State playoff teams yield top picks
By Terry Hersom | Posted: Monday, December 15, 2008
With five teams that played in state championship games, there was no lack of talent in Northwest Iowa high school football this fall.
Bishop Heelan's Class 3A state champions fashioned a spotless 14-0 record and the Crusaders' rewards include recognition for 10 athletes on The Sioux City Journal's annual All-Northwest Iowa football teams.
The 96 individuals selected by The Journal sports department also include six players each from arch-rivals Central Lyon/George-Little Rock and West Lyon, who carted home state runner-up trophies in Class 2A and Class 1A, respectively.
Five All-Northwest performers represent the Emmetsburg squad that nipped West Lyon for the 1A title in a 3-0 defensive battle -- the lowest scoring championship game since Iowa initiated playoffs in 1972.
There are also three honorees from Southern Cal of Lake City, which won the Class A state title in a 22-21 overtime thriller with North Tama.
Aside from all the team success, it was a history-making season for two outstanding individuals from the area.
Heelan's Brandon Wegher, a running back who has made a verbal commitment to continue his football career at Iowa, broke the state's single-season rushing record with 3,238 yards on 362 carries, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt.
The 5-11, 205-pound Wegher, named the All-Northwest MVP, scored a whopping 54 touchdowns, rushing for 51 of those and capping off his prep career with his second interception return TD of the year n a 100-yard sprint in the final minute of a 35-10 title game win over Decorah.
With 114 touchdowns and 789 points for his career, Wegher is second on the state's all-time lists behind only Levi Ferguson of North Mahaska, who scored 129 TDs and 789 points from 2002 through 2005.
And, with 6,823 career rushing yards, the Heelan speedster trails only Ferguson (7,142) and Rick Thompson of Madrid (7,037 from 1997 through 2000) on the list of Iowa's all-time leading ground gainers.
Meanwhile, Cherokee's Tyler Jones became the state's all-time leader in career passing yardage and completions, even though the Braves scaled back on their aerial attack after Coach Tony Napierala departed for Class 4A Muscatine.
With Class 2A state 100-meter champ Kyle Schuett in the backfield, rushing for 862 yards, Jones still managed to pass for 1,908 yards on the season, winding up his four-year career with 9,146 yards. That total easily eclipsed Keokuk's James Vandenberg (7,701) and Marshalltown's Tyler Peschong (7,259), who wrapped up their careers just a year ago as the state's two most prolific passers.
Jones, whose yardage ranks 33rd nationally, also shattered the state record for career completions with 755, which only eight American prep quarterbacks have ever exceeded. The old state record was 550 by St. Ansgar's Matt Sherman (1989-92), who later played quarterback at Iowa.
Joining Jones and Wegher in the first-team All-Northwest backfield are running backs Josh Folchert of North High and Aaron Floen of Orange City Unity Christian along with utility choice Jordan Gacke of Central Lyon/George-Little Rock.
Gacke, who'll seek a third state wrestling title later this winter, was a two-way stalwart for a Central Lyon/GLR program that faced Solon in the 2A finals for an unprecedented third year in a row. Not only did he lead the Lions in tackles, he also rushed for 1,710 yards and passed for another 943, taking over at quarterback for Nate DeJong, last year's All-Northwest MVP.
Folchert, one of five North athletes honored, rushed for a school-record 1,285 yards on 166 attempts, averaging 7.7 yards a carry as the Stars reached the Class 4A playoffs for a second year in a row.
And, Floen rushed for 1,478 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games, helping Unity's surprising third-year program win nine times and lose only to Central Lyon/GLR before a playoff loss to Okoboji, a game Floen missed due to injury.
Bishop Heelan's Class 3A state champions fashioned a spotless 14-0 record and the Crusaders' rewards include recognition for 10 athletes on The Sioux City Journal's annual All-Northwest Iowa football teams.
The 96 individuals selected by The Journal sports department also include six players each from arch-rivals Central Lyon/George-Little Rock and West Lyon, who carted home state runner-up trophies in Class 2A and Class 1A, respectively.
Five All-Northwest performers represent the Emmetsburg squad that nipped West Lyon for the 1A title in a 3-0 defensive battle -- the lowest scoring championship game since Iowa initiated playoffs in 1972.
There are also three honorees from Southern Cal of Lake City, which won the Class A state title in a 22-21 overtime thriller with North Tama.
Aside from all the team success, it was a history-making season for two outstanding individuals from the area.
Heelan's Brandon Wegher, a running back who has made a verbal commitment to continue his football career at Iowa, broke the state's single-season rushing record with 3,238 yards on 362 carries, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt.
The 5-11, 205-pound Wegher, named the All-Northwest MVP, scored a whopping 54 touchdowns, rushing for 51 of those and capping off his prep career with his second interception return TD of the year n a 100-yard sprint in the final minute of a 35-10 title game win over Decorah.
With 114 touchdowns and 789 points for his career, Wegher is second on the state's all-time lists behind only Levi Ferguson of North Mahaska, who scored 129 TDs and 789 points from 2002 through 2005.
And, with 6,823 career rushing yards, the Heelan speedster trails only Ferguson (7,142) and Rick Thompson of Madrid (7,037 from 1997 through 2000) on the list of Iowa's all-time leading ground gainers.
Meanwhile, Cherokee's Tyler Jones became the state's all-time leader in career passing yardage and completions, even though the Braves scaled back on their aerial attack after Coach Tony Napierala departed for Class 4A Muscatine.
With Class 2A state 100-meter champ Kyle Schuett in the backfield, rushing for 862 yards, Jones still managed to pass for 1,908 yards on the season, winding up his four-year career with 9,146 yards. That total easily eclipsed Keokuk's James Vandenberg (7,701) and Marshalltown's Tyler Peschong (7,259), who wrapped up their careers just a year ago as the state's two most prolific passers.
Jones, whose yardage ranks 33rd nationally, also shattered the state record for career completions with 755, which only eight American prep quarterbacks have ever exceeded. The old state record was 550 by St. Ansgar's Matt Sherman (1989-92), who later played quarterback at Iowa.
Joining Jones and Wegher in the first-team All-Northwest backfield are running backs Josh Folchert of North High and Aaron Floen of Orange City Unity Christian along with utility choice Jordan Gacke of Central Lyon/George-Little Rock.
Gacke, who'll seek a third state wrestling title later this winter, was a two-way stalwart for a Central Lyon/GLR program that faced Solon in the 2A finals for an unprecedented third year in a row. Not only did he lead the Lions in tackles, he also rushed for 1,710 yards and passed for another 943, taking over at quarterback for Nate DeJong, last year's All-Northwest MVP.
Folchert, one of five North athletes honored, rushed for a school-record 1,285 yards on 166 attempts, averaging 7.7 yards a carry as the Stars reached the Class 4A playoffs for a second year in a row.
And, Floen rushed for 1,478 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games, helping Unity's surprising third-year program win nine times and lose only to Central Lyon/GLR before a playoff loss to Okoboji, a game Floen missed due to injury.
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