Vollstedt, Hill headline all-area football team

As a freshman at Iowa City Regina, Jacob Vollstedt was an average, 150-pound football player.

"I just played on the freshman team, didn't even do anything for the JV," he said.

Then came the offseason of transformation.

"Jacob was always a tough kid, a hard-nosed kid," said Regina Coach Marv Cook. "But through his offseason work in the weight room, he turned into a great football player."

Bulked up to 195 pounds, Vollstedt became a varsity starter by the third game of his sophomore season.

A three-year starter. A two-time state champion. And now, Vollstedt is the 2011 Gazette/KCRG Defensive Player of the Year.

Winners of 28 straight games, the Regals allowed 9.7 points per game last season, holding nine of their first 10 opponents to single digits.

"We try to play rock-hard defense," Vollstedt said. "We control the line of scrimmage with our defensive line, and it makes the linebackers' jobs so much easier."

Vollstedt collected 94 tackles -- 67 solo -- and intercepted a pass. On the offensive side, he rushed for 1,505 yards and 22 touchdowns. Vollstedt is undecided on his college choice, but has been getting attention from numerous FCS schools as well as Division II Northwest Missouri State.

"He has great instincts and runs to the ball extremely well," Cook said. "And as a fullback, he hits the line with a heavy thud."

Cedar Falls' Barkley Hill is the Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,493 yards and 40 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Class 4A state semifinals.

"He helped carry us for the past three years," said Tigers Coach Pat Mitchell. "He's an extremely durable back, an excellent citizen and a model athlete.

"He combines speed and power. He's extremely strong, and I've never had anyone work harder."

Mitchell said Hill's ability is defined by his vision.

"We start to run a sweep, and a hole opens up behind the guard and he runs through the thing," Mitchell said. "He has the ability to see things that most running backs don't see."

Hill has committed to Iowa State.

The 32-player roster -- 15 on offense, 15 on defense, plus a kicker and a punter -- represent 19 area schools.

Eleven schools have multiple players, led by Cedar Falls and Iowa City High with three apiece.

Hill is joined by offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, the lone sophomore on the team, and defensive back Ben Challgren.

City High is represented by running back Ronald Thompson, offensive lineman Nile Banks and defensive lineman Amos Lavela.

The four running backs on the team -- Hill, Thompson, Alburnett's Mitchell Harger and Union's Wes Burnside -- combined for more than 9,000 yards and 132 rushing touchdowns.

Harger was the state leader in all classes, rushing for 2,716 yards on 235 carries and 40 TDs.

Linn-Mar's Andy Henry set a Mississippi Valley Conference record with 18 receiving touchdowns.

The player and coach of the year will be named Sunday.

THE 2011 GAZETTE/KCRG ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM:

OFFENSE

Pos.

Name

School

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

OL

Nile Banks

Iowa City High

6-4

277

Sr.

OL

Ross Pierschbacher

Cedar Falls

6-4

270

So.

OL

Robert Rathje

Benton Community

6-4

270

Sr.

OL

Zach Ries

Iowa City Regina

5-11

255

Sr.

OL

Tyler Smith

Lisbon

6-2

280

Sr.

QB

Connor Golden

Dyersville Beckman

6-4

170

Sr.

RB

Wes Burnside

Union

5-9

193

Sr.

RB

Mitchell Harger

Alburnett

5-11

185

Sr.

RB

Barkley Hill

Cedar Falls

6-0

210

Sr.

RB

Ronald Thompson

Iowa City High

6-2

205

Sr.

WR

Dondre Alexander

Iowa City West

6-3

205

Jr.

WR

Flynn Heald

Cedar Rapids Washington

6-0

185

Sr.

WR

Andy Henry

Linn-Mar

6-3

185

Sr.

UT

Charles Rogers

Iowa City West

6-1

185

Sr.

UT

Ty Troutman

Dyersville Beckman

5-9

165

Sr.

PK

Josh Lee

Decorah

6-1

180

Jr.

DEFENSE

Pos.

Name

School

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

DL

Sam Bowers

Alburnett

6-1

185

Sr.

DL

Jerod Franzen

North Fayette

6-2

235

Sr.

DL

Amos Lavela

Iowa City High

5-9

195

Jr.

DL

Avery Meyers

West Liberty

6-4

235

Sr.

LB

Mark Atwater

Linn-Mar

6-1

205

Sr.

LB

Ben Challgren

Cedar Falls

6-2

218

Sr.

LB

Jake McDonald

Marion

6-2

225

Sr.

LB

Jacob Vollstedt

Iowa City Regina

6-1

228

Sr.

DB

Ben Knake

Lisbon

6-0

165

Sr.

DB

Josh Jahlas

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

6-1

185

Sr.

DB

Riley McCarron

Dubuque Wahlert

5-8

165

Sr.

DB

David Tann

Cedar Rapids Washington

5-10

185

Sr.

UT

Trev Hadachek

Union

5-10

170

Jr.

UT

Josey Jewell

Decorah

6-1

201

Jr.

UT

Trey McTaggart

West Delaware

6-1

182

Sr.

P

Brandon Young

West Branch

6-0

175

Sr.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- TBA

COACH OF THE YEAR -- TBA

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Barkley Hill, Cedar Falls

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Jacob Vollstedt, Iowa City Regina