Football program names all-league selections

Sisters’ 2019 Outlaws football squad outperformed their 2-5 record, and the numerous all-league selections indicate the respect they earned from the teams they faced.

The scoring defense tied for 10th in the state and the offense showed flashes of explosiveness and grit. Faced with a third change of an offensive system in four years, the Outlaws football team — and especially quarterback Taylor Fendall — often found themselves learning on the fly.

Three players — Hunter Spor, Ethan Martin, and Garrett Kersavage — earned first-team all-league recognition.

Spor (junior) was a first-team running back pick, and in addition earned second-team honors as linebacker. Hunter was an anchor on defense for the Outlaws, as well as a sledgehammer on offense. He consistently made plays on both sides of the ball.

Martin (senior) earned first-team linebacker, and also as second-team running back. Ethan really showcased his ability and athleticism as he led the team in sacks, and was second in tackles for loss from the linebacker position. He was also a vital part of the Outlaws’ run game.

Kersavage (senior) earned first-team defensive back, and honorable mention wide receiver. Garrett always covered the opponent’s best receiver, and led the team in interceptions and passes defensed. He had a knack for the big play and was a consistent blocker downfield in the run game from his receiver position.

Seniors Taylor Fendall, Damien King, Anthony Randolph, and junior Hayden Sharp were all second-team picks on offense.

Fendall was named second-team quarterback and was a coach on the field as often the read option play came down to his making a split-second decision. Taylor led the team in rushing and was a leader on the field with his toughness and positive attitude.

King was a second-team offensive guard, and a second-team defensive end. Anthony was the heart and soul of the defensive team with his energy, attitude, relentless will, and his incredible durability. He led the team in tackles for loss and was second with sacks, as well as being a key blocker on perimeter runs.

Sharp was honored as a kicker. Hayden’s season was cut short due to injury, and yet his leg strength, top speed and athleticism earned him second-team recognition in just half the games played.

Gator Haken (senior) was a second-team defensive back, and also earned honorable mention running back. Gator was a consistent tackler and played with a tremendous feel for the game at both defensive back and running back. Haken stepped back from the feature back last year and leading rusher to become one of six that ran the ball. He took it in stride and was an ideal teammate, and became a devastating blocker down the stretch.

Joe Scholl (senior) earned second-team punter and was also an honorable-mention defensive back. Joe was used in several spots, but mostly occupied blockers for others to make the play, and he stepped in as a legitimate weapon punting the ball.

Eli Gurney (senior) earned honorable-mention running back and defensive line. Eli had one of the more impressive ends to the season with several explosive runs and a commitment to do his job on the defensive line, as well as being one of the more passionate players on the team.

Liam Allesio and Garrett Vohs (juniors) were both honorable-mention linebackers. Liam became one of the team’s most aggressive tacklers and is expected to be a leader next year. Garrett was a savvy linebacker that put himself in position to make a play, whether it was a sack, tackle, or interception.

Juniors Dillon King, Hudson Jones, and Cameron Wessel all earned honorable-mention offensive line. King stepped in at tackle partway through the season and anchored the right side of the line, and was willing to do whatever was asked of him. Jones, a first-year player, was a powerful blocker at both center and at guard. Cameron battled through an injury to lead the offensive line from the center position as a tireless worker and technical player.

Junior Nate Weber and sophomore Wyatt Maffey both earned honorable-mention defensive back. Nate showed great hands as he was second on the team in interceptions. He showed a great understanding of his position in his first year of high school football. Wyatt was a tackling machine and had the best form tackling technique on the team. Wyatt often made huge stops in the open field that saved big plays from happening.

This many all-league selections is pretty remarkable for a 2-6 team, and is a testament to the grit, camaraderie, and selflessness of the team. The culture C3 (connect, care, and compete) has been instilled by the coaches, adopted by the team, and witnessed by the opposition as well as the fans.

Coach Neil Fendall said, “A lot of our kids got recognized. It felt good hearing from the other coaches around the league how much respect our kids garnered from them. They all stated emphatically how much better we were this year, how physical we were this year, and how competitive each game was. Every one of them said they came out knowing they’d played against a physical and competitive team.”