Class 3A State champion Pierz highlights this year’s Brainerd Dispatch All-Area Football Team with five players.
Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, Pillager and Staples-Motley all landed three players on this year’s team.
Players are nominated by their coaches and then selected by the Dispatch Sports Department.
Austin Price, Aitkin
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Junior, RB/LB
Finished with 872 yards and six touchdowns on 163 carries for a (5.35 yards-per-carry average). Defensively he finished with 31 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack
Kade Hopperstad, Aitkin
Senior, LB/G
Helped Aitkin rush for 2,390 yards and 25 touchdowns and pass for 508 yards and eight more TDs. Defensively led the team with 90 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Jacob Drietz, Brainerd
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Senior, linebacker
The All-North Central District and District Defensive Skills Player of the Year finished with 153 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two sacks and two pass breakups.
Josh McLain, Brainerd
Senior, LB-TE
The All-North Central District selection finished with 12 receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown. Defensively finished with 102 tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception, which he returned for a touchdown and one pass breakup
Owen Davis, Brainerd
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Senior, WR-DB
The All-North Central District selection and District Special Teams Player of the Year finished with 23 receptions for 522 yards (22.7 yards-per-catch average) and three touchdowns. Carried the ball three times for 17 yards. Defensively finished with 72 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack and eight pass breakups.
Jake Klancher, Crosby-Ironton
Junior, OL-LB
The All-Northeast District selection helped C-I rush for 819 yards and throw for 1,202 yards. Defensively finished with 125 tackles, two forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
Cale Wolf, Pequot Lakes
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Senior, QB
The All-Midwest District selection threw for 1,548 yards and 18 touchdowns on 111-of-221 passing (50.2 completion percentage). He owns Pequot’s school record in passing yards and touchdowns in a season as well as for a career.
Daltin Ackerman, Pequot Lakes
Senior, TE-LB
The All-Midwest District selection caught 10 passes for 146 yards and four touchdowns. As the team’s kicker, he was 18-of-23 on extra-point attempts and made two field goals. Defensively finished with 119 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.
Bode Magnuson, Pequot Lakes
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Junior, WR-DB
The All-Midwest District and District Defensive Back of the Year finished with 42 catches for 644 yards and nine touchdowns. He rushed 32 times for 188 yards and one touchdown. He returned 18 kickoffs for 380 yards and a touchdown. Defensively finished with 46 tackles, one fumble recovery and four interceptions. Named to the All-Academic District Team.
Matthias Algarin, Pierz
Senior, WR-DB
Rushed for 1,272 yards and 24 touchdowns on 145 carries (8.8 yards per carry). He caught 21 passes for 501 yards and five touchdowns. He returned 14 punts for 453 yards and three touchdowns. He returned seven kickoffs for 168 yards. Defensively finished with 34 tackles, two interceptions, 18 pass breakups and a blocked kick. Selected to represent Team North in the Minnesota Vikings Senior Showcase All-Star Game.
Zach Traut, Pierz
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Senior, OL-DL
Helped Pierz rush for 4,219 yards and 70 touchdowns and pass for 1,219 yards and 13 scores. Defensively finished with 56 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one pass breakup
Blake Kowalczyk, Pierz
Senior, FB-LB
Rushed for 893 yards and 18 touchdowns on 130 carries (6.9 yards per carry). He caught seven passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively finished with 74 tackles, two fumble recoveries.
Peter Schommer, Pierz
Senior, QB
Threw for 1,219 yards and 13 touchdowns on 54-of-89 passing (61 completion percentage). He rushed for 45 yards on 14 carries.
Michael Leidenforst, Pierz
Senior, RB-DB
Rushed for 655 yards and eight touchdowns on 99 carries (6.6 yards per carry). He caught 11 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.. He returned nine points for 108 yards. Defensively finished with 93 tackles, six interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
Tucker Peterson, Pillager
Senior, RB-LB
The All-Section 6-2A and All-Midwest Blue Subdistrict Player of the Year and Running Back of the Year rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns on 133 carries (9.4 yards per carry). He caught 17 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Defensively, finished with 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Selected to represent Team North in the Minnesota Vikings Senior Showcase All-Star Game.
Jack Bentson, Pillager
Senior, FB-DL
The All-Section 6-2A andAll-Midwest Blue Subdistrict Defensive Lineman of the Year finished with 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He rushed for 349yards and five touchdowns on 53 carries (6.6 yards per carry).
Luke Woidyla, Pillager
Senior, RB-DB
The All-Section 6-2A and The All-Midwest Blue Subdistrict Defensive Back of the Year finished with 76 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups, one sack and four forced fumbles. He rushed for 565 yards and six touchdowns on 100 carries (5.7 yards per carry). He caught 15 passes for 254 yards.
Cade Schmidt, Staples-Motley
Senior, RB-LB
The All-Section 6-2A and All-Midwest Blue Subdistrict player rushed for 445 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 carries (3.8 yards per carry). He caught 16 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Defensively he finished with 109 tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Selected to represent Team North in the Minnesota Vikings Senior Showcase All-Star Game.
Ryan Wick, Staples-Motley
Senior, OL-DL
The All-Section 6-2A and All-Midwest Blue Subdistrict player helped S-M pass for 543 yards and three touchdowns and rush for 2,034 yards and 30 touchdowns. Defensively finished with 38 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Sivert Klefsaas, Staples-Motley
Sophomore, RB-DB
The All-Section 6-2A and All-Midwest Blue Subdistrict player rushed for 868 yards and 12 touchdowns on 112 carries. He caught four passes for 34 yards and was 2-of-4 passing for 61 yards and a touchdown. Defensively finished with 21 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Craig Orlando, Verndale
Senior, FB-DL
The Nine-Man All-State, All-Section 4-Nine Man and All-District 9 South Most Valuable Player rushed for 1,133 yards and 17 touchdowns on 132 carries (8.6 yards per carry). Defensively finished with 96 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
