The 2024 football season for the KQRadio-area highlighted new stars stepping into the limelight and teams going through period’s of restructuring. Despite this, there will still numerous standout individuals and units that highlighted the 2024 season.

Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Knoll (Sr.), Roland-Story

Stats: 64/119, 941 yards, 16 TD, 5 INT, 61 car, 311 yards, 5 TD, 1,252 yards of total offense

Knoll’s second and final season as starting quarterback saw the Norsemen passing game step up to the next level, just missing a 1,000 yard seasons, but still throwing for 16 touchdowns and providing an added dimension on the ground in 2024 in leading the Norsemen back to the playoffs.

Defensive Player of the Year: Bryce Lindaman (Sr.), Clarion-Goldfield-Dows

Stats: 38 tackles, 27 solo tackles, 9 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown

Despite a 2-7 record in 2024, CGD senior defensive end Bryce Lindaman was a problem for every opponent on the Cowboys schedule in 2024. Lindaman’s 22 tackles for loss tied for 4th in Class 2A, while his 9 sacks were tied for 6th.

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Tristan Peterson (Sr.), Roland-Story

Peterson anchored one of the best offensive lines in Class 2A in 2024 as the Norsemen averaged 203.5 yards per game on the ground in one of the toughest districts in the Class in 2024.

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Bryce Lindaman (Sr.), Clarion-Goldfield-Dows

See Stats and Description under “Defensive Player of the Year”

Coach of the Year: Paul Skartvedt, South Hamilton

• 5-5 record, runner-up in 1A-D7, Round of 16 qualifier for 3rd season in a row

A season that was a near-unimaginable roller coaster ride for South Hamilton football, from a brutal non-district schedule, to losing a beloved former teammate, to competing for a district title and getting to the Round of 16 yet again. Paul Skartvedt’s Hawks proved their resiliency and culture won over adversity time and time again in 2024.

First Team

Offense

Quarterback: Sam Knoll, Sr. (Roland-Story)

• See Offensive Player of the Year

Running Back: Cael Nixon, Sr. (Webster City)

• 197 car, 885 yards, 10 TD, 4.5 YPC

Nixon had major shoes to fill following the departure of all-star running back Jaxon Cherry, but the 2nd half of the season saw Nixon become a dependable rock for Webster City’s spinner back offense.

Running Back: Nick Severseike, Sr. (South Hamilton)

• 111 car, 817 yards, 7 TD, 7.4 YPC, 9 rec, 138 yards

A brutal non-district schedule prevented Severseike from eclipsing the 1,000 yard plateau for the 2nd-year in a row, but a strong district slate and postseason performances vaults Severseike into the 1st-team spot for the 2nd-year in a row.

Tight End: Landon Sogard, Sr. (South Hamilton)

• 9 receptions, 178 yards, 3 touchdowns, 19.8 YPR

Sogard proved to be a very effective receiver from the tight end spot for the Hawks, allowing another dimension to a normally one-dimension South Hamilton wishbone attack.

Wide Receiver: Luke Thoreson, So. (Roland-Story)

• 20 receptions, 349 yards, 4 touchdowns, 17.4 YPR

Thoreson emerged as a big play threat for the Norsemen in 2024, making some big-time catches in Roland-Story’s biggest games against the likes of Kuemper Catholic and Des Moines Christian. His 20 receptions and 349 yards led the Norsemen in 2024.

Wide Receiver: Hesston McIlrath, Sr. (Roland-Story)

• 19 receptions, 317 yards, 7 touchdowns, 16.7 YPR

McIlrath became a safety valve and dynamic receiver who got the ball a number of different ways in 2024. His 7 touchdowns led Roland-Story in 2024 and his explosiveness not only helped on offense, but on special teams as well.

Offensive Line: Tristan Peterson, Sr. (Roland-Story)

Offensive Line: Cole Nohrenberg, Jr. (Webster City)

Offensive Line: Eli Estlund, Jr. (Webster City)

Offensive Line: Roland Yates, Sr. (Roland-Story)

Offensive Line: Brock Zorn, Sr. (South Hamilton)

Peterson garnered honors as the Offensive Lineman of the Year for Roland-Story, while fellow starter Roland Yates was also a dominant force on the Norsemen’s offensive line. Cole Nohrenberg and Eli Estlund stepped up as anchors for the Webster City offensive line in 2024, while Brock Zorn did an admirable job stepping up as a senior leader for a brand new South Hamilton offensive line.

Defense

Defensive End: Bryce Lindaman, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• See Defensive Player of the Year

Defensive Tackle: Christian Martinez, Jr. (Eagle Grove)

• 21 tackles, 15 solo, 2.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss

Defensive Tackle: Titus Herrick, Jr. (South Hamilton)

• 15 tackles, 10 solo, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss

Defensive End: Jayden Weinzetl, Sr. (Webster City)

• 42.5 tackles, 28 solo, 2.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss

Lindaman garnered Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Linemen of the Year honors as well, while Jayden Weinzetl had a big end of the season after a slow start to his senior campaign. In the middle, Christian Martinez was Eagle Grove’s top defensive lineman in 2024, while Titus Herrick made noise in district play for South Hamilton.

Linebacker: Huxley Lingenfelter, So. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 60 tackles, 39 solo, 3 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery

Linebacker: Kolby Hodnefield, Jr. (South Hamilton)

• 65 tackles, 44 solo, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Linebacker: Charlie Watts, Sr. (Roland-Story)

• 56 tackles, 35 solo, 6.5 tackles for loss

Linebacker: Aiden Hrnicek, Jr. (Webster City)

• 52.5 tackles, 37 solo, 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss, 4 fumble recoveries

Lingenfelter and Hodnefield highlight the linebacking core with 60+ tackle seasons in their respective linebacking cores. Watts, a former all-stater, led Roland-Story linebackers with 56 tackles, while Aiden Hrnicek put together a breakout season for Webster City.

Defensive Back: Cody Long, Jr. (Roland-Story)

• 60.5 tackles, 46 solo, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions

Defensive Back: Jaxon Griffith, Jr. (Webster City)

• 56.5 tackles, 39 solo, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions

Defensive Back: Charlie Campbell, So. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 26 tackles, 23 solo, 1 sack, 9 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

Cody Long continued his play as a hard-hitting safety for Roland-Story in 2024 with a team-high 60.5 tackles. Jaxon Griffith led Webster City with 56.5 tackles and a pair of picks in his breakout season, while Charlie Campbell had a standout year as a rover safety in CGD’s 3-3-5 defense.

Punter/Kicker: Sam Knoll, Sr. (Roland-Story)

• 2/3 field goals, school-record 43-yard make, 35/39 PAT, 15 punts, 43.3 yards per punt

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback: Braden Young, Sr. (South Hamilton)

• 22/49, 368 yards, 2 TD, 7 INT, 38 car, 154 yards, 6 TD

Running Back: Ben Mazyck, So. (Roland-Story)

• 118 car, 692 yards, 7 TD, 5.9 YPC, 6 rec yards

Running Back: Selvin Gonzalez, Jr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 120 car, 698 yards, 4 TD, 5.8 YPC, 13 rec yards

Tight End: Gabe Ruby, Sr. (Webster City)

• 4 receptions, 42 yards

Wide Receiver: Aiden Frey, So. (Roland-Story)

• 13 receptions, 201 yards, 2 touchdowns, 15.5 YPR

Wide Receiver: Carter Mickelson, Jr. (Webster City)

• 6 receptions, 84 yards, 1 touchdown, 14 YPR

Offensive Line: Brody Harris, Jr. (South Hamilton)

Offensive Line: Carson Barber, Sr. (Roland-Story)

Offensive Line: Jesus Baez, Sr. (Eagle Grove)

Offensive Line: JT Kelso, So. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

Offensive Line: Wes Hansen, Sr. (Roland-Story)

Defense

Defensive End: Jose Babcock, Jr. (South Hamilton)

• 24 tackles, 20 solo

Defensive Tackle: Cole Rothman, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 13.5 tackles, 7 solo, 3 tackles for loss

Defensive Tackle: James Harle, Jr. (Eagle Grove)

• 10 tackles, 6 solo, 1.5 tackles for loss

Defensive End: Cesar Rosales, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 13 tackles, 8 solo, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss

Linebacker: Hayden Schafer, Jr. (Eagle Grove)

• 42 tackles, 20 solo, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Linebacker: Trenton Robinson, So. (Eagle Grove)

• 21 tackles, 10 solo, 5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries

Linebacker: Garrett Nerem, Sr. (Roland-Story)

• 36 tackles, 22 solo, 1 tackle for loss

Linebacker: Carter Barber, So. (Roland-Story)

• 41.5 tackles, 24 solo, 3 tackles for loss

Defensive Back: Blake Larson, Jr. (Roland-Story)

• 14.5 tackles, 13 solo, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions

Defensive Back: Carson Bertran, Sr. (Webster City)

• 23.5 tackles, 13 solo, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interceptions

Defensive Back: Luke Estlund, Sr. (Webster City)

• 23 tackles, 12 solo, 3 tackles for loss, 1 interception

Punter: JD Morrical, So. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)

• 29 punts, 925 yards, 31.9 YPP

Kicker: Israel Torres, So. (Webster City)

• 20/22 PAT, 14 touchbacks