2022 Duluth News Tribune All-Area Football Team – Duluth News Tribune

It’s been 12 years since Cromwell won the IX-Man state title in 2010, but Asher Zubich and Mountain Ironbuhl have ended the state championship drought in northeastern Minnesota with Spring Grove at the last minute. won the

Zubich, Damien Tapio and Mason Kleins will all feature on the Rangers’ 2022 News Tribune All-Area Team.

Esko’s season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in the Class AAA Quarterfinals, but Eskomos have several names on the list, including All-Area Player of the Year Koi Perich.

Duluth Denfeld won three this season, two more than the previous two seasons combined, and Dashawn Moore’s three-kick return was a big part of those wins.

Area coaches nominated players for all-area teams, and team members were selected by the News Tribune Sports Team.

carp perik Esco Junior wide receiver/running back Clint Austin/Files/Duluth News Tribune The News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year earned over 1,600 total yards and scored 25 touchdowns in Eskomos’ second straight Section 7 AAA title season. Perich averaged over 13.6 yards per carry and 20.8 yards per catch in Esco’s run to the state quarterfinals. Northeast Player of the Year, Peric has 75 tackles, 3 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries in 2022.

Asher Zubich Mountain Ironbule senior quarterback contributed photo An All-State Team selection to the Minnesota Vikings, Zubich threw for 2,129 yards and 32 touchdowns with a completion rate of nearly 80 percent as he led the Rangers to their first state championship in 50 years. Zubich also ran for 1,691 yards and led his team defensively with six interceptions, including a key pick on the goal line in the state championship game. Zubich was “probably the best IX-Man quarterback in the state,” according to James Paul, coach of the Rangers’ semifinal opponent Wheaton-Harman Norcross.

Damien Tapio Mountain Ironbule senior running back contributed photo Tapio had 1,809 yards and 31 touchdowns, including a point against Spring Gloves at the state championship on December 3. On the defensive side, Tapio made 76 tackles, including eight losses, in the Rangers’ first state championship season since 1972.

East of Orvedal Duluth East senior running back jed carlson / files / good telegram The Greyhounds backrun for 1,837 yards (averaging about 9.7 yards per carry) and scored 20 touchdowns in 10 games. A “dynamic player with explosive speed,” Olbedar has amassed 5,166 career yards and rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, according to Duluth East coach Joe Hietala.

Alec Peterson Esco senior offensive guard contributed photo Peterson was the top offensive lineman on the Eskomos offense in 2022 with 521 points and over 4,200 yards. As a defensive tackle, Peterson made 39 tackles and gave Esco three sacks.

Andrew Burke Northwest elderly center contributed photo According to coach Jobin Kroll, Burke has been “a staple of the Tigers’ offensive line for the past two seasons.” Kroll said Burke was one of the few centers “consistently able to reach the second level” and was team captain interested in helping young players develop throughout the year.

Josiah Larson croquet offensive guard contributed photo According to Croquet manager Jeff Ojanen, the Lumberjacks rushed for more than 2,800 yards this season and Larson “fixed the offensive line.” Larson was “a big part” of the Lumberjacks team, averaging 255 yards rushing per game and shocking then-undefeated Grand Rapids in the Section 7AAAA semifinals, Ojanen said.

Josh Muhlbauer hermantown senior fullback contributed photo Muhlbauer led the Hawks with 773 yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Hermanntown coach Mike Zagermayer. Also a “run-stopping force” for Hermantown’s defensive line, Zagermayer said, Muhlbauer has a total of 50 tackles and three sacks in 2022.

Peyton Menzel hermantown junior wide receiver contributed photo A wide receiver with great playing ability, Menzel set a school record for the Hawks during the season with 40 catches and seven touchdowns. According to Hermantown director Mike Zagermeier, Menzel was also “a great cover corner for us.”

Jakshin Schmidt Moose Lake/Willow River junior running back contributed photo Schmidt rushed for 1,535 yards in 11 games and averaged 9.48 yards per carry for 18 touchdowns. Schmidt was also named the Northeast Blue District Offensive Player of the Year as the Rebels won the Section 7AA title for the second year in a row.

Kyler Pitkanen two ports senior running back contributed photo Pitkanen led Agathes with 810 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, 142 receiving yards and two points. A great two-way player, Pitkanen also had 47 tackles (13 losses), 1 interception and 3 fumble recoveries.

Tanner Kaufman Northwest senior linebacker jed carlson / files / good telegram “He plays in the backfield all the time,” said Northwestern manager Jobin Kroll, and Kaufman was named to Allstate’s first team at outside linebacker, accumulating 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a loss. , recorded a fumble recovery with one touchdown. Kaufman, also a 1,000-yard rusher for the Tigers, was a Wisconsin River Falls recruit and an “offensive explosive player” who scored 17 touchdowns and averaged 8.8 yards per carry. .

Owen Glenn grand rapids senior defensive back contributed photo Thunderhawks coach Greg Spahn said Glenn was a “game-changer every week in every aspect of the game”, with 70-plus combined tackles and five interceptions in 2022. Also a rushing threat, Glenn gained over 700 yards on the ground and scored 10 touchdowns.

JP Carnivore Moose Lake/Willow River senior line of defense contributed photo “The best lineman on offense and defense,” said MLWR coach Dave Louzek for the Rebels. He totaled 65 tackles, 2 sacks and 8 tackles in the loss. Offensively, Messojedek was part of a line averaging 361 yards per game, paving the way for 1,500-yard rusher Jack Singh Schmidt.

Wyatt Christensen grand rapids senior defense end contributed photo A two-year starter at the defensive end, Christensen was named an All-Section 7AAAA and has 59 tackles and 12 sacks in 2022. Also a right tackle, Christensen helped pave the way for the Thunderhawks’ rushing offense, which has racked up 2,565 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.

Reese Sheldon croquet senior defensive back Amy Arntson / Files / Cloquet Pine Journal “One of the best all-around players in Northland,” said Cloquet coach Jeff Ojanen. North Dakota recruit Sheldon was an excellent two-way player with 788 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, 654 passing yards and seven more points.

Ryan Manahan Children senior linebacker contributed photo Burnham manager Bob Minkinen said the former Bombers manager has become a “key factor” in the team’s success, said Burnham coach Bob Minkinen. He had 77 tackles (including 12 losses), two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Manahan also had five touchdowns and “seemed to have a good nose on the ball and a knack for making big plays in big moments,” Minkinen said.

Jared Schultz Northwood/Solon Springs sophomore linebacker contributed photo Schultz has 92 total tackles in 2022, eight tackles in the loss, and two defensive touchdowns. Schultz was also named the Lakeland East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for 1,207 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, 1,105 rushing yards and 19 scores on the ground.

Jacques Rivord Superior senior defense end jed carlson / files / good telegram The Spartan senior was a two-way starting pitcher for two years, but was so skilled defensively that teams “needed to know where he was deployed and often planned to get away from him.” said Superior Coach Bob Demeyer. An outstanding blocker, ball carrier and receiver, Rivord played through injuries, but his defensive value was so high that his offense was limited, Demeyer said.

Nolan Witt Esco senior line of defense contributed photo Witt ran for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns and took a bruise against Koi Perich in an Eskomos offense that produced 521 points and over 4,000 yards of offense. The senior also made 45 tackles and was selected to the Minnesota State All-Star Game.

Luke Sedin Northwest senior defensive back jed carlson / files / good telegram “The undisputed leader” for the Tigers, said coach Jobin Kroll. 35 total tackles and his four interceptions. “A true dual-threat quarterback,” Kroll said.

Mason Clynes Mountain Ironbule senior defense end contributed photo Clynes made a total of 53 tackles, including eight losses and three sacks as Mountain Ironbuhl won their first state title in 50 years. Clynes also recorded eight pass deflections at the Rangers’ line of scrimmage in 2022.

Wyatt Hadspith Esco senior kicker contributed photo Hadspis went 54 for 57 on extra point attempts in 2022, averaging 58 yards per kickoff. The seniors were also 2-for-3 on field goals, including a fourth-quarter goal in the state semi-final that gave Esco a 3-point lead over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

Dashawn Moore Duluth Denfeld junior kick returner contributed photo Moore returned three kickoffs for a 2022 touchdown. This includes his one at the start of the second half against Lockridge, the Hunters’ first victory in nearly two years. Moore also led Denfeld in rushing for 670 yards and eight scores, including the winner at Duluth East, the Hunters’ first win over their rival since 2018.