33 Hillsdale County athletes fill the SCAA-East all-conference football awards
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HILLSDALE COUNTY — The 2025 season of SCAA East 8-player football closed with standout performances that earned local athletes all-conference honors. Pittsford and Waldron led the way, each producing captains for the SCAA Dream Team after strong campaigns that capped off their senior careers.
Pittsford’s 7-3 playoff run, and Waldron’s second straight winning season, highlighted a competitive year across the league, while Litchfield, Camden-Frontier and North Adams-Jerome showed signs of growth with emerging playmakers, some of which earned all-league honors.
As programs turn the page to 2026, these honorees represent the future, and also the best of 2025, that 8-player football had to offer in Hillsdale County this year.
All-conference honorees (SCAA East)
All-SCAA Dream Team
- Jacob Drawe – Pittsford (Offensive Captain SCAA-East)
- Troy Shamplo – Waldron (Defensive Captain SCAA-East)
- Hunter Peiffer – Pittsford
- Seth Williams – Waldron
Camden-Frontier
- Luis Castro-Thilo – Senior – First Team Offense Skill
- Eryck Flores – Junior – First Team LB
- Cold Woodard – Sophomore – HM Defense
- Brandon Menchaca – Junior – HM Defense
Litchfield
- Gavin Gutting – Sophomore – First Team Offense Skill and DB
- Caleb Watson – Junior – Second Team OL
- Ben Baker – Senior – First Team DL
- Quinton Smith – Sophomore – Second Team DB
- Brayden Bradley – Junior – Second Team LB
- Hayden Thacker – Senior – HM Offense
- Logan Perkins – Sophomore – HM Defense
North Adams-Jerome
- Conner Arsenault – Senior – First Team Offense Skill
- Desman Lawless – Sophomore – Second Team Offense Skill
- Kaleb Hale – Senior – HM Offense
- James Johnson – Senior – HM Defense
Pittsford
- Jacob Drawe – Senior – First Team Offense Skill and LB
- Ethan Pickford – Junior – First Team Offense Skill and Second Team LB, Punter
- Brendan Nave – Junior – First Team Offense Skill and DB
- Aiden Jones – Junior – Second Team Offense Skill
- Dylan Jenkins – Senior – First Team OL
- Zach Schutte – Senior – First Team OL
- Mondale Knepfler – Senior – Kick Returner and HM Offense
- Nate Wickard – Senior – First Team DL
- Hunter Peiffer – Junior – First Team LB
- Draven Moore – Sophomore – HM Defense
Waldron
- Troy Shamplo – Senior – First Team Offense Skill and LB
- Seth Williams – Senior First Team Offense Skill
- Carmen Kurtz – Senior – First team DB and Second Team Offense Skill
- Silas Williams – Sophomore – First Team OL and DL
- Aiden Boyd – Senior – First Team OL
- Isaac Fether – Sophomore – Second Team DL and HM Offense
- Eli Winchell – Junior – First Team LB
- Jayden Justice – Sophomore – HM Defense
Pittsford (7-3)
The Pittsford Wildcats wrapped up their 2025 season in the Division 8 playoffs, falling 50–16 to Britton Deerfield in a hard-fought matchup, their second of the season.
The Patriots would eventually fall to Deckerville in the regional championship round 28-8. So, while the Wildcats were unable to overcome the Patriot roadblock back to a regional title game appearance, the Patriots were unable to make it back to the state semifinals in 8-player, D2.
Their 7-3 record in 2025 was marked by losses to Deerfield in Week 1 (60-22 final), Climax Scotts in Week 9 (72-64) and the playoff loss. But the Wildcats and coach Mike Burger would win seven games in a row, including a 52-44 win over rival Waldron, to earn a second straight SCAA-B title.
This clinched the team's third playoff berth in the four years they have played 8-man football.
"Our guys fought hard and we are extremely proud of them,” Pittsford coach Mike Burger said. “We will miss our seniors — great group of kids who are going to be missed.”
That special group of Wildcats including senior quarterback Jake Drawe. Drawe followed up an honorable mention all-state and Daily News Offensive MVP season in 2024 with another impressive stretch of football, leading an offense that scored more than 40 points eight weeks in a row. He ran for more than 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the air, he had more than 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The senior class — Jake Drawe, Dylan Jenkins, Owen Hensley, Mondale Knepfler, Zachary Schutte and Nathan Wickard — leaves behind a blueprint built on toughness, accountability and heart.
Several players will look to take up the mantle of what the seniors leave behind. Running back Ethan Pickford, skill players Hunter Peiffer and Brendan Nave, and reader's choice athlete of the week honoree Aiden Jones lead the core of returners as Pittsford looks ready to stay in the postseason mix in 2026.
Several Wildcats earned Hillsdale Daily News Reader’s Choice “Athlete of the Week” honors during the season — including senior linemen Jenkins, Wickard, and Zachary Schutte, whose play in the trenches defined Pittsford’s physical identity.
Waldron (6-3)
Despite a 6-3 overall record, their second winning season in a row, Waldron's SCAA-B title game loss to Pittsford was the dagger that kept coach Anthony Roney's squad out of a postseason bid.
Waldron put together a string of five straight conference wins, scored 50-plus points in four games and beat two Ohio teams on the road to reach their winning record.
They were led by two standout senior performances from quarterback Seth Williams and running back Troy Shamplo. Williams finished the year with 68 completions in 130 pass attempts, 1,134 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran in 12 touchdowns.
Shamplo ran for 181 carries, 1,528 yards and 19 touchdowns. Shamplo also had 28 catches for 377 yards and six touchdowns. Fellow senior Carmen Kurtz had 24 receptions for 573 yards and seven touchdowns.
The defense was led by Troy Shamplo with 62 solo tackles (73 total). Silas Williams had 77 total tackles (55 solo). Kurtz had 17 total tackles (57 solo). Troy Shamplo had two interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries.
The team also graduates seniors Aiden Boyd (OL/DL) and Collin Williams. Williams was an honoree for the dream team three years of his playing career before an injury sidelined him for the 2025 season.
Silas Williams, Isaac Fether and Jayden Justice are some of the key players that will be back for the Spartans in 2026.
Litchfield (4-5)
The Litchfield football program managed to make strides under coach Michael Langhann, despite a handful of injuries, in 2025. With that improvement came new rising playmakers and the emergence of a potential all-state athlete.
The Terriers overcame a shaky start to the 2025 season and won four of their last six games of the year. This included a 22-12 win over Burr Oak and a 51-8 win over rival North Adams-Jerome.
Seniors included Eli Wilson, Ben Baker, Hayden Thacker and Brady Kerr.
It was a breakout season for sophomore Gavin Gutting, who broke two school records this year:
- Interceptions in a Season (8)
- Tackles in a Game (21 1/2)
Gutting, along with Brayden Bradley, Connor Kerr, Caleb Watson, Quentin Smith and Logan Perkins, could be looking at a breakout 2026 season.
Camden-Frontier (4-5)
In a new era, with a new head coach in Kevin Slusher, it was tough to predict what RedHawk team would take the field in 2025 for Camden-Frontier. But with a combination of senior athletes and underclassmen playmakers, they were able to improve on their 2024 2-7 record with four wins, all of which were double-digit victories. The RedHawks were just one score away from taking down Morenci to earn a winning record this season.
Senior Luis Castro-Thilo ran the offense as signal caller, producing 475 rushing yards, 753 passing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 11 passing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown and two special teams touchdowns. Brandon Menchaca was his favorite target, collecting 17 targets for 307 yards and six touchdowns. Colt Woodard led the team with 542 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also had two receiving touchdowns. Woodard also had 59 total tackles.
Eryck Flores led the team with 80 total tackles, 49 solo, and three forced fumbles. Castro-Thilo had three interceptions. Dominic Kurtz and Brayden Bever each had 2 1/2 sacks.
Seniors Castro-Thilo, Ty Calaway, Dylan Drake, Brayden Bever, Clayton Rodgers and Weston Word have left the RedHawks in a strong position to improve in 2026.
North Adams-Jerome (2-7)
The second team with a new head coach in 2025, the Rams of North Adams-Jerome had to overcome a new challenge and adversity each week of the season. Despite the injury setbacks that plagued the Rams this season, the team was able to take steps forward under coach Kody Hodshire, starting with ending a home losing streak with a 42-12 win over Battle Creek St. Phillip.
The team also had a dominant 58-42 win over rival Tekonsha this season. Despite several big injuries during the season, it was a major opportunity for underclassmen to step up into larger roles, which could help set up the Rams for future success.
The team will graduate seniors James Johnson (WCA co-op), Conner Arsenault, Kaleb Hale, Nathan Todd and Jeremiah Gadelkarim (WCA co-op).
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: 33 area athletes earn SCAA-East football all-conference honors
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