Football: Outlaws pick up all-league honors

Published 10:22 am Thursday, November 30, 2023

ENTERPRISE — After a successful 7-3 season including a playoff win and a trip to the 8-man state quarterfinals, a number of Enterprise football players have seen their efforts rewarded with honors on the 1A 8-man Special District 3 All-League Team.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior Tegan Evans picked up first team honors for his work as a defensive end. Teammate and senior Cade Cunningham was named second team defensive end. At the defensive tackles slot, junior Gunnar McDowell earned an honorable mention.

Two Outlaws won honorable mentions at the linebacker position. Senior Oliver Lindquist joins junior Ashtyn Irwin on the listing.

Enterprise junior Tyler Knapp was named second team at two positions. His work at defensive back was awarded as were his efforts as a kicker/punter.

Switching to offense, McDowell added to his honors with honorable mention listing as a center. John Jannuzzi finishes his senior year with first team honors as an Outlaw guard.

Also named to first team by the coaches was senior Trey Stewart as a member of the receiving corps for Enterprise. Stewart is joined as a receiver by senior Kyler McQuead on second team.

In addition to his work on defense, Irwin earned a league honorable mention as a running back in the league.

Knapp was named to the second team for his work at quarterback.

After voting by the league’s coaches, St. Paul picked up three awards: Tony Smith was named coach of the year, George Pohlschneider was named offensive player of the year and Clay Smith was selected as defensive player of the year.

Outlaws honor their ownAt the recent football banquet marking the end of the season for Enterprise football, six individuals received awards for the season’s play.

Six of these awards were voted on by the players on the Outlaw team. The final award, the “Bruce Eien Outlaw Award,” was voted on by the coaching staff.

Senior Teagan Evans was chosen Most Valuable Player for the year for his work at tight end and defensive end. Evans was also voted by his teammates as Most Inspirational.

Junior quarterback Tyler Knapp picked up the award for Most Valuable Offensive Player.

The Most Valuable Defensive Player award went to senior John Jannuzzi. Sophomore guard and tight end Ryder Tomanini took home the award for Most Improved Player and the Rookie of the Year honor went to freshman running back and linebacker Nate Cameron.

The Bruce Eien Outlaw Award was handed to junior center and linebacker Gunnar McDowell.

The award is named in honor of Eien, a nationally known innovator in high school football and a longtime coach who was an assistant football coach in Enterprise before his death in December 2022.

Eagles lauded for playJOSEPH — The battle for a state 1A 6-man title may not have turned out as Joseph coach Damian Huff and the Eagle football team wanted, but Joseph players were among the state’s leaders for the championship weekend.

Joseph senior Kane Johnson ended the game with 284 yards of passing yardage, placing him sixth among players in the championship games. Johnson’s three TD passes tied the Eagle senior for second in the state for the weekend.

On the receiving side of the ball, Joseph senior Jaxon Grover hauled in 126 yards, fifth in the state for receiving yards. Grover also recorded 10½ tackles in the game, fourth in the state among defensive players.

Senior Zander Walker had 10 tackles, tying him for sixth among the state’s players in the championship games.

The Eagles played in the 1A 6-man state championship game, but lost, 47-40, to Echo.