MARSHALL — The Independent announced its All-Area football teams on Thursday, with the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year to come next week on Dec. 26. This year’s All-Area teams were headlined by the two section champions, Marshall and Minneota, with four and three first-team selections respectively.

In addition to its first-team selections, Marshall and Minneota each had a pair of second-teamers, as well as two honorable mentions for Minneota and one for Marshall.

Both the Tigers and Vikings were well-represented in the trenches, with Jake Allex and Derek Hisken selected off the Marshall offensive line and Parker Bradley, Kyson Arndt and Noah Gorecki selected off the Minneota offensive line. Bradley and Arndt both also were effective for the Minneota defense as a linebacker and defensive end respectively, while area tackle-for-loss leader JR Vierstraete was selected off the Marshall defensive line.

The Tigers’ linebacking corps was also well-represented with Gavin Schaefer and Jack Meier each earning the nod.

Ryan Meagher capitalized on Minneota’s strong offensive line to finish the season as the area leader in rushing touchdowns, while Red Rock Central’s Carter Therkilsen finished as the area leader in rushing yards. Each earned a first-team nod.

Dawson-Boyd’s Brayson Boike earned a first-team selection by leading the area with 970 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. He finished just shy of the receiving triple crown, his 49 receptions putting him behind only TMB second-teamer Griffin Zick’s 57.

Zick was one of three Panthers to earn an All-Area nod, along with Trevor Smith and Noah Knakmuhs. Zick’s 60 total tackles were an area-high, while Smith’s 2,320 yards and 21 touchdowns in the air were both good for area-highs and a first-team selection.

Canby’s Cayden Anderson led the area with 10.5 sacks on the season.

BY THE NUMBERS

FIRST TEAM

(Players listed in alphabetical order. Regular-season totals only, statistics bolded for area leader)

Jake Allex, Marshall, Sr., OL: District Lineman of the Year

Cayden Anderson, Canby, Sr., OL/DL: 10.5 sacks, 46 tackles, FF

Kyson Arndt, Minneota, Jr., OT/DE: 20 tackles, 4 sacks, FF, 2 blocked kicks

Brayson Boike, Dawson-Boyd, Sr., WR/DB: 49 rec., 970 yards, 13 TD

Parker Bradley, Minneota, Sr., OL/LB: 52 tackles, 5 sacks, 11 TFL, INT

Mason Eickhoff, Marshall, Sr., RB/DB: 59 att., 533 yards, 10 TD, 4 rec., 63 yards, TD, 4 INT, FF, 20 tackles

Ryan Meagher, Minneota, Sr., RB/LB: 110 att., 1,110 yards, 25 TD, 3 rec., 91 yards, TD, 17 tackles, INT

Gavin Schaefer, Marshall, RB/LB: 101 att., 615 yards, 16 TD, 9 rec., 72 yards, 33 tackles, 7 sacks, 16 TFL

Trevor Smith, TMB, Sr., QB/DB: 177-309 att., 2,320 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT, 95 att., 559 yards, 8 TD, 40 tackles, 2 INT

Carter Therklisen, RRC, Jr., RB/LB: 197 att., 1,484 yards, 17 TD; 54 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 TFL,  INT

JR Vierstraete, Marshall, Jr., DE: 49 tackles, 20 TFL, 6 sacks, INT, FF

SECOND TEAM

Destin Fier, Minneota, Jr., RB/LB: 21 att., 428 yards, 7 TD; 9 rec., 350 yards, 5 TD; 17 tackles, 5 TFL, INT, TD

Noah Gorecki, Minneota, Sr., OT

Sean Griesse, RTR, Sr., DB/WR: 5 INT, 47 tackles, 25 rec., 435 yards, 3 TD

Derek Hisken, Marshall, Sr., OG

Colby Kesteloot, MCC, Jr., OL

Noah Knakmuhs, TMB, Sr., WR/DB: 34 rec., 521 yards, 6 TD, 15 tackles, 2 INT

Carson Lewis, MCC, So., RB/LB: 166 att., 894 yards, 8 TD

Gunner Liebl, Dawson-Boyd, Jr., QB: 109-163 att., 1,611 yards, 18 TD, 10 INT, 75 att., 512 yards, 12 TD

Jack Meier, Marshall, Sr., LB/TE: 45 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, FF

Teague Meyer, MCC, Jr., QB/DB: 11-21 Att., 188 yards, 3 TD, INT, 80 att., 363 yards, 7 TD, 25 tackles, 2 INT

Griffin Zick, TMB, Jr., WR/LB: 57 rec., 740 yards, 9 TD, 60 tackles, INT

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Kyler Lozinski, Minneota, C; Isaiah Wolske, MCC, OL; Josh Kraft, Marshall, LB/WR; Greg Schafer, Lakeview, RB/LB, Gavin Gillette, MCC, RB/LB; Calvin Hanna, Wabasso, RB/LB; Eric Jimenez, YME, OL; Jake Erickson, RRC, LB; David Schuh, TMB, RB/LB; Eli Gruenes, Minneota, TE/LB; Dalton Timmerman, TMB, OL.