Associated Press all-state football: DeWitt, Mason have trio honored in Division 3-4
Bryce Kurncz was used in many different ways offensively for the DeWitt football team.
And no matter where the do-it-all Panther senior was lined up, he consistently made big plays while helping the Panthers to a season that included Division 3 district and regional championships.
Kurncz excelled as a receiver and rusher and is among six players from Greater Lansing recognized on the Associated Press Division 3-4 all-state team.
Kurncz earned first team all-state honors as a receiver while being one of three DeWitt players honored. Kurncz had 51 catches for 797 yards and nine touchdowns and added 1,481 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Panthers. He also threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns and broke the school record for touchdowns in a season.
DeWitt senior kicker Brandon Soltis and senior lineman Matthew Nehf were also first team selections. Soltis broke the MHSAA record for career made extra points this season and ended his career with 207 makes. That included making 55 of 57 extra points this fall and 8 of 10 field goals with a long of 32 yards.
Nehf, a Central Michigan commit, helped pave the way for an offense that finished with 3,400 rushing yards and averaged 512 total yards per game. He also finished with 64 tackles. and 8.5 sacks.
Mason junior linebacker Kaleb Parrish was the other first team all-state selection from Greater Lansing. From his outside linebacker spot, Parrish had 84 tackles, nine for loss, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery. Parrish also had a 99-yard interception returned for a touchdown and blocked two punts. The Bulldogs also got big contributions offensively from Parrish, who had 28 catches for 633 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Mason, which set a school record with 12 wins while winning CAAC Red and Division 3 district and regional titles, also had a pair of second team all-state selections in sophomore quarterback Cason Carswell and senior lineman Brian Ingram.
Carswell completed 136 of 199 passes for 2,403 yards and 34 touchdowns and also ran for two scores. He broke single-season school records for passing yards and touchdowns.
Ingram was a big piece in the trenches and didn't allow a sack while helping the Bulldogs score a school record 554 points. He paved the way for an offense that had 2,439 passing yards and 2,569 rushing yards.
More:AP all-state football: Portland, Olivet lead Greater Lansing's selections in Division 5-6
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Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIVISION 3-4 ALL-STATE
The Michigan Associated Press Division 3-4 All-State team.
Player of the Year
Dante Moore, Sr., Detroit King, Jr.
FIRST TEAM
Quarterbacks
Dante Moore, Sr., Detroit King, Jr.
Jake DeHaan, Grand Rapids South Christian, Sr.
Running Backs
Darius Taylor, Walled Lake Western, Sr.
Paschal Jolman, Fruitport, Sr.
Parker Holman, Zeeland West, Jr.
Sterling Anderson, Detroit King, Sr.
Receivers
Jameel Croft, Detroit King, Sr.
Nick Marsh, River Rouge, Jr.
Bryce Kurncz, DeWitt, Sr.
Ryan Mooney, Orchard Lake St. Mary, Sr.
Linemen
Aaron Holstege, Allendale, Sr.
Eryx Daugherty, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr.
Kenny Merrieweather, Detroit King, Sr.
Andrew Dennis, Mt. Pleasant, Jr.
Gabe Blanchard, Freeland, Sr.
John Burke, Sault Ste. Marie, Sr.
Matthew Nehf, DeWitt, Sr.
Dylan Senda, Dearborn Divine Child, Sr.
Linebackers
Bryce Eliuk, Linden, Sr.
Pete Closner, Marquette, Sr.
Kaleb Parrish, Mason, Jr.
Adam Haselius, Jackson Northwest, Sr._
Defensive backs
Skyler Geurink, Zeeland West, Sr.
Markell Gilford, River Rouge, Sr.
Zarek Zelinski, Waterford Kettering, Sr.
CJ Ivy III, Muskegon, Sr.
Specialist
Scooter Polk, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.
Kicker
Brandon Soltis, DeWitt, Sr.
Punter
Christopher Bowman, Waterford Kettering, Jr.
Coach of the Year
Tyrone Spencer, Detroit King
SECOND TEAM
Quarterbacks
M’Khi Guy, Muskegon, Jr.
Cason Carswell, Mason, So.
Running backs
A.J. Bryan, Tecumseh, Sr.
Jacob Shank, Riverview, Sr.
Jacob Thompson, Sturgis, Sr.
Jace Simerson, Goodrich, Sr.
Receivers
Henry Garrity, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr.
Drew Hickmott, Ortonville Brandon, Jr.
Linemen
Charlie Pietrosante, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr.
DeShawn Robinson, Auburn Hills Avondale, Sr.
Brian Ingram, Mason, Sr.
Cameron VanSolkema, Grand Rapids South Christian, Jr.
Winton Napier, Whitehall, Sr.
D’Andre Hudgins, Muskegon, Sr.
Linebackers
Timothy Simons, Gibraltar Carlson, Sr.
Jeremiah Alston, Redford Union, Sr.
Michael Bailey, Walled Lake Western, Sr.
Benny Hernandez, Madison Heights Lamphere, Sr.
Defensive backs
Daniel Duley, Freeland, Jr.
Teegan Baker, Cadillac, Sr.
Specialists
Jake Burns, Tecumseh, Sr.
Destin Piggee, Muskegon, Jr.
Kicker
Owen Pardi, Birmingham Brother Rice, Sr.
Punter
Adam Barcome, Fenton, Sr.
Coaches
Tony Sigmon, Whitehall
Tom Alward, Goodrich
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Prep football: DeWitt, Mason have trio selected Division 3-4 all-state
