Caledonia (6-0, 10-1), Cannon Falls (4-2, 10-3), Chatfield (4-2, 7-3), Dover-Eyota (3-3, 6-4), La Crescent/Hokah (2-4, 3-7), Triton (1-5, 6-6), and St. Charles (1-5, 3-6) comprised a strong Southeast-White sub-district. The Warriors, Bombers and Cobras each made state, winning sections 1AA, 4AA, and 2AA. Sub-district awards are headed by guys from White and 1AA champion Caledonia. Making All-District for the Warriors are Jordan Tornstrom (6’1” 245 Sr. C/DE), Ethan Stendel (6’4” 190 Jr. QB/S), Owen Denstad (5’9’ 155 Sr. RB/LB), Lewis Doyle (5’11” 160 Sr. DB/WR), Mason Banse (6’1” 190 Sr. TE/LB), Gabe Curley (6’1” 185 Sr. T/DE), and Josh Beardmore (5’11” 160 Sr. WR/DB). All the Warrior selections are first-timers. Tornstrom was A-D honorable mention last year. Caledonia notably gets three of the White’s post-season award winners. Tornstrom is the White Player of the Year and Curley in the Lineman of the Year for their efforts in Caledonia’s offensive and defensive lines. Tornstrom centered and Curley was a tackle for a group that helped the Warriors average 192 rushing yards per game and over 300 total yards. Defensively, Tornstrom was credited with a team second-best 71 total tackles including three sacks. He was selected to play in the Minnesota High School Football All-Star game. Curley was credited with 42 total tackles including a team-best five sacks while adding a fumble return TD. Stendel and Denstad led the offensive stat getters. Taking over purely as the team’s QB, Stendel was 95 of 160 passing (59.4%) for 1,482 yards, 12 TDs, and just 3 INTs. He added 382 yards and 10 TDs on the ground. Denstad was the Warriors’ top rusher with 707 yards on 108 carries (6.5 YPC) with 15 TDs. He added 7 receptions for 123 yards and two receiving TDs. Defensively, he had 42 total tackles but three fumble return TDs bring his total TD tally to 20 (team-best). He also kicked home 37 of 46 PATs and two of three field goals. Banse blocked a lot offensively and was the team’s leading tackler with 96 total stops. Beardmore (18-408, 4 TDs receiving, 6-59 rushing) and Doyle (26-379, 2 TDs receiving, 7-79 rushing) were the top two receivers by yardage. Doyle added a team-high three interceptions on defense and three return TDs, two pick sixes and a fumble. He averaged 14.7 yards on punt returns (12 of 176 yards). All seven Warrior A-D selections contributed on both sides of the ball. Making All-District HM are Fischer Wait (5’9” 150 Jr. WR/DB > three TDs including one by kick-off return, punt return, and rush), Ben Stemper (6’0” 175 Jr. LB/RB > team third-best 64 total tackles), Tristan Meyer (5’11” 160 Jr. WR/DB > 26-350, 2 TDs receiving, team fourth-best 51 total tackles), and Tyler Stendel (Sr. OL/DL). Said guys helped get the Warriors back on the state train and post a 10-1 record. They helped Carl Fruechte get named Southeast-White Coach of the Year.
Chatfield put forth a solid campaign. Jeff Johnson’s crew gets six All-District selections; Kail Schott (Sr. 6’0” 200 Sr. RB/LB), Miles Mulhern (6’0” 240 Sr. OL/DL), Carson Rowland (5’10” 170 Jr. QB/DB), Ethan Cole (6’3” 230 Jr. OL/DL), Ben Carrier (5’10” 160 Jr. WR/LB), and Nathan Allen (6’0” 185 Sr. C/LB). Schott heads the group, as he earned his second A-D selection. He is the Defensive Player of the Year in the White. Schott was easily the Gophers leading tackler from his middle linebacker position (98 total stops, 48 solos eight TFLs), utilizing his elite wrestling take-down abilities. He also had two fumble return scores. Offensively, Schott led the Gophers with 1,184 yards on 145 carries (8.2 YPC) while scoring 10 rushing TDs. He was one of the White’s best two-way players. Rowland was highly productive despite sharing the QB position for a good chunk of the year. The junior led the team with 12 rushing TDs, gaining 701 yards on 124 attempts. He also went 38 of 72 for 484 yards, 5 TDs, and 5 INTs passing. He added six TFLs and two interceptions (including a pick-six) on defense. Carrier was a key two-way player operating as one of the Gophers top receivers (15-283, 4 TDs receiving). He had a team third-best 58 total tackles including seven for loss. Brother Luke was A-D last year. Mulhern, Cole and Allen anchored the Gopher trenches. Cole and Allen each moved up after being A-D HM last year. Allen was the team’s center for a second year, adding 49 total tackles including seven TFLs. Cole had nine TFLs and 2 ½ sacks despite missing a good chunk of time to injury. Mulhern had 48 tackles from a d-lineman spot including a team-best 12 TFLs and 2 ½ sacks. Making A-D honorable mention are Caden Boyum (5’10” 165 Sr. WR/DB > 13-237, 4 TDs receiving, team-high five interceptions including a pick six) and Devin Reinhardt (5’11” 185 Sr. TE/DB > 17-309, 5 TDs receiving). Said guys helped the Gophers to 7-3 season where their only losses were to Section 1AA champion Caledonia and runner-up Dover-Eyota. Chatfield football put forth its sixth straight winning season under Coach Jeff Johnson. They have gone 52-12 over that span with four 1AA title game visits, two 1AA titles, a state runner-up, and a state title.
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