It is a week-plus of post-season awards here at Outside the Huddle.
All this week, we are naming our OTH All-Area Teams, split into small school and big school categories.
Due to some scheduling issues beyond our control, we will now name other award winners next week. The week of December 21, we will name our official OTH Player of the Year, OTH Coach of the Year and, for the first time, name the recipient of the Clayten Stuart Award for the player who best exemplifies the qualities of discipline, work ethic and spirit as seen by us here at Outside the Huddle.
Today, we continue the festivities with the best on defense in Classes 1A through 3A.
DL – Joe Collier, senior, Adams Central
One of the more fearsome defensive linemen in the area regardless of class or conference, the 6-3, 225-pound Collier put up big numbers in his final prep campaign with the Flying Jets.
While he was an adept blocker on offense, defense is where Collier opened eyes and created a wealth of issues for opposing teams. His ability to take up room, get off blocks and finish had nearly no rival in the ACAC.
For the year, Collier finished with team highs in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (12), while also amassing 66 tackles. He was voted All-ACAC First Team and named to the Class 1A IFCA Senior All-State squad.
DL – Logan Nahrwold-Settle, senior, Concordia Lutheran
One of the tougher and most grinding guys in the trenches in the SAC, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Nahrwold-Settle didn’t shy from challenges each and every week.
The interior lineman was able to get a push up front on a consistent basis and piled up a massive amount of tackles for his position. He finished with 49 tackles, 10 TFL and 4.5 sacks and was voted All-SAC Second Team and named to the Class 3A Senior All-State team by the IFCA.
DL – Phoenix Smyth, senior, Eastside
Eastside wasn’t all offense in 2020. In fact, you could argue that the Blazers’ defensive unit matched the offense in proficiency.
One of the catalysts of a defense that shut out five teams and held nine to seven or less points was Smyth. On the outside of the defensive front, Smyth was deadly in sealing the edge to take away outside runs and also proved effective in getting to the quarterback.
The senior amassed 51 tackles, 13 TFL and 11 sacks on the season. He also had four passes defensed, further showcasing his versatility. He was named to the All-NECC Small School team and voted Class 2A IFCA Senior All-State.
DL – Austin Gorney, senior, South Adams
Another two-way lineman at a 1A school, Gorney protected James Arnold offensively, but earned his spot in highlight reels with his effective play up front at d-tackle. With his compact, yet strong body, he was able to get leverage and penetration on the regular.
Gorney finished the season with 103 tackles, 21.5 TFL and a pair of sacks for the Starfires. He was named All-ACAC First Team as well as earned a spot on the Class 1A IFCA Senior All-State squad.
LB – Cooper Harris, senior, Concordia Lutheran
The senior linebacker truly burst onto the scene in Week 2 with a 12-tackle effort in the 7-0 loss to Homestead. His natural instincts and abilities fit perfectly into the Cadets’ scheme, while allowed Harris a lot of freedom to pursue and make plays.
The Second Team All-SAC honoree finished 2020 with 78 tackles, 14 TFL and 1.5 sacks. He also handed Concordia Lutheran’s kickoff duties and was voted Class 3A IFCA Senior All-State.
LB – Will Hoover, junior, Central Noble
In terms of value to a team, not many brought more than Hoover, who shined on both sides of the football for Coach Hayden Kilgore in his rookie campaign.
Hoover rushed for 767 yards and nine touchdowns for Central Noble, the clear focal point of the offense. But he was big-time defensively, amassing 135 tackles, eight TFL and a sack over the course of his junior campaign.
Hoover’s strength and football IQ are both considerable, and he has another year to improve. He was named All-NECC Second Team.
LB – Nick Miller, senior, South Adams
Perhaps no player put the fear into opposing ball carriers and quarterbacks quite like Miller. One of the highlights of the season was a short clip showing Miller slamming Bluffton backup quarterback Lukas Hunt to the ground after wrapping him up, effectively body slamming him.
At 6-4, 235 and strong, Miller always appeared to be playing downhill, taking down opponents with authority. He finished with 72 tackles, an astounding 29.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks.
Offensively, Miller brought in 591 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, while also rushing for 221 yards and seven scores.
Oh, and he punted. The senior was voted All-ACAC First Team.
LB – Jacob Plattner, senior, South Adams
Plattner was another versatile piece of the Starfires defensive puzzle, manning an outside linebacker spot and capable of playing the run, getting to the quarterback or dropping back in short coverage.
The versatile senior finished the 2020 campaign with 81 tackles, 19.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks. His best performance was arguably the eight-tackle, three-TFL effort on the road against Southwood in the regional championship.
Plattner was voted First Team All-ACAC for his efforts.
LB – James Rusher, sophomore, Concordia Lutheran
Among upperclassmen leading the Cadets defense, Rusher flew largely under the radar in most media circles, but his play stood out week after week in the SAC.
Manning the linebacker spot, the strong 6-2, 210-pound soph finished the year with 76 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks while also picking off four passes.
Rusher is a perfect example of a linebacker who can play the spot in the traditional fashion, but drop back and play the pass without giving up much to the receiver in size or speed.
DB – Eli Riley, senior, Norwell
The senior two-way stud was perhaps THE key to Norwell’s 10-win season in 2020.
Defensively, Riley amassed 24 tackles and a trio of INTs and was one of the top defenders against the pass in the entire conference. He stepped up his game considerably in must win situations, including becoming a stopper at DB against Columbia City.
As quarterback, he threw for 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns against just three interceptions. His biggest moments came in the clutch, with big receptions time and again in the 21-17 victory over East Noble. He also rushed for close to 600 yards and 10 scores.
Riley was voted All-NE8 First Team at quarterback, as well as to the Class 3A Senior All-State squad.
DB – Lane Burns, senior, Eastside
Anytime you have a defense as dominant as the Blazers, there is likely a safety on the back end overseeing everything.
That was Burns, who secured 63 tackles and a trio of interceptions from his free safety spot in 2020.
A seasoned veteran starting his third year for Eastside, Burns had the mental acumen and physical strength to decipher plays and be aggressive in shutting them down.
Burns was also a solid receiver, hauling in 17 receptions for 395 yards and four scores. He also served as the team’s primary punt returner, scoring on both a punt and fumble return.
Burns was named to the All-NECC Small School team.
DB – Kam Vanderbosch, senior, Concordia Lutheran
Despite his season getting off to a late start, Vanderbosch made the most of his eight games on the field for the Cadets.
The cornerback led Concordia Lutheran with six INTs, two of which came in the 7-0 loss to Homestead in Week 2. He also finished with 24 tackles.
Vanderbosch thrived with physicality, able to get position on opposing receivers with a mix of strength and finesse. He never seemed to be out of position downfield, and was always around the ball.
Vanderbosch was voted All-SAC Second Team in his senior campaign.
DB – Krashaun Menson, junior, Bishop Luers
Another one of Bishop Luers’ ultra-talented juniors, Menson was not always the top guy on offense or defense, but delivered whenever he was needed, especially when the Knights lost Sir Hale to injury late in the season.
Menson was Coach Kyle Lindsay’s best tackler in terms of wrapping up and finishing in the open field. The junior made it look easy against some of the best the SAC had to offer, preventing plays downfield becoming scores.
The junior finished 2020 with 112 tackles, five TFL and five INTs. He had 17 passes defensed and also served as the team’s primary kick returner.
On offense, Menson had 33 receptions for 559 yards and nine scores.
Menson was named All-SAC Honorable Mention and to the Class 2A Junior All-State squad. He will return in 2021 as one of the most dangerous players in the SAC.
DB – Brayden Payne, senior, Concordia Lutheran
Just how good was Payne in 2020? Consider that opposing coaches thought so much of his ability in the secondary that he was voted First Team All-SAC.
There were players with more interceptions, but Payne’s five was still impressive. He may have been Concordia’s best on-ball defender regardless of position, which is saying something. He added 37 tackles and three TFL.
AT-LARGE – Blake Heyerly, junior, Adams Central
If you think of the picture-perfect linebacker in Monroe playing for Adams Central, Heyerly would be the guy that would come to mind.
Heyerly was a punisher at the middle linebacker spot, finishing second on the team in tackles with 93 to go with seven TFL and a pair of interceptions.
Of course, at the 1A level, you are of even greater impact if you serve on both sides of the football. Heyerly did not disappoint, leading the Flying Jets in rushing (990 yards) and total touchdowns scores (15).
The junior was voted All-ACAC First Team and honored as a member of the Class 1A IFCA Junior All-State squad.
AT-LARGE – Lane Cleckner, senior, Eastside
Cleckner was a tackling machine for the Blazers, a commanding presence at the second level of the defense for Coach Todd Mason.
Another defender for Eastside with multiple years of varsity playing experience, Cleckner thrived in his final season, compiling 86 tackles, eight TFL and 6.5 sacks, as well as an interception against Central Noble.
Cleckner was voted on to the All-NECC Small School Division team and picked to be a part of the Class 2A IFCA Senior All-State squad.
AT-LARGE – Da’von Doughty, sophomore, Bishop Luers
While the sophomore got some looks on offense at running back, it was the defensive side of the ball where the youngster broke out in a big way.
In his first year at the varsity level, Doughty finished with 106 tackles, 21.5 TFL, three sacks and three fumble recoveries. His aggressiveness was contagious, and he frequently lifted up the Bishop Luers bench with some big, physical tackles.
Doughty’s star will continue to rise over the next few years. He was named All-SAC Honorable Mention.
AT-LARGE – Trey Schoch, junior, South Adams
Many people may not have realized who Schoch was until the pivotal game at Southwood in regional action in which he was inserted into the game on defense. He made a difference as a third high safety in the secondary, despite only seeing scout team defense duty all year.
Schoch finished 2020 with 23 tackles and a trio of interceptions. Offensively, he hauled in 40 receptions for 758 yards and nine TDs. He was also the Starfires’ leader on kick and punt returns often with a couple of returning touchdowns mixed in.
The junior was voted All-ACAC First Team and will be a pivotal piece of the Starfires in 2021.
P – Nick Nondorf, junior, Churubusco
While Nondorf plays anywhere and everywhere, his punting ability earned him this spot. He averaged 35.7 yards a punt and was also solid on kickoffs.
Elsewhere, he accumulated 352 yards receiving and 274 yards rushing, while also being the primary kick and punt returner for the Eagles.
Defensively, Nondorf secured 56 tackles, 6.5 TFL and an INT.
Nondorf was voted All-NECC Small School Division at linebacker.
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