2022 Duluth News Tribune All-Area Football Team
Dec. 17—It had been 12 years since Cromwell's IX-Man state title in 2010, but Asher Zubich and Mountain Iron-Buhl ended northeastern Minnesota's state championship drought with it's final minute win over Spring Grove.
Zubich, Damian Tapio, and Mason Clines all make an appearance on the 2022 News Tribune All-Area Team for the Rangers.
Esko's season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in the Class AAA quarterfinal, but the Eskomos also have several names on the list, including All-Area Player of the Year Koi Perich.
Duluth Denfeld won three games this season, two more than the previous two seasons combined, and Dashawn Moore's three kick returns for a score were a big part of those wins.
Area coaches nominated players for the All-Area Team and team members were selected by the News Tribune Sports Team.
Koi Perich
Esko
Junior wide receiver/running back
* The News Tribune All-Area Player of the year amassed more than 1,600 total yards and 25 touchdowns in the Eskomos' second straight Section 7AAA title season.
* Perich averaged more 13.6 yards per carry and 20.8 yards per catch in Esko's run to the state quarterfinal.
* The Northeast District Player of the Year, Perich also had 75 tackles, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries in 2022.
Asher Zubich
Mountain Iron-Buhl
Senior quarterback
* A Minnesota Vikings All-State Team selection, Zubich threw for 2,129 yards and 32 touchdowns with a nearly 80% completion percentage in leading the Rangers to their first state championship in 50 years.
* Zubich also ran for 1,691 yards and led the team defensively with six interceptions, including a key pick at the goal line in the state championship game.
* Zubich was "probably the best IX-Man quarterback in the state," according to James Paul, the coach of Wheaton-Herman-Norcross — the Rangers' semifinal opponent.
Damian Tapio
Mountain Iron-Buhl
Senior running back
* Tapio ran for 1,809 yards and 31 touchdowns, including the game-winning score against Spring Grove in the state championship on Dec. 3.
* On the defensive side, Tapio made 76 tackles, including eight for a loss, in the Rangers' first state championship season since 1972.
Austan Orvedahl
Duluth East
Senior running back
* The Greyhounds back ran for 1,837 yards — averaging nearly 9.7 yards per carry — and 20 touchdowns in 10 games.
* A "dynamic player with explosive speed," according to Duluth East coach Joe Hietala, Orvedahl amassed 5,166 yards in his career and ran for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons.
Alec Peterson
Esko
Senior offensive guard
* Peterson was the top offensive lineman for an Eskomos offense that scored 521 points and gained more than 4,200 yards in 2022.
* As a defensive tackle, Peterson made 39 tackles and had three sacks for Esko.
Andrew Bourque
Northwestern
Senior center
* Bourque was the "centerpiece of the Tiger offensive line the past two seasons," according to coach Jovin Kroll.
* Bourque was one of the few centers who could "get to the second level consistently," Kroll said and was a team captain who took an interest in helping younger players improve throughout the year.
Josiah Larson
Cloquet
Offensive guard
* The Lumberjacks rushed for more than 2,800 yards this season and Larson "anchored our offensive line," according to Cloquet coach Jeff Ojanen.
* Larson was "a big part" of a Lumberjacks team that averaged rushing 255 yards per game, Ojanen said, and shocked then-undefeated Grand Rapids in the Section 7AAAA semifinal.
Josh Muehlbauer
Hermantown
Senior fullback
* "A bowling ball of a fullback," according to Hermantown coach Mike Zagelmeyer, Muehlbauer led the Hawks with 773 yards and 12 touchdowns.
* Also a "run stopping force" on the Hermantown defensive line, Zagelmeyer said, Muehlbauer had 50 total tackles and three sacks in 2022.
Peyton Menzel
Hermantown
Junior wide receiver
* A wide receiver with big play capabilities, Menzel set the Hawks' school record for receptions in a season with 40 catches and seven touchdowns.
* Menzel was also a "tremendous cover corner for us," according to Hermantown coach Mike Zagelmeyer.
Jaxsyn Schmidt
Moose Lake/Willow River
Junior running back
* Schmidt ran for 1,535 yards in 11 games, averaging 9.48 yards per carry with 18 touchdowns.
* Schmidt was also named the Northeast Blue District Offensive Player of the Year in the Rebels' run to a second consecutive Section 7AA title.
Kyler Pitkanen
Two Harbors
Senior running back
* Pitkanen led the Agates with 810 rushing yards and nine touchdowns as well as 142 yards receiving and two scores.
* A terrific two-way player, Pitkanen also had 47 tackles — 13 for a loss — an interception and three fumble recoveries.
Tanner Kaufman
Northwestern
Senior linebacker
* "A constant in the opponent's backfield," Northwestern coach Jovin Kroll said, Kaufman was a first team All-State selection at outside linebacker and had 17 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
* Also a 1,000-yard rusher for the Tigers, Kaufman, a Wisconsin-River Falls recruit, was "an explosive player on offense," Kroll said, that had 17 touchdowns and averaged 8.8 yards per carry.
Owen Glenn
Grand Rapids
Senior defensive back
* Glenn was a "game-changer each week in all phases of the game," Thunderhawks coach Greg Spahn said, that recorded more than 70 total tackles and had five interceptions in 2022.
* Also a rushing threat, Glenn gained more than 700 yards on the ground and scored 10 touchdowns.
J.P. Mesojedec
Moose Lake/Willow River
Senior defensive line
* The Rebels' "best lineman on offense and defense," MLWR coach Dave Louzek said, had 65 total tackles, two sacks and eight tackles for a loss.
* Offensively, Mesojedec was part of a line that averaged 361 yards per game and cleared the way for 1,500-yard rusher Jaxsyn Schmidt.
Wyatt Christensen
Grand Rapids
Senior defensive end
* A two-year starter at defensive end, Christensen was an All-Section 7AAAA selection and had 59 tackles and 12 sacks in 2022.
* Also a right tackle, Christensen helped clear the way for a Thunderhawks rushing attack that gained 2,565 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.
Reese Sheldon
Cloquet
Senior defensive back
* "One of the best all-around players in the Northland," according to Cloquet coach Jeff Ojanen, Sheldon was a force in the defensive backfield, with 34.5 tackles and several pass breakups and an interception.
* A North Dakota State recruit, Sheldon was a great two-way player who had 788 yards passing and 11 touchdowns as well as 654 yards passing and another seven scores.
Ryan Manahan
Barnum
Senior linebacker
* Once a manager for the Bombers, he became a "key piece" to their success, Barnum coach Bob Minkkinen said, with 77 tackles — including 12 for a loss — two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
* Manahan also has five receiving touchdowns and had a "great nose for the ball and seemed to have a knack for making big plays in big moments," Minkkinen said.
Jared Schultz
Northwood/Solon Springs
Sophomore linebacker
* Schultz had 92 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss and two defensive touchdowns in 2022.
* Schultz was also the Lakeland East Conference Offensive Player of the Year with 1,207 yards passing and 16 touchdowns as well as 1,105 yards rushing and 19 scores on the ground.
Jack Rivord
Superior
Senior defensive end
* The Spartans' senior was a two-year, two-way starter, but was so skilled defensively that teams "had to know where he was aligned and often schemed to run away from him," according to Superior coach Bob DeMeyer.
* An outstanding blocker, ball carrier and receiver, Rivord played through an injury but was limited on offense because his defensive value was so high, DeMeyer said.
Nolan Witt
Esko
Senior defensive line
* Witt ran for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns and was a bruising counterpoint to Koi Perich in the Eskomos attack that produced 521 points and more than 4,000 yards of offense.
* The senior also had 45 tackles and was selected to the Minnesota State All-Star game.
Luke Sedin
Northwestern
Senior defensive back
* The Tigers' "unquestioned leader," coach Jovin Kroll said, 35 total tackles and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
* "A true dual-threat quarterback," Kroll said, Sedin is also the Northwestern leader in career touchdown passes and passing yardage as well single-season record in those categories.
Mason Clines
Mountain Iron-Buhl
Senior defensive end
* Clines had 53 total tackles, including eight for a loss as well as three sacks in Mountain Iron-Buhl's run to its first state title in 50 years.
* Clines also had eight pass deflections at the line of scrimmage for the Rangers in 2022.
Wyatt Hudspith
Esko
Senior kicker
* Hudspith was 54-for-57 on extra point attempts in 2022 and averaged 58 yards per kick off.
* The senior was also 2-for-3 on field goals, including one in the fourth quarter of the state semifinal that gave Esko a three-point lead over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.
Dashawn Moore
Duluth Denfeld
Junior kick returner
* Moore returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2022, including one to open the second half against Rock Ridge, the Hunters' first win in nearly two years.
* Moore also led Denfeld in rushing with 670 yards and eight scores, including the game-winner at Duluth East, the Hunters' first win over their rivals since 2018.
