Outlaws announce All-League selections in football

Sisters’ football squad had eight players selected to all-league teams

Six Outlaws were first- team selections, including Justin deSmet, Jayden Vogt, Kalvin Parker, Ethan Eby, and Reid Woodson.

DeSmet (senior) was named Player of the Year at defensive back, and also was a first-team selection at the defensive back and running back positions. In league he rushed for 478 yards in just five games, averaged 8.5 yards per carry, and scored three touchdowns. On defense, he registered 39 tackles, 13 assists, three interceptions, a pick six, and a quarterback sack.

Thorson said, “He was an incredible leader for the team through his play, passion, and his work ethic. He was all over the field from his free safety position. He had a great nose for the football and was great coming up on the run for us. He is a very high- energy player and his enthusiasm really rubs off on others on both sides of the ball.”

Jayden Vogt (senior) earned first-team at outside linebacker.

Thorson told The Nugget that, despite only one year of football experience, Vogt was a huge factor in the Outlaws’s ability to run the ball this year, particularly in the outside run game. Thorson also noted that Vogt was a quiet leader who consistently made an impact every Friday night, despite battling a major back issue all season long.

“Jayden has great character and work ethic,” said Thorson. “He’s an incredibly tough young man who earned the respect of both our opponents and our entire program this season.”

Kalvin Parker (sophomore) was a first-team pick as a defensive lineman, and was also an honorable mention at center. Parker tallied 23 tackles, four assists, and two quarterback sacks.

“Kalvin dominated at center for us, but also played several other positions for us on the offensive line as we battled injuries this season,” said Thorson. “He has great leverage and understanding of the game on offense. He was a major disruption on the defensive side of the ball with his size and athleticism, and will be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years.”

Reid Woodson (sophomore) was a first-team pick at kicker and was also a second- team selection as punter.

“Reid was a great weapon for us this season as both a punter and place kicker,” said Thorson. “He gave us the upper hand in the field position battle each week. Reid spends countless hours outside of practice to perfect his technique and the sky is the limit for him in this area. He will be a huge asset for us again next year.”

Tony Gonzalez (senior), Kolbi Cotner (junior), Landon Scott (junior), and Dawson Roberson (junior) were all second-team picks.

Gonzalez earned recognition as a linebacker. He finished league with 27 tackles, 11 assists, three quarterback sacks, and also had a fumble recovery.

“Gonzalez, along with Eby, were a handful for teams on both sides of the ball,” said Thorson. “Tony was another great leader for us this year and set a great example of what hard work in the weight room can do for an athlete. He has great closing speed and he had some explosive plays for us in key games.”

Cotner (junior) was a second-team defensive back pick. He recorded 34 tackles, one interception for a pick-six, a fumble recovery, and two quarterback sacks.

“Kolbi is one of the most improved players,” said Thorson. “He was outstanding from his outside linebacker and strong safety position. He is a student of the game who is always in the right position to make plays. He did it all for us this year and stood out on offense and special teams as well.

Scott was recognized as a second-team receiver. He averaged over 22 yards a catch and scored four touchdowns in league.

“Landon had an outstanding year in his first season with us,” said Thorson. “He has an incredible work ethic on the practice field that made our team better in multiple ways. He made multiple great catches for us during the clutch and opened up our offense.”

Roberson was recognized as a defensive back. He had three interceptions on the year, including a pick six in the final league game that helped the Outlaws seal the victory against Harrisburg.

“Dawson was one of our best athletes who was often assigned to cover the No. 1 receiver each week for our defense,” said Thorson. “He is a big threat any time he gets the ball and can cover a lot of ground with his speed at corner. He also had some big plays for us this season on special teams.

Hudson Beckwith (junior) and Dolon Pool (12) earned honorable mention.

Beckwith was honorable mention running back and had over 200 yards rushing and receiving, and scored three touchdowns.

“Hudson was voted all- league for both his running and pass receiving skills,” said Thorson. “He’s an unselfish player and leader who always puts team first.”

Pool earned his recognition on the defensive line. He had 14 tackles and a quarterback sack.

“Dolon made the switch to defensive line halfway through the year and was still recognized for his play at defensive tackle and nose guard,” said Thorson. “He was a fireball with non-stop energy whose speed off the ball created a headache for the opposing offensive lines he faced.”

Looking ahead to next year, Thorson said, “When you look at the youth on our roster and see the number of all-league players we have coming back you cannot help but be excited for next season. In addition, our JV team this year was very talented and there will be a handful of those players who will jump right in and have success at the varsity level.

“We no doubt lose some key players from this senior class, both in terms of leadership and ability, but I believe a solid foundation has been laid out and now we just need to commit to improving in the off season and we could be back in the mix again,” added Thorson.