3A All-Idaho football team honors top 49 players, best coach in classification
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BRYON LECKINGTON, SHELLEY
Why he is Player of the Year: The 6-1, 188-pound senior carried Shelley to the 3A state title game on both sides of the ball. The QB accounted for 3,160 total yards and 37 TDs. At linebacker, he had 101 tackles, three interceptions and scored three defensive TDs.
Coach’s comment: “He was the heart and soul of our team, a tireless worker and leader,” Shelley’s Jake Monahan said.
What others are saying: “His ability to be so influential on both sides of the ball was crucial to the success of the Russets,” Sugar-Salem coach Tyler Richins said.
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COACH OF THE YEAR
RYAN TRACY, FRUITLAND
He won his first title at Fruitland in his fourth year as the head coach.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Tyler Visser, Gooding
The 6-1, 175-pound senior racked up 4,238 yards of offense and 51 TDs to lead the Senators to the semifinals.
RB: Phoenix Ruffin, Fruitland
Despite an offense that split carries, the 5-8, 185-pound senior ran for 1,056 yards and 11 TDs en route to a title.
RB: Jaron Rose, Sugar-Salem
The senior was on pace for school records before a knee injury stopped him with 941 yards and 12 TDs in six games.
WR: Mason Price, Shelley
The big-play senior receiver used his length (6-3) to finish with 72 catches for 1,138 yards and 11 TDs.
WR: Blake Bartschi, South Fremont
Standing 6-6, 210 pounds, double and triple teams couldn’t keep him from making 57 catches for 703 yards and five TDs.
WR: Bryson Comstock, Gooding
A repeat first-team pick, the senior accounted for 1,539 total yards and 17 TDs and was always a threat to score.
OL: Alex Osborn, Fruitland
The 6-foot, 275-pound junior’s motor and intelligence helped Fruitland run for 297.3 yards per game.
OL: Jonathon Fagen, Fruitland
The sophomore could have played fullback, but his sacrifice to play guard paved the way to a state title.
OL: Shad Foster, Shelley
The 6-foot, 235-pound senior used his strength and superior technique to blow open holes for the Russets.
OL: Wyatt Dorsey, Homedale
The senior (6-3, 275) graduates from second team as a junior to first team in his third year as a starter.
OL: Levi Sorensen, Shelley
The size, length and athleticism of this junior (6-3, 210) made him a superb pass blocker, especially in space.
K: Kyle Terry, Sugar-Salem
The senior converted on 33-of-35 PATs and made 2-of-3 field goals. He averaged 50.3 yards per kickoff.
DEFENSE
DL: Tyler Eiguren, Fruitland
A four-year starter, the 6-4, 235-pounder made 76 tackles. He holds offers from Idaho and Idaho State.
DL: Jake McGinnis, Gooding
No one could contain the 6-3, 285-pound sophomore as he made 103 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
DL: Fred Ramirez, Fruitland
He started the year at middle linebacker before moving to nose tackle. The state champs never lost again.
LB: Caleb Ziegler, Fruitland
The SRV Defensive Player of the Year made plays all year, finishing his senior season with 107 tackles.
LB: Ruger Jennings, Gooding
After earning a second-team spot last year, the 6-2, 175-pound junior moves to first team with 164 tackles.
LB: Ethan Villalobos, Fruitland
The 5-10, 185-pound junior was a tackling machine, leading the state champs with 113 stops this season.
LB: Sam Funkhouser, Gooding
The junior started the year at free safety but moved into the box, where he made 104 tackles, 17 for a loss.
DB: Casey Rodriguez, Fruitland
A repeat first-team pick, the senior did everything for the Grizzlies from blocking to kicking to long snapping.
DB: Bryson Comstock, Gooding
The two-way first-team selection had five INTs as the only senior to start every game on defense for Gooding.
DB: Mason Egbert, Kimberly
The senior corner was a sure tackler (75 stops) who locked down his side of the field with 20 pass breakups.
DB: Redgie Smith, Shelley
The senior leader of the Russets’ secondary brought a physical presence (75 tackles) and made three INTs.
P: Bransen Walker, Snake River
The senior rugby punter confounded return units, averaging 44.7 net yards per punt with just two returns.
Second team
OFFENSE
Player | Year | School |
QB: Zach Wright | Sr. | Kimberly |
RB: Daniel Coverley | Jr. | South Fremont |
RB: McKade Huft | Fr. | Kimberly |
WR: Casey Rodriguez | Sr. | Fruitland |
WR: Mason Egbert | Sr. | Kimberly |
TE: Tyler Eiguren | Sr. | Fruitland |
OL: Paul Inglin | Jr. | Gooding |
OL: Noah Heath | Jr. | Kimberly |
OL: Austin Williams | Sr. | Sugar-Salem |
OL: Andrew Carter | Jr. | Gooding |
OL: Joey Mockler | Sr. | South Fremont |
K: Pedro Palacios | Sr. | American Falls |
DEFENSE
Player | Year | School |
DL: Blake Bartschi | Sr. | South Fremont |
DL: Kendall Freelove | Sr. | Homedale |
DL: Diego Pena | Sr. | Shelley |
LB: Braxton Balmforth | Jr. | Shelley |
LB: Drew Stoddard | Sr. | South Fremont |
LB: Mason Price | Jr. | Shelley |
LB: Tommy Anselmo | Sr. | Priest River |
DB: Dylan Pope | Jr. | Sugar-Salem |
DB: Bridger Bumgarner | Sr. | Weiser |
DB: Matt Leal | Sr. | Shelley |
DB: Tyler Visser | Sr. | Gooding |
P: Dakota Lewis | Sr. | Weiser |
How the All-Idaho teams are chosen
The Idaho Statesman polls every high school football coach in the state, asking them to nominate players for their classification’s All-Idaho teams and as players of the year. Every coach is then sent a ballot for his classification. The Idaho Statesman compiles and publishes the results.
This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 12:58 PM with the headline "3A All-Idaho football team honors top 49 players, best coach in classification."