Warriors dominate picks, land 10 on team

The Brainerd Warriors advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals and for their efforts landed 10 players on the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area Football first team.

Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager and Staples-Motley all finished with winning records each landed two players each.

Athletes for the all-area team are nominated by their head coaches and then selected by the Dispatch sports department.

FIRST TEAM

Martin Schroeder, senior

Aitkin, WR-DE

He finished with 21 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

He added 92 tackles, four for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Jordan Hayes, senior

Brainerd, RB

Led Warriors in rushing, receiving and scoring. Top 10 finalist for Mr. Football Award. Rushed 200 times for 1,431 yards (7.2 average) and 15 TDs. Caught 15 passes for 248 yards (16.5) and four TDs. Scored 114 total points; returned eight kickoffs for 184 yards (23.0).

Matt Pohlkamp, junior

Brainerd, RB

Second-leading rusher with 123 carries for 871 yards (7.1) and 12 TDs. Added 10 receptions for 111 yards (11.1) and two TDs; 30 kickoffs for 1,482 yards (49.4).

Joe Haeg, senior

Brainerd, OT

Helped Warriors rush for more than 3,000 yards and average 29.3 points and 344.8 yards in 11-1 season.

Jake Kassulker, junior

Brainerd, OG-LB

Helped Warriors rush for more than 3,000 yards and average 29.3 points and 344.8 yards. Added 74 tackles as linebacker, three sacks, two fumble recovers, two forced fumbles, one interception.

Charles Kassulker, senior

Brainerd, OT

Helped Warriors rush for more than 3,000 yards and average 29.3 points and 344.8 yards.

Sam Lastovich, senior

Brainerd, DL

95 tackles, two quarterback sacks, one fumble recovery.

Reggie Turner, senior

Brainerd, DL

85 tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries.

Max Dondelinger, senior

Brainerd, DL

91 tackles, two blocked extra points, one forced fumble, seven sacks.

Cayle Winkler, senior

Brainerd, LB

Led Brainerd with 181 tackles, recovered three fumbles (one for TD), six forced fumbles, two sacks

Bruce London, senior

Brainerd, LB

Warriors second-leading tackler with 151, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, two sacks.

Reed Olander, senior

Crosby-Ironton, RB-LB

Led the Rangers with 707 yards and seven touchdowns on 124 carries. He caught 13 passes for 275 yards and another score. He also led C-I with 148 tackles (78 solo, 70 assists) and 3.5 sacks.

Zach Horejsi, senior

Little Falls, HB-DB

Rushed for 1,148 yards and 13 touchdowns on 185 carries for a 6.2 yards-per-carry average. He threw for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 5-of-7 passing. He finished with 1,299 all-purpose yards.

See TEAM, Page 3B

He finished with 17 tackles (16 solo, two assists) and one pass breakup.

Brandon Tulenchik, senior

Pequot Lakes, FB-LB

Rushed for 251 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries and caught one pass for five yards.

He led the team with 137 tackles (82 solo, 55 assists) to go with one sack and one fumble recovery.

Logan Lange, junior

Pequot Lakes, RB-LB

Led the Patriots with 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns on 186 yards (6.5 yards-per-carry average). He threw for 66 yards on 3-of-4 passing and caught 10 passes for 127 yards and another TD.

He added 40 tackles (25 solo, 15 assists), three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Shane Solinger, senior

Pierz, G-DE

The Central Minnesota Conference lineman of the year finished with 76 tackles (38 solo, 38 assists), two sacks, and one fumble recovery.

He helped Pierz rush for 2,140 yards and throw for 941 yards.

Andy Leidenfrost, senior

Pierz, TE-DT

The All-Central Minnesota Conference player caught 25 passes for 424 yards and eight touchdowns.

He finished with 52 tackles (20 solo, 32 assists) and four sacks, two fumble recoveries.

Jordan Hunstad, senior

Pillager, QB-DB

Threw for 803 yards and four touchdowns on 56-of-131 passing. He rushed for 610 yards and six touchdowns on 134 carries for a 4.6 yards-per-carry average and caught one pass for 22 yards.

Defensively, he intercepted six passes and added a sack and 52 total tackles (20 unassisted, 32 assists).

Sean Nokken, senior

Pillager, RB-DB

Rushed for 855 yards and 10 touchdowns on 135 carries for a 6.3 yards-per-carry average. He caught 18 passes for 24 yards and two touchdowns and threw one pass for three yards.

Defensively, he finished with two interceptions and 74 tackles (30 unassisted, 44 assists).

Aaron Kottschade, senior

Pine River-Backus, OL-LB

Helped PR-B rush for 882 yards and throw for 738 yards and score 118 points.

He led the Northern Plains Conference with 74 tackles.

Tanner Roberts, senior

Staples-Motley, WR-LB

The All-Heart O'Lakes Receiver of the Year finished with eight receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns. He added 47 tackles (23 solo, 24 assists), one interception, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Alex Jansson, senior

Staples-Motley, QB-S

The All-Heart O'Lakes Conference player finished with 1,051 yards passing and 13 touchdowns on 38-98 passing. He also rushed for 380 yards and three touchdowns on 104 carries for a 3.7 yards-per-carry average.

He added 47 tackles (19 solo, 28 assists), one interception returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Dan Kneisl, senior

Verndale, OT-DT

He led the team with 106 tackles (27 solo, 79 assists), three sacks and one fumble recovery.

He also helped Verndale rush for 1,303 yards and throw for 283 yards from his offensive line position.

Honorable mention

Dalton Stevens, senior

Aitkin, RB-LB

Rushed for 434 on 104 carries for a 4.1 yards-per carry average and caught six passes.

He added 89 tackles, two tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Chris Hughes, senior

Aitkin, QB-RB-G-LB

Finished with 71 tackles, two for loss, one sack, one interception and two fumble recoveries.

He carried the ball 61 times for 142 yards and threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-49 passing.

Peter Zasmeta, sophomore

Aitkin, WR-CB

Caught six passes for 49 yards. He added 40 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five interceptions.

Nate Gervenak, senior

Brainerd, WR-DB

Brainerd's third-leading tackler with 129, one fumble recovery; second-leading receiver with 14 catches for 229 yards (16.4 average), one touchdown. Returned seven punts for 69 yards (9.9).

Jack Luke, senior

Brainerd,

DB-return specialist

79 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, seven pass breakups, 10 punt returns for 160 yards (16.0 average), 11 kickoff returns, 250 yards (22.7)

Logan Peterson, junior

Brainerd, C

Helped Warriors rush for more than 3,000 yards and average 29.3 points and 344.8 yards.

Mitch McLain, junior

Brainerd, QB

Team's third-leading rusher with 112 attempts for 495 yards (4.4) and five TDs. Completed 63 of 106 passes for 873 yards and 12 TDs.

Mitch Gutzman, senior

Crosby-Ironton, TE-LB

Led the Rangers with 23 catches for 545 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 102 tackles (62 solo, 40 assists), 2.5 sacks and an interception.

Phil Kuhlmann, senior

Crosby-Ironton, QB

Kuhlmann led the area with 1,237 passing yards on 61-of-130 attempts. He threw for 11 TDs and rushed for 79 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.

Nathaniel Rutz, senior

Little Falls, OL-DL

Finished with 49 tackles (45 solo, eight assists), including eight tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.

Helped Little Falls rush for 1,587 yards and pass from 911.

Jacob Lambrecht, junior

Little Falls, TE-LB

Led the Flyers with 60 tackles (53 solo, 14 assists), including 11.5 tackles for loss.

Carried the ball three times for 21 yards.

Joe Tuholsky, senior

Little Falls, WR-DB

Finished with 22.5 tackles (21 solo, three assists, including 3.5 tackles for loss. He had one pass breakup and a block. He led the Flyers with five interceptions.

Dilan Gastecki, senior

Little Falls, FB-DE

Finished with 23.5 tackles (21 solo, five assists), including 9.5 tackles for loss. He carried the ball one time for seven yards.

Jacob Box, senior

Pequot Lakes, WR-CB

Finished with 19 catches for 232 yards and four touchdowns and carried the ball six times for 90 yards and two TDs.

Added 32 tackles (17 solo, 15 assists) and two interceptions.

Peter Harrison, junior

Pequot Lakes, WR-safety

Finished with 71 tackles (31 solo, 40 assists), three interceptions and one forced fumble.

Christian Harrison, senior

Pequot Lakes, T-LB

Finished with 81 tackles (37 solo, 44 assists) and two interceptions.

Helped Pequot rush for 2,287 yards and 29 touchdowns and throw for 668 yards and nine touchdowns.

Sean Huls, senior

Pierz, RB-LB

Rushed for 523 yards and nine touchdowns on 132 carries (4.0 yards-per-carry average). Caught five passes for 52 yards.

Finished with 50 tackles (24 solo, 26 assists), one sack, five fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks.

Josh Lanners, sophomore

Pierz, RB-LB

Rushed for a team-high 563 yards and five touchdowns on 89 carries for a 6.3 yards-per-carry average.

Also led the team with 101 tackles (46 solo, 55 assists) and 1.5 sacks.

Blake Demars, junior

Pine River-Backus, RB-LB

Led the Tigers with 405 yards rushing. He added 10 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. Added 50.5 tackles.

Nathan Holm, junior

Pine River-Backus, QB-P

Threw for 738 yards and six touchdowns on 53-of-122 passing. He was also second in the Northern Plains Conference with a punting average of 35.6 yards.

Gavin Kadlec, senior

Staples-Motley, FB-LB

The All-Heart O'Lakes Conference player finished with 666 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 104 carries for a 6.4 yards-per-carry average. He caught one pass for 33 yards.

Added 63 tackles (23 solo, 40 assists), two sacks, one fumble recovery and four forced fumbles.

Blake Petrich, junior

Staples-Motley, RB-LB

The All-Heart O'Lakes Conference player finished with 320 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries for a 5.1 yards-per-carry average. Caught 11 passes for 293 yards and three TDs.

Added 21 tackles (11 solo, 10 assists), three sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown, four fumble recoveries, including one returned for a score and four forced fumbles.

Logan Swendsrud, senior

Staples-Motley, OL-DL

The All-Heart O'Lakes Conference honorable mention player helped Staples-Motley rush for 1,746 yards and 18 touchdowns and throw for 1,088 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Added 43 tackles (14 solo, 29 assists), 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.

Jared Cleveland, senior

Staples-Motley, DB

The All-Heart O'Lakes Conference honorable mention player finished with 15 tackles (9 solo, 6 assists) and two interceptions.

Kyle Booth, senior

Verndale, TE-DE

Led the Pirates with 10 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Finished with 66 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Cody Yungbauer, senior

Verndale, RB-LB

Led the Pirates with 684 yards and three touchdowns on 159 carries for a 4.3 yards-per-carry average. He caught four passes for 59 yards.

Finished with 86 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.