H-LP's Matt Mayou named to INA's All-State football team
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Newspaper Association announced its 2008 All-State Football selections Tuesday, naming honorary captains in classes A, 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 8-Man.
Sports writers serving on the INA selection committee which made the honorary captain and team selections were: Adam Wilson, Altoona Herald-Mitchellville Index; Bob Eschliman, Adel Dallas Co News; Corey Munson, Adel Dallas Co News; Jim Gries, Oskaloosa Herald; Mike Helle, Knoxville Journal-Express/Pella Chronicle; Ashley Schable, Carroll Daily Times Herald; Nick Petaros, Waterloo Courier; Lori Wiser, Ocheyedan Press-Melvin News; Jeff Benson, Rock Rapids Lyon County Reporter; Ryan Kronberg, Charles City Press; Randy Fink, Fayette Leader; Perry Bell, Pella Chronicle & Knoxville Journal-Express; Matt Gengler, Missouri Valley Times-News; John Jensen, Oelwein Daily Register; Heidi deGier, Oelwein Daily Register; Dan Voigt, Emmetsburg Publishing; Ross Eberhart, DeWitt Observer; Scott Spurgeon, Bloomfield Democrat; Jeff Dahn, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Terry Hersom, Sioux City Journal; Steven Allspach, Sioux City Journal; Larry Peterson, Creston News Advertiser; Beth Lutgen, Dyersville Commercial; Troy Hyde, Newton Daily News; Don Carpenter, Cascade Pioneer; Kevin White, Omaha World-Herald; Greg Granbianowski, Algona Upper Des Moines; Kelly Beaton, Waterloo Courier; Wayne Dominowski, Sergeant Bluff Advocate; Mark Pawlak, Marshalltown Times-Republican; and Jeff Webster, Perry Chief.
The following coaches and representatives of the Iowa Football Coaches Association assisted with statistical information: Ken Winkler, West Marshall; Dave Messerili, Marion; Kreg Lensch, Glidden-Ralston; Tony Perkins, Marion; Brian Wilken, Newell-Fonda; Bob Jensen, Mt. Pleasant; Todd Quick, Hamburg; Tom Wilson, Dowling Catholic; Gary Swenson, West Des Moines Valley; Bob McCoy, Bedford; Tom Stone, Pekin; Mike Stafford, East Buchanan; Steve Milder, West Central; Lyle Alumbaugh, Panorama; Phil Snyder, ArWeVa; Jim Carver, Alburnett; Scott Carlson, Waukee; Tim Lewis, Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Ryan Van Veen, Montezuma; Brian Knott, Missouri Valley; David Kuhl, MVAO; and Dan Spooner, Coon Rapids-Bayard;
Players named as captains are:
Senior center Nasar Hannoon, a two-year starter and team captain of state champion West Des Moines Valley, has been named captain of the class 4A INA All-State team. Hannoon anchored the Tigers' offensive line that blocked for two 1,000-yard rushers. Valley (14-0) ran for 3,779 yards and threw for 1,764 more for a total of 5,543 total yards and 570 points for the season. “Hannon is an outstanding student and a leader in the student body at Valley High School,“ Valley head coach Gary Swenson said.
The captain of the Class 3A INA All-State team is running back Brandon Wegher from Bishop Heelan of Sioux City. Wegher broke the state's all-time single-season rushing record, leading Heelan to a 14-0 championship season with 3,238 yards on 362 carries, breaking the mark of 3,109 set in 2002 by Williamsburg's Dustyn Baethke. Wegher, who has committed to play at the University of Iowa, totaled 54 touchdowns on the season (51 by rushing, two on pass interceptions, one on a punt return) and had 114 career touchdowns, second only to Levi Ferguson's 129 for North Mahaska from 2002-05. The 5-11, 205-pound Crusader star totaled 6,823 career rushing yards, third on the all-time list (Ferguson holds the record with 7,142), even though he didn't become a full-time starter until the fourth game of his sophomore year.
Senior quarterback Jordan Gacke of Central Lyon/GLR received the captaincy of the INA Class 2A All-State football team. Gacke, a 6'2” 205 lb senior, rushed for 1,710 yards and 20 touchdowns. He threw for 9 touchdowns while totaling 943 yards. Also a strong defensive player, Gacke recorded a total of 152 tackles, 69 of them solo. He also punted for a 37.8 yard average and occasionally returned punts and kick-offs as he led the Lions to a state runner-up finish.
INA sports writers selected Emmetsburg running back Taylor Morris as captain of the 1A INA All-State team. Morris was part of the 1-2 punch of the Emmetsburg E'Hawk offense this past season. He didn't run the football, he carried it with authority, running over blockers, fending off tacklers and delivering punishing yards in every game. He played the same way on defense for the E'hawks as one of the team's tricaptains.
Two-way star Kelan Richardson of Southern Cal was named captain of the Class A INA All-State football team. A key performer for the state champion Mustangs, Richardson rushed for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns in the title game against North Tama. His season offensive numbers were 124 rushes for 993 yards and 18 touchdowns. Defensively at linebacker, Richardson totaled 60 solo tackles and 32 assists. He came back to play in the semifinals and championship after suffering an ankle fracture in week 7.
Ridge Christiansen of Armstrong-Ringsted was named captain of the INA 8-man All-State team. Christiansen led the Mustangs to the state championship game for the past two seasons. He rushed 262 times for 1,788 yards and scored 29 times. He completed 48 of 92 passes for 896 yards and 18 touchdowns with only two picks. On defense as a linebacker, he made 104 tackles and caught two interceptions.
8-Man First Team
Offense Wide Receiver Tyler Pawletzki ArWeVa 6'2" 175 Sr.
Offense Wide Receiver Tyler Boeke Coon Rapids-Bayard 6'1" 170 Jr.
Offense Lineman Willie Beeler Armstrong-Ringsted 5'10" 245 Sr.
Offense Lineman Cam Lewellen Stanton 6'0" 240 Sr.
Offense Lineman Andrew Williams West Central Community 6'4" 260 Sr.
Offense Quarterback Chris Palmquist Stanton 5'11" 175 Sr.
Offense Back Tyler Tonderum Armstrong-Ringsted 5'10" 175 Jr.
Offense Back Alex Whigham Stanton 6'2" 185 Jr.
Offense Back Shane Nicholson Melcher-Dallas 5'10" 165 Sr.
Offense Kicker Ethan Eisenbacher Armstrong-Ringsted 6'2" 155 Jr.
Offense Utility Ridge Christiansen Armstrong-Ringsted 5'11" 200 Sr.
Defense Lineman Tyler Betz Ventura 6'4" 230 Sr.
Defense Lineman Seth Comly Adair-Casey 6'0" 205 Sr.
Defense Lineman Ryan Schroeder Remsen-Union 5'10" 230 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Reggie Kock ArWeVa 6'2" 220 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Nick Larson North Sentral Kossuth 5'9" 185 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Nate Tool Twin River Valley 5'10" 190 Sr.
Defense Back Tyler Peterson Lenox 5'10" 155 Sr.
Defense Back Grant Focht Stanton 5'11" 175 Sr.
Defense Punter Nathan Lee Woodbine 6'0" 175 Sr.
Defense Utility Alex Stork CAM 5'10" 175 Jr.
8-Man Second Team
Offense Wide Receiver Tyler Wedemeier West Central Community 6'8" 215 Sr.
Offense Wide Receiver Alex Cabbage Stanton 6'3" 190 Sr.
Offense Lineman Caleb Villareal North Sentral Kossuth 6'1" 200 Sr.
Offense Lineman Jason Egan CWL 6'1" 275 Sr.
Offense Lineman Matt Mayou Harris-Lake Park 5'10" 210 Sr.
Offense Quarterback Johnny Schwaller Coon Rapids-Bayard 5'7" 150 Sr.
Offense Back Craig Ditzler East Union 5'9" 200 Sr.
Offense Back Caleb Byers Murray 5'10" 165 Sr.
Offense Back Trevor Van Scoy Glidden-Ralston 6'2" 185 Sr.
Offense Kicker Jacob Esdohr Coon Rapids-Bayard 5'8" 145 Soph.
Defense Lineman Jeremy Oltmanns Stanton 6'3" 190 Sr.
Defense Lineman Jay Nissen CWL 6'6" 220 Jr.
Defense Lineman Lucas Dalton Lenox 5'7" 150 Soph.
Defense Linebacker Austin Hughes Preston 6'0" 200 Jr.
Defense Linebacker Ben Borlaud Lenox 6'0" 175 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Grant McArdle Stanton 6'2" 190 Sr.
Defense Back Matt Rowley Twin Cedars 5'11" 165 Sr.
Defense Back Jaxson Armstrong CAM 6'0" 165 Sr.
Defense Punter Jake Bolton East Mills 6'2" 190 Sr.
8-Man Third Team
Offense Wide Receiver Trey Seiser Northest Hamilton 6'5" 200 Jr.
Offense Wide Receiver Alex Bireline Adair-Casey 6'1" 175 Sr.
Offense Lineman Kody Kile East Union 5'10" 220 Jr.
Offense Lineman Scott Broten Dunkerton 6'2" 195 Sr.
Offense Lineman Ryan Kunkel Remsen-Union 5'10" 225 Sr.
Offense Quarterback Sean Brandhorst Central City 5'10" 165 Sr.
Offense Back Brandon Bell Lamoni 5'9" 165 Sr.
Offense Back Levi Peters Twin River Valley 5'10" 160 Soph.
Offense Back Ryan Schurke ArWeVa 5'9" 185 Jr.
Offense Kicker Michael Ruba Remsen-Union 6'2" 230 Sr.
Defense Lineman Clayton Starckovich Melcher-Dallas 6'0" 235 Sr.
Defense Lineman Jon Meyers Coon Rapids-Bayard 6'3" 205 Jr.
Defense Lineman Craig Tigges Armstrong-Ringsted 6'3" 175 Jr.
Defense Linebacker Jake Edmundson Tri-County 6'0" 175 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Bo Marley Janesville 5'9" 210 Sr.
Defense Linebacker Jake Hoffman Graettinger-Terril 6'2" 240 Sr.
Defense Back Mason Nielsen Central City 6'1" 170 Jr.
Defense Back Blake Pedersen North Sentral Kossuth 5'10" 160 Jr.
Defense Punter Jeremiah Hagen Ventura 6'3" 225 Sr.