OFFENSE
Kellen Johnson
Quarterback
Pipestone Area
Johnson broke the Pipestone school record for completions in a season and passing touchdowns in a game while leading the Arrows to a perfect record heading into the state tournament. Passed for a school-record 393 yards in a regular season game. Also rushed for 409 yards through the first 11 games.
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Tyce Gunderson
Quarterback
Harris-Lake Park
The prolific junior earned first-team all-district honors while completing 117 of 211 passes for 1,493 yards and 17 touchdowns. Rushed for seven TDs. Fifth on the H-LP career passing list with 2,600 yards, with 44 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
Cole Baker
Running back
Hills-Beaver Creek
A hard, aggressive runner who is also a big force defensively at an end position, Baker averaged about seven yards per carry as a senior and gained 1,375 yards this fall, with 29 TDs, in helping the Patriots to the semifinals of the state 9-Man tournament. Plays with toughness on both sides of the ball.
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Maddox Biever
Running back
Pipestone Area
A big-play threat who could score from anywhere on the field as a running back, a receiver, a returner and defensively at safety. Rushed for 879 yards and gained 412 receiving with 19 TDs over first 11 games, returned one kickoff for a score and an interception for another score. Has the school record for most points in a season.
Carter Benda
Running back
Murray County Central
Rushed for 1,647 yards in his junior year, with 21 rushing touchdowns, three receiving touchdowns and two special teams TDs. Benda has great speed, vision and pad level. On defense as a linebacker and sometime cornerback, he made 34 tackles including 18 solo.
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Nolan Buckridge
Running back
Edgerton Public
The District 9 South Offensive Player of the Year, Buckridge gained 1,313 yards rushing for a 5.8 per carry average. The 5-10, 210-pound senior was also the Flying Dutchmen’s leading tackler at linebacker, averaging about nine per game. Physical. A four-year starter on defense.
Quentin Wolf
Fullback
Adrian/Ellsworth
A blue-collar worker, he was moved to fullback in 2021 to take advantage of his blocking ability. An excellent tackler from a linebacker position, the 6-0, 190-pound junior showed discipline and intelligence. Also averaged 34.8 yards per punt.
Nate Kleven
Lineman
Murray County Central
The leader of the offensive line for an MCC team that went undefeated into the state Class A tournament. Led a rushing attack that gained more than 3,000 ground yards on the season. Never allowed a sack. An All-District player as a junior and senior. Named to play in the state All-Star game.
Connor Overgaard
Lineman
Luverne
The 6-4, 210-pound Overgaard was a three-year starter at left tackle for LHS. Anchored the offensive line. Played on the defensive line and at linebacker on the other side of the football. Finished second on the team with 40 tackles.
Trace Michelson
Lineman
Jackson County Central
A three-year starter at right offensive tackle, Michelson helped lead a JCC offense that averaged 29.2 points per game and 392 yards per game, including 282 on the ground. Productive and consistent. “In our program, you have to be a special athlete to start for three years,” said head coach Tom Schuller.
Trevor King
Tight end
Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda
Caught 20 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Also ran back six kicks for 203 yards and a touchdown, leading the district in yards per return. A safety and outside linebacker on defense, King has 262 tackles in his career including two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Jacob Fischer
Tight end
Edgerton Public
In 2021, brothers Jacob and Jared Fischer (a sophomore) were dominant players on the EHS team. The senior, Jacob, was a strong blocker on offense and had seven sacks on defense. He led the Dutchmen in receiving yards on offense and could be used to blitz or fall back in coverage on the other side of the football.
Gannon Ahrendt
Wide receiver
Luverne
A big-play receiver who caught 30 balls for 825 yards and five touchdowns. He stretched the field vertically. Had 421 return yards and two interceptions from his cornerback position on defense.
Kole Curry
Wide receiver
Westbrook-Walnut Grove
One of the top receivers in the area, Curry caught 59 passes for 647 yards and five scores. Also played running back for the Chargers.
Ty Hanson
Wide receiver
Pipestone Area
Has the school record in receptions for a season, with 44 for 604 yards and four TDs through the first 11 games. Caught a school-record 13 passes in a game against Luverne. From his cornerback position on defense he came up with four interceptions this year.
Dominic White
Wide receiver
Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda
Caught 31 passes in 2021 for 618 yards and five touchdowns. Had five punt returns for 77 yards and seven kick returns for 189 yards. Caught 53 career passes for 939 yards and seven touchdowns. Has 115 career tackles and seven interceptions on defense mostly at cornerback.
Payton Handevidt
Slot receiver
Jackson County Central
“A Swiss Army knife for us,” said JCC head coach Tom Schuller, Handevidt was a wildcat quarterback, a running back in the wishbone, a slot receiver and a wide receiver. Rushed for 595 yards on 52 attempts. Caught 25 passes for 398 yards. Also an outstanding safety on defense.
DEFENSE
Max Scholten
Lineman
Hills-Beaver Creek
The 9-Man South District West Lineman of the Year, the 6-3, 242-pound Scholten is a three-year starter and the staple in H-BC’s offensive and defensive lines. Physical. A bruiser to run behind on offense. He was often double-teamed on defense but still stuffed the run.
Teyel Lowe
Lineman
Worthington
In his first season of varsity football, the senior Lowe made the most of it. An outstanding leader who helped others get better. Voted the team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Tyler Jurva
Lineman
Harris-Lake Park
A first-team all-district player and the Defensive Player of the Year, Jurva had 60.5 tackles on defense and 10 tackles for loss. A force on both sides of the line. A hard worker and always-dependable lineman.
Christian Kuball
Lineman
Murray County Central
The athletic, physical senior was the Rebels’ leader of the defensive line. Showed great discipline and physicality, and played with a high motor. Constantly around the football. Was All-District as a sophomore, junior and senior.
Levi Lindley
Linebacker
Jackson County Central
Recognized as one of the area’s top linebackers for the past two seasons, Lindley is a three-year starter who also starred on offense. Gained 841 yards rushing for a 5.6 per-carry average. Scored 13 touchdowns. Named to play in the Minnesota state All-Star game.
Brayden Peil
Linebacker
Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda
Made 95 tackles from a middle linebacker position with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick last fall. Had 330 career tackles including 22 for loss. On offense, career numbers include 176 rushes for 1,112 yards and nine touchdowns.
Nasim Zeidi
Linebacker
Worthington
The All-District Linebacker of the Year, the junior Zeidi was Worthington’s leader of the defense who was responsible for getting his teammates in the proper position. Consistently one of the Trojans’ leading tacklers.
Caden Miller
Lineman
Pipestone Area
The key player on Pipestone Area’s offensive and defensive lines. His large 6-3, 285-pound frame caused havoc for opposing teams. Didn’t give up a sack all season and had 47 tackles including 10 for loss.
Ashton Sandbulte
Linebacker
Luverne
A fullback-linebacker, Sandbulte was a big-play offensive threat who could score from anywhere on the field. Rushed 134 times for 825 yards with eight touchdowns. Caught 14 passes for 157 yards and two scores. Led the team with 48 tackles.
Cole Paulson
Linebacker
Pipestone Area
A three-year starter for the Arrows, Paulson is a senior captain who led his team in tackles. Called the glue of the defense, he is a student of the game.
Casey Kueter
Linebacker
Hills-Beaver Creek
A very fast, very physical player on a defense that was always flying to the ball. Had 56 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, five quarterback sacks and 32 solo tackles through the sectionals. Tough. Attacks downhill. Will stop the run.
Dawson Blankenship
Linebacker
Murray County Central
Blankenship, an inside linebacker, had 53 tackles including 38 solo, with seven tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and an interception this fall. He has been called MCC’s best fundamental player on defense. An outstanding tackler and vocal leader of the defense. Voted District Linebacker of the Year.
Austin Gilmore
Linebacker
Harris-Lake Park
Led Harris-Lake Park in tackles with 70, including 50 solos and six tackles for loss. First-team all-district. A team leader.
Dawson Krahling
Defensive back
Adrian/Ellsworth
Krahling never came off the field as a senior. A running back/defensive back, he averaged nearly 150 all-purpose yards per game. Also played on special teams. His high durability and energy, both in games and in practice, was an inspiration to his teammates.
Jake Brandner
Safety
Worthington
The leader of the WHS offense, Brandner was Worthington’s main threat to pull off a big pass or run. Defensively, he made several big plays at safety. A hard hitter with a nose for the football, Brandner was an outstanding leader who earned All-District honors.
Mason Strom
Safety
Red Rock Central
A strong performer on both sides of the football, Strom rushed 194 times for 1,153 yards with 15 touchdowns on offense as a running back, and also caught 19 passes for 147 yards and a score. Had 74 tackles on defense.
---Text by Doug Wolter
