Football
Offensive Player of the Year and 1st Team Quarterback
Brock Badding- Kuemper
Badding closed out an outstanding football career with what might have been his best season to date. He led a Kuemper offense that was nearly impossible, averaging 41-points per game. They were held under 40-points three times going into the semifinal round game on Saturday. His ability to read a defense presnap and pick apart coverages is part of what makes him great. He throws a great ball, including the deep pass. Badding entered the semifinal round with a 69.2% completion percentage, throwing 30 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions. Badding had 2,534-yards passing, becoming the leader in completions and touchdowns in Kuemper history. Badding doesn’t have to run or scramble much, but does a great job of understanding the pocket and where to move if there is pressure. He is deadly when he rolls out to pass, working the edge of the defense well. His decision making on the option is outstanding, helping him score 3 rushing touchdowns on just 23-carries.
Defense Player of the Year and 1st Team Linebacker
Brayton Alford- Kuemper
Alford is an elite defender against the run and the pass. His ability to use his hands to shuck blockers and make plays was special to watch this season. He used that ability to make plays at the line of scrimmage or behind the line against the run, rarely getting pushed out of a play. If he didn’t get the tackle on the edge, he forced it back to the middle, allowing his teammates to make a play. He made 6 tackles for a loss and had 3 sacks from his linebacker position prior to his team’s semifinal round game on Saturday at the Dome. He had 69 tackles entering the semifinal round game, leading the Knights by 26 tackles. He wasn’t just great against the run, Alford is an elite pass defender. He had 5 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He forced 4 fumbles this season, recovering one. Alford helped the Knights inexperienced defense get steadily better this season, holding teams to under 10 points in 5 games, including 2 shutouts.
Coach of the Year
Sean Birks- Audubon
The Wheelers had to replace nearly everyone from last season’s Quarterfinal round team and weren’t even favored to win their own district this season. They entered the season not ranked by any of the preseason polls and it took a little while for voters to notice this team was for real. Coach Birks and his staff worked tirelessly all off-season with a group of kids that had bought into what it took to be special. They were more than special this season, rolling through the season undefeated, winning their district and finishing the regular season ranked 5th. Coach Birks and his staff may be one of the most prepared staffs in the state, helped by a group of players that have bought into film study and the weight room. They opened the season beating the defending State Champions 64-18 and never looked back. They scored 64 or more points in their first four games while the defense was every bit as dominant. They held CAM to negative 23-yards offense in their Week 4 matchup, winning 66-0. Coach Birks and his crew continue to build depth, having their second string and JV units in games for the 2nd half most of the games. They watched those units dominate most of their opponents’ starters. Audubon averaged nearly 68-points per game through 11 games this season while giving up under 12-points per game.
1st Team Offense
Running Backs
Wyatt Ragaller- Ar-We-Va
Ragaller was a workhorse for the Rockets this season and defenses knew he was going to touch the ball on 90% or more of their plays. That didn’t stop him from putting up some of the best numbers in the State. He finished the season ranked 2nd in all-purpose yards for the entire state. Ragaller ran for 1,465-yards with 28 touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 230-yards and 4 more touchdowns. His talent with the ball in his hands showed in special teams with 3 kick returns for touchdowns and 2 punt returns for touchdowns.
Jarin Hoffman- Kuemper
Hoffman was explosive and powerful for the Knights this season, taking a lot of pressure off Brock Badding and their outstanding passing game. Hoffman ran for 6.6-yards per carry, showing the ability to make tough physical yards or break off big runs, reading his offensive line blocking to find the creases. He had 1,409-yards rushing heading into the semifinals this past Saturday, scoring 20 rushing touchdowns. His late touchdown run against Cherokee sealed the Knights win in the Quarterfinals, clinching their trip to the Dome. He has a great mix of power and speed and his vision and patience to let holes develop is impressive. He has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, adding 13 catches for 3 more touchdowns.
Adam Malik- Carroll
Malik broke on the scene this season after waiting behind an All-State running back last season. It didn’t take long for people to realize what Coach Rowedder knew coming into the season. Malik is a top level running back with great vision and break away speed. He isn’t just a speed back, showing power in short yardage situations and not being afraid to run between the guards. His breakout game was against Lewis Central, rushing for 211-yards and a pair of touchdowns with a 46-yard touchdown run. He added a 208-yard game in the District title game against Atlantic, adding another 2 touchdowns runs, highlighted by a 74-yard run. He finished the season running for 1,514-yards and 18 touchdowns with a long TD run of 80-yards. Malik caught 6 passes, averaging 15.2-yards per reception.
Offensive Line
Gavin Holt- Carroll
Holt is an elite lineman that showed the ability to go into the backfield and play lead blocker at fullback and even carry the ball this season. The Tigers ran behind him most of the season, rushing for 2,456-yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. They averaged 6-yards per carry, mainly due to his strength upfront. Defenses knew the Tigers were running to his side but they still struggled to defend the play. Holt isn’t just a run blocker, he helped protect Camden King as the Tigers passed for 810-yards and 9 touchdowns. He added 1 carry for 1-yard and a touchdown this season.
Cayden Lueders- Carroll
Lueders was a big part of why the Tigers run game was nearly unstoppable, especially in the district. Carroll won the district, going undefeated while averaging over 43-points per game. Lueders was instrumental in their success, creating holes for Adam Malik or Michael Rowedder to run through. They led the District in rushing with 2,456-yards and 35 rushing touchdowns, averaging 6-yards per rush. Lueders did a nice job of pass blocking as well, helping the Tigers throw for 810-yards and 9 touchdowns.
Sullivan McClain- Audubon
McClain was the leader of an excellent offensive line at Audubon that dominated opponents this season. They ran the ball 86% of the time, having rushed for 3,369-yards through 11 games, averaging 9.1-yards per carry. They broke off a lot of long runs with the help of an offensive line that opened huge holes. McClain was a big part of that success up front, pancaking his defenders. His ability to pass block helped them complete 71.2% of his passes with 17 touchdown passes on 59 pass attempts.
Lucas Diehl- Kuemper
Diehl was terrific this season, dominating the defensive line with his power and agility. He helped create big holes for his running backs to run through and took it up a notch in the postseason as his team was dealing with injuries to skill position players. Diehl is a physical presence up front and teamed with Reid Steger to give the Knights a dominant side to run behind. Kuemper ended the year very balanced on offense with 1,889-yards rushing while passing for 2,606-yards. He showed great footwork as a pass blocker, helping Kuemper complete 68% of his passes with 30 touchdowns. They added 27 rushing touchdowns, averaging 41-points per game heading into their semifinal round game. They scored over 40-points in eight games.
Reid Steger- Kuemper
Steger uses his size as well as any lineman I’ve seen in a long time. He’s listed at 6-6 and 315-pounds and is a physical presence on the field. He is nimble on his feet, keeping edge rushers from getting around the edge and pressuring his quarterback. That helped Kuemper throw for 2,606-yards and 30 touchdowns. His running blocking is elite, shoving defenders around, helping the Knights run for 27 touchdowns while averaging 6-yards per carry. Steger teamed with Lucas Diehl to give Kuemper a side of the ball they could always trust to get the yards they needed. He helped the Knights average 41-points per game through 11 games, scoring over 40-points in eight of their first 11 games.
Wide Receiver
Griffin Glynn- Kuemper
Glynn was clutch for the Knights all season, making key catches that kept drives alive, especially in the postseason and was tied for the team lead through 11 games with 45 catches while leading the team in yards at 804 and averaged 17.9 yards per catch. Glynn has great speed to get deep but can also make the tough catch in traffic, using strong hands to make tough catches during contact. He is elusive once he makes the catch, scoring on a 76-yard touchdown catch this season, part of a team leading 9 touchdown receptions. Glynn is a dynamic return specialist as well with 2 kick returns for a touchdown, with a long of 90-yards.
Ashton Ahrenholtz- IKM-Manning
Ahrenholtz had a great senior season, leading the Wolves with 44-catches for 735-yards. He gave them a deep threat with good speed, scoring several big long touchdowns, with a best of 58-yards. He could also make catches in traffic, taking hits as the ball arrived. His work in the weight room in the off-season helped him take his game to another level this season. He averaged 16.7-yards per catch with 8 touchdowns, 2nd on the team. Ahrenholtz worked in the slot, giving the Wolves a running option as well, carrying the ball 30 times for 192-yards with 4 touchdowns, including a 85-yard touchdown run.
Kicker
Kieran Polking- Carroll
Polking was a weapon for Carroll as a kicker this season. He was nearly automatic with PAT’s, hitting 36 of 40 attempts. He was even more accurate kicking field goals. Polking went 4-4 with a 40-yarder. He was clutch in their 34-33 win over Humboldt, going 2-2 with the 40-yard that turned out to be the difference in the game. His strong leg gave the Tigers coverage team a chance to pin teams deep this season and he was able to kick 8 of his 60 kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks.
Return Specialist
Jorgen Nowatzke- Audubon
Nowatzke was a weapon for the Wheelers in the return game this season. He was dynamite in punt returns, taking four back for touchdowns on 20 returns. He averaged 21.2-yards per return, going for 424-yards. He didn’t get many opportunities to return kicks as the Wheelers didn’t give up many scores. He had 4 kick returns, averaging 16.8-yards per return. The sophomore has a very bright future.
1st Team Defense
Defensive Line
Hayden Larsen- Audubon
Hayden Larsen was one the stars on a defensive line that was the most dominant line in the area. They dominated offensive lines most of the season, keeping teams from running the ball and scoring points. The Wheelers defense held opponents to under 10-points in 7 of their 12 games. They were so dominant in their win over CAM, that they held them to minus 29-yards rushing and 6-yards passing with minus 23-yards of total offense. Larsen was a big part of their success. He made 31-tackles going into the State Semifinals earlier this week with 14 solo tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. Larsen added a fumble recovery.
Izik Sorensen- Audubon
He was dominant in the middle of the Wheelers defense, keeping teams from having success running up the middle. He dominated defensive lineman, forcing them to have to focus on him, allowing their linebackers to flow and make plays. Sorensen ended the season with 26.5 tackles, a big number for a nose guard with 16 of them solo. Sorensen didn’t just plug the line of scrimmage up. He made plays in the backfield with 6.5 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. He was a big part of a dominant defensive line.
Lucas Diehl- Kuemper
Diehl lived in opponents backfields this season, pressuring quarterbacks and harassing running backs as they took handoffs. His quickness of their line and his power made him nearly impossible to block. Teams had to try and run away from his side of the field, but that didn’t stop him from making plays. Diehl had 14 tackles for a loss with 10 sacks, huge numbers for an interior defensive lineman. He finished the season with 43 tackles and 27 of them solo. As fast as he got into the backfield, he was able to cause fumbles or recover them, finishing with 2 fumble recoveries. He also pressured quarterbacks, which led to several of the Knights 21 interceptions entering their semifinal round game this past Saturday.
Linebackers
Quinten Polking- Carroll
Polking uses his strength and natural athleticism to menace offenses in a number of ways. He understands leverage and uses his hands extremely well, shucking blockers, allowing him to make plays. He is athletic enough to cover tight ends and backs out of the backfield, but also physical enough to stuff the run. Polking paced a strong Tigers defense with 75.5 tackles, making 40 solo tackles. Those numbers show how unblockable he played most of the season. Polking added 9 tackles for a loss, a sixth of the team’s total. He added a fumble recovery and a forced fumble while making an interception that he returned 24-yards.
Austin Christensen- Audubon
He is one of the most dominant defensive players in the Carroll Broadcasting Sports Network coverage area and has been for his entire Wheelers career. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year each of the last three seasons and will go down as one of the best players in the history of the Rewind All-Star teams. His physical tools and non-stop motor only tell half the story. Christensen is the epitome of team first. His unselfish play was the perfect example for younger players to learn. He possesses great athleticism and outstanding strength, able to chuck blockers to the side to make tackles, while also being able to run down backs out of the backfield. He had a knack for finding creases in the blocking scheme and flying into the backfield to make tackles. He finished his career with 63.5 tackles heading into their semifinal round game last week. Those numbers were lower than they could have been since he rarely played much past halftime. Christensen had 37 solo tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. He added an interception that he returned 17-yards for a touchdown.
Gabe King- East Sac
King continues to be one of the best defenders in the area, nearly finishing with 100 tackles this season. He is a tremendous one on one tackler, having a knack for finding the ball carrier. His ability to get off blocks is one of the reasons he racks up huge tackle numbers every season. He is strong with his hands and understands leverage and getting small, making it hard for lineman to get a good block on him. King ended the season with 94 tackles with 81 of them solo. He had 8.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He led the Raiders by over 30 tackles this season. King has one more season to play for the Raiders and will finish as one of their best defensive players in school history.
Devon Ehlers- Ar-We-Va
He is an elite defensive player and tackler. He flies to the football with a motor that never stops. They say some players have a nose for the football and that describes Ehlers. He is always around the ball, even when he doesn’t get the tackle. His 89 tackles were the second most in the area this season with 63 of those being solo. Offenses tried to get extra bodies in his way but it didn’t matter. He makes himself nearly unblockable, allowing him to run to the ball. Ehlers was consistently in the backfield, making 22 tackles for a loss with 3 sacks. The senior wrapped up a career as one of the top defensive players for Ar-We-Va in a number of years.
Secondary
Aiden Kjergaard- Audubon
People notice Aiden more for his play on offense as a top quarterback in 8-man and the area. It overshadows how good he plays in the secondary. Kjergaard is an elite defensive back that makes it tough for teams to make plays downfield. He is a ballhawk that uses his experience as a quarterback to understand what offenses are trying to do. His great speed allows him to break on passes and make interceptions. He had 4 interceptions this season and is dangerous when he gets the ball in his hands. Aiden returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns with a long of 52-yards. He does a nice job in run support, finishing with 19.5 tackles with 9 of them solo.
Mason Kasperbauer- Audubon
Kasperbauer is an elite tackler, oftentimes stopping the offensive player in their tracks and dumping them right there. He is great at using leverage and wraps guys up, driving through them. He is the perfect player for the backside of the defense, not letting much get past him. He ended the year with 33.5 tackles with 23 solo. He is strong in coverage, making 4 interceptions this season with a 22-yard pick-six. He added a fumble recovery that he returned 17-yards for a touchdown.
Mac Collison- Carroll
He became one of the best secondary players in the area this season, growing quickly this season. He has great athleticism and anticipates extremely well. Collison led Carroll and was one of the leaders in the coverage area with 6 interceptions, returning 2 of them for touchdowns. He tended to make clutch plays at big times for the Tigers. Collison added a fumble recovery. He wasn’t just a tough player in pass coverage. He’s a good tackler as well, finishing the season with 25 tackles with 21 of them solo.
Punter
Mason Stitz- Carroll
He didn’t have to punt a lot this season but did a tremendous job when called upon. His 16 punts went for an average of 39.1-yards but that wasn’t the only thing he did well in his role. He did a nice job, helping the Tigers control field position in most games and made several big kicks that flipped the field. Stitz was the most consistent punter in the local area.
2nd Team Offense
Quarterback
Aiden Kjergaard- Audubon
Kjergaard was nearly unstoppable this season for the Wheelers. Going into his semifinal round game on Wednesday, he was averaging 10.8 yards per carry and passing for 23.4 yards per reception. He rarely played much over a half as the Wheelers had put their games away before halftime. That didn’t stop him from having outstanding numbers with 32 rushing touchdowns on 1,418-yards rushing. Kjergaard isn’t a one dimensional player, he connected on 71.7% of his passes, throwing for 772-yards and 12 touchdowns without throwing an interception.His 46 touchdowns this season ranked 5th in the entire state heading into the game this past Wednesday and his 32-rushing touchdowns was also ranked 5th in the state. He led an offense that averaged 68-points per game entering the semifinals this past week. They scored 50 or more points in 9 of 12 games.
Running Backs
Ethan Bauer- Coon Rapids Bayard
Bauer is the perfect blend of power and good speed. He prefers to lower the shoulder and create contact, enjoying running over linebackers and guys in the secondary, but he has the ability in the opening field to run away from defenders as well. He had to share the backfield with Caden Oswald most of the season, giving the Crusaders two outstanding guys to carry the ball. That didn’t stop him from rushing for 1,495-yards and 10.7-yards per carry. He ran for 23 touchdowns with a long run of 79-yards. Bauer didn’t have to catch many passes with the Crusaders having a talented receiving core but scored 2 touchdowns on 4 receptions.
Caden Oswald- Coon Rapids Bayard
Oswald was used in numerous ways for the Crusaders this season but is at his best when lining up as a running back. He has great speed but is a powerful running back as well, not shying away from contact. He missed the last few games of the season and postseason due to injuries but still ran for 696-yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 11-yards per carry. Oswald played quarterback several games, throwing for 210-yards and 3 touchdowns.
Mason Kasperbauer- Audubon
Kasperbauer is only a sophomore but runs like a seasoned veteran. His patience as a runner is impressive. He allows blocks to develop, then puts his foot in the ground and explodes through the creases. If the blocks take a moment, he will stay patient and work his way through the crowd until the opening develops. That uncanny ability to let things develop, helped him run for over 800-yards and 15 touchdowns. He averaged 10.5-yards per carry and was a threat to close every time he touched the ball, scoring a touchdown on nearly 25% of his carries. He added 9 catches with a receiving touchdown.
Wide Receivers
Brayton Alford- Kuemper
Alford has all the skills of a great receiver. He runs strong routes, uses his hands well to attack the ball and catches everything thrown his way. He was part of the reason the Kuemper passing game was so good this season. They averaged 236-yards per game with Alford averaging 14.6-yards per catch and 60-yards per game on 45 catches. That was tied with Griffin Glynn for the team lead in catches heading into their semifinal round game Saturday. Alford is not afraid to make the tough catch across the middle, knowing the safety or a linebacker is closing in. He can also beat his defender deep, helping him score 5 touchdowns. His abilities had him used as a backup running back this season, limiting his opportunities to have more catches but helping him run for 2 touchdowns and 91-yards at 6.1-yards per carry.
Wyatt Danner- IKM-Manning
Danner became a big time weapon in the passing game for IKM-Manning this season. He teamed with Ashton Ahrenholtz to give the Wolves two outstanding receivers that defenses wouldn’t be able to double team. He finished the season with 30 catches, averaging 17.5-yards per catch. He finished the season with 524- yards receiving. Danner caught a team high 9 touchdown passes with his longest touchdown reception going for 55-yards. He was strong down the field and was tough enough to make catches across the middle.
Offensive Line
Preston Vonnahme- Kuemper
Vonnahme was a critical part of the Knights success up front this season. The center did a nice job communicating with his lineman about defensive fronts and blitzes. That communication kept the Knights on balance up front, leading to a tremendous year for the offense. Kuemper passed for 2,606-yards with 30 passing touchdowns. They weren’t one dimensional. They were tough in the run game as well with many yards coming right up the middle with Vonnahme clearing the way. Kuemper ran for 1,889-yards with 27 rushing touchdowns.
Tyson VonGlan- Ar-We-Va
Every time you talked with Rockets coaches this fall they would mention how well Tyson VonGlan was playing up front. Ar-We-Va suffered injuries in the skill positions, forcing them to rearrange their lineup several times. That didn’t stop VonGlan from helping them put up strong offensive numbers. They ran for 1,976-yards, averaging 7.2-yards per carry with 41 rushing touchdowns. A lot of that was running behind VonGlan’s blocking. He was a strong leader for the younger players up front this season. Ar-We-Va didn’t pass much this season, finishing with 541-yards and 4 touchdowns.
Jace Starman- IKM-Manning
Starman continued to be a rock for the Wolves up front in his senior season, helping one of the best offenses in the area be extremely balanced this season. He’s good at coming off the ball hard on running plays and has good footwork in pass blocking. The Wolves offense scored 43-touchdowns with 23 of them coming on the ground and the other 20 through the air. They fan for 1,604-yards, averaging 5-yards per carry. The passing game was even better, throwing for 1,973-yards, averaging 14.9-yard per pass. Starman and his teammates on the line helped them score 25-points or more in all but one game this season.
Jackson Reich- Coon Rapids Bayard
Reich had his best season during his senior campaign, becoming a road grader in front of a strong running game. He was a guy they knew they could lead on every night, getting in behind him for big runs on a regular basis. He helped them average 9.7-yards per rush, finishing the season with 2,651-yards rushing. The run game scored 47 rushing touchdowns with nearly half of them on big plays. The Crusaders line did a nice job of creating holes for the backs to run through and Reich was strong at getting down field to take on linebackers and secondary players.
Jace Pedersen- South Central Calhoun
Pedersen helped the Titans in more ways than one on the offensive side of the ball in his senior season. He was strong up front, giving them someone to run the ball behind. Their run game improved as the season went on, part of that late was them moving him to the backfield to block and carry the ball. His athleticism helped him in both run and pass blocking. He became a guy they could run behind, finishing the season with 1,483-yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. They added another 1,014-yards through the air with four different players throwing a pass. Pedersen was critical late in the season, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns and rushing for 112-yards in a win over Pocahontas Area.
Kicker
Charles Mayhall- Kuemper
Mayhall was excellent in the kicking game for Kuemper this season. He knocked in a pair of 36-yard field goals against OABCIG in the playoffs, helping them to the win that night. He was accurate all season going 3-3 in field goals and making 50-55 PAT. His 75 kickoffs were more than most of the other area kickers had to do. He showed his strong leg strength, kicking 16 of them into the end zone for touchbacks. Mayhall wrapped up a strong kicking career for Kuemper.
Return Specialist
Griffin Glynn- Kuemper
Glynn is an elite athlete with the ball in his hands, showing off his skills in the return game. Opposing teams did everything they could to kick away from him this season. He entered the semifinal game on Saturday, only returning 6 kickoffs. He returned two of them for touchdowns, with a long of 90-yards. Glynn averaged 46.3-yards per kick return. He was outstanding at letting the wedge form and exploding through seams in the kick coverage. Once he gets into the open field and turns it into a foot race, he is gone.
2nd Team Defense
Defensive Line
Weston Toft- Ar-We-Va
Toft was really strong for Ar-We-Va up front, helping them contain opposing teams’ running game. He is strong at the point of attack, making it tough for offensive lineman to get off him and to the linebackers. His grittiness allows the guys behind him to make clean plays. Toft had a knack for getting into the backfield, finishing the season with 14 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. He ended the season with 39 tackles and 22 of them solo. He recovered one of the 8 fumbles recovered by the defense this season.
Griffin Mohr- Coon Rapids Bayard
Mohr exploded onto the scene for the Crusaders as a freshman. He tended to spend a lot of time in opponents backfields, making a lot of plays for a loss. His quickness was tough for lineman to handle, teaming that with good strength, allowing him to handle most offensive lineman. He finished the season with 45 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, a team high. Once he got his hands on a ball carrier, they were going down. He had 29 solo tackles out of his 45 tackles. He showed his athleticism returning a fumble 44-yards for a touchdown.
Ty Muhlbauer- Carroll
It was fun watching how quickly Muhlbauer attacked blockers on the edge for the Tigers this season. His first step made him tough for offensive tackles to back pedal quick enough to keep him from getting pressure on quarterbacks. He used that to finish the season with a team leading 5.5 sacks out of his 13 tackles for a loss, also a team high. Muhlbauer wasn’t just strong against the pass. He controlled the edge, forcing runners back inside to the linebackers. He ended the season with 34.5 tackles with 12 of them solo. He forced a fumble and added an interception that he returned 8-yards.
Sean Healy- Kuemper
Healy and Jack Badding controlled the edges for a Kuemper defense that became an extremely strong defense as the season went along. Healy has a motor that keeps going, allowing him to get pressure on quarterbacks or chase them down if they try to roll out. He ran a lot of plays down from the backside, quickly reading what the opponent was trying to run. He had 38 tackles heading into the semifinal game this past Saturday with 10 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. Healy made 26 solo tackles. He’s an aggressive tackler and plays with a nice physicality.
Jack Badding- Kuemper
Badding took his game to a completely different level this season after taking last season off. He became a top defensive end, teaming with Sean Healy to shut down opponents outside run game and get pressure on their quarterbacks. Badding is extremely strong, using that power to handle tackles or backs that tried to pick him up on the edge. He is athletic, allowing him to quickly get pressure in the backfield. He made 13.5 tackles for a loss with 9.5 sacks, both second on the Knights. Badding made 43.5 tackles before the semifinal round game this past Saturday. He forced a fumble and made an interception this season.
Linebackers
Dawson Allen- East Sac
Allen had another strong season of defense for East Sac, racking up a lot of tackles and helping the defense create turnovers. Allen is quick and uses his leverage, becoming a hard guy for offensive lineman to block. That allows him to aggressively pursue ballcarriers. He ended the season with 61.5 tackles and was a sure tackler with 48 solo tackles. Allen added 2.5 tackles for a loss, fourth on the Raiders. One of his strengths this season was being in the right place at the right time, recovering a pair of fumbles that he returned a combined 22-yards.
Charlie Nattress- South Central Calhoun
Nattress was a leader on the Titans defense, closing out a strong career. He did a nice job against the run, helping clog up the inside run game. His physicality allowed him to take on blockers and still make plays. Nattress ended the season with 43.5 tackles with 34 of them solo. He added 4.5 tackles for a loss, making 1.5 sacks. His 34 solo tackles were second on the team and his 4.5 tackles for a loss, ranked first on the team.
Defensive Backs
Landon Rohrbeck- Glidden Ralston
Rohrbeck was a bright spot for a team that suffered a bunch of injuries as the season went on. He was extremely consistent and played hard all the time. He came up strong on run defense but was also really tough to throw on. Rohrbeck was third on the team in tackles with 51, making 43 solo tackles. Landon was very good as a cover guy in the secondary. He made 3 interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. Rohrbeck will be an important guy for them to try and find a replacement for as he was a huge part of both sides of the ball this season.
Ben Ramsey- IKM-Manning
It was impressive how well Ramsey played on the defensive side of the ball for the Wolves this season, considering he was so good on the offensive side of the ball. Somehow he found the energy to be strong against the run and the pass, giving the Wolves a top line player at the back end of the defense. Ramsey finished the season with 35 tackles with 26 of them solo and 7 tackles for a loss. He made a pair of interceptions, using his ability to understand offenses to defend the pass well. He returned those interceptions for a combined 25-yards.
Max Shirbroun- Coon Rapids Bayard
He was outstanding in creating turnovers for the Crusaders defense this season, along with being a sure tackler. Shirbroun closed out his football career with the Crusaders with his best season. He made 47.5 tackles with 26 of them solo. He was able to make a couple tackles for a loss. Shirbroun might have been at his best, helping to get the ball back for the offense. He made a pair of interceptions along with recovering a pair of fumbles. His four turnovers led the team.
Dylan Schon- Kuemper
He was dynamite at the back of the Knights defense this season, becoming a ballhawk, learning how to use his size and athleticism to control receivers down the field. He had 5 interceptions heading into the semifinal round game this past Saturday, returning them for a total of 88-yards. Schon found a knack for reading the opposing quarterback and breaking before the ball was thrown. He had 28 tackles heading into the semifinals with 19 of them solo with a tackle for a loss.
Punter
Garrett Krause- South Central Calhoun
Krause became a weapon for the Titans with his leg. He helped them flip the field several times in games, averaging 35.1-yards per punt on 24 punts this season. His leg was crucial in key moments, averaging 40.5-yards per punt in two punts against Pocahontas in a late season win.
Honorable Mention
Clayton Van Aernam- Audubon
Van Aernam was a big part of the Wheelers success on offense this season. He teamed with the other guys up front to open huge holes for Aiden Kjergaard and Mason Kasperbauer to be able to run through. The Wheelers run out of the shotgun a lot, putting pressure on the center to make good snaps and block quickly. He handled that job well. Thanks to Van Aernam and the guys up front the Wheelers ran for 3,369-yards and 74 rushing touchdowns. They added another 960-yards with 17 more touchdowns.
Brody Weber- Audubon
Weber was good on both sides of the ball for the Wheelers. He is a strong blocker as a tight end and is a very good receiver. He made 11 catches heading into their semifinal round game this past week. Three of those catches went for a touchdown as he averaged 31-yards per catch. Weber was also a strength on defense with 39 tackles and 25 of them solo. He added 15.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Weber recovered a fumble as well.
Michael Rowedder- Carroll
Rowedder is a perfect team first guy, doing whatever it takes to help his team win. He is a strong player on both sides of the ball, though he isn’t the biggest guy on the field. He ended the season with 43 tackles, 14 solo and 2.5 tackles for a loss. He is a strong running back and a very good blocker. He opened a lot of seams for Adam Malik as lead blocker and got a lot of tough yards up the middle, rushing for 137-yards and 6 touchdowns on 38 carries.
Gavin Heiderscheit- Coon Rapids Bayard
Heiderscheit was an instrumental part of the Crusaders passing game. He led them with 24 catches for 357-yards and 5 touchdowns. His blocking ability went unnoticed by people that just followed the ball. The Crusaders ran for 2,651-yards with Heiderscheit being an integral part of their blocking schemes. He added a fumble recovery on defense.
Carson Schmitt- East Sac
Schmitt played a lot of roles for East Sac this season and was good in everything he did. He led them in rushing with 586-yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. He added a team high 26 receptions for 296-yards and a pair of touchdowns. Schmitt even threw a few passes, going 3-6 for 20-yards. Schmitt was one of their top defensive players, finishing with 47 tackles with 38 solo. He added an interception, returned kicks and punts, averaging 16.2-yards and 21.5-yards respectively.
Cal McCollough- East Sac
McCollough was a big part of the Raiders up front on both sides of the ball. He ended the season with 33 tackles, 24 of them solo with 0.5 tackles for a loss. He helped the offense move the ball on both the ground and air as a strong blocker. He has good strength in the run game and nice footwork when pass blocking. He helped the Raiders rush for 1,371-yards, averaging 5.1-yards per carry. They added 743-yards passing with 5 touchdowns.
Kade Snyder- East Sac
Snyder was strong on both sides of the ball up front, providing good leadership as a senior. He is a strong player that creates good holes for the running game, helping Carson Schmitt and Gabe King find creases to run through. He ate up blocks on the defensive line, making plays but keeping his linebackers to play clean and flow to the football. Snyder ended the season with 38 tackles with 29 solo. He added 3.5 tackles for a loss.
Alex Daniel- Glidden Ralston
Daniel was at his best this season on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the season with 69 tackles and 57 of them solo. He is a hard hitting defender that has good speed to get pressure in the backfield. He had 9.5 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. Daniel forced a pair of fumbles, recovering one of them. He added an interception to his stat line. Daniel added 5 catches on offense with a 33-yard touchdown.
Treynor Cose- Glidden Ralston
Cose was tough on defense again, using his physicality along with good athleticism to make plays. He ended the season with 62.5 tackles with 48 of them solo. He added 3 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks. Cose recovered a fumble and forced a fumble. He caught a couple passes for 11-yards on a team that didn’t throw much.
Davis Rasmussen- IKM-Manning
The senior was a workhorse for the Wolves in the run game and helped their passing game by taking pressure off a strong good of receivers and tight ends. He rushed the ball 138 times for 830-yards, averaging 6 yards per carry. His 11 rushing touchdowns led the team. Rasmussen added 13 catches for 133-yards with another touchdown. He added 37 tackles with 30 of them solo. He had one interception, returning it for 26-yards. He went 36-39 in PATs.
Brock Kusel- IKM-Manning
Kusel had another strong season catching passes with 22 receptions for 315-yards and a touchdown. He averaged 14.3-yards per reception with his touchdown catch going for 25-yards. Defensively he made 25.5 tackles with 12 solo tackles and 8 going for a loss. He added a sack.
Kael Renze- IKM-Manning
Renze had a strong sophomore campaign on defense. He finished the season with 36.5 tackles with 20 of them solo. Renze added 9 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks, a team high. He was able to get a few carries on offense, rushing for 60-yards on 12 carries with a 12-yard touchdown run. He averaged 5-yards per carry.
Maguire Hoyt- Kuemper
Hoyt became a critical piece of their defense as the season went along. He found himself on the field more after getting a starting job after a few games. He parlayed that into nearly learning the team in tackles. He entered their game on Saturday in the semifinals against Wilton with 47 tackles with 27 solo tackles. He added 12 tackles for a loss with 9 sacks.
Braxton Vonnahme- Kuemper
Vonnahme was an outstanding receiver that used his ability to go get the ball to out jump defensive backs. That ability came in handy on the defensive side of the ball, finishing with 3 interceptions, returning one of them 76-yards for a touchdown. Vonnahme has 32 catches entering the semifinal game with Wilton this past Saturday. He tied for the team lead with 9 touchdowns, with a long of 63-yards. He had 599-yards on the season, averaging 18.7-yards per catch.
Evan Myers- South Central Calhoun
Myers wrapped up a strong career with a good season for the Titans, shining on the defensive side of the ball. He ended the season with 41 tackles with 32 solo tackles. He added 4 tackles for a loss with a sack. He made 1 interception, returning it 58-yards. Myers used his athleticism and quickness to make plays all over the field. He pitched in 4 receptions on offense for 85-yards, averaging 21.2-yards per catch.
Cooper Nattress- South Central Calhoun
Cooper led the Titans in rushing as a sophomore, finishing the season with 408-yards and 11 touchdowns, both team highs. He averaged 5.2-yards per carry. He added 7 receptions for 25-yards. Nattress added 28.5 tackles on defense with 23 of them solo. He had 3.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
