Star Tribune First Team All-Metro…
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Eric Kline
Blaine • Sr. • QB
Tall (6-4), strong and fast, Kline became the state’s premiere dual-threat quarterback. Amassed 3,088 total yards and 34 touchdowns, led the Bengals in rushing and got them into the Class 5A tournament with a 10-0 record.
Reggie Gandy
DeLaSalle • Sr. • RB
Posted incredible numbers of 2,606 rushing yards (10.1 yards per carry) and 33 touchdowns. Rushed for more than 300 yards in five different games. Carried the Islanders into the Class 3A tournament.
Andrew Larson
Eden Prairie • Jr. • RB
Matched good size (5-10, 185) with balance and speed to produce more than 1,600 rushing yards and 20 TDs for an Eagles team ranked No. 1 much of the season. Excels at gaining yards after contact.
Sam Sura
South St. Paul • Jr. • RB
Tough fullback earned many of his 1,945 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns the hard way. But he rarely fumbled and went down easily even less. Offensive MVP of the Classic Suburban Conference and leader of the resurgent Packers.
Steven Kiesel
Breck • Sr. • WR
Measures 5-9 and 170 pounds, but those are not the important numbers. Tormented defenses with 94 catches for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns and impressed opposing coaches with his toughness.
Dylan Ulferts
Shakopee • Sr. • WR
Dynamic playmaker who made things happen all season despite double teams. Caught 50 balls for 820 yards (16.4 average) and 11 touchdowns. Added another 509 yards rushing (10.2 average) and six scores.
Joe Bjorklund
Rosemount • Sr. • OL
South Suburban Conference lineman of the year. Measures 6-5, 285. Explosive athlete drawing interest from Michigan State and Wisconsin. Powered the formidable Irish rushing attack.
Alex Jarosz
Totino-Grace • Sr. • OL
Used his 6-4, 265-pound frame to clear holes for the Eagles’ running game. Constantly drives defenders downfield and often dumps them in the secondary.
Nick Jacobs
Delano • Sr. • OL
Considered by some coaches to be the state’s best offensive lineman. Tremendous feet for his size (6-5, 275) and has the quickness and speed to pull and lead running backs to the hole. Iowa, Iowa State and Wisconsin showing interest.
Tommy Olson
Mahtomedi • Sr. • OL
Widely viewed as the state’s best lineman. Committed to the Gophers. Played at guard and tackle. Relentless drive blocker with the size (6-4, 290) and strength to overpower defenders. Plays with a mean streak.
T.J. Woodrow
Eden Prairie • Sr. • OL
Key cog of the line that sprang Andrew Larson to a solid season. Moved around depending on the play and usually an indicator of where the play was going. At 6-3, 270, has the ability to pull.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Brandt Berghuis
Rosemount • Sr. • DL
Team’s third-leading tackler with 17 tackles for loss through the section tournament. Key part of pesky Irish defense that allows under 12 points per game.
Nick Goldsmith
Mounds View • Sr. • DL
Named the defensive lineman of the year in the Suburban East Conference. Had 35 solo tackles. Coach says there is “no more important player” to the team’s defense.
Jonathan Harden
Cretin-Derham Hall • Jr. • DL
Already a two-year starter as a 6-foot, 300-pound unblockable force for one of the state’s best teams. Made four tackles for loss in one game.
Joe Zrust
Totino-Grace •
Sr. • DL
Three-year starter at nose guard in the Eagles’ 3-4 defense. Gets good inside pressure that has garnered interest from Ivy League schools. Simply put, one coach said, “He’s a dude.”
Alex Meixell
Rogers • Sr. • LB
A force who helped lead state’s most impressive defense this season (Rogers had five shutouts). Named co-MVP of the Mississippi 8 Conference with 113 tackles, three fumbles recovered and a sack.
Will Ratelle
St. Thomas Academy • Sr. • LB
Mr. Football nominee with 91 tackles (10 for loss), three forced fumbles and an interception returned for a score. Some view the 5-11, 225 stalwart as the best football player overall in Class 4A.
Peter Westerhaus
Holy Family • Sr. • LB
Gophers verbal recruit drew interest from teams coast to coast to the small school in Victoria. Plays both ways but is at his best as a linebacker, where the 6-4, 225-pounder made 87 total tackles during regular season.
David Boegel
Wayzata • Sr. • DB
Coach Brad Anderson said coordinator Matt Lombardi built the stout Trojans defense around him. Five of the first eight games of the season ended in double-digit tackle totals.
James Farrow
Minnetonka • Sr. • DB
The fluid Virginia Tech recruit likes to hit, making 30 solo tackles while grabbing three interceptions. Returned one 90 yards for a TD. A dangerous return man (13.3 yards per punt return, 23 yards per kick return); one punt returned for a TD.
Grayson Levine
Eden Prairie • Sr. • DB
Plays both ways. A physical defender who also has the speed to keep up with the competition. An agile player who supports the run well.
Frank Veldman
Eastview • Sr. • DB
The 6-4, 200-pound free safety was named defensive player of the year in the new South Suburban Conference. Earned Metro Player of the Year votes.
Marcus Jones
Edina • Sr. • K
Perfect in all 14 extra point attempts. Made six of nine field goals, including a 41-yarder; three came against Minnetonka, winning the game.
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Star Tribune Second & Third Team All-Metro…
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback
• Bill Gregg, Hopkins, sr.: More than 2,700 yards and 31 TDs passing.
Running backs
• Ezekiel Okeleye, East Ridge, sr.: Rushed for 1,508 yards and 16 TDs
• Trevor Lueders, Glencoe-Silver Lake, sr.: Converted DE rushed for more than 1,000 yards.
Receivers
• Jimmy Duffy, Mounds View, sr.: State’s best TE prospect, blocks well, runs better.
• Andrew McDonald, Hopkins, jr.: Speedster is a big play waiting to happen.
• Joey Sonnenfeld, Osseo, sr.: Dual threat as a WR and on defense as a safety.
Offensive linemen
• Josh Colville, Minnetonka, sr.: Extremely agile and quick for his size (6-3, 270)
• Josh Corbin, Northfield, sr.: Physical, explosive and versatile enough to play guard and tackle.
• Ryan Kelley, Centennial, sr.: 318-pound tackle averaged four pancake blocks per game.
• Trenton Nady, Holy Family, sr.: Tall and athletic with excellent lateral movement.
• John Petrie, Wayzata, sr.: Strong and relentless, leader of overwhelming line.
Athlete
• Andrew Lewis, St. Paul Central, sr.: Do-everything type who always makes a play.
DEFENSE
Linemen
• Logan LaCourse, Shakopee, sr.: Plugged up the middle of the field and made plays.
• Donny Longendyke, White Bear Lake, sr.: Headed to Nebraska on a wrestling scholarship.
• Jesse Reemtsma, Spring Lake Park, sr.: Speed led to 62 tackles and six sacks.
• Devin Waters, Rogers, sr.: Used long arms to lead team in pass breakups.
Linebackers
• Nick McBeain, Shakopee, jr.: Returned all four interceptions for scores.
• Willie Roller, Cretin-Derham Hall, sr.: Tough-hitting player with good size.
• Andrew Rose, Stillwater, sr.: 82 tackles, 16 for a loss.
• Chris Thomas, Blaine, sr.: Scored four defensive touchdowns.
Defensive backs
• Sean Hamlin, Wayzata, sr.: Quietly held best receivers to their worst days.
• Jake Schauer, Totino-Grace, sr.: Closes on ball fast and tackles well.
• Charles Webb, Minnetonka, jr.: Made big plays (four touchdowns) and bigger hits.
Kicker
• Tom Obarski, Apple Valley, sr.: Handled Eagles’ kicking and punting with equal aplomb.
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THIRD TEAM
Offense
• Quarterbacks: Jameson Parsons, Eagan; Tyler Finnes, Andover.
• Running backs: Brenton Braddock, Mahtomedi; Andrew Hausmann, Rosemount; Taz Seibert, Norwood-Young America; C.J. Smith, Burnsville;
• Receivers: James Fort, Annandale; Derek Vidor, Rogers; Rodney Pierce-Tyler, Mpls. Southwest.
• Offensive linemen: Teddy DeFrane, Sibley East; Zach Johnson, Eastview; Ryan Link, Rosemount; Luke Marks, St. Thomas Academy; Nick Olson, Richfield; Sam Smith, South St. Paul.
• Athlete: Ayrton Scott, Mpls. Southwest.
Defense
• Linemen: Sam Berg, New Life Academy; Patrick Faber, Fridley; Tyler Hartmann, Andover; Greg Lofquist, South St. Paul; Cameron Vanderwall, St. Paul Central.
• Linebackers: Tom Lawless, Mpls. Southwest; Weslee Kavanagh, Orono; Ethan Miller, Lakeville South; Josh Vaughn, Bloomington Kennedy.
• Defensive backs: David Morgan, Rosemount; Nick Rallis, Edina, jr; Peter Vakulskas, Holy Family; Bobby Wills, Henry Sibley.
• Kicker: Eric Mielke, Cambridge-Isanti.
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