FOOTBALL
Offense
Quarterback
Travis Wood, 6-3, 180, sr., Dayton: Wood is a third-time All-Sierra QB selection and this season was named Northern 3A Most Valuable Player as the Dust Devils (10-1) reached the 3A state semifinals for the second year in a row. Wood, who owns the state career passing yardage record (6,326) for all classifications, was a first-team all-league quarterback, safety and punter. Wood was 109-for-202 for 1,582 yards and 13 TDs (14 interceptions) passing this season, and ran for another 5 TDs. He also had seven interceptions at free safety and his punting average was 42.1 yards on 45 attempts.
Running back
Jimmy Sargent, 5-9, 185, sr., Galena: Northern 4A Region and High Desert League Offensive Player of the Year for the state 4A runner-up Grizzlies. A repeat All-Sierra selection who made last year's list as a fullback. Sargent led the Galena offense with 385 carries for 2,085 yards and 23 TDs. In the big games: Sargent scored four times and picked up 170 yards against Reed in the Northern 4A semifinals, then rushed for 183 yards and one TD in a 23-20 win against Manogue in the title game.
Joe Leon, 5-9, 175, sr., Fallon: Selected first-team All-North as a running back, the speedy Leon rushed for 1,047 yards (7.9-yard average) and eight TDs, had another 101 yards and two TDs as a receiver and scored three TDs on returns, including a 99-yard kickoff return. Leon set a school single-game record by rushing for 250 yards on 29 carries in a 42-32 loss against McQueen. He was the Northern 4A Regional 400-meter dash champion in May.
Travis Lamborn, 5-9, 175, sr., Carson: A three-year starter on defense who emerged as a spark on offense for the Senators this season. "He probably should have been all-North," Quilling said. "Everybody who played us knew who was going to get it." Lamborn, whom Quilling compared to former Carson star (now playing at Carroll College) Bryan Maffei, rushed for 1,008 yards and 11 TDs on offense to help the Senators reach the playoffs (5-6 overall). A three-time medalist at the state wrestling tournament.
Alex Woods, 5-11, 190, sr., Incline: Fast and strong - and in his first football season - Woods literally ran his way to Northern 2A Offensive Player of the Year honors. He rushed for 1,749 yards (8.25-yard average) and 18 TDs despite being slowed by a concussion and hip flexor ailment this season. Woods rushed for 340 yards and four TDs against North Tahoe.
LangiLangi Haupeakui, 5-11, 217, jr., Rite of Passage: A converted rugby player who learned how to read blocks well enough to be named Player of the Year on the 2A all-state team. All he did was rush for 1,202 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns - capped by a 168-yard, 2-TD performance in ROP's 40-27 state championship game triumph against Lincoln County.
Wide receiver
Curtis Humbird, 6-0, 170, sr., Whittell: One of the top receivers in the North statistically with 37 catches for 400 yards this season, plus he served as team co-captain and as a team leader for the young Warriors. The senior wound up as a first-team all-league and second-team all-state pick. "He has the best set of hands I've seen on any receiver I've ever coached," coach John Summers said.
Steve Blackhart, 6-2, 180, jr., Galena: Emerged as Galena's deep threat, Blackhart had 20 receptions for 420 yards and six TDs. He combined with fellow junior Jason Parkinson and quarterback Jacob Anderson in a passing attack that helped propel Galena to the 4A state finals. Blackhart had a key 41-yard TD catch, while Parkinson had seven receptions for 101 yards in the Northern 4A semifinals against Reed.
Tight end
Lyle Gardner, 6-4, 230, sr., Fallon: Gardner was the High Desert League's co-Lineman of the Year and a first-team pick at tight end. Another repeat All-Sierra selection who earned Fallon's team MVP award this season, as well as first-team all-league honors at tight end and linebacker. Gardner, also a state champion wrestler, was Fallon's leading receiver with 24 catches for 411 yards and three TDs this season.
Tackle
Brandon Seymour, 6-4, 265, sr., Dayton: A two-way starter who was a "load" for any opponent to handle, whether on offense or defense. Seymour was a first-team all-state and all-league lineman on both sides of the ball and further honored as Northern 3A Lineman of the Year. Seymour put in the work over the summer, when he earned one of four prestigious Champion Gladiator Sword awards (he won the defensive run category) at the LinemenInc Camp in California.
Keith Lowe, 6-1, 195, sr., Douglas: First-team all-league offensive tackle. Lowe played the majority of the season with a broken metacarpal in his left hand and yet led a solid offensive line as Douglas rushed for 2,229 yards as a team. "Keith broke his wrist early in the season, but there was no doubt in his mind that he'd continue to play," Rippee said.
Cory Hoehn, 6-4, 291, sr., Truckee: When yardage or a first down were needed, the Wolverines ran behind their mammoth tackle, and in the end Hoehn was named first-team all-league and second-team all-state. Hoehn, noted for his good footwork, was solid both as a run blocker and pass protector.
Guard
Billy Durden, 6-1, 211, sr., Galena: Left guard who helped lead an undersized offensive line that overachieved and paved the way for Sargent's 2,000 rushing yards this season. Durden was named Northern 4A All-Region and first-team all-league for the second year.
Kevin Rogers, 5-9, 191, sr., Douglas: A second-year starter who earned All-North and first-team all-league recognition. "Kevin was the anchor of that line," coach Mike Rippee said. "He just got better every game as the year went on." Douglas rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a team this season.
Center
Travis Stoffel, 5-9, 235, jr., Fernley: Named first-team all-state and all-league for the Vaqueros, who ended their season at 5-5 and fell one game short of advancing to the playoffs in the highly competitive Northern 3A. A medalist at last season's state wrestling tournament.
Kicker
Chris Ewald, 5-9, 165, sr., Galena: Though he only earned honorable mention recognition in the High Desert League, Ewald kicked game-winning field goals on back-to-back weekends against Reed and Bishop Manogue in the Northern 4A playoff semifinals and finals. His 27-yarder with 3.4 seconds left beat Reed 39-36. He was 26-for-32 on PAT attempts and 5-for-10 in field goals, his longest coming from 40 yards. Oh, and he was an honorable mention All-Sierra Nevada last year as a soccer player.
Punter
Ryan Spinuzzi, 6-2, 165, sr., Galena: Earned second-team all-league as a punter for the Grizzlies as he averaged 36.6 yards on 31 attempts and had none blocked. A hard worker and consistent performer the last two seasons, Spinuzzi often helped five the Grizzlies good field position.
Return
Tyler Tinstman, 5-7, 153, sr., Douglas: Electric on punt returns this season, Tinstman returned four for TDs, including three in the first half alone against South Tahoe. As a running back, he ran for 664 yards and six TDs, averaging 5.48 yards per carry. He also had long game-sealing touchdown runs against North Valleys and Hug.
Travis McCurry, 5-9, 165, sr., Fernley: This first-team all-league running back was a versatile performer for the Vaqueros who could score from anywhere on the field as a return specialist, receiver or runner. McCurry was also named All-Sierra last year.
Utility
Erik Hopper, 6-0, 175, sr., Dayton: A repeat All-Sierra selection and multi-purpose threat capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. Hopper, whose primary role was as a slot or wing, rushed for 512 yards, caught 33 passes for 548 yards and scored 7 TDs. "We tried to put in spots where people had to find him," coach Rick Walker said.