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Four Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and four Edgerton Public football players have earned first-team all-district honors.
The Knights enjoyed a renaissance as a program this season under first-year head coach Ted Kern, finishing with a 7-3 record.
The Flying Dutchmen remain a regional powerhouse, compiling an 8-2 mark with their only losses to eventual 9-player state champion Hills-Beaver Creek.
For RTR, senior offensive and defensive linemen Tucker Gile and Levi Tommeraasen, running back Colten Thomsen and wide receiver Brayden Chandler were the honorees in the Mid-South district Purple subdistrict.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Colten Thomsen rushes toward the end zone during the Knights’ 42-14 victory over Lakeview on Friday, Sept. 12. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
“Tucker’s hustle from his defensive tackle spot made many game-saving plays for us,” Kern said in an email to the Pipestone County Star.
Thomsen, who also was named to the Marshall Independent’s second team, finished with 663 rushing yards and TD (regular-season numbers only). He also recorded 31 tackles and five quarterback sacks as a linebacker.
“Colten was a workhorse in the backfield for us,” Kern said. “We were a run-heavy team, and Colten kept moving the sticks.”
Chandler, a dynamic athlete in several sports, posted 476 yards receiving on 38 catches with six TD. He added 44 tackles and four sacks, like Thomsen playing linebacker.
Kern said Chandler was the consummate playmaker both on offense and defense. Tommeraasen made line protection calls as leader of the group.
RTR seniors Gavin Schreurs, Tyler Wichmann, Isaac Janish and Tyson Burns and junior Garrett Elton all were honorably mentioned.
Wichmann, a team captain, averaged 38 yards per punt and was 15-of-20 on extra-point kicks.
Alexander Kuestermeyer, Tyler Dagel, Riley Van Eck, Schreurs, Burns and Janish all attained academic all-district status.
Academic all-district honors requires at least a 3.75 grade-point average.
Kern reflected back on the Knights’ turnaround season.
“The kids were a pleasure to work with this year,” he said. “Practices were positive, and you could feel the team pulling in the same direction.”
Edgerton’s Southwest District selections were senior running back/defensive back Michael Gunnink, senior guard/defensive back Brady Jandl, junior running back/linebacker Tucker Arp and sophomore guard/defensive end Tanner Thomson.
Edgerton Public’s Brady Jandl returned an unexpected kickoff for a big gain during the Flying Dutchmen’s 46-22 victory over Adrian-Ellsworth in the 9-player semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 25. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
Junior quarterback Colin Scholten and senior 235-pound offensive lineman Keaton Ockenga were honorable mentions.
Thomson, Jandl and Ockenga provided the blocking necessary for the Flying Dutchmen to score 422 points in 10 games. Defensively, Edgerton surrendered 131 points.
Edgerton Public’s Michael Gunnink (8) delivers a stiff arm to Adrian-Ellsworth’s Charger Erlandson (9) during a Section 3 9-Player game on Saturday, Oct. 25. Gunnink rushed for 196 yards. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Final Edgerton individual player statistics weren’t reported to the Pipestone County Star.
Six HBC players were first-team all-district selections in South Dakota State University signee Micah Bush, Jamin Metzger (future University of Sioux Falls), Wyatt Shimp, Brodie Metzger, Riggins Rheault and Eduardo Wegener. Karson Metzger was an honorable mention.
The Patriots finished the season with a 13-0 record, including the Minnesota State High School League 9-player championship 46-22 over Hillcrest Lutheran Academy on Saturday, Nov. 21, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
HBC scored at least 40 points in 11 of 13 games en route to the school’s first title since 1990.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Tucker Gile (74) blocks Lakeview’s Cody Helmke during a Friday, Sept. 12, game at Tyler. Gile helped the Knights amass more than 460 yards in total offense as RTR downed Lakeview, 42-14. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
FOOTBALL
Mid-South District
Purple Subdistrict
Class A
First-Team Selections
By School
Springfield: Aiden Moriarty, Parker Kuehn, Isaac Fredin, Paytin Johnson, Madden Lendt and Tyson Horkey
Murray County Central: Teague Meyer, Colby Kesteloot, Quintin Lewis, Luke Iverson and Carson Lewis
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton: Tucker Gile, Levi Tommeraasen, Colten Thomsen and Brayden Chandler
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton: Griffin Zick, Lawton Verlinde, Nolan Verlinde and Brody Hauger
Sleepy Eye United: Nick Tauer, Keeyan Netzke and Carson Uecker
Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD): Emmitt Flann and Hayden Edwards
Edgerton Public’s Tanner Thomson (72) attempts to tackle Hills-Beaver Creek’s Eduardo Wegener during a 9-player game in Hills dated Friday, Oct. 3. The Patriots kept the Red Rock Trophy in a 41-6 win over the Flying Dutchmen. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
South District (West)
Nine-Player
First-Team Selections
By School
Hills-Beaver Creek: Micah Bush, Jamin Metzger, Wyatt Shimp, Brodie Metzger, Riggins Rheault and Eduardo Wegener
Red Rock Central: Carter Therkilsen, Abe Stavnes, Jake Erickson, Jonah Skarupa and Jake Grant
Edgerton Public: Michael Gunnink, Brady Jandl, Tucker Arp and Tanner Thomson
Wabasso: Nolan Leopold, Mason Kampson, Zeke Olson, Jack Burns
Adrian-Ellsworth: Garrett Penning, Charger Erlandson, Jackson Jenniges and Caleb Wolf
Cedar Mountain: Thomas Dahmes, Jackson Guetter and Carson Schiller
New Ulm Cathedral: Alex Portner, Camden Berg and Evan Blekest
GHEC/Truman: Reagan Emmert, Griffin Studer and Keegan Berhow
Renville County West: Jacob Saving and Owen Olsen
Westbrook/Walnut Grove: Neil Kuehl and Drew Swanson
Nicollet: Aidyn Kramer and Talan Osborne
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart: Russell Johnson
Mountain Lake Area: Ethan Rahn