Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

For half a decade Your Prep Sports has recognized the top football players in the coverage area for their effort on the gridiron.

Just as it has the past four seasons the annual Your Prep Sports area team features some of the best individual players from several of the most successful teams in the state.

The 2020 edition of the Your Prep Sports area football teams features state champions, Division I recruits, all-state and all-district performers and state and school record holders.

Regina senior Alec Wick is the offensive captain of the 2020 Your Prep Sports area football team.

A four-year varsity performer, Wick closed his career as the state’s all-time leader for career receptions and third all-time in receiving yards.

Wick earned first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive season after catching 75 passes for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns to help Regina to the Class A state title.

Solon senior linebacker Carson Shive is the 2020 defensive captain.

Shive led the Spartans in tackles with 78 stops in 10 games helping Solon reach the Class 2A quarterfinals.

A two-year starter at inside linebacker, Shive closed his career with 155 tackles while helping Solon post a 19-4 record over the past two seasons.

2020 Your Prep Sports Area Football Team

Offense

Quarterback: Marcus Morgan, 6-3, 185, Sr., West High – The all-time leading passer at West High with 5,260 career yards, Morgan earned all-state honors for the third consecutive season after completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,662 yards and 17 touchdown and rushing for 213 yards and six more scores in seven games.

Quarterback: Ashton Cook, 6-5, 206, Sr., Regina – Earned first-team all-state honors after a completing 67 percent of his passes for 2,862 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushing for 309 yards and six more scores.

Running back: Theo Kolie, 6-2, 165, Sr., Regina – The breakthrough star for Regina during its state title run Kolie ranked fourth in Class A with 1,599 rushing yards and led Class A and ranked third in the state with 35 rushing touchdowns. Kolie also caught 28 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back: Alex Figueroa, 5-9, 175, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – A three-year starter, Figueroa had his best season as a senior rushing for 996 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 125 yards per game. Figueroa finished his career with 2,236 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.

Running back: Jackson Ryan, 5-10, 180, Sr., Solon – Became the first 1,000-yard back at Solon since 2014 rushing for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns while earning second team all-state honors.

Tight end: Kolby Kucera, 6-4, 197, Sr., City High – Emerged as a top option for senior quarterback Raph Hamilton leading City High with 19 receptions for 221 yards.

Wide receiver: Grahm Goering, 6-1, 190, Sr., West High – The South Dakota State recruit ranked fifth in Class 4A with 614 receiving yards and second in 4A with 10 touchdown catches in just seven games while earning third-team all-state honors.

Wide receiver: Damarion Williams, 6-1, 180, Sr., West High – In his only season at West High Williams ranked second on the team behind Goering in receptions (22), receiving yards (355) and touchdowns catches (4).

*Wide receiver: Alec Wick, 6-1, 180, Sr., Regina – The all-time state leader in receptions with 242 Wick had the best season of an impressive prep career as a senior. Wick caught 75 passes for a career-high 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading Class A in all three categories while earning first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive season.

Wide receiver: Colton Hoffman, 6-1, 215, Sr., Solon – A standout on both sides of the ball Hoffman emerged as an explosive threat in the Spartan pass game earning second team all-state honors after ranking sixth in Class 2A with 678 receiving yards and third with 11 touchdowns while averaging 23.4 yards per catch.

Offensive line: Zach Harp, 6-1, 285, Sr., Solon – Solon formed an identity as a power running team during a seven-game winning streak that led the Spartans to the Class 2A quarterfinals and Harp was a big reason why paving the way for Solon to average 235 rushing yards per game.

Offensive line: Andrew Wiese, 6-3, 198, Jr., Regina – An important piece to the state title run for Regina on both sides of the ball Wiese became a stalwart at offensive tackle on a Regina offense that averaged 487 total yards in its final four games on its way to the Class A title.

Offensive line: Kolton Fangman, 6-0, 260, Sr., Liberty High – An all-district performer, Fangman was the unquestioned leader for a Liberty High front that prides itself on playing physical football.

Offensive line: Ostyn Friday, 6-2, 258, Jr., City High – Already a two-year starter, Friday emerged as a key piece of the City High front that helped the Little Hawks rush for better than 211 yards per game.

Offensive line: Fred Sayata, 5-10, 205, Sr., West High – A two-year starter at center, Syata was the leader of a West High offensive line that helped the Trojans be one of the most efficient offenses teams in Class 4A averaging 37.6 points and 385 yards per game.

Utility: Gavin Hierseman, 6-1, 185, Sr., West Branch – Earned all-state honors for the first time after passing for 1,422 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes as a senior. Also rushed for 181 yards and five scores.

Kicker: Cael Fiderlein, 5-11, 200, Sr., West Branch – Connected on 4-of-8 field goal attempts including a 37 yarder and went 21-of-23 on PATs as a senior finishing his career 65-of-68 on extra point attempts and 11-of-15 on field goals.

Defense

Defensive line: TJ Bollers, 6-4, 255, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – Wisconsin commit was a three-time all-state selection at defensive end earning first-team honors for the first time this season after making 35.5 tackles including 6.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. A four-year starter, Bollers finished his career with 125.5 tackles, 26.5 for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Defensive line: Mason Applegate, 6-0, 200, Jr., West High – Already a two-year starter with 21 career tackles for loss Applegate used his impressive blend of strength and speed to rank third on the team with 32.5 tackles as a junior adding 2 sacks and a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive line: Josh Gaffey, 6-3, 230, Jr., Regina – A force on both sides of the ball Gaffey was a third team all-state pick as an offensive lineman but was perhaps even more dominant on defense where he made 36.5 tackles, including 32 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass from his defensive tackle spot.

Defensive line: Ben Cusick, 6-3, 215, Sr., Solon – One of the most improved players in the area, Cusick became a stalwart on the Spartan defensive line as a senior making 35 tackles, including 11 for loss, from his end spot and had a team-high 5.5 sacks while earning second-team all-state honors.

Defensive line: Jeff Bowie, 6-5, 250, Sr., West Branch – A two-time, first-team all-state selection the Iowa recruit closed his career with 130 tackles including 58.5 for loss and 26 sacks.

*Linebacker: Carson Shive, 6-0, 205, Sr., Solon – Among the most productive defenders in the state the past two seasons Shive closed his career with 155 tackles after leading the Spartans with 78 tackles, 58 solos and 12 tackles for loss as a senior.

Linebacker: Ian McAreavy, 5-11, 185, Sr., West High – Led West High in tackles for the second consecutive season making 55.5 tackles including a team-high 23 solo stops and three tackles for loss.

Linebacker: Kalan Haworth, 5-11, 185, Sr., West High – Along with McAreavy was the leader of a stout West High defense making a career-high 48 tackles including 4.5 for loss.

Linebacker: Nate Beckmann, 5-7, 160, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – The top tackler for the Clippers posted a career-high 55.5 tackles as a senior with 37 solo stops and four tackles for loss and also recovered a fumble.

Linebacker: Griffin Kraft, 6-1, 180, Jr., Liberty High – A rangy linebacker, Kraft provided an immediate impact in his first varsity season leading Liberty High in total tackles (50.5), solo tackles (36) and tackles for loss (5) from his inside linebacker spot.

Linebacker: Ben Kueter, 6-1, 192, Soph., City High – Kueter made an immediate impact in his first varsity season tying for the team lead with 41.5 tackles and lead City High with 31 solo stops and three tackles for loss from his inside linebacker position.

Defensive back: Gable Mitchell, 5-9, 170, Jr., City High – A fearless hitter in the secondary, Mitchell tied for the team lead with 41.5 tackles including 29 solo stops from his safety spot and also had an interception.

Defensive back: Sam Aitchison, 5-8, 145, Jr., Regina – The leader of the Regina secondary Aitchison emerged as a key piece of a Regal defense that peaked with back-to-back wins at the UNI-Dome. Aitchison had 42 solo stops among his 47 tackles, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass.

Defensive back: Eric Torres, 6-0, 180, Sr., West High – Consistency made Torres a key piece of the West High defensive game plan each week as the senior finished fifth on the team with 24.5 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

Defensive back: Luke Meyer, 5-7, 155, Jr., Liberty High – Ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 27 from his spot in the secondary and also recovered a fumble and picked off a pass.

Utility: Aidan Udell, 5-8, 180, Jr., Regina – Udell used his non-stop motor to lead Regina with 63.5 tackles from his defensive line spot and also recovered two fumbles and posted two sacks while earning third team all-state honors.

Punter: Ben Swails, 6-2, 175, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – A fixture for the Clippers on offense, defense and special teams Swails accounted for four touchdowns on offense, had a team-high six interceptions on defense and earned second team all-state honors as a punter after averaging 42.5 yards on 22 punts.

* – Captains

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