barren to the All-Kaw Valley League first team for his play on the offensive line and to the second team for his work as a defensive lineman.

He was the leader of an offensive line that was extremely young an inexperienced, yet still paved the way for one of the league’s top running backs.

In addition, Barren stepped into the backfield and carried the ball six times for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a fullback.

What may have come as a surprise for Barren was that he was named to the second team All-KVL defensive unit. He spent much of the year moving around from linebacker to defensive end. One thing that was constant was his effectiveness from either position. He tallied 60 solo tackles and pitched in 32 assists for a total of 92 tackles, adding nine tackles for loss, one interception and one quarterback sack.

“It is an honor that signifies that my hard work paid off and showed through in my play on the field,” Barren said. “I think it is a big deal that I was recognized by other coaches that see your hard work, especially on defense, despite changing positions all the time.”

Barren said he enjoyed the four years he spent at Bonner Springs and the process that goes along with becoming a senior and a leader. Receiving the All-KVL honor has left him with a feeling of accomplishment. He has applied to the United States Naval Academy and hopes to play football for the Midshipmen in the future, but he does not know if he will get that opportunity.

His twin brother, senior tailback Max Barren, also was honored by the Kaw Valley League by being named to the second team for his great season at running back. Many thought that he deserved to be named to the first team, but he was narrowly edged out by Rashon Thames from Turner and Cole Muder from Bishop Ward.

Max Barren rushed for 1,324 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries, adding 93 yards receiving. The highlight of his season — and the best game for the Braves — came on homecoming against Lansing when he carried 55 times for 303 yards. The senior also iced the game against the Lions with a leaping one-handed interception from his linebacker spot.

“Obviously I would have liked to be named to the first team, but it’s a big thing to be recognized by the other coaches who see you as a good player. It will be nice to shake their hands,” he said.

Jake Barren agreed that his brother did enough to get on the first team, but is happy that his brother was recognized.

“I am really proud of him. It was nice to see that he was honored,” Jake Barren said. “I wanted to see him on the first team because (the yards) he was able to get were mainly because he did it all himself, but sometimes that is not the way it goes.”

In addition to the Barren brothers, senior tight end Korey Sanborn earned honorable mention status. Sanborn was one of the Braves’ most dangerous receivers as he caught 27 passes for 536 yards and three touchdowns.

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