Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Daniel Cramer and George von Leonrod

Kansas Pregame polled 8-Man coaches in December who voted for the top four seniors they coached against this season. Kansas Pregame staffers then used those votes to develop a Top 8 list of seniors for each division. Check out several more Top 8 capsules below, and find the complete list of Top 8 selections, and the honorable mention list, here for 8-Man I and here for 8-Man II. 

Dighton seniors Daniel Cramer and George von Leonrod ended their high school football careers as one of the top 8-Man duos in the state, helping lead the Hornets to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the 8-Man Division II state semifinals, where they fell to eventual runner-up Victoria. 

Lining up at quarterback and free safety, Cramer combined athleticism and field vision to make game-changing plays on both sides of the ball. This season, Cramer accounted for 2,467 yards of total offense and 45 touchdowns, rushing for 1,149 yards and 19 touchdowns on 180 carries while completing 85 of 149 passes for 1,318 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Defensively, he tallied 63 tackles, including 35 solo stops, and seven interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

“Daniel made everyone around him better with his intelligence and athletic ability,” Dighton head coach Ken Simon said. “He developed into a solid leader that led by example on and off the field. Daniel also practiced with a purpose; he was someone that came to practice every day to improve.”

A play that stood out to Simon that exemplified Cramer’s ability to break games wide-open happened in a tough 44-22 rematch victory overHodgeman County in the state quarterfinals, a team they’d pulled the rug out from under with a 52-8 drubbing after both teams met with 6-0 records in Week 7. 

“There were multiple plays throughout the season,” Simon said. “But one that sticks out was a 4th and 4 play in the playoff game against Hodgeman County where he rolled out to his right and was pressured heavily. He was able to make three or four defenders miss as he tucked the ball and picked up a big first down and we would continue the drive and score on the possession. Daniel’s ability to create on a broken play was unmatched.”

Able to lineup at fullback, wide receiver, and linebacker, von Leonroad was a cornerstone of Dighton’s offense and defense. This season, he rushed for 536 yards and 10 touchdowns on 84 carries, caught 29 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns, and recorded 135 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, and an interception returned for a touchdown. His toughness and versatility made him indispensable on both sides of the ball.

“George is a very unselfish person and is willing to give everything to his teammates,” Simon said. “His intelligence, physicality, and ability to study scouting reports and translate them on the field were vital to our team’s success.”

Simon recalled a particular standout play from von Leonrod during their regular season matchup against Hodgeman County. 

“George got depth once he got his pass read and Hodgeman was trying to get a wide receiver behind him. George leaped up and high pointed the ball and made a great interception. He then was able to get to the sideline and break a couple of tackles to score.”

Both Cramer and von Leonrod were consistent contributors throughout their careers. Cramer finished with 347 career tackles, 1,318 career receiving yards, 1,063 career rushing yards, and 3,487 passing yards, while von Leonrod totaled 335 tackles, 1,741 rushing yards, 2,142 receiving yards, and 41 rushing touchdowns. Their accolades include numerous All-League and All-State honors, with Cramer finishing as one of the most productive quarterbacks in Dighton history and von Leonrod excelling as one of 8-Man’s top linebackers.

Beyond football, the two are standout multisport athletes. This winter, Cramer is averaging 16.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game, while von Leonrod contributes 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game for the eighth-ranked Hornets basketball team. Last spring, both qualified for the state track meet as members of Dighton’s 4x400 relay, with von Leonrod also finishing fifth in the javelin with a throw of 159-06.

Cramer plans to continue his basketball career at Colby Community College, while von Leonrod is still considering his options for football or track at the collegiate level.