In a season unlike any other in Spirit Lake football history, the Indians completely rewrote the record books, while also pulling in numerous postseason awards. For a program that has not had an all-state player in 15 years, the Indians now boast four, according to the Des Moines Register. Offensively, First-Team All-State honors went to left tackle Sawyer Harms and kicker Brett Cochran-Bray, while nose tackle Andrew Broocks and linebacker/defensive back Paul Brown earned first-team accolades on defense. Even more impressive, seniors Sawyer Harms, Aric Waltz, and Kevin Martinson were all named Academic All-State, with GPAs over 3.5.
Spirit Lake having won their first outright district title in school history with a 6-0 record, had eleven players earn first-team all-district spots, led by district MVP Paul Brown. The junior threw for school records with 1,866 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for ten scores and 369 yards. As a linebacker, Brown finished with 50 tackles, seven for losses, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Junior Brett Cochran-Bray was named the district’s top kicker after leading all of Class 2A with eight successful kicks in nine tries. He twice hit from 37 yards out. The other First-Team All-District defensive players include defensive lineman Andrew Broocks, who set a school record with 28 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries, and registered a team-high 114 tackles and ten sacks; defensive back Alex Dau, who holds the record for career interceptions with eleven after notching seven this year; linebacker Tate Hanson, who finished second on the team with 85 tackles, to go along with 14 tackles for loss and an interception; linebacker Aric Waltz, who had 80 tackles and two interceptions; and defensive back Bryson McCabe, who collected three interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and 52 tackles. Offensively, First-Team All-District honors went to left tackle Sawyer Harms and center Casey Jones, as well as running back Luke Kabele, who set school records with 1,415 rushing yards, 1,483 total yards from scrimmage, 18 rushing touchdowns and 120 points scored; and receiver Rick Maris, who was one of three players with a team-record six touchdown catches. He hauled in 23 receptions for 402 yards. Brown, Broocks, Dau, Hanson, Harms, Kabele and McCabe were also all-district last year. Thirteen players earned Academic All-District honors.
Spirit Lake went on to set numerous other school season records this football season. Individually, Zach Herrig sits atop the receiving yardage list with 646 yards, while also tying Rick Maris and Cody Poock with six TD receptions. Brett Cochran-Bray has the best field goal percentage at 88.9%, to go along with the best PAT percentage of 97.1%, having hit 66 of 68 extra points. And Bryson McCabe’s punt returns totaled 418 yards, an average of 17.4 per return, both new school records.
As a team, the Indians established new single season bests in rushing offense (3,586 yards), passing offense, (2,123 yards), total team offense (5,709 yards), and points scored (554) when they had the football. They weren’t too shabby stopping the ball either, setting school records during the regular season for rushing defense (583 yards), total team defense (1,323 yards), total team sacks/tackles for loss (165), and points allowed (63).
Click here for interview with head coach Josh Bolluyt.
Area All-State players:
Class 3A: Brandt Van Roekel, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Jr, DB – 1st Team
Taylor Tatman, Spencer, Sr, OL – 2nd Team
Dallas Rozeboom, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Jr, LB – 2nd Team
Class 2A: Eric Clasen, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Sr, OL – 2nd Team
Matt Nagel, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Sr, DL – 2nd Team
8-Player: Dakota Oderman, Armstrong-Ringsted, Sr, LB – 1st Team
Tyler Feddersen, Armstrong-Ringsted, Sr, QB – 2nd Team
Brett Thackery, Armstrong-Ringsted, Sr, K – 2nd Team
Rest of Class 2A District 1 All-District Team
Estherville-Lincoln Center
Gable Bonner, Sr, OL
Joe Clayton, Sr, DB
Tyler Shryock, Sr, LB
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
Eric Clasen, Sr, DL/OL
Luke Grooters, Jr, LB
Josh Hunt, Jr, RB
Trent Loger, Sr, DB
Matt Nagel, Sr, DE
Eric Schilling, Sr, SE
Cole Snyder, Sr, OL
Sioux Center
TJ Buyert, Sr, WR
Spencer Fritz, Jr, DB
Miles Kleinhesselink, Sr, LB
Micah Lassen, Sr, QB
Patrick Van Muyden, Sr, OL
Brody Van Roekel, Sr, OL
Sheldon
Chris Balster, Jr, QB
Cody Hatting, Sr, LB
Joe Kuiper, Sr, DE
Mitchell McDonald, Sr, DT
Travis Nelson, Sr, LB
Nathan Oostra, Jr, CB
Unity Christian
Matt Albert, Sr, LB
Dalton DeHaan, Jr, LB
Jake Floen, Sr, DB
Heath Huitink, Sr, DL
Robby Vande Veen, Sr, DB
Loken Vande Vegte, Sr, RB
Western Christian
JD Boer, Sr, QB
Marcus DeJager, Sr, WR
Jeff Granstra, So, LB
Jordan Halma, Sr, DB
Kyle Pollema, Sr, LB
Heath Bonestroo, Sr, P
