OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections.

	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

Subscriber Services Home Delivery Gift Subscription Stop-Start Delivery Missing Paper Back Issues Newsstand Locations Shopper Locations

Advertising Services Manage Your Account Place a Classified Ad Place a Display Ad Advertise Online Business Finder Directory

Other Services Submit News Laminated Items Photos & Keepsakes Article Archives Contact Us History of the Herald Our Policies

Suggest a poll topic

2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:34 PM

Stalwarts headline all-area offensive squad

Top Guns

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

The 2009 Ottawa Herald All-area offensive team is not just a team with players who can make plays with the ball.

Many of those players are stalwarts in all aspects of football. Many of them never came out of the game.

The top 11 offensive standouts are:

Galen Ryman, QB, Anderson County

The three-year starting quarterback was one of the reasons why the Bulldogs qualified for the playoffs and made a run at a Frontier League championship.

The senior is the Anderson County school career record holder with 2,813 passing yards. His combined passing/rushing this year topped 1,000 yards for the third straight season. He ran or threw for 10 TDs this season.

He also tied for the team lead in interceptions with four and was the top tackler in the secondary with 18 solo stops.

He is a three-time all-area selection.

Jared Sherbon, OL, Anderson County

Sherbon was a mainstay of the Anderson County line who opened holes for the Bulldog playmakers. Anderson County averaged 340 yards rushing per game. Sherbon took on the inside of opposing linemen all season.

The senior also was a standout as a defensive end. He finished with 50 tackles, two caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss.

Alen Troyer, RB, Anderson County

Troyer was part of a three-headed monster for the Bulldog offense. The junior scored nine touchdowns, rushed for 650 yards on only 61 carriers for an average of 11 yards per attempt.

Joseph Wittman, RB, Anderson County

Wittman put up eye-popping numbers. He led the Pioneer League in rushing with 1,347 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. The senior was a two-year starter.

Russell Hampton, OL, Central Heights

Hampton anchored an inexperienced Central Heights offensive and defensive lines. The senior was counted on to be a leader.

On defense, he had 42 tackles for an average of nearly five per game. He helped guide the Vikings to their third straight district title and playoff berth.

Spencer Hawkins, OL, Ottawa

Hawkins combined quickness with strength to anchor the Ottawa offensive line that produced nearly 2,000 yards this season.

The senior also was a standout on defense for the Cyclones. The defensive lineman finished with 33 tackles (21 solo, 12 assisted) for an average of 4.7 tackles per game.

He is a two-time member of the all-area team.

Jesse Campbell, OL, Wellsville

Campbell was the mainstay of the Wellsville offensive line. The Eagles ran behind him, especially in big situations. Wellsville had a back rush for more than 100 yards in seven of nine games.

Wellsville averaged 340 yards per game.

The junior was also a big-time player on the defensive line. He had 71 tackles (50 solo, 21 assists), seven quarterback sacks and had a safety.

Vince Ryburn, RB, Wellsville

The senior fullback picked up the tough yards for the Eagles. He rushed for 675 yards on 107 carries and scored six touchdowns.

Ryburn also made his presence felt on the defensive line. He finished with 36 tackles and four quarterback sacks.

Fred Weidner, RB, Wellsville

The senior tailback made the most of his opportunities, scoring 12 touchdowns on just 71 touches.

Weidner rushed for 690 yards on 63 carries and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He caught nine passes for 142 yards and caught two touchdown passes.

Weidner had a nose for opposing ball carriers on defense. He led the Eagles with 91 tackles, which also was among the leaders in the Pioneer League. He also had two pass breakups, one interception and three fumble recoveries.

Cord Cunningham, WR, West Franklin

The West Franklin coaches tried to get the ball into Cunningham’s hands a lot this past season.

The senior led the Falcons in receiving with 23 catches for 320 yards and scored four touchdowns. He averaged nearly 14 yards per reception and a long of 35 yards.

He was second on the team in tackles from his defensive back spot. He had 59 tackles for an average of 6.6 per game. He had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

On special teams, he kicked off for the Falcons and punted twice for an average of 44 yards. He averaged 6.2 yards per punt return and 16.32 yards per kickoff return. He had a long of 90 yards.

Storm Mattas, QB, West Franklin

The senior was the field general for the Falcons. He passed for 545 yards with four touchdowns.

On defense he had 16 tackles and was the Falcons’ main punter, averaging 35 yards per punt on 35 attempts. He had seven punts downed inside the 20.

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com