Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

For the past six years the Your Prep Sports area football team has recognized some of the top players in the coverage area for their effort on the gridiron.

This year’s team features some of the best individual performers from several of the most successful teams in the state.

Five Your Prep Sports area teams reached the postseason in 2021 with Solon and City High each advancing to the state semifinals.

The 2021 edition of the Your Prep Sports area football team features players from those playoff teams, Division I recruits, all-state, all-district and all-conference performers and school record holders.

City High junior linebacker Ben Kueter and Solon junior quarterback Blake Timmons are the captains of the 2021 team.

Kueter is the 2020 defensive captain after leading Class 5A in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks while helping City High to a 10-2 record and its first state semifinal appearance since 2010.

Timmons is the 2021 offensive captain following a season in which he accounted for nearly 2,500 yards of total offense while leading Solon to an 11-1 mark and a second state semifinal trip in the past three seasons.

2021 Your Prep Sports Area Football Team 

Offense

Quarterback: Ben Swails, 6-2, 175, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: In his only season as a full-time starter at quarterback Swails was dynamic completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards and 19 touchdowns with just three interceptions and also rushing for 298 yards and four scores.

*Quarterback: Blake Timmons, 5-10, 175, Jr., Solon: Accounted for more than 2,400 yards of total offense and 29 touchdowns while leading a Solon to an 11-1 record and a spot in the 3A semifinals. Timmons passed for 1,553 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 888 yards and 10 scores.

Running back: Mason Applegate, 6-0, 190, Sr., West High: In his first season playing running back Applegate earned became the first West High 1,000-yard rusher since 2012 and first team Class 5A all-state honors after ranking seventh in 5A with 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging a 5A best 10.2 yards per carry.

Running back: Darren Richardson, 5-11, 195, Sr., City High: Became the first 1,000-yard back at City High since 2013 rushing for 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards per carry on his way to earning second-team all-state honors.

Running back: Darrius Willis-Newell, 5-8, 170, Sr., Liberty High: A two-year starter at linebacker Willis-Newell emerged as a game-changer at running back rushing for 1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry on his way to being named third-team all-state.

Wide receiver: Jamari Newson, 5-11, 168, Sr., City High: Ranked third on the team with 20 receptions for 332 yards and four touchdowns and also averaged 34.8 yards per kick off return including a 99-yarder touchdown return.

Wide receiver: Jake Quillin, 5-10, 160, Sr., Solon: Led Solon in receptions (16), receiving yards (323) and touchdown receptions (7) while averaging 20.2 yards per catch.

Wide receiver: Harrison Rosenberg, 6-2, 170, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: Among the most productive pass catchers in the state Rosenberg had a career-high 46 receptions and ranked third in Class 4A in receiving yards (855) and fourth in touchdown catches (12) on his way to being named first-team all-state.

Tight end: Christian Barney, 6-2, 186, Jr., Liberty High: Barney had a major impact on both sides of the ball in his first season at Liberty High catching 15 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns and ranking second on the team with 57.5 tackles including 7.5 for loss.

Offensive line: Liam Becher, 6-6, 305, Sr., West High: The North Dakota recruit anchored the Trojan offensive line the past two seasons starting 22 consecutive games at left tackle while twice earning third-team all-state honors.

Offensive line: Aaron Stalkfleet, 5-10, 230, Sr., City High: A versatile offensive lineman Stalkfleet earned second-team team all-state honors after helping the Little Hawks average 42.5 points, 195 rushing yards and 385 total yards per game.

Offensive line: Josh Gaffey, 6-4, 230, Sr., Regina: A two-time third-team all-state selection on the offensive line Gaffey helped the Regals average 28.3 points, 213 rushing yards and 361 total yards per game.

Offensive line: Cayden Knipper, 6-3, 230, Sr., Solon: A two-year starter on both sides of the ball Knipper helped Solon average better than 39 points and 377 total yards per game including 227 rushing yards per contest.

Offensive line: Max Beckman, 6-3, 230, Sr., Liberty High: A two-year starter on the offensive line Beckman earned third-team all-state honors after helping Liberty High average 177 rushing yards per game over the final six games.

Offensive line: Tommy Morlan, 5-11, 260, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A two-year, two-way starter Morlan was the anchor on both sides of the ball for the Clippers this season on his way to earning second-team all-state honors.

Utility: Levi Daniel, 6-2, 185, Jr., Regina: Rushed for a team-high 1,033 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught nine passes for 138 yards and a score and made 29.5 tackles and intercepted a pass in his first season at Regina.

Utility: Sean Stahle, 5-10, 162, Jr., Solon: A versatile offensive weapon Stahle earned second-team all-state honors after ranking second in 3A with 2,026 all purpose yards and leading the Spartans with 1,138 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, catching 12 passes for 305 yards and three scores and returning a kickoff and two punts for touchdowns.

Kicker: Matt Jetton, 5-10, 180, Sr., West High: In his first season handling the West High placekicking duties Jetton was a perfect 26-of-26 making all 22 of his PAT attempts and four field goals including a 43 yarder.

Defense

Defensive line: Aidan Udell, 5-10, 195, Sr., Regina: Earned third-team all-state honors for the second consecutive season after leading Regina in tackles for the second year in a row collecting 66.5 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in just eight games.

Defensive line: TaeShon McDaniels, 6-3, 250, Sr., City High: A disruptive force on the defensive front McDaniels earned third-team all-state honors after ranking fifth on the team with 35 tackles including 14 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Defensive line: Gage Marty, 6-0, 245, Sr., Solon: A difference maker on both sides of the ball Marty earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive lineman after recording 31 tackles including 11 for loss and 3.5 sacks from his interior line spot.

Defensive line: Drake Berry, 6-3, 225, Sr., West Branch: A second-team all-state selection as an offensive lineman Berry was a handful for opponents on both sides of the ball making 24.5 tackles with five for loss and three sacks.

*Linebacker: Ben Kueter, 6-1, 192, Jr., City High: An Iowa recruit, Kueter established himself as one of the top players in the state leading 5A in tackles (101), tackles for loss (41) and sacks (11.5) on his way to earning first-team all-state honors.

Linebacker: John Klosterman, 6-0, 205, Sr., City High: A third-team all-state selection at linebacker, Klosterman ranked third on the team with 59.5 tackles and was second with 16 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Linebacker: Brett White, 6-2, 210, Soph., Solon: Led Class 3A with 81 solo stops, ranked third with 94 total tackles and had team-highs in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (4.5) while earning second-team all-state honors.

Linebacker: Ryne Vander Leest, 5-10, 185, Jr., West High: Racked up a team-high 67 tackles including 40 solo stops and averaged 8.5 tackles per game while earning first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

Linebacker: Griffin Kraft, 6-3, 200, Sr., Liberty High: A versatile linebacker Kraft averaged nearly eight tackles per game in 15 career starts while leading the Lightning in tackles the past two seasons and had a team-high 11 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble this season.

Linebacker: Boaz Abramoff, 5-11, 195, Sr., West High: A two-year starter at linebacker for the Trojans Abramoff ranked second on the team with 45 tackles, including five for loss and had a team-high 2.5 sacks.

Defensive back: Carter Seaton, 5-10, 158, Sr., City High: A stalwart at safety for the Little Hawks Seaton ranked fourth on the team with 39.5 tackles and was second with three interceptions.

Defensive back: Luke Meyers, 5-10, 170, Sr., Liberty High: The Liberty High leader in receptions (26) and receiving yards (367) Meyers was even better on defense where he racked up 21.5 tackles and led the Lightning with three interceptions.

Defensive back: Logan Sieverding, 5-11, 170, Sr., Solon: Emerged as a leader in a stingy Solon secondary picking off a team-high three passes and ranking second on the team with 45 tackles including 39 solo stops.

Defensive back: Gable Mitchell, 5-9, 170, Sr., City High: A three-year starter on both sides of the ball Mitchell earned first-team all-state honors after ranking second on the team with 66.5 tackles and leading the Little Hawks with five interceptions. Mitchell also led City High in receptions (29), receiving yards (453) and caught four touchdown passes, threw three touchdown passes and returned an interception and two punts for scores.

Utility: Gage Freeman, 5-11, 185, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A third-team all-state pick as a linebacker Freeman did it all for the Clippers. The senior led CCA in tackles (63), solo stops (52) and tackles for loss (7), rushing yards (806), rushing touchdowns (10) and also returned a fumble for a score.

Utility: Sam Aitchison, 5-9, 170, Sr., Regina: A stalwart in the Regina secondary the past two seasons Aitchison ranked second on the team in tackles for the second year in a row making 41.5 stops and also led the Regals with 30 receptions for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Punter: Andy Henson, 6-2, 205, Jr., West Branch: One of the most versatile players in the state Henson earned third-team all-state honors as a linebacker after making 42.5 tackles including 11 for loss but also rushed for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns and averaged 36.2 yards per punt on 28 punts.

*– Captains

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