The Omaha World Herald released its all state football teams over the weekend. Sandhills/Thedford placed three players on the all state Class D2 team. The Knights completed the season at 12-1 and finished as the state runners-up in Class D2. Dane Pokorny was selected to the Class D2 all state offensive team at running back and was given the honor as honorary captain by the publication. Pokorny averaged 8.9 yards per carry this season and finished with 1,313 yards rushing. Drew McIntosh and Reece Zutavern were both all state defensive selections. Zutavern, an all state linebacker, led the team in total tackles with 110. McIntosh, a defensive lineman, led S/T in sacks with 11 and had 19 tackles for loss this past season.
Burwell placed three players on the Class D1 all state team. The Longhorns won a district championship this year and advanced to the state semifinals where they fell to state champion Howells Dodge. Caleb Busch was selected as an all state running back. Busch finished with over 2,000 rushing yards for the season. Joining Busch on the D1 all state offense was offensive lineman Carter Mann. Cash Gurney was selected to the Class D1 all state defensive team as a defensive back.
Area athletes receiving honorable mention from the publication included:
Class C1
Broken Bow: Connor Wells, Cyrus Wells, Keifer Anderson, Sawyer Bumgarner.
Cozad: Jacob Weatherly, Nolan Wetovick.
Gothenburg: Bronson Long.
Class D1
Anselmo-Merna: Wyatt Lambertson, Sid Miller, Carter Johnson, Dalton Duryea, Garrett Porter, Cass McGinn, Bryce Schmidt.
Arcadia-Loup City: Jutsin Lueck, Prestyn Rogers, Jaxson Kusek, Vince Eureck, Bradyn Scott, Haydn Griffiths
Burwell: Alex Gideon.
Class D2
Mullen: Clayton Moore, Spencer DeNaeyer, Kyle Durfee, Sean Simonson, Jaden Emerson, Isaac Welch.
Sandhills/Thedford: Parker Ballenger, Trae Hickman, Seth Scranton, Andre Furrow, Zeb Wilde, Kaden Haake.
Six Man
SEM: Noah Eggleston, Kellen Egglestrom, Jayson Guthard.
