We are celebrating the new year in style, unveiling our Outside the Huddle All-Area teams for the 2024 football season.
We will release our All-Area squads, in addition to our individual award winners, over the next week or so.
First up, the Small School Offense.
QB: Calder Hefty, senior, Garrett – You could argue that no one in the area had more big plays at key moments than Hefty. As a quarterback, he threw for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns against just two INTs. He rushed for 1,138 yards and 20 more scores. He also amassed 81 tackles, four tackles for loss, three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles as a defensive back. An easy choice for All-NECC Small School and the IFCA Class 3A Senior All-State squad.
QB: Axton Beste, sophomore, Bluffton – The belief was that Beste would be exceptional, but we had no idea that it would be so soon. In his first varsity start in Week 1 against Blackhawk Christian, Bexte hit the ground running back throwing for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He finished with 1,152 yards through the air, 527 on the ground and a total of 24 touchdowns while completing 71 percent of his passes.
RB: Carmyne Moreno, junior, Fremont – A punishing, versatile back who plays with power, Moreno rushed for 1,300 yards for the Eagles. He added 210 yards receiving with 10 total touchdowns. He also saw some action at linebacker, accumulating 50 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an INT. We named him our breakout player in the NECC for 2024 and he was voted All-NECC Small School.
RB: Seth Pruitt, senior, West Noble – No single player in the NECC had as much impact on his team’s success and failure as Pruitt, who rushed for a program-record 1,804 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior for the Chargers. Pruitt rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 of 12 games this season, all 10 of which were West Noble victories. We honored him as he was chosen as NECC MVP in our year-end league awards. He was All-NECC Big School and IFCA Class 3A All-State.
RB: Camren Ruble, senior, Garrett – Ruble didn’t get the headlines like Hefty did, but he was a huge part of Garrett’s success, particularly on offense. The senior rushed for 1,426 yards and 18 touchdowns, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in eight games. He was an easy choice for All-NECC Big School.
WR: Parker Skelly, senior, Garrett – Every big-time quarterback needs a safety blanket at receiver, and that’s exactly what Skelly was for Hefty. He averaged 25 yards per reception, showcasing his ability to make big plays downfield time and again. He finished the year with 624 yards and seven touchdowns, while also picking off a team-high five balls on defense to go with nine passes defended.
WR: Derek McKean, junior, South Adams – A three-sport athlete at South Adams, McKean is downright talented whether it is on the gridiron or on the baseball field. He served as the Starfires’ primary vertical threat in 2024, hauling in 65 receptions for 954 yards and six scores. He also saw some spot action at quarterback, throwing a trio of touchdown passes. He was voted All-ACAC First Team.
OL: Kris Levitz, senior, Prairie Heights – Success begins in the trenches, so it’s smart to point to an offensive line that helped the Panthers win five games, their most in a campaign in over a decade. Levitz, a two-way 6-foot-3, 330-pound mauler, was named Class 2A Senior All-State by the IFCA for his dominance up front for the offense, as well as his work on the interior on defense. He was voted All-NECC Small School at defensive line.
OL: Nate Geerken, junior, Adams Central – The Flying Jets, per usual, are laden with talented guys in the trenches. Geerken is one of the latest to emerge as someone who will end up being a multi-year starter up front for Adams Central. At 5-10, 240 pounds, Geerken is a force. He was named All-ACAC First Team and to the IFCA Class 2A Junior All-State roster.
OL: Charlie Riddle, senior, Heritage – Riddle entered his senior campaign regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the state, and he did nothing to dispel that notion. He was named Class 3A Senior All-State by the IFCA. The 6-3, 275-pound behemoth also made his mark on defense, leading the Patriots in tackles for loss (11) and finishing second on the team with five sacks.
OL: Luke Bauman, senior, South Adams – Another two-way standout in the small-school ranks of northeast Indiana. Bauman was the Starfires’ best up front, both at the point of attack on offense and getting into defensive backfields on defense. He was voted First Team All-ACAC along the offensive line and led South Adams with four sacks and double-digit tackles for loss on the other side of the ball.
OL: Noah Eash, senior, West Noble – Eash was West Noble’s most consistent lineman, opening up running lanes for Pruitt. Eash was named All-NECC Big School and also found himself on the Class 3A Senior All-State team voted on by the IFCA.
AT-LARGE: Eli Tigulis, senior, Heritage – Back to his natural position of quarterback, Tigulis shined in his senior campaign. Of 177 pass attempts, he threw just two interceptions. He amassed 1,864 yards passing and 23 touchdowns overall. Tigulis was named All-ACAC First Team as he led the Patriots to an eight-win campaign.
AT-LARGE: Daryea Williams, senior, Bishop Luers – When it came to powering the Bishop Luers offense, Williams was the motor. He was lead back for a unit that lacked firepower, yet was still capable enough to help the Knights to the Class 3A title game. Williams was leaned upon time after time, finishing with 237 carries for 1,490 yards and 15 touchdowns.
K: Neftali Silva, sophomore, West Noble – Just a 10th grader, Silva was money for West Noble, hitting all but two of his extra points while connecting on all three of his field goal tries. He notched 24 touchbacks on kickoffs, proving to be an effective weapon to open up opposing teams’ possessions.
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