First team

Ryan Wach, Alden-Conger, Senior

The Albert Lea Tribune Player of the Year was impressive in every phase of the game rushing for 1,867 setting a single-season school record. He also led the defense with eight interceptions.

Mitch Brekke, NRHEG, Senior

Brekke led the Panther defense with 94 tackles and an impressive 11 sacks on the season as he helped anchor NRHEG&8217;s offensive and defensive lines.

Taylor Ignaszewski, Albert Lea, Senior

The Tigers unquestioned defensive leader with 131 tackles one fumble recovery and an interception. Was also a contributor running and catching the ball on offense.

Justin Stieglbauer, NRHEG, Senior

He came up big in several areas for an injury-plagued team. He was second on the team in receptions but led in touchdowns with seven.

He was in the top five in tackles and added a pair of sacks.

Jarrad Knutson, Glenville-Emmons, Senior

Knutson put up impressive numbers in his final season for the Wolverines. He threw for over 1,500 yards and ran for more than 900 more on the ground.

Taylor Holland, NRHEG, Senior

Holland was second on the team with 92 tackles and 10 sacks. Offensively, he had a team-high 41 catches for 725 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

R.J. Polley, Albert Lea, Senior

Polley was an all-conference performer on the lines for the Tigers helping to open up running lanes and keep defenders at bay. Polley also added a sack on the season.

Matt Hengesteg, Northwood-Kensett, Senior

Injuries slowed last year&8217;s player of the year but it did not stop him as he ran for 830 yards to lead the teamm scored nine touchdowns and was a weapon in the return game.

Spenser Brackey, Lake Mills, Junior

The middle linebacker set a Lake Mills school record with 159 tackles on the season. Also had five interceptions for the Bulldog squad.

Tyler Stading, Northwood-Kensett, Senior

Led the Vikings in tackles with 192 total, was first in scoring with 12 touchdowns and was second on the team in rushing with 668 yards.

Ross Hemmingsen, Alden-Conger, Senior

He was the leading receiver for the Knights with 22 receptions and five touchdowns, while also recording a sack, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a team-high 77 tackles.

Aaron Wuerflein, Glenville-Emmons, Senior

Led the team in receiving yards at nearly 500 and accounted for seven touchdowns for the high-powered Wolverine attack.

Second team

Lars Christianson, Lake Mills, Junior

Collected 83 tackles and five sacks to go along with five tackles for loss and an interception on the defensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs. He was a punishing runner on offense.

Mitchell Kleinschrodt, Alden-Conger, Junior

Played both quarterback and running back for the Knights throwing for 478 yards and seven touchdowns and running for 219 yards and three scores.

Anthony Wittmer, Alden-Conger, Senior

Wittmer was second on the team with 17 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team with 3 1/2 sacks and was one of three players with two fumble recoveries.

Gaven Schlaak, NRHEG, Junior

Took over the bulk of the running duties late in the season but finished with 784 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Panthers. He was also a key contributor in the kick return game.

Steve Hengesteg, Lake Mills, Junior

Hengesteg was a spark plug for the offense working as a running back, receiver and kick returner who retuned two punts for touchdowns. He also added 53 tackles and an interception on defense.

Jordan Stenzel, United South Central, Senior

Stenzel holds the school record for kick returns averaging 22.5 while also leading the offense from his quarterback position. He had 69 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

Dan Bestul, Northwood-Kensett, Senior

The team&8217;s leading receiver who scored five touchdowns on the season with a pair of fumble recoveries. He also added 68 tackles on the season.

Logan Hansen, Glenville-Emmons, Senior

The all-conference performer did it all for the Wolverines on both sides of the ball whether it was running and receiving on offense or racking up the tackles on defense.

Matt Morris, Albert Lea, Senior

Led the Tigers in rushing with 620 yards rushing and receiving with 11 catches for 124 yards. He also led the team with five touchdowns and was second on the squad with 79 tackles.

Louie Grossman, Albert Lea, Junior

Became a terror on defense once he moved to the defensive line racking up eight sacks in five games and recovering two fumbles.

Arthur Wright, Glenville-Emmons, Senior

A defensive leader on the line with eight fumble recovers. He also had an interception and tacked on 50 tackles.

Nick Rice, Lake Mills, Senior

Rice was a key cog on the Bulldogs&8217; lines getting to the quarterback for four sacks and chipping in with 57 tackles on the season.

Third team

Peter Brekken, Lake Mills, Senior

The senior battled injuries all season but still ran for 726 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 58 tackles and an interception on the defensive end.

Dakota Tracy, NRHEG, Junior

Tracy threw for 1,395 yards and 10 touchdowns and also ran for over 100 more to help lead the Panthers deep into the playoffs.

Eric Hagen, Lake Mills, Senior

Hagen was a key on the offensive and defensive line opening holes for the running game and racking up 60 tackles on the season.

Blake Kerkhoff, HRHEG, Senior

Kerkhoff was among the team leaders in rushing and total offense despite missing time due to injuries. He also had three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.

Corey Dieser, Albert Lea, Senior

Dieser led the defense with five interceptions and was in the top five in tackles with 48. He also threw for 602 yards and three touchdowns.

Cassidy Carlson, United South Central, Senior

The defensive MVP had 46 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries for the Rebels.

Matt Bremseth, Alden-Conger, Junior

The junior was second on the team in sacks with three and added 57 tackles despite missing games late due to injury.

Nick Stadheim, Glenville-Emmons, Junior

Stadheim was one of the Wolverines leading tacklers with 90 on the season including seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

Ben Waalkens, Albert Lea, Junior

Waalkens did a little of everything for the Tigers from rushing to receiving to kick returning while adding 39 tackles on defense.

E.J. Knight, Alden-Conger, Junior

Knight was second on the team with three interceptions, recovered two fumbles and blocked a pair of kicks for A-C. He was also a big-play receiver for the team.

Michael Bachtle, Northwood-Kensett, Junior

Bachtle was second on the team in tackles with 129 and third in rushing while proving to be a valuable two-way player for the Vikings.

Travis Wayne, NRHEG, Junior

Wayne was fourth on the team with 62 tackles and added three sacks for the Panther defense.