NR-S-M get five total on Nine-Man All-State teams

The New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock Rockets finished one game short of advancing to this year’s Dakota Bowl, but were very well-represented on the North Dakota High School Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Nine-Man All-State Teams.

Defensive lineman Easton Benz was selected to the First Team for the 10-1 Rockets, one of just three sophomores to make the cut for the top squad.

Four other NR-S-M players were honored with Second Team recognition, those being junior running back/defensive lineman Carter Engebretson, seniors Connor Knatterud and Logan Maddock (both running back/linebacker), and sophomore quarterback/defensive back Easton Simon.

Coach Elliott Belquist’s squad was eliminated from championship contention by a 32-28 loss to South Border in the semifinal round.

Notable selections

The Mustangs, the Rockets’ semifinal opponent and eventual state runner-up, had two First Team selections in running back Connor Kosiak and linebacker Daniel Schumacher, and Levi Buchholz, Berkley Frantz and Cole Stock were named to the Second Team. Their coach, Evan Mellmer, was selected as the division’s Coach of the Year for the state.

State champion North Prairie had two First Team honorees in running back Blake Mattson and offensive lineman Nate Tastad, and Second Teamers were Brett Tastad and Cole Henderson. The Cougars’ only loss this season came to the Rockets on September 8, 36-34.

The former Tastad was also named the Nine-Man Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year, and the 6’5”, 260-pound anchor for the Cougars’ line has signed to play for the NDSU Bison.

Also within Region 2, North Star quarterback Dane Hagler and linebacker Rueben Clay, along with Four Winds wide receiver Deng Deng, were named to the First Team. Second Team regional standouts were Zachary Gibson and Ross Thompson, both of Nelson County.

The other team with five total selections was the other semifinalist, Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn. The Sioux had two First Team and three Second Team honorees.

Members of the NDHSCA Class A All-State Football Team will be published next week.

A full list of those selected to the Nine-Man All-State teams are as follows:

NDHSCA Nine-Man Football

All-State First Team

Offense

Javin Friesz, Sr., QB, Grant Co./Flasher; Walker Braaten, Jr., QB, Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn; Tyler Brandt, Sr., QB, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood; Dane Hagler, Sr., QB, North Star; Lucas Sims, Sr., RB, Central McLean; Gunner Thielges, So., RB, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion; Connor Kosiak, Sr., RB, South Border; Blake Mattson, Sr., RB, North Prairie; Luke Martinson, Sr., TE, Sargent County; Deng Deng, Sr., WR, Four Winds; Nate Tastad, Sr., OL, North Prairie

Defense

Josh Wittich, Sr., DL, Sargent County; Keaton Wehrman, Sr., DL, Alexander; Hunter Tolstad, So., DL, W-N-G; Chase Cooper, Jr., DL, W-L; Easton Benz, So., DL, New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock; Rueben Clay, Sr., LB, North Star; Ryan Pingel, Sr., LB, Alexander; Wyatt Kuhn, Jr., LB, New Salem-Almont; Daniel Schumacher, Sr., LB, South Border; Jaren Rafferty, Sr., LB, Hettinger County

Second Team

(no positions listed)

Riley Morlock, Sr., Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood; Treyton Lessman, Jr., Maddox Juntunen, Sr., and Brody Nordmark, Jr., W-N-G; Jacob Wolf, So., Central McLean; Beau Rider, Sr., Alexander; Levi Kackman, Sr., W-L; Grady Whelander, Sr., and Nick Hansen, Sr., Sargent County; Parker Hubrig, Sr., Hankinson; Nick Wulfekuhle, Sr., Richland; Gentry Richter, Jr., Linton-HMB/Strasburg-Zeeland; CL Weinberger, Jr., Grant Co./Flasher; Levi Buchholz, Jr., Cole Stock, Jr., and Berkley Frantz, So., South Border; Zachary Gibson, Sr., and Ross Thompson, Sr., Nelson County; Connor Knatterud, Sr., Logan Maddock, Sr., Carter Engebretson, Jr., and Easton Simon, So., NR-S-M; Cole Henderson, Jr., and Brett Tastad, Jr., North Prairie; Owen Lesko, Jr., L-L-M; Brock Norton, Jr., NS-A; Tallen Binstock, Sr., Hettinger County

NDHSCA Nine-Man Senior Athlete of the Year

Nate Tastad, North Prairie

NDHSCA Nine-Man Coach of the Year

Evan Mellmer, South Border