Spring Grove (8-0, 13-1) was the area 9-Man headliner, as the Lions made it all the way to the state championship game. But Lanesboro (6-1, 9-2), Mabel-Canton (5-2, 7-3), Grand Meadow (4-3, 6-4), and Kingsland (4-3, 4-5) were the next four teams in the sub-district. All five teams get at least four A-D selections. The Lions have a South-East high five kids getting the nod, Elijah Solum (6’1” Jr. 190 QB/LB), Tysen Grinde (6’3” 180 Sr WR/S), Hunter Holland (5’9” 175 Sr. RB/LB), Caleb Griffin (5’11” 160 Sr. WR/DB), and Ethan Crouch (6’4” 220 Sr. TE/LB). Solum was one of the state’s best dual-purpose 9-man quarterbacks, the South-East Offensive Player of the Year. He accounted for over 4,000 yards total offense and 58 total TDs. The junior was 174 of 276 passing for 2,736 yards and 36 TD (nine interceptions). He set SG’s single-season passing records for completions, yards, and TDs. Solum led the sub-district in passing yards and TDs. He also rushed for 1,289 yards on 151 attempts with 22 TDs while leading the Lions with 138 total tackles including 16 ½ half for loss and 5 ½ sacks. His favorite target was Grinde, who caught 62 balls for 933 yards and 12 TDs (15 YPC). Grinde added three interceptions including a pick-six, plus two kick-off and two-punt return TDs. He tallied 338 kick-off return yards with a 24.1 average and 386 punt return yards with 14.8 average. Solum and Grinde were both A-D last year. Holland, A-D HM last year, was just a couple yards behind Solum for the leading Lion rusher (182 carries, 1,286 yards, 14 TDs). Griffin was the team’s second-best receiver (47-788 yards, 10 TDs receiving). He added four interceptions, 80 total tackles, and 51 PATs. Crouch was key two-way lineman (64 total tackles, 13 TFLs, 23-270, 6 TDs receiving). Jaxon Strinmoen (6’4” 170 Jr. WR/DB) and Jacob Olerud (5’11” 170 Jr. WR/LB) made A-D HM. Strinmoen gave the Lions a third receiving threat (31-645 yards, 9 TDs) while adding four interceptions. He was A-D last year. Olerud was second on the team in total tackles (130). He also led the team in fumble recoveries (five) and tied to team lead in fumbles forced (three). Not making A-D but deserving credit is Logan Brumm (6’0” 200 Sr. TD/DL > team-high 7 1/2 sacks, team-high 25 ½ TFLs, team third-best 93 total tackles). SG’s Kody Moore is South-East Coach of the Year.
South-East second place team Lanesboro also gets five A-D picks, Mason Howard (5’10” 160 Jr. QB/CB), Orion Sass (5’8” 185 Sr. RB/LB), Cooper Ferrie (6’0” 260 Sr. OL/DL), Hayden Lawstuen (6’1” 215 Sr. FB/CB), and Stephan Schultz (6’1” 220 Sr. TE/DE). Ferrie gets the nicest honor of the group, as he’s the South-East Lineman of the Year. The two-way trench maven helped the Burros run for 3,251 yards while adding 34 total tackles on defense. Sass was the team leader with 1,569 yards rushing and 20 TDs on 206 carries (7.6 average). He topped 100 yards in eight games, going over 200 twice. Howard nearly topped 1,000 yards on the ground (150-946 yards, 12 TDs). The junior also gave the Burros a solid dual-threat QB (47 of 91, 792 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs passing). Sass and Howard combined for over 2,500 yards rushing. Lawstuen repeats as A-D after being the Burros lead fullback (60-312, 5 TDs rushing) and rugged defensive back (50 total tackles, two interceptions). Schultz was a key two-way starter who turned four receptions into three TDs. Logan Torgerson (6’2” 185 Sr. TE/DE) and Brock Taylor (6’1” 225 Sr. OL/DL) made A-D HM. Torgerson notably had four sacks. Said guys led James Semmen’s group to a third straight 9-Man section title game, a second straight runner-up finish, a second straight excellent season (9-2).
Mabel-Canton (5-2, 7-3) only fell to SG and Lanesboro. They get four All-District picks, Cayden Tollefsrud (5’9” 165 Jr. RB/LB), Tyler Larson (6’1” 205 So. RB/LB), Jordan Larson (6’0” 160 Sr. TE/LB), and Hayden Erickson (6’1” 165 Jr. OL/DL). Tollefsrud was the Cougars top all-around player, as he amassed 1,010 yards on 167 carries with 11 rushing TDs. He had six 100-yard games. With receiving yardage (21-498, 23.7 average, 5 TDs), he topped 1,500 yards offense. The junior play-maker also had three kick-off return TDs (18-481 yards), led the defense with 101 total tackles (68 solos), and had four interceptions (including a pick-six). All told, he racked up 20 TDs using all three phases of the game. It is his third A-D nod. He is the South-East Defensive Player of the Year. Tyler Larson was a strong runner (122-827 yards, 15 TDs rushing), particularly for a sophomore. He led the Cougars in rushing scores, added some receiving stats (9-90, TD), and recovered three fumbles. The younger Larson sibling repeated A-D. Older brother Jordan Larson made the transition from QB to TE, finishing second to Tollefsrud in receiving (9-235, 3 TDs, 26.1 average). The senior was fourth on the team in total tackles (45) while adding two interceptions including a pick-six. Erickson was key on the lines for the Cougars including notching a team third-best 54 total tackles and three fumble recoveries. Robert Michels (5’9” 215 Sr. RB/DL) and Kaiser Soiney (6’0” 175 Sr. OL/LB) made A-D HM. Michels was d-line starter while adding some rushing stats (77-418, 9 TDs). He was A-D last year. Soiney was second on the team with 89 total tackles.
Like M-C, Grand Meadow gets four A-D picks, Corbin Ludemann (6’2” 175 Jr. RB/LB), Isaac Harmening (5’7” 180 Sr. RB/DE), Jace Kraft (6’0” 165 Sr. WR/DB), and Cael Gilbert (6’0” 160 Sr. QB/DB). Ludemann repeats as A-D He ran for 1,389 yards on 206 carries with 21 rushing TDs. The junior had eight 100-yard games and four games of three-plus rushing TDs. His 21 rushing TD’s led the sub-district. He added two kick-off return TDs, receiving stats (9-130, TD receiving), and passing stats late in the season (24 of 49, 250 yards, 4 TD, INT passing). Defensively, Ludemann had a team-best 95 total tackles while intercepting three passes. He repeated as A-D. Harmening was a two-way starter with a team second-best 80 total tackles and some rushing work (79-543, 3 TDs). Gilbert started the year at quarterback (17 of 41, 194 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs passing; six rushing TDs). He added a kick-off return TD while amassing 52 total tackles. Kraft was injured, but returned for the last five games (42-194, 2 TDs rushing; 9-135, 2 TDs receiving), amassing five total TDs and two interceptions (one pick-six). Harmening and Kraft were A-D HM last year. John Swanek (6’1” 240 Sr. G/DT) and Connor Munson (6’3” 175 Sr. WR/DB) make A-D HM. Swanek was key in the trenches (58 total tackles). Munson had 47 total tackles and a team-best six interceptions.
Kingsland gets it highest total of All-District or All-Conference picks in a long time. Beau Wiersma (5’10” 185 Jr. RB/LB), Ayden Howard (6’2” 165 Jr. WR/DB), Parker Johnson (6’1” 180, So. DE/TD), and Mason Kolling (6’4” 225 Sr. TE/DT) give the Knights four All-South-East honorees. Wiersma was the Knights first “star” running back in quite some time, as he amassed 1,470 yards rushing on 161 attempts with 14 TDs. He had three 200-plus yard games, a 300-yard game, and two four TD games. The powerful and elusive runner added some receiving stats (16-241, TD) while racking up 81 total tackles. He was the sub-district’s leading rusher (South-East games only). Johnson flashed defensively, compiling 61 total tackles including 20 for loss and a team-best 9 sacks. Howard contributed a punt return TD, a passing TD, a rushing TD, and receiving stats (21-204 yards, 2 TDs). Kolling amassed six short-yardage rushing TDs while starting both ways. He had five sacks defensively. Noah House (6’0” 220 Jr. G/DT) and Kaaleem Reiland (5’10” 175 Fr. QB/DB) made A-D HM. Reiland filled in admirably for an injured Kale Mensink at QB as just a frosh (29 of 56, 245 yards, TD passing; 74-481, 7 TDs rushing).
Houston and LeRoy-Ostrander each get one A-D pick. Peyton Roe (5’8” 180 Sr. RB/LB) is the Cardinals guy. About the only L-O skill player to not get hurt, Roe led the Cardinals in total tackles with 104 including 14 for loss. He added offensive work (148-592, 2 TDs rushing; 11-106, TD receiving). Youngsters Camden Hungerholt (6’1” 165 So. QB/DB) and Carter Sweeney (6’1” 170 So. WR/LB/DE) made A-D HM. Hungerholt came in for an injured Layne Bird at QB and put forth good numbers (91-185, 1,260 yards, 11 TDs, 6 INTs passing; 151-1,016 yards, 12 TDs rushing). He had two 260-plus yard rushing efforts. Sweeney (34-687 yards, 6 TDs) was his favorite target, leading the South-East in receiving yards (sub-district games). The soph was also second on the team with 70 total tackles. Houston’s lone A-D pick is Connor Porter (6’3” 240 Sr. OL/DL), a key lineman. Ethan Knutson (5’9” 160 Jr. OL/DL) and Jacob Francis (Sr. OL/DL) made A-D HM. Knutson was Houston’s top tackler with 97 total.
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