It is a week-plus of postseason 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 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 offense in Classes 4A through 6A.
QB – Jeff Becker, junior, Carroll
After a sophomore season that opened a lot of eyes, Becker improved in every major statistical category as a junior. He upped his passing yards (2,581), rushing yards (549), completion percentage (.608), passing TDs (33) and rushing scores (10) while leading the Chargers to a seven-win campaign.
Where Becker improved the most was in going through his progressions in the pocket and not rushing throws or eyeing down a single receiver. He also looked more comfortable deciding when to throw and when to take off running.
Becker was named All-SAC First Team and was voted to the Class 6A IFCA Junior All-State squad.
QB – Duce Taylor, senior, North Side
The Legends were by no means a one-player team, but it is tough to envision a scenario in which North gets to five wins without Taylor.
Duce did it all, throwing for 3,033 yards and 33 touchdowns with just six INTs. He also added 151 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
The senior was at his best when he was able to get the ball downfield, throwing a strong and accurate ball to awaiting receivers. He had a knack for extending plays and making key throws on the run.
Duce threw six touchdowns on three different occasions in 2020 and now holds North Side records in several passing categories. He was named All-SAC First Team and voted to the Class 5A IFCA Senior All-State team.
RB – Damarius Cowen, senior, Northrop
Imagine being the sole focal point of a defense, with every opponent knowing that you are its primary source of moving the ball.
That’s where Cowen found himself every week for the Bruins. Yet time and again, the senior was able to torch opponents on the ground. Some of that credit deservedly needs to go to the offensive line, but Cowen was incredible all year, sidestepping opponents and hitting holes hard deep into games week after week.
For the year, Cowen finished with 1,602 yards and 14 touchdowns. He carried the ball 20 or more times in nine of Northrop’s 10 games, averaging 160 yards per contest as one of the toughest offensive players in the SAC.
Cowen was named First Team All-SAC for his season and also was voted Class 5A IFCA Senior All-State.
RB – Ja’suan Lambert, senior, North Side
Lambert was the perfect complement to Duce in the offensive backfield, a big-play threat every time he toted the rock and someone the defense had to respect.
Lambert averaged 7.5 yards per carry through the course of his senior campaign, a speedster who wasn’t afraid to initiate contact to gain a few extra yards.
For the year, Lambert rushed for 1,523 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also added 21 receptions for 237 yards and four scores.
The versatile senior also saw some time defensively, where he amassed 27 tackles and eight TFL.
Lambert was voted to the All-SAC First Team and was also chosen to be a member of the Class 5A IFCA All-State squad.
RB – Braeden Hardwick, senior, Homestead
After seeing Hardwick’s junior campaign end early due to injury, it was great to see him back on the field in full capacity in 2020.
While there were times where you could sense that Hardwick was still a bit apprehensive due to the injury, the senior ran with authority through the season as the Spartans won their second-straight SAC regular-season title.
Hardwick finished with 965 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, with his top performance a 287-yard effort against rival Carroll in a victory.
Hardwick also hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass against Wayne.
The senior was voted All-SAC First Team.
WR – Mason Englert, senior, Carroll
While Englert showed signs as a junior, it was still a big surprise when he dominated the SAC downfield like he did in 2020.
At times, it felt like Englert was uncoverable, largely due to his ability to separate from defenders with relative ease, as well as the uncanny ability to always come down with a jump ball.
For the year, Englert caught 53 passes for 1,206 yards and 16 touchdowns. He averaged close to 23 yards per catch for the Chargers.
The senior was voted to the All-SAC First Team and was honored by being a Class 6A IFCA All-State selection.
WR – Nate Anderson, junior, Homestead
In the regional loss to Westfield, Anderson threw a 62-yard touchdown in his lone attempt all season.
But he did the majority of his damage on the receiving end of throws in 2020.
The junior caught just two passes a year ago, but broke out with 49 catches for 1,130 yards and 17 TDs in his junior campaign as Evan Ormsby’s top target in the passing game.
Anderson also saw duty in the kick return game and was named All-SAC First Team. He also picked up a nod as a Class 6A IFCA Junior All-State team selection.
WR – Rocco Ciocca, junior, Bishop Dwenger
Another receiver that broke out in his junior campaign, Ciocca quickly emerged in 2020 as quarterback Brenden Lytle’s top target for the Saints.
Ciocca’s physical attributes are plentiful, but what makes him so dangerous are his crisp route running and his propensity to get open when Lytle was under duress.
Ciocca hauled in 38 catches for 752 yards and nine touchdowns and was voted to the All-SAC Second Team.
WR – TJ Bedwell, senior, Columbia City
Greg Bolt’s favorite target in the pass game, Bedwell enabled the Eagles to stretch the field with regularity.
Whether it was short routes that he turned into big plays or long throws that he hauled in for big gains, Bedwell was a versatile receiver all season long. He even showcased his passing ability, connecting on a 51-yard touchdown pass against Churubusco in August.
Bedwell finished with 39 receptions for 787 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, he was one of the top safeties in the conference, voted All-NE8 First Team at defensive back. He also picked up Class 4A IFCA Senior All-State accolades.
OL – Landen Livingston, junior, Leo
The junior has plenty of beef and threw it around on both sides of the ball this season for the Lions.
Offensively, Livingston protected quarterback Jackson Barbour at the guard spot while opening up holes for an exceptional Leo run game that averaged 219 yards per game.
On defense as an interior lineman, Livingston used his 6-5, 260-pound frame to bottle up offenses, a leader on a unit that was first in the NE8 in rushing defense.
For the year, Livingston notched 22 tackles, two TFL and three sacks. He was voted All-NE8 First Team.
OL – Vinny Fiacable, senior, Bishop Dwenger
Before heading to Bloomington in January, Fiacable made his mark on the SAC in his senior season in a variety of ways.
Fiacable was an absolute road grater on offense, manning the tackle position and being one of the best in the state at his craft.
But he also contributed in other ways. He scored a touchdown on a goal line run, while also returning a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown against Concordia Lutheran. Fiacable finished with 4.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks to go with nine tackles.
Fiacable was named to the All-SAC First Team and will soon head to Indiana University.
OL – Brady Parker, senior, Homestead
We always seem to marvel at Homestead’s ability to breed quarterbacks. But there needs to be significant credit given to an offensive line that is always stout.
This year, the best of the Spartans on that unit was Parker, a 6-1, 270-pound lineman who could line up at either guard or tackle depending on need.
Homestead amassed over 3,300 yards of total offense, helped considerably by the offensive front. Parker was named First Team All-SAC in his final prep campaign.
OL – Reeve Muncie, senior, Carroll
There may not be a more feet afoot lineman as close to three bills in the northern half of the state than Muncie.
Quick out of his stance and nearly always able to get early leverage and drive a defender back, Muncie was the cornerstone of the Chargers’ offensive front.
He was also used at times on defense as an interior lineman, where he amassed 18 tackles and one TFL.
Muncie was named First Team All-SAC at the conclusion of the season.
OL – Sean Rice, senior, Homestead
It is tough not to be impressed with Rice, who recently committed to the University of Saint Francis.
Rice worked on his craft hard in the off-season, getting in the best shape possible to put himself in a prime spot to be a workhorse along the Spartans’ offensive front.
The 6-3, 305-pound Rice was strong at the point of attack and an equally strong motor helped him to push through defenders and open holes.
Rice may not have gotten the accolades, but he is a perfect example of what hard work can get you, no matter the position you play. He was an All-SAC Honorable Mention selection.
AT-LARGE – Juan Antonio Jaramillo, senior, Warsaw
Suffice it to say that this is the only married guy on our all-area team.
Jaramillo got married earlier this year and has a baby on the way, preparing him for the next phase of life.
But before he left his prep football career behind, he made a big impact in his senior campaign.
After rushing for over 1,500 yards as a junior, Jaramillo finished 2020 with 998 yards and 15 touchdowns despite missing multiple games. He was a key cog for Warsaw aa it won its first Northern Lakes Conference championship since 2001.
AT-LARGE – Justin Marcellus, senior, East Noble
When Marcellus went down with an injury in the Class 4A state title game in 2019, it was a tough ending to a season.
But the senior came back strong, tearing apart opposing defenses again on the way to 1,244 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground for the Knights.
Marcellus was one of the quickest running backs through the hole in the area. His ability to get through the line fast and make a move at the second level was almost unrivaled.
The senior also caught 11 passes on the season and saw some spot action defensively, picking up an interception against Columbia City.
Marcellus was voted All-NE8 Second Team.
AT-LARGE – Kaeden Miller, junior, Leo
In Leo’s run-heavy offense, the punch and scat-back ability of Miller was a perfect fit.
The First Team All-NE8 selection rushed for 666 yards and eight touchdowns on the year while averaging over 6.7 yards per touch.
Miller added two more touchdowns on the year and was the primary return man for the Lions on both kicks and punts.
AT-LARGE – Jordan Turner, junior, North Side
Duce Taylor had a variety of playmakers in which to look to on offense, but Turner emerged as his most trustworthy target downfield.
The junior led the Legends in receptions with 63 and receiving yards with 838, all the while hauling in seven touchdowns. He also carried the ball on occasion, hauling the rock 13 times for 100 yards.
Turner also saw action in the kick and punt return game. He was voted All-SAC Second Team and also named to the Class 5A IFCA Junior All-State team.
KICKER – Carter Dixon, junior, Homestead
Need a kick made? Dixon is your man.
Homestead had the luxury of having two placekickers, with Dixon handling kickoffs and field goals. What he did was outstanding, hitting all five of his field goal attempts on the season, with a long of 42.
Dixon also put 18 of his 62 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, which stood out significantly in game after game. He also averaged over 40 yards per punt for Homestead.
Dixon was voted All-SAC First Team.
Special thanks to Leverage Photography, John Felts and Leslie Palmer for photos provided
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