2012 All-Herald Football Team
The Austin Daily Herald has released its 2012 All-Herald Football Team featuring plenty of the area’s most talented football players.
OFFENSE
QB — Trenton Bleifus, Grand Meadow
The junior had the biggest passing season for the Superlarks (12-2 overall) in at least five years, completing 124-of-200 (62 percent) for 2,272 yards, 33 TDs and four interceptions. He also ran for 870 yards (6.7 per carry) and 17 TDs.
RB — Landon Jacobson, Grand Meadow
The sophomore took a major step as he racked up 1,282 yards rushing (7.2 per carry) and 12 TDs, while hauling in 50 passes for 551 yards (11 per catch) and six TDs. On defense, Jacobson had 133 total tackles.
RB — Lucas Roe, LeRoy-Ostrander
The senior racked up 1,613 all-purpose yards and scored 11 TDs for the Cardinals (2-7 overall). Roe ran for 685 yards (4.7 per carry) and eight TDs and caught 28 passes for 434 yards (15.5 per catch) and three TDs. He also went 13-for-33 as a passer with 217 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.
WR — Michael Thomas, Blooming Prairie
The senior had a dynamite season finishing with 1,861 all-purpose yards and 23 total TDs. The 6-5 speedster hauled in 57 passes for 1,319 yards (23.5 per catch) and 20 TDs. Thomas had 344 yards returning kicks (22.9 per return) and one touchdown and had 198 punt return yards (19.8 per return) and two touchdowns.
WR —Marcus Stoulil, Austin
The senior deep threat hauled in 33 passes for 658 yards (19.9 per catch) and five touchdowns for the Packers (2-7 overall).
TE — Bryce Benson, Grand Meadow
The senior, who made the Minnesota All-state Nine Man Football team, racked up 29 catches for 551 yards (10 per catch) and 12 touchdowns.
OL — Jason Jirele, Blooming Prairie
The three-year starter finished his senior year strong as he provided plenty of solid blocking for a BP offense that averaged 35.5 points per game.
OL — Corey Thompson, Hayfield
The junior was a physical force up front for the Vikings.
OL — Brock Johnson, Grand Meadow
The senior was a fiery competitor and he helped lead a vaunted Superlark offense.
OL — Andrew Bell, Grand Meadow
The senior was undersized, but blocked with a burst that made GM a dangerous team.
OL — Andrew Hagan, Austin
The junior used his size to move a few piles for the Packers this season.
DEFENSE
S — Michael Thomas, Blooming Prairie
Thomas finished the season with 80 tackles (39 solo), two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.
S — Brady Kramer, Hayfield
The speedy senior racked up 56 tackles from the secondary.
CB — Andrew Bell, Grand Meadow
The senior always matched up against the best receiver on the other team on a stingy Superlark defense and finished the year with 112 total tackles.
CB — Coty Kirtz, Southland
The senior had two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and recorded 62 tackles.
LB — Perry Stejskal, Grand Meadow
The senior missed seven of GM’s 14 games, but still finished with 65 tackles and was named to the Minnesota All-state Nine Man Football team. On offense, Stejskal was a key blocker as he ran for 202 yards (6.1 per carry) and four TDs.
LB — Brett Wacek, Blooming Prairie
The hard-hitting junior finished with 132 total tackles (50 solo) and two sacks.
LB — Pat Wagner, Austin
The senior finished his three-year career as a starter with 74 total tackles (49 solo) and one interception.
LB — Brock Johnson, Grand Meadow
The senior led the Superlarks with 152 total tackles and he added six sacks.
DL — Jason Jirele, Blooming Prairie
The senior filled up the middle for BP as he finished with 54 tackles (10 solo) and 12 tackles for a loss.
DL — Bryce Benson, Grand Meadow
The senior finished the season with 89 total tackles and an area’s best eight sacks.
DL — Trevor Feuerhak, Austin
The senior held his own and then some as he led the Packers with 81 total tackles (55 solo) from the defensive end spot, and he added a sack as well.
HONORABLE MENTION
RB/LB — Nick Schmitz, Southland
The senior racked up 958 all-purpose yards on the season for the Rebels. He ran for 650 yards (5.9 per carry) and nine touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 308 yards (12.8 per catch). Schmitz also had 135 yards on eight kick returns. On defense, Schmitz finished with 75 tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries.
QB — John Rumpza, Blooming Prairie
The sophomore didn’t show fear in his first year at the helm, throwing for 2,945 yards, 38 TDs and nine interceptions, while connecting on 57 percent of his throws.
LB — Lucas Roe, LeRoy-Ostrander
Roe had 107 tackles, four sacks and recovered two fumbles.
RB — Coty Kirtz, Southland
Kirtz ran for 331 yards (4.4 per carry) and four TDs and he caught 17 passes for 114 yards (6.7 per catch). He had 363 yards returning kicks (24.2 per return) and 176 yards returning punts (9.7 per return).
RB — Jake Decker, Blooming Prairie
The sophomore burst onto the scene in the second half of the season finishing with 404 yards rushing (4.9 per carry) and four TDs, and catching 14 passes for 194 yards (14 per catch) and four more scores.
WR/LB — Weston Fiebiger, Blooming Prairie
The junior caught 36 passes for 613 yards (17.1 per catch) and 4 TDs. Defensively Fiebiger was in on 96 tackles (29 solo) and had two fumble recoveries.
QB — Ryan Synoground, Austin
The junior threw for 1,404 yards while completing 51 percent of his passes. He finished with 12 TD throws and eight interceptions. Synoground ran for 253 yards and 3 TDs.
RB — Nate Connor, Austin
The freshman burst onto the varsity football scene and did some damage in limited action. In just 74 carries, Connor ran for 385 yards (5.2 per carry) and four TDs.
WR — Nik Gasner, Austin
The sophomore caught 40 passes for 495 yards (12.4 per catch) and four TDs.
RB — Nate Timmons, Hayfield
The senior finished with 345 yards rushing (4.5 per carry) and 152 yards receiving on 16 catches. Timmons also had 55 tackles.
QB — Brady Kramer, Hayfield
The senior threw for 688 yards on and 3 TDs while hitting on 46 percent of his passes and he ran for 369 yards (5.2 per carry) and seven TDs.
RB — Cole Kruger, Hayfield
The junior ran for 386 yards (5.4 per carry), 5 TDs and caught 11 passes for 166 yards and a score.
QB — Jace Bunne, LeRoy-Ostrander
The sophomore completed 51 percent of his passes for 1,390 yards, 13 TDs and seven interceptions. Bunne also ran for 297 yards (3.2 per carry) and two TDs.
Utility man — Tommy Olmsted, Austin
The senior did a little bit of everything this past season for the Packers. He ran for 100 yards (4.6 per carry) and two TDs, caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a score and had 518 kick return yards (19.9 per return) and one score. Olmsted also had nine tackles and served as the team’s long snapper.
DL — Corey Thompson, Hayfield
The junior was a strong force up front as he finished the season with 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.