2A All-Idaho football team: These elite athletes defined the classification
Note: The All-Idaho teams are chosen by a vote of the state’s coaches. The Idaho Statesman publishes the results.
2A ALL-IDAHO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nathan Tweit, Kendrick
The senior receiver and safety found the end zone 21 times despite playing just two full games due to blowouts. He did most of his damage at receiver, turning 31 catches into 858 yards and 13 TDs. But he also ran for four TDs on four carries, threw two TDs, and returned 2-of-5 interceptions for six points.
“We don’t even know the full extent of his playing ability because no team was ever good enough to test him fully,” Notus coach Charlie Shepherd Jr. said.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ty Koepp, Kendrick
A recent two-time player of the year, the 20-year-old led his alma mater to its fifth straight championship and outscored opponents 74.4 to 7.7 on average.
ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Maddox Kirkland, Kendrick
The 6-3 senior completed 68% of his passes for a 2A-leading 2,913 yards, and led all divisions with 47 touchdown throws.
RB: Tanner Clemenhagen, Kendrick
He returned from a hockey academy for his senior season and averaged 16.6 yards per carry en route to 1,031 yards and 19 TDs.
RB: Thomas Vargas, Valley
The physical runner with home-run speed missed three games with an ankle injury. The senior still led 2A with 1,353 rushing yards.
WR: Cade Silflow, Kendrick
The country-strong senior delivered pancake blocks, and led 2A with 870 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches.
WR: Everett Oatman, Kamiah
Opponents tried to find a way to contain the 5-10, explosive senior. Little worked as he racked up 1,424 total yards and 20 TDs.
OL: Kolt Koepp, Kendrick
A converted receiver/safety, the senior changed positions to help the team and was a weapon as a pulling guard.
OL: Nathan Kimberling, Kendrick
The 5-10, 220-pound junior guard squats over 500 pounds and excelled at getting to the next level to create big plays.
OL: Peter Story, Logos
The Knights ran for 3,330 yards this season thanks to the senior guard and Bethel (NCAA Division III) commit.
K: Finn McCool, Logos
The senior put opponents in a field position hole with 10 touchbacks or directional kicks inside the 20-yard line.
DEFENSE
DL: Nathan Kimberling, Kendrick
He racked up 19 sacks and forced two fumbles, pairing with Koepp to create a dominant pass rush for the state champs.
DL: Kolt Koepp, Kendrick
The 6-3, 190-pound senior end led all of Idaho and all 8-man players in the country with 27.5 sacks this fall.
DL: Peter Story, Logos
The defensive tackle controlled the middle of the field, racking up 60 tackles, 11 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
LB: Orion Stewart, Kendrick
The junior diagnosed plays so quickly that he led 2A in tackles (125) despite rarely playing past halftime.
LB: Gideon Haney, Logos
The senior led Logos to its first state title game, piling up 122 tackles as a threat against the run and the pass.
LB: Chris Schumacher, Prairie
The senior defensive leader shut down the run (103 tackles) and kept the passing game in check (three INTs).
DB: Cade Silflow, Kendrick
The first-team receiver was also a ball hawk on defense, grabbing four interceptions despite few teams throwing his way.
DB: Ralli Roetciscoender, Kendrick
He returned from an injury to become a key safety blanket during the playoffs as an open-field tackling machine.
P: Juan Juarez, Glenns Ferry
The consistent senior regularly flipped field position for the Pilots, averaging 38.3 yards per punt.
