Fall 2021 NewsTribune Football All-Area Team

QB – John Brady, jr., St. Bede: Brady excelled in his first varsity season as he led the Bruins to their first playoff win in five seasons. He threw for 1,699 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 700 yards and seven TDs. He was voted Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

QB – Teegan Davis, jr., Princeton: The NewsTribune Offensive Football Player of the Year was a threat with his arm or his legs, throwing for 1,737 yards and 19 touchdowns and running for 1,150 yards and 18 scores. He led the Tigers to the Class 3A quarterfinals. He was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division at QB and defensive back.

RB – Matt Carrico, sr., La Salle-Peru: The hard-nosed runner gained a lot of tough ground up the middle this season, rushing for 770 yards and six touchdowns. He racked up 246 yards and two TDs against Ottawa.

RB – Mac Resetich, jr., Hall: Whenever Resetich touched the ball he was a threat to score. He ran for 754 yards on 106 carries – an average of 7.1 yards an attempt – while scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground. He caught 22 passes for 407 yards and three TDs. He was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division at running back and defensive back.

RB – Jaden Michlig, jr., Bureau Valley: Michlig led the area in rushing yards per game at 98.4, as he ran for 886 yards and eight touchdowns. He had four 100-yard rushing games, including three straight in Weeks 2-4. He was Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division at running back and linebacker.

WR – Tyreke Fortney, sr., St. Bede: The speedster was a dynamic playmaker for the Bruins. He had 41 receptions for 992 yards and 10 touchdowns, ran for 302 yards and five TDs on 38 attempts and returned one of three punts he handled for a touchdown. He was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division as a flex player.

OL – Carter Haney, sr., Bureau Valley: Haney helped pave the way for the area’s leading rusher in Jaden Michlig (98.4 rushing yards a game) and a Storm offense that averaged 206.6 yards a game on the ground. He was All-Three Rivers Conference East Division Second Team at defensive line and honorable mention at guard.

OL – Rylan Heersink, St. Bede: The tackle helped clear the way for a balanced Bruin attack that averaged 161.1 passing yards and 141.2 rushing yards a game. He was named Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division on both sides of the line.

OL – Andy Rivera, sr., Mendota: Rivera played a key role on the area’s third-best scoring offense (26.1 points a game). He helped the Trojans averaged 230.3 rushing yards a game en route to their first playoff berth in seven years. He was Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

OL – Aidan VanDuzer, sr., La Salle-Peru: VanDuzer was a force up front for a Cavalier offense that averaged 217.6 rushing yards a game and rushed for more than 200 yards five times, including games of 358 and 343 rushing yards.

OL – J.J. Wicaryus, sr., Princeton: The transfer from Amboy played a key role in the Tigers’ run to the Class 3A quarterfinals as he helped PHS average area bests of 39.8 points and 243.6 rushing yards a game. He was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division on both sides of the ball.

K – Stephen Shaver, sr., St. Bede: In his first season playing football, Shaver made a big impact for the Bruins as he connected on 18 of 22 extra points and made all six of his field goal attempts. He booted the game-winning field goal against Erie-Prophetstown as time expired and made two field goals in the Bruins’ 13-7 win over Newman.

DL – Will Dougherty, sr., La Salle-Peru: Dougherty spent plenty of time in opposing backfields this season, recording 13 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. He made 48 tackles (32 solo) for a defense that finished third in the area in points allowed (23.1 a game).

DL – Payne Miller, so., Princeton: Miller was a force up front for the Tigers as he recorded 80 tackles, including 29 solo and 1.5 sacks. The First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division pick helped the Tigers allow an area-best 15.8 points a game.

DL – Johnnie Gonzalez, sr., Mendota: Gonzalez made big plays for the Trojans, recording 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, six quarterback pressures, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. He finished with 41 tackles (21 solo). He was All-Three Rivers Conference East Division honorable mention.

LB – Dominic Guerrini, sr., Hall: Guerrini was a tackling machine, recording 110 tackles, including 46 solo. He also made 11 tackles for loss and two sacks while recording two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. He was Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

LB – Drew Harp, sr., Princeton: The NewsTribune Defensive Football Player of the Year was all over the field, making 127 tackles with 68 solo stops. Harp also had three sacks and a fumble recovery for a PHS defense that held five teams to seven points or less. He was unanimous All-Three Rivers Conference East Division at linebacker and guard.

LB – Jayce Ladzinski, sr., St. Bede: Ladzinski was the leader of the area’s second best scoring defense that allowed 22.3 points a game. He had 80 tackles (29 solo), one tackle for loss, one sack and a pair of forced fumbles. Ladzinski was named Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

LB – Chris Swayne, sr., La Salle-Peru: Swayne was a force for a defense that was best in the area against the run (114.1 rushing yards a game). He made 87 tackles (60 solo) with nine tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

LB – Christian Tellez, sr., Mendota: Tellez played a crucial role on defense for the Trojans, recording 69 tackles (44 solo), seven tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures and an interception for a unit that was best in the area against the pass (91.9 passing yards a game). He was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

DB – Ryan Brady, jr., St. Bede: The safety had a knack for the big play as he had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. He recorded 99 tackles (45 solo) and a tackle for loss for the area’s second-best passing defense (103.5 yards a game). He was Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.

DB – Tre’von Hunter, sr., La Salle-Peru: It was tough for opponents to throw against Hunter. The senior had four pass breakups and a pair of interceptions. He also made 43 tackles, including 24 solo stops, for the area’s third best scoring defense (23.1 points a game).

DB – Bennett Sierens, sr., Princeton: Sierens had a nose for the football with an area-best four interceptions and a fumble recovery. He made 28 tackles (11 solo) for a Tiger defense that allowed only 15.8 points a game. Sierens was First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division at defensive back and receiver.

P – Matt Lucas, sr., Princeton: The Tigers didn’t have to punt often, but when they did Lucas was solid. He punted 13 times for 443 yards, an average of 34.1 yards a punt. He had a long of 47 yards. As a receiver, he had 466 yards and five TDs. He was Second-Team All-Three Rivers Conference East Division as a flex player.

Honorable mention: Uzi Angulo, sr., RB/DL, Mendota; Nik Belski, jr. OL, La Salle-Peru; Anton Cain, sr., WR/DL, St. Bede; Augie Christiansen, jr., RB/LB, Princeton; Omar Gonzalez, jr., LB, Mendota; Adam Johnson, sr., QB, Bureau Valley; Mason Lynch, jr., DB, La Salle-Peru; Luke Mertes, sr., LB, La Salle-Peru; Emilio Perez, sr., DB/WR, Mendota; Brady Piacenti, jr., OL, Princeton; Connor Scott, jr., LB, Bureau Valley; Isaac Smith, sr., WR/DB, Mendota; Ethan Stoeger, sr., LB, Fieldcrest; Sean Whitfield, sr., QB, La Salle-Peru