All-Area Football: Parmely, Vincent headline offense, defense

Connor Vincent was an easy fellow to spot during the recently completed football season.

He was the guy close to the ball.

'There were several games this season in which he clearly stood out against anybody on the field,” said Cedar Rapids Washington football coach Paul James.

'The Bettendorf game was one of those games. He made some key plays, including a big fourth-down stop.”

Vincent, who collected 133.5 tackles and returned a pair of fumble recoveries for touchdowns, is the 2014 Gazette/KCRG defensive player of the year.

Ryan Parmely of Maquoketa Valley, who led the state in rushing this season and ranks No. 2 all-time with more than 7,000 career yards, is honored on the offensive side of the ball. The selections are made in conjunction with the annual all-area teams released today.

An inside linebacker, Vincent is one of five Washington players named to the 32-man squad. He is joined by offensive lineman Julian Good-Jones and three other defenders - lineman Royal Silver and D-backs Reid Snitker and Landen Akers.

They led the Warriors to a 13-1 season that ended in the Class 4A state-championship game. West Des Moines Dowling denied them, 49-14, in the final.

'I'm really proud of how it all went,” Vincent said. 'You've got to give our coaching staff a lot of credit, especially (James). Last year, we started 0-3, then came back and won six in a row, then what we did this year ... it's a heck of an accomplishment.

'(Assistant) coach (Maurice) Blue, he helped me come a long way as a linebacker. I became a more technical player, watched more film and prepared for games a lot more.”

Vincent said he was visited by Iowa coaches on Monday. He also has received interest from South Dakota, Northwest Missouri State and Western Illinois.

Maquoketa Valley spent the entire regular season atop the Class A state rankings behind Parmely, who ran for 3,180 yards on 329 carries, including 45 touchdowns. The yardage total led the state in all classes and was No. 2 all-time. His 7,067 career yards also ranks second (to Levi Ferguson of North Tama). He scored 85 career rushing touchdowns.

The Wildcats finished 10-1, reaching the Class A quarterfinals.

'It was a pretty good run,” Parmely said. 'There were some things we could have done better. The 7,000 yards, that's a pretty cool feeling. It would have been a little cooler if I'd gotten 70 or 80 more, but that's all right. I'm proud of what we accomplished.

'I feel that I was a pretty diverse back. I could power my way to a first down on fourth-and-1, and I was a threat with my speed on third-and-long.”

Led by quarterback Drew Cook, Iowa City Regina won its fifth consecutive state championship, its third in a row in Class 1A.

Cook is one of four Regals to earn all-area accolades; he's joined by offensive lineman Phil Arendt, placekicker Jacob Adam and defensive utility player Jake Brinkman.

North Fayette Valley won the Class 2A title behind all-area picks Josh Mackey (running back) and Derrick Kuehner (linebacker).

North Cedar receiver Ian Malaby set a state record with 101 catches this season.

2014 GAZETTE/KCRG ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM

OFFENSE

OL - Julian Good-Jones, 6-6, 275, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

OL - Phil Arendt, 6-4, 290, sr., Iowa City Regina

OL - Dalton Kuehl, 6-6, 250, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson

OL - Tim Otting, 6-2, 235, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

OL - Colin Brown, 6-3, 290, jr., West Delaware

QB - Drew Cook, 6-6, 220, sr., Iowa City Regina

QB - Derek Lieurance, 5-11, 175, sr., Cascade

RB - Ryan Parmely, 6-2, 215, sr., Maquoketa Valley

RB - Josh Mackey, 6-2, 210, sr., North Fayette Valley

RB - Nathan Fitzgerald, 5-11, 200, sr., Elkader Central

WR - Ian Malaby, 6-0, 185, jr., North Cedar

WR - Jordan Rommes, 6-2, 205, sr., South Winneshiek

WR - Nate Bergfeld, 5-9, 175, sr., Cascade

UT - Ryan Schmidt, 6-5, 230, sr., Linn-Mar

UT - Shaun Beyer, 6-6, 200, jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

PK - Jacob Adam, 6-2, 165, sr., Iowa City Regina

DEFENSE

DL - Royal Silver, 6-4, 275, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

DL - Jo Jo Simpson, 6-2, 250, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

DL - Wyatt Sadler, 5-9, 165, sr., Center Point-Urbana

DL - Drew Wagner, 6-6, 310, sr., Clear Creek Amana

LB - Connor Vincent, 6-2, 220, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

LB - Derrick Kuehner, 5-10, 180, sr., North Fayette Valley

LB - Tyler Hirsch, 5-11, 192, jr., Dyersville Beckman

LB - Connor Frerichs, 6-2, 200, sr., New Hampton

DB - Reid Snitker, 5-10, 180, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

DB - John Milani, 6-2, 185, sr., Iowa City West

DB - Landen Akers, 6-2, 175, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

DB - Tucker Tenge, 5-9, 160, sr., New Hampton

UT - Jake Brinkman, 6-2, 205, sr., Iowa City Regina

UT - Peyton Imhof, 5-9, 165, sr., Dubuque Hempstead

UT - Brandon Kramer, 5-11, 185, sr., Solon

P - Peyton Paddock, 5-11, 185, sr., Monticello

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Coming Sunday

COACH OF THE YEAR - Coming Sunday

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Ryan Parmely, Maquoketa Valley

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Connor Vincent, Cedar Rapids Washington

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com