Rushford-Peterson and Fillmore Central were the top two teams in the Mid-Southeast Blue sub-district. Resultantly, each squad has a litany of players named All-District.
Davin Thompson’s Trojans get nine selections including seven seniors: Malachi Bunke (6’1” 160 QB/S), Justin Ruberg (6’3” 215 WR/LB), Carson Thompson (5’11” 215 OL/DL), Logan Skalet (5’10” 200 OL/DL), Alex Ronnenberg (5’8” 155 WR/DB), Tommy Ekern (6’0” 175 WR/LB), and Aaron Prinsen (6’0” 160 LB/WR). Juniors Grady Hengel (5’8” 160 RB/WR/LB), and Andrew Wilkemeyer (6’3” 230 OL/DL) round out the group. Bunke, Ruberg, and Thompson head the cast. Three-year starters, each repeated as A-D. Bunke, in his third year at QB, posted big numbers throwing the ball (128-245, 1,914 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs). He earned sub-district Co-MVP with FC’s Alec Sikkink. Bunke tossed multiple TDs in a game nine times while adding 345 yards and 10 TDs rushing. Bunke also had a team-best eight interceptions. Over his three years (27 games), he threw for over 4,000 yards with 60 passing TDs and just 16 interceptions. Ruberg was his favorite target, as the big wide-out was the team’s top receiver (41-626, 11 TDs receiving) this year. Defensively, Ruberg was the MSE Blue co-Defensive Player of the Year (50 tackles, 14 TFLs, 1 ½ sacks, INT return TD) with Faribault B.A.’s Brady Strodtman. Ruberg finished his career with 23 receiving TDs. Thompson was a menace at DT, leading the team in tackles (62) including posting 30 total TFLs and 9 sacks. For his career, he had 21 ½ sacks. Ronnenberg (25-478, 11 TDs receiving; rushing TD) and Hengel (37-481, 4 TDs receiving; 36-171, TD rushing) were other key targets for Bunke. Hengel added five interceptions. Ekern (19-254 yards, 3 TDs receiving) and Prinsen (5-117, 2 TDs receiving) contributed offensively. Prinsen was one of the defense’s top tacklers (53 total tackles, nine TFLs). Ekern (31 tackles, 9 TFLs) also played both ways. Skalet (27 total tackles) and Wilkemeyer, like Thompson, contributed both ways on the lines. Making A-D HM for R-P were seniors Hadyn Kahoun (5’10” 160 RB/LB) and Jacob Meyer (5’8” 215 Sr. OL/DL), junior Dalton Hoel (5’7” 150 Jr. DB/WR). Kahoun was the team’s top rusher (140-543 yards, 3 TDs rushing). Meyer authored 10 TFLs including four sacks. Hoel had five interceptions including three pick-sixes. Nine of R-P’s 12 seniors are represented above. All aided in the Trojans’ MSE-Blue and 1A Champion, state semifinalist season (12-1). Coach Davin Thompson was the District’s Coach of the Year.
Chris Mensink’s Fillmore Central Falcons get eight All-District picks. Only two are seniors, Alec Sikkink (6’0” 180 RB/DE) and Haven O’Connor (6’3” 225 OL/DL). Five Falcon juniors make it: Bryce Corson (5’7” 140 RB/LB), Garrett Gossman (5’7” 140 LB/OL), Will Parker (6’1” 165 OL/DE), Gunner Benson (5’11” 190 JR. C/DL), and Jake Fishbaugher (6’0” 155 Jr. WR/DB). Jayce Kiehne (6’0” 150 Sr. WR/S) makes it as a sophomore. Versatile players Sikkink and Corson head the cast. Both topped 1,000 yards total offense. Sikkink earned his second A-D nod after being used as multi-faceted weapon (123-763, 3 TDs rushing; 22-478 yards, 6 TDs receiving). He had 21 plays of 20-plus yards and earned MSE-Blue Co-Most Valuable Player with R-P’s Malachi Bunke. Sikkink also made a big impact on defense (46 tackles, 14 total TFLs, 4 ½ sacks). Corson set the FC single-season rushing TDs record with a breakout junior campaign (138-786, 17 TDs rushing; 24-423, 5 TDs receiving). He had 23 total TDs while also playing both ways (46 total tackles, two interceptions). Kiehne used his elite speed to make big plays in the passing game (25-605 yards, 8 TDs receiving, 24.2 yards per catch). He added 50 total tackles, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Gossman led the team defensively with 77 tackles including 9 total TFLs. Benson was second-best with 56 total tackles (team-best 21 total TFL’s, 6 ½ sacks, 2 FFs, 2 FRs). O’Connor (39 tackles) and Parker (27 tackles) joined with Gossman and Benson to anchor FC’s interior lines and defense. O’Connor had 10 total TFLs including three sacks. Fishbaugher was FC’s top cornerback, snaring three interceptions, accruing some rushing and receiving stats. Making A-D HM for FC were Dillon O’Connor (5’7” 155 Jr. QB/LB), Chase Christianson (5’11” 150 So. QB), Kyle Daniels (5’11” 145 So. LB/RB), Atlee Hershberger (5’9” 210 Fr. OL/LB), and Luke Hellickson (6’2” 155 So. WR/CB). D-O’Connor (51-93, 976 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs passing) was FC’s starting QB until going down with injury. Christianson (34-64, 754 yards, 12 TDs, 8 INTs passing) then picked up the slack off the bench. Said players led FC to a 9-2 season where they were 1A runner-up.
