Football: Introducing the 2025 West Central Tribune All-Area Team

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Nov. 28—The 2025 West Central Tribune All-Area Football Team hits hard.

The running backs on the 16-player squad were tough to bring down. The linebackers were like running into brick walls. And whether it was offense or defense, the top linemen in the area were going to knock players to the ground with regularity.

Leading this physical bunch of area teams were the Litchfield Dragons. Litchfield has three All-Area picks after going 8-4, winning the Section 6AAA title and going to state for the first time since 2006.

After just two wins last season, the Willmar Cardinals jumped to six wins this fall. That improvement led to Willmar also getting three All-Area selections.

Also garnering multiple picks were the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks and Minnewaska Lakers.

Here is the 2025 West Central Tribune All-Area Football Team:

Sr., Quarterback, Willmar

A three-year starter for the Cardinals, Ellingson saved his best season for his last. He was named the Skyway Copper District's QB of the year after completing 98 of 161 passes (60.87%) for 1,415 yards, 18 touchdowns (third best in school history) and four interceptions. He also carried the ball 61 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He's fifth in school history in career passing yards (2,943).

"During his senior season, Jordan displayed the ability to throw the ball accurately and down the field," said Willmar head coach Jon Konold. "Many games he found five-to-six different receivers throughout the game, spreading the ball to multiple receivers made the offense difficult to defend. Not only did he throw for a lot of yards, Jordan used his athleticism to scramble and run the ball very effectively."

Sr., Running back, Renville County West

Back on the All-Area football team, Savig closed out his prep career by running the ball 220 times for 1,276 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also recorded 54 tackles at linebacker. Savig was named All-9 Player South West District, team MVP and Academic All-District.

"Jacob was a workhorse for us again this season," said Jaguars head coach Ryan Hebrink. "So much of our offensive production was based off of Jacob's physical running. Jacob's power along with his deceptive speed created a challenge for opposing teams. Jacob has earned the respect of his fellow teammates for not only his ability, but how he treats others well."

Jr., Running back, Willmar

A first-year starter at running back, Sjoberg earned the Skyway Copper District RB of the year after rushing for 709 yards and 14 touchdowns on 131 carries. He also caught 13 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. A linebacker on defense, Sjoberg made 59 tackles (18 solo) with two sacks, five tackles for loss and an interception.

"His punishing style of running wore down defenses as the game went along," Konold said. "On defense, Hudson played one of the most pivotal positions on our defense. He was fourth on the team in tackles and first in tackles for loss. Hudson's motor never stops and is one of the most aggressive kids on the field. He leads by example and leaves everything on the field."

Jr., Running back, Litchfield

Making his second appearance on the All-Area team, Taylor was three yards away from breaking 2,000 rushing yards this season. An All-Mid West Central Black District honoree, Taylor carried the ball 216 times for 1,997 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also caught the ball eight times for 146 yards. He also played linebacker, accounting for 46 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception.

"A physical athlete with impressive size at 6-foot-3 and 197 pounds, Anthony has the ability to run effectively between the tackles as well as bounce plays to the outside," said Litchfield head coach Jim Jackman. "This fall, he served as the bell cow for the Dragons' offense, carrying a heavy load and setting the tone on both sides of the ball."

Sr., Wide receiver, Paynesville

One of the top pass catchers in the area, Johnson finished the season with 614 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 40 catches. In a 44-39 win over BOLD on Sept. 19, Johnson caught 10 passes for three touchdowns and a new school record 202 receiving yards. He was also a standout defensive back with 64 tackles (23 solo), two interceptions and one forced fumble.

"Reed is a great role model both on and off the field," said Bulldogs head coach Tim Pattrin. "He is a quiet leader that has a great work ethic. In my opinion, Reed is one of the best WRs or DBs in the area."

Sr., Lineman, Litchfield

An imposing figure at 6-8 and 305 pounds, Dietel was the top blocker for a Dragons offensive line that ran for 3,979 yards and 57 touchdowns this season. A four-year starter, Dietel was named the Mid West Central Black offensive lineman MVP and was selected for the North roster in the Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game on Saturday, Dec. 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. He is committed to play college football at FCS powerhouse South Dakota State next fall.

"Noah is a monster of a young man, standing 6-8 and weighing 305 pounds," Jackman said. "He dominated the line of scrimmage this season, showcasing his power and athleticism. Whether it was his ability to reach a five-technique or deliver a devastating down block on a defensive lineman, Noah consistently controlled his matchups. Next fall, he will take his talents to South Dakota State University."

Sr., Lineman, BOLD

A four-year starter on the defensive line, Flann tallied 91 tackles (43 solo) with three sacks, 17 tackles (a school record) for loss, 10 hurries and one forced fumble on the way to All-Mid-South Purple District honors. He tied a school record with 20 tackles against Murray County Central on Oct. 9. He's also second in school history in career tackles for loss. An All-Area honorable mention last season, Flann is also a three-year starter on the offensive line.

"Having played defensive end for three years in our four-man front, Emmitt had a breakout season with our move to a three-man line," said Warriors head coach Derek Flann. "Being closer to the middle of the field allowed him to take over games. His game vs. Murray County Central might be the most dominant defensive performance I have ever seen from a defensive lineman. He had three fourth-down stops, four tackles for loss, and 20 total tackles in that game. He consistently made key stops for us throughout the year."

Sr., Lineman, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

Kampsen was honored as the Mid-Northwest Gold District DL of the year and was second in the OL of the year award, according to Jaguars head coach Chris Moscho. Kampsen recorded 71 tackles, two sacks and seven tackles for loss. He also ran the ball six times for 33 yards and three touchdowns. He earned two team awards as team MVP and the Dennie Weimerckirch Award for top Jaguar football player.

"Noah is a kid we will most likely be seeing playing next year on Saturdays," Moscho said. "He has plenty of colleges looking at him. Teams ran away from him but his speed to make tackles on the back side was impressive."

Sr., Linebacker, Minnewaska

Dickens had a lot of quarterbacks on their heels this season. An All-Mid West Central Blue District, Dickens accounted for 10 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries to go along with his 79 tackles. He also played running back for the Lakers, carrying the ball 95 times for 660 yards, a 6.95 yards per carry average. He also caught four balls for 97 yards. Dickens scored eight total touchdowns.

Sr., Linebacker, New London-Spicer

An All-Area honorable mention as a junior, Gehrke finished his senior season with 83 tackles (66 solo), 10 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. That earned him Mid West Central Black District LB MVP honors. He also anchored a Wildcats defense that had three shutouts. According to Wildcats head coach Brian Westby, that's the most by NLS in the past 25 years. A tight end/fullback on offense, Gehrke caught 11 balls for 177 yards and a touchdown.

"Matthew plays exactly how you want your middle linebacker to play: physical and down hill. He was born to play football," Westby said. "His love and passion for the game shines through in how he prepares for each game. He is a great tackler and has a nose for the ball. He was a leader on our defense the past two years. He helped teach and mentor younger players this past year by teaching them the finer details of his craft. His hard work off the field turned him into one of the best LBs NLS has had. He was voted as a captain and was a great leader both on and off the field setting an example of what it means to be a a great leader. For as good of a football player as he is, he is even a better person off the field. He will be greatly missed."

So., Linebacker, Benson

The youngest member of the All-Area squad, Young led the Braves with 91 tackles, 30 solo tackles and seven tackles for loss. He was also a feature running back in the team's Power-T offense, running the ball 109 times for 847 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 99 yards and two receiving TDs and had one kick return for a score. Young was named the Mid Northwest Gold District RB of the year as well as team MVP and All-Section 5A.

"He makes the team around him so much better," said Benson head coach Brady Dokkebakken. "He is on pace to have one of the best careers ever by a Brave. He is an absolute gamer. He plays every single snap on the field, including all special teams. He consistently leads both our offense and our defense. We challenged him with more of a leadership role this year and he excelled in it, playing with many freshmen and sophomores on varsity, he has to be a leader and get people in the right spots. He has some very high expectations about how the rest of his career will go, and I don't doubt that he can achieve them all.

Sr., Defensive back, Litchfield

Medina's quickness and athleticism helped the Dragons on both sides of the ball. At defensive back, Medina accounted for 20 tackles and two interceptions. At quarterback, Medina ran the ball 168 times for 1,270 yards and 17 touchdowns while completing 59 passes for 631 yards and five passing TDs. He also was Litchfield's punter, averaging 31.6 yards per kick. Medina was named the Mid West Central Black QB of the Year and was the Mr. Football nominee from the district.

"Alex began his sophomore year as a starting safety, showcasing incredible quickness and a natural ability to find the football," Jackman said. "During his junior season, he transitioned to quarterback in a run-heavy offense, where his leadership skills shone. His quickness and shiftiness allowed him to elude defenders and break off several impressive long runs. By his senior year, Alex added both size and speed, which helped him double his total rushing yards. That season, the Dragons also took advantage of his defensive talents, utilizing him on the back end of their defense."

Jr., Defensive back, Willmar

Schuett did a little bit of everything for the Cardinals. Named All-Skyway Copper District, Schuett had 70 tackles (29 solo), one tackle for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery. An all-around weapon on offense, he completed 4 of 4 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown, had eight carries for 82 yards and a TD and caught 14 passes for 171 yards and four scores. The district special teams player of the year, Schuett had 246 kick return yards (28.83 average) and a touchdown, 113 punt return yards (12.56 average) and averaged 38.3 yards per punt.

"Briar was truly a triple threat player, making an impact not only on defense, but also offense and special teams," Konold said. "Playing free safety, he was the second leading tackler on the defense. On offense, he played some quarterback, running back and wide receiver. When the offense was struggling we inserted Briar to give us a spark. Acting as both kick returner and punt returner, Briar had a big impact on special teams. As the season progressed, we used Briar more on offense and special teams and he made a huge impact on our point production."

Jr., Defensive back, Minnewaska

While measuring at 5-7 and 155 pounds, Wildman had a large impact for the Lakers. On defense, the All-Mid West Central Blue District selection put up 40 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one tackle for loss. At running back, Wildman averaged 13.4 yards per carry with 725 yards on 54 attempts. He also caught eight passes for 295 yards. Wildman scored 13 total touchdowns this season.

Sr., All-purpose, Dawson-Boyd

An All-Area pick last season, Liebl is back after leading Dawson-Boyd back to the section finals. An All-Mid South White District selection, Liebl completed 89 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 95 times for 558 yards and five touchdowns. And, he had a punt return touchdown. Liebl finishes his career with 4,479 passing yards, 48 passing TDs, 1,560 rushing yards and 23 rushing TDs.

Sr., Special teams, Dawson-Boyd

Hansen emerged as a home-run threat for the Blackjacks this season. He was particularly effective on special teams, returning four punts for a touchdown. At running back, Hansen ran the ball 40 times for 442 yards (11.05 average) and 13 touchdowns. He hauled in 19 passes for 235 yards. And at linebacker, Hansen came up with 29 tackles and two interceptions.

Colten Bothun

Jr., DL, Dawson-Boyd

39 tackles, 6 sacks, 8 TFL, All-District.

Collin Day

Jr., DB, Montevideo

37 tackles (27 solo), 4 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR, All-District.

Hayden Edwards

Sr., LB/Line, BOLD

84 tackles (38 solo), 3 TFL, 2 hurries, 1 PBU, 2 FR, 1 blocked kick, All-District.

Hunter Engelke

Sr., QB/DB, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg

96-232 passing for 1,027 yards and 7 passing TDs, 86 carries, 346 yards, 6 rushing TDs, 37 tackles, 3 INTs, All-District, All-Section 5AA.

Nate Geer

Sr., Line, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

55 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 FR, All-District.

Holton Hanson

Sr., LB, New London-Spicer

57 tackles (43 solo), 11 TFL, All-District.

Evan Jones

Jr., Lineman, New London-Spicer

62 tackles (49 solo), 12 TFL, 1 FR, All-District.

Lance Radermacher

So., FB/LB, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

40 carries, 240 yards, 1 rushing TD, 17 catches, 226 yards, 1 receiving TDs, 76 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 2 FR, All-District, Team offensive MVP.

Kameron Sather

Sr., RB/LB, Dawson-Boyd

100 carries, 742 yards, 11 rushing TDs, 6 catches, 75 yards, 1 receiving TD, 75 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 1 FR, 1 INT (for a TD), All-District.

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