2011 Daily Globe All-Area Team

2011 ALL-AREA OFFENSE

Dylan Bunting Senior quarterback RRC Falcons

Voted as RRC’s MVP by his teammates, Dylan Bunting put together another strong season as the Falcons’ signal caller.

Bunting completed 113 of 209 passes for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns, finishing his career with a 287-for-586 completion rate, 3,700 yards passing and 35 touchdown strikes — all school records.

Isaac Heard Junior quarterback E/E Flying Dutchmen

Capping a tremendous season with a Prep Bowl-record 368 yards passing and five touchdown strikes, Isaac Heard was a key driving force in the Flying Dutchmen’s run to the 9-man state title.

Heard was 169-for-250 passing, racking up 2,767 aerial yards with 35 touchdowns. He also ran the ball for 514 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

Colin Brons Junior quarterback H-LP Wolves

With a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-2, Colin Brons was one of the Wolves’ leaders.

Brons was 105 of 186 passing with 1,455 yards and 25 TDs.

Carter Kirk Sophomore quarterback ML/B-O Wolverines

A dual threat with the ability to beat teams with both his arm and legs, Carter Kirk was the Wolverines’ best offensive player and an All-Southern Minnesota Conference selection as a sophomore.

Kirk passed for 1,390 yards and 18 touchdowns in addition to running for 495 yards and six scores.

Daniel Maras Senior running back RRC Falcons

A true workhorse running back who led the area in carries by a large margin, the Falcons’ Daniel Maras was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year in the Southern Minnesota Conference.

Maras carried the ball 252 times for 1,425 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He finished his career with 2,973 yards rushing and 28 TDs on the ground.

Hayden Bauman Senior running back Luverne Cardinals

The Cardinals’ leading rusher in each of the last three seasons was Hayden Bauman, who was very consistent and finished his career with 2,667 yards on the ground and 29 trips to the end zone.

Bauman gained 993 yards on 152 carries this season, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt and scoring eight touchdowns. He ran for 217 yards and scored three touchdowns in a Week 6 victory over Worthington.

Chris Halbur Senior running back MCC Rebels

Averaging 9.2 yards per carry this year, the Rebels’ Chris Halbur was always a threat to snap off a long run.

Halbur finished the season with 1,433 yards on 156 attempts, scoring 19 touchdowns and 10 two-point conversions. He also booted eight extra-point kicks through the uprights.

Dalton Bass Junior running back H-BC Patriots

Rushing for 1,339 yards on 144 attempts (9.3 yards per carry), H-BC’s Dalton Bass had a huge season and was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year in the Southern Confederacy Conference.

Bass also had 22 receptions for 481 yards and scored a total of 29 touchdowns (23 rushing, five receiving, one punt return) to lead the Patriots to an 8-2 record.

Alec Swan Junior running back T-M-B Panthers

Accounting for more than half of the Panthers’ offensive production and scoring output, Alec Swan was a key contributor out of the backfield.

Swan rushed for 1,023 yards on 152 carries and scored 12 touchdowns, and also had 39 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns.

Mitch Weg Senior wide receiver Worthington Trojans

Finishing his career as the all-time leader in receptions (84) and yards receiving (1,222) in the WHS record books, Mitch Weg was a big-time performer who was selected to the All-SWC team.

Weg reeled in 40 passes for 616 yards this season, catching nine touchdown strikes to increase his career total to 15 scores.

Casey Schilling Senior wide receiver E/E Flying Dutchmen

Described by coach Andrew Fleischman as “the best big-game player I have ever coached,” Casey Schilling was a dynamic player for the undefeated Flying Dutchmen.

Schilling had 68 receptions for 1,278 yards and 21 touchdowns this year, finishing his career with 2,804 yards receiving and 39 touchdown grabs. He also had 19 career sacks as a defensive end.

Devin Hulstein Junior wide receiver E/E Flying Dutchmen

Accounting for more than 100 combined yards rushing and receiving with at least one touchdown in each of E/E’s six playoff games, Devin Hulstein played a huge role as an all-around offensive playmaker.

Hulstein finished the year with 841 yards receiving (eight touchdowns) and 806 yards rushing (12 touchdowns). He broke a Prep Bowl record with 198 yards receiving to help the Flying Dutchmen win their first state championship.

Jeff DeCock Junior wide receiver RRC Falcons

Setting single-season school records in receptions (51), yards receiving (785) and touchdown catches (13), Jeff DeCock had a huge season as Red Rock Central’s go-to receiver.

DeCock caught at least one TD pass in all nine of the Falcons’ game this season and had a trio of games with more than 100 yards receiving.

Nathan Kyle Senior center H-LP Wolves

Starting each of the last four years, Nathan Kyle was a great blocker who helped the Wolves to a 7-3 record.

“Nathan could have been an outstanding tight end for us,” coach Lane Gunderson said. “But he sacrificed for the team and helped us more at center.”

Alex Tewes Senior offensive guard JCC Huskies

A solid two-way lineman for the Huskies, Alex Tewes was selected to the All-SWC team and led JCC to a 7-3 record

“Alex was a great offensive guard,” coach Tom Schuller said. “He was also a standout defensive tackle.”

DC Claar Junior offensive guard E/E Flying Dutchmen

Rarely leaving the field, DC Claar was one of many key linemen who contributed both ways and helped make E/E’s perfect 14-0 season possible.

Claar had 10 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss as E/E’s nose guard. He was also “our best pulling guard who helped pave the way for many of the big plays on offense” according to coach Andrew Fleischman.

2011 ALL-AREA DEFENSE

Josh Bretzman Senior defensive end JCC Huskies

A starter for the past three seasons at JCC, Josh Bretzman was selected as the Southwest Conference’s co-Defensive Lineman of the Year while helping the Huskies to a runner-up finish in the league standings.

Bretzman played a large role in helping JCC outscore its opponents 271-141.

Keith Gehl Senior defensive end Fulda Raiders

A very versatile player, Keith Gehl played nearly every position on defense and finished his Raiders’ career with 133 tackles, nine hurries, seven sacks and an interception.

“This kid can do it all,” coach Greg Erdmann said. “He had great pursuit from his defensive end position.”

Jordan Kirk Senior nose guard ML/B-O Wolverines

Becoming the first interior defensive lineman to lead ML/B-O in tackles with 78, Jordan Kirk helped the Wolverines to a 7-3 record this season.

Also the center on ML/B-O’s offensive line, Kirk had 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks.

Ryder Reed Senior defensive tackle Luverne Cardinals

Described by coach Todd Oye as “a coach’s dream who gave every possible piece of effort in his body,” Ryder Reed was the Cardinals’ leader along the line of scrimmage.

Also a two-year starter as Luverne’s center, Reed was a standout defensive tackle and was selected as the Southwest Conference’s co-Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Jake Diekmann Junior defensive tackle Adrian Dragons

A mainstay on both the offensive and defensive lines, Jake Diekmann was an imposing force for a Dragons’ team that advanced to the Class A state tournament for the third straight season.

Recording 96 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and five sacks, Diekmann was selected as the Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Little Sioux Conference.

Cooper Moore Senior linebacker JCC Huskies

Selected as the Defensive Back of the Year in the Southwest Conference, Cooper Moore had a standout career for JCC and led the team to a 7-3 record in his senior season.

Also a top-notch running back for JCC, Moore was selected as the conference’s co-Offensive Back of the Year last season. He rushed the ball 116 times for 721 yards and 12 touchdowns this year.

Taylor Leuthold Senior linebacker H-BC Patriots

A three-year starter on offense and defense for H-BC, Taylor Leuthold was “a hard-nosed kid that every coach dreams of having” according to coach Rex Metzger.

Leuthold racked up 97 tackles this season, increasing his career total to 333 to go along with eight sacks. He also rushed the ball for 465 yards on 68 carries and scored six touchdowns as a fullback.

Max Dibble Senior linebacker Fulda Raiders

Despite battling through various injuries during his five-year varsity career, Max Dibble “was the backbone to Fulda’s success” according to coach Greg Erdmann.

Dibble led the Raiders with 119 tackles and 648 yards rushing this season, upping his career totals to 324 stops and 1,826 yards. He scored 20 TDs (18 rushing, one receiving, one defensive) as a two-time All-Little Sioux Conference selection.

Nathan Mattison Senior linebacker RRC Falcons

Finishing his career with a school-record 413 tackles, Nathan Mattison was a four-year starter who made lots of big plays in the middle of RRC’s defense.

Mattison charted 122 total tackles to lead the Falcons in that category for the third straight season.

Richard Gonzalez Senior linebacker Luverne Cardinals

Another veteran two-way contributor, Richard Gonzalez earned All-SWC honors and helped Luverne reach the Section 3AA championship game for the sixth straight season.

Gonzalez, who defended both the run and the pass well, also rushed the ball 98 times for 701 yards and scored eight touchdowns as the Cardinals’ fullback this year.

Jake Comnick Senior linebacker W-WG Chargers

Perhaps more versatile than any other player in the area, Jake Comnick did a little bit of everything for W-WG

Comnick charted 72 tackles and eight sacks. He was an all-around threat offensively, rushing 151 times for 929 yards and 16 TDs, catching 28 passes for 337 yards and two TDs, and also completing 31 of 53 throws for 379 yards.

Jake Tiede Junior linebacker Adrian Dragons

A bruising player on both sides of the ball, Jake Tiede was instrumental in guiding the Dragons to a 10-2 record.

Tiede racked up 127 tackles from his middle linebacker position. He also carried the ball 70 times for 307 yards and scored 10 TDs as a fullback.

Brett Heronimus Junior linebacker Luverne Cardinals

Inserted into the Cardinals’ defensive lineup midway through the season, Brett Heronimus made an immediate impact by picking off three passes and also either forcing or recovering a fumble in his first five games at linebacker.

Heronimus has been Luverne’s quarterback the last two years. He ran for 431 yards and five TDs in addition to passing for 525 yards and nine scores this season.

Kyle Kilgore Senior cornerback Adrian Dragons

Making a big impact on the perimeter of the field, Kyle Kilgore helped change the course of many Dragons’ games.

Kilgore, who had five interceptions in his three years on the varsity, was a big-time receiver. He caught 40 passes for 665 yards and scored 16 total TDs this season, finishing his career with 24 TD catches.

Jordan Larson Senior safety H-BC Patriots

A key playmaker on both sides of the ball, Jordan Larson finished his Patriots’ career with 11 interceptions.

Larson had another big year as H-BC’s quarterback, completing 98 of 188 passes for 1,532 yards and 23 TDs. He accumulated 3,711 career yards passing and 47 touchdown strikes.

Mitchell Sieve Senior safety Adrian Dragons

A dual-threat quarterback, Mitchell Sieve also collected 60 tackles as the Dragons’ safety.

Sieve was 65-for-128 passing with 1,136 yards and 12 TDs through the air. He also carried the ball 109 times for 631 yards and five TDs.

Tags: red rock central, edgerton ellsworth, harris lake park, mountain lake butterfield odin, hills beaver creek, murray county central, tracy milroy balaton, jackson county central, westbrook walnut grove, sports, prep, football, luverne, adrian, trojans, fulda