L I N E M A N

JACOB LOUNSBERRY

Williamsville, Senior/6-2, 220

Lounsberry was a three-year starter for theBullets, who went a combined 33-3 duringthat stretch. A unanimous All-SangamoConference defensive end this year, helogged 24 solo tackles (60 total), alongwith five sacks and two fumble recoveries.Lounsberry also was a weapon out of thebackfield, gaining 683 yards and scoring10 touchdowns from his fullback spot.

L I N E M A N

AUSTINTRAVOUS

Auburn, Senior/5-7, 230

Travous was a three-yearstarter who this year wasfirst-team All-SangamoConference at defensive tackle and offen-sive guard. He was a key senior leader ona young Auburn defense that improved asthe season went on, chalking up 44 solotackles including seven sacks and sevenother tackles for loss.

L I N E M A N

JONAH WALSH

Hillsboro, Senior/6-1, 190

The team MVP for a 4-5Hillsboro team that was inthe playoff hunt enteringWeek 9, Walsh was All-South CentralConference at defensive line and tightend. He had 68 tackles, including threesacks, along with two fumble recoveries.Hillsboro coach Aaron Duff said the oppo-sition would always run away fromWalsh's side of the field.

L I N E B A C K E R

TYLER BROWN

Auburn, Junior/5-11, 170

Brown always seemed tobe around the footballfrom his inside linebackerspot. He posted a team-leading 122 solo tackles, including threesacks and six other tackles for loss. Healso had one interception and was namedfirst-team All-Sangamo Conference.

L I N E B A C K E R

OZZIE KENT

Williamsville, Senior/6-4, 226

Kent was a presence foroutstanding Williamsvilledefensive units each of thepast three seasons, including this yearwhen the Bullets had four shutouts andallowed single digits in four other games.An All-Sangamo Conference linebacker,Kent was second on the team in tackles(96), including five for loss with one sackand one interception.

L I N E B A C K E R

JACOB SCHURMAN

Athens, Junior/6-0, 185

The lone unanimous pickamong All-SangamoConference linebackers,Schurman was one of the Warriors' toptacklers with 23 assists and 27 solos. Healso had one interception, eight passdeflections and a pair of tackles for loss.He also was a starter on offense and wasnamed to the IHSFCA Class 2A AcademicAll-State Team.

L I N E B A C K E R

DERREKTIBURZI

Gillespie, Senior/5-9, 205

Gillespie did not keepdefensive statistics thisseason, but Tiburzi played a vitalrole on defense and offense forthe Miners' South CentralConference runner-up team. Hewas an All-South CentralConference first-team selectionat both linebacker and runningback, rushing for 870 yardsand scoring 14 touchdowns atthe latter position. A four-yearstarter, Tiburzi also ranksfirst in his class.

D E F E N S I V E B A C K

JAKE BRUHN

Staunton, Senior/5-10, 160

Despite missing parts offour late-regular-seasongames due to injuries,Bruhn was at the heart of the Bulldogs'unlikely run to second place in the Class2A playoffs. A three-year starter at quar-terback and a talented kick returner, healso excelled in the defensive secondarythis season. Bruhn had 54 solo tackles,three tackles for loss, five interceptionsand three fumble recoveries.

D E F E N S I V E B A C K

JAZEEL KING

Riverton, Senior/5-8, 145

King's speed and quick-ness made him a valuableperformer on offense anddefense for the Hawks. As an All-Sangamo Conference first-team pick atdefensive back, King had 29 tackles andone interception. He also had 18 recep-tions for 244 yards and four touchdowns,plus 336 yards rushing and six TDs.

D E F E N S I V E B A C K

ALEX MYLES

Beardstown, Senior/5-9, 165

Myles rushed for 1,028yards and 11 touchdowns,and also had 20 recep-tions 296 yards and four TDs. But he wasjust as valuable to the Tigers (6-4) as adefensive back, where he was a unani-mous All-Prairieland Conference BlueDivision pick on defense. Myles had 45solo tackles and 26 assists along with oneinterception. He also was an all-confer-ence pick at running back.

D E F E N S I V E B A C K

JAKE NIEHAUS

Mount Olive, Senior/6-1, 165

Niehaus did a little ofeverything for theWildcats, who finished 7-3and made their second straight Class 1Aplayoff appearance. He was an All-PrairieState Conference selection at threespots: quarterback, punter and defensiveback. On defense, he had six interceptionsand made 36 tackles. At quarterback, hepassed for 1,321 yards and ran for 777yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

P U N T E R

T.J. GRAY

Carlinville, Senior/6-2, 190

Gray, the All-South CentralConference first-teampunter, helped theCavaliers win the field-position game onmany occasions. He averaged 40.26yards per punt. His longest punt went for68 yards, and his punts left the oppositioninside its own 20-yard line on eight occa-sions.

F L E X P L A Y E R

LUKE HAMLIN

Nokomis, Senior/6-3, 200

Hamlin quarterbackedNokomis to a 7-3 markand its third straight play-off berth. But defense was where the sen-ior really excelled. Playing primarily defen-sive end, Hamlin was named the PrairieState Conference's Defensive Player ofthe Year as he totaled 52 tackles —including 16 for loss. He also had oneinterception and four fumble recoveries,along with a blocked punt.

— Capsules by Dave Kane

Q U A R T E R B A C K

JOSH LINDSEY

Williamsville, Senior/6-2, 192

Lindsey, a two-yearstarter, came into his ownthis season as a rusher(1,393 yards, 20 touchdowns) and a pass-er (a 59 percent completion percentagefor 1,768 yards, 15 touchdowns and justtwo interceptions). In leading the Bulletsto an 11-1 mark and Class 3A quarterfinalberth, he was first-team SangamoConference, IHSFCA Class 3A all-stateand Champaign-Urbana News-Gazettespecial mention all-state.

C E N T E R

NICK MILNER

Auburn, Senior/6-3, 265

In a season in whichAuburn broke single-sea-son school records fortotal yards (5,182), pass-ing yards (3,303) and first downs (246),Milner helped pave the way as coachDave Bates' "quarterback of the offensiveline." The All-Sangamo Conference first-team center made many line calls for theTrojans' blocking schemes.

T A C K L E

LUKE NALL

Havana, Senior/6-2, 295

Considered one of thestrongest players in thePrairieland Conference,Nall was a first-team BlueDivision offensive tackle and second-team defensive lineman. Coach ChadHeffren said Illinois State has showninterest in Nall, although the big senior isalso an exceptional student who couldreceive academic scholarships from aschool like ISU.

T A C K L E

DALTONRATLIFF

Athens, Senior/6-4, 265

Ratliff was a big presenceon an offensive line thatopened the way for theWarriors' ball-control attack. He was theonly unanimous selection amongSangamo Conference offensive linemenafter also earning All-Sangamo honors asa junior. Ratliff also was named Class 2Aall-state by the Illinois High SchoolFootball Coaches Association (IHSFCA).

G U A R D

ETHAN DIXON

Carlinville, Senior/6-0, 220

Dixon helped open theway for the Cavaliers'3,487 rushing yards asthey went 8-3 and reached the secondround of the Class 2A playoffs. He wasnamed the Cavaliers' most valuable offen-sive lineman each of the past two years,and he was first-team All-South CentralConference on the offensive and defen-sive lines this year.

G U A R D

WYATT ROBINSON

Petersburg PORTA,Senior/6-4, 265

A first-team All-SangamoConference selection atguard, Robinson played a big role inPORTA's turnaround season as theBluejays went 6-4 and made the Class 3Aplayoffs. Robinson, a three-year starter,made PORTA's offensive line calls fromhis guard spot as the Bluejays averaged31 points a game and rolled up 3,500yards.

T I G H T E N D

COOPER EAKER

Auburn, Junior/6-4, 200

One of three underclass-men among the Trojans'top five receivers, Eakergave Auburn quarterbackKorben Clark a big target in Auburn'simpressive aerial attack. A first-teamSangamo Conference pick at tight end,Eaker had the team's third-most recep-tions (37) for 396 yards and six touch-downs.

R U N N I N G B A C K

AUSTINCHAUSSE

Nokomis, Senior/6-0, 190

The elusive Chausseclosed out a noteworthycareer for Nokomis as he was named thePrairie State Conference Offensive Playerof the Year. He rushed for 1,155 yards and20 touchdowns while catching 14 passesand scoring three more touchdowns.Chausse also had an area-leading seveninterceptions at defensive back. He wasalso IHSFCA Class 2A all-state andChampaign-Urbana News-Gazette specialmention all-state.

R U N N I N G B A C K

JESSE SETZER

Petersburg PORTA,Senior/5-7, 175

Setzer's breakout seasoncoincided with theBluejays' first winningcampaign since 2009. He gained an area-leading 2,249 rushing yards (No. 2 inPORTA history) and scored 24 touch-downs; he had three kick returns fortouchdowns, and he also grabbed atouchdown pass. He was unanimous All-Sangamo Conference at running back,IHSFCA Class 3A all-state andChampaign-Urbana News-Gazette specialmention all-state.

W I D E R E C E I V E R

CHRIS HALPIN

Gillespie, Senior/6-2, 185

Halpin was a multi-facetedweapon for the Miners,who posted their bestrecord (10-2) since 1990 and reached theClass 2A quarterfinals. The All-SouthCentral Conference receiver and special-teams player caught 51 of MikeHenderson's passes for 821 yards and 10touchdowns. Halpin also had five returnsfor touchdowns (three punts and twokickoffs).

W I D E R E C E I V E R

JARED WILSON

Auburn, Senior/5-10,161

After missing part of hisjunior season due to injury,Wilson bounced backimpressively for the Trojans. He was theirtop receiver with 73 catches for 1,274yards and 15 touchdowns, including aschool-record 19 receptions (one short ofthe state record) in Week 9 againstWilliamsville. Wilson was a unanimous All-Sangamo Conference receiver, and alsoearned IHSFCA Class 3A all-state honors.

K I C K E R

TYLER NICHOLS

Williamsville, Senior/5-10, 150

Nichols, an All-SangamoConference and all-areaselection for the secondstraight year, was as reliable as they comefor the Bullets again this season. He was60-for-62 on extra points and 6-for-6 onfield goals, with the longest field goal from28 yards out. During his career, he was13-for-13 on field goals and made 56straight extra points (fifth all-time on thestate list). Williamsville coach Aaron Kunzalso praised Nichols' ability to place kick-offs in the ideal spots.

F L E X P L A Y E R

MARCUS SITKO

Staunton, Junior/6-0, 165

Fourth-place finisher in theClass 1A state long jumplast spring, Sitko alsoshowed his athleticism for Staunton'sClass 2A state runner-up team. He caught38 passes for 677 yards and 14 touch-downs (including clutch TD catchesagainst Carlyle and Auburn in the play-

offs); rushed for 649 yards andfive touchdowns, and

scored 21 touchdownstotal. He wasChampaign-Urbana

News-Gazette specialmention all-state.

SJ-R ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAMS

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Center — Tanner Maxwell, 5-10, 290 Sr.,AthensTackles — Daniel Ryan, 6-4, 242 Sr.,North Mac; Riley Perrine, 6-1, 213 Jr.,WilliamsvilleGuards — Paul Crowe, 5-11, 275 Sr.,Beardstown; Doug Keiser, 6-0, 255 Jr.,NokomisTight end — Austin Gardner, 6-4, 225 Sr.,Rushville-IndustryQuarterback — Korben Clark, 6-1, 170

Sr., AuburnRunning backs — Kinney Myles, 6-1, 200Jr., Carlinville; Noah Meyer, 5-10, 180 Jr.,AuburnWide receivers — Chase Creviston, 5-11,165 Jr., New Berlin; Cole Courson, 6-0, 178Jr., WilliamsvilleKicker — Barry Stewart, 6-0, 175 Sr.,CarlinvilleFlex — Brendan O'Neal, 6-2, 190 Sr.,Mount Olive

Linemen — Nathan Jerome, 6-3, 210 Sr.,Williamsville; Tyler Crossin, 6-2, 260 Sr.,New Berlin; Quinten Brown, 6-0, 260 Sr.,StauntonLinebackers — Michael Spradlin, 5-11,210 Jr., New Berlin; Dustin Scheller, 5-9,225 Sr., Staunton; Blake Suhling,Riverton; Thad Roberts, 6-1, 210 Sr.,CarlinvilleDefensive backs — Wyatt Christine, 5-8,150 Sr., Pana; Taylor Kaufmann, 5-9, 191

Sr., Pleasant Plains; Chad Wanless, 5-8,160 Sr., Sangamon Valley; Colten Steele,5-9, 160 Sr., LitchfieldPunter — Tim Kasa, 5-9, 150 Sr., AuburnFlex — Ben Whalen, 5-10, 170 Sr.,Jacksonville Routt

Williamsville’s Jacob Lounsberryhad 60 total tackles and five sacks

for the Bullets’ defense this season.PHOTOS BY JUSTIN L. FOWLER/SJ-R

Auburn’s Jared Wilson was oneof the top receivers in the areathis year, including a 19-catch

game in Week 9.