Beyer's versatility leads to all-state captain honor

Shaun Beyer's helmet covered the many hats he wore for Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The Cougars senior was a receiver, rusher and punter. He even threw a handful of passes.

Beyer's emergence as a versatile offensive weapon and NCAA Division I FBS recruit earned him captain honors of the Iowa Newspaper Association Class 4A All-State team. Beyer was one of five Cougars named to the first-team selected by a panel of football writers.

'It's an honor,' Beyer said. 'I couldn't have gotten there without my team and how well we did this year. We had a great quarterback in Nick (Duehr) and the offensive line gave him protection.'

The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder was selected as a utility player. He finished with 853 receiving yards on 43 catches and 11 touchdowns. Beyer rushed for 681 yards and five scores. He averaged about 44.5 yards on 36 punts. Lining up at quarterback occasionally, Beyer completed 5 of 7 passes for 45 yards.

Kennedy Coach Brian White approached him before the season, sharing plans to use him as more than a vertical threat at receiver like last year. Beyer embraced the leadership role, helping state runner-up Kennedy to its most successful season that included a 13-1 record and first state final appearance.

'I'm going to do whatever the coach tells me to do, because that is what you do as an athlete,' Beyer said. 'It's a challenge sometimes, but I like challenges. It's good to take it on and it was a challenge all season. I'm not going to back down from any challenge. It was fun all year.'

Beyer was also a two-way player for Kennedy, tallying 38 solo tackles and 18 assists, including 10 ½ for loss and seven sacks. He returned an interception for an 88-yard touchdown in the state quarterfinal.

Beyer was joined on the first team by running back Tyler Dralle, offensive lineman Mason Jacobs, defensive lineman Dalles Jacobus and corner back Austin Coates. Linebacker Johnson Mator made the second team.

Dralle rushed for a school record 2,244 yards this season, including 127 in the title game. Dralle also had 25 TDs. He praised a physical offensive line that included second-team pick Jackson Coker.

'All the records that I've broken aren't my records,' Dralle said. 'They are their records. I'm just running through the holes they open for me.'

Cedar Rapids Washington reached the quarterfinal round for the second straight season and had six all-state selections. Linebacker O'Rien Vance earned first-team honors, recording 82 solo tackles, 22 1/2 tackles for loss with 8 1/2 sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles. Isaiah Nimmers (WR), Aries Davis (OL), Dallas Hobbs (DL) and Tavian Patrick (RB) made the second team. Rane Weiland was a third-team defensive line choice.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Valentino Green was a second-team selection. The J-Hawk senior did just about everything with more than 100 total tackles and four interceptions. He was joined by Tavian Rashed, a third-team linebacker.

Cedar Rapids Prairie's Jalen Rima, who has committed to play at Northern Iowa along with Nimmers, was a third-team receiver. He had 1,621 combined yards, including 567 receiving and 540 rushing, and 16 TDs, despite missing multiple games to a knee injury. Prairie's Tyler Nunemaker was a third-team punter. Linn-Mar's Dallas McFarland joined them on the third team as an offensive lineman.

Cedar Rapids Xavier running back Maliki Wilson was a second-team pick in 3A.

West Delaware's potent offense that reached the state semifinal was represented on the 3A squad. Three Hawks earned first-team honors.

Running back Coy Roussell was named offensive utility, like Beyer. Offensive lineman Colin Brown was recognized for the second straight year and wideout Sam Maloney was honored.

Roussell has shattered the Hawks' record books, setting 18 career and single-season marks. He rushed for a record 2,545 and 31 TDs, giving him 5,495 and 68 for his career. Maloney tallied 1,043 receiving yards on 35 catches with 15 TDs.

'Those three seniors were a big part of our success,' West Delaware Coach Doug Winkowitsch. 'Two dynamic skill kids who have done a fantastic job. Colin Brown has been our anchor on the line.'

Iowa City Regina placed four players on the 1A all-state squad. Offensive lineman Jared Brinkman and kicker Emilio Tovar were on the first-team offense. Linebacker Justin Hunter was named first-team defensive utility, starting for the last three seasons as the Regals won a sixth straight state title.

'He's one of the best football players I've been around, one of the best kids,' Regina Coach Marv Cook said of Hunter. 'He truly epitomizes what a Regina football player is. I'm so blessed to be around him and be a part of watching him grow and coach him.'.

Regina's Nick Phillips was a second-team receiver, despite a season-ending foot injury in Week 8. South Winneshiek defensive lineman Carson Lensing was named 1A captain.

Mount Vernon was state runner-up and had six players on 2A teams. Receiver Connor Hermann and offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs were on the first team. Sophomore quarterback Drew Adams and defensive back Joe Corcoran were second-teamers. Tommy Hook and Jack Cochrane were on the third team at receiver and defensive back, respectively.

All-state

CLASS 4A

First team offense

Linemen — Caleb Bright, Urbandale, Sr.; Mason Jacobs, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.; Mark Kallenberger, Bettendorf, Jr.; John Raridon, West Des Moines Valley, Sr.; Spencer Williams, Cedar Falls, Sr.; Receivers — Dom Flemister, Sioux City East, Sr.; Theo Harris, Clinton, Sr.; Stevie Sarcone, West Des Moines Valley, Sr.; Quarterback — Rocky Lombardi, West Des Moines Valley, Jr.; Running backs — Tyler Dralle, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.; Jacob Zachary, West Des Moines Dowling, Jr.; Sam Cook, Fort Dodge, Sr.; Kicker — John Banta, Ankeny Centennial, Sr.; Utility — Shaun Beyer, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.

First team defense

Linemen — Dalles Jacobus, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.; Mitchell Brinkman, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Sr.; Brawntae Wells, West Des Moines Dowling, Sr.; Riley Biggs, Bettendorf, Sr.; Linebackers — O'Rien Vance, C.R. Washington, Jr.; Ross Otte, West Des Moines Dowling, Sr.; Ben Slavens, Pleasant Valley, Sr.; Jacob Hummel, West Des Moines Dowling, Jr.; Defensive backs — Austin Coates, C.R. Kennedy, Sr.; Collin Seymour, Dubuque Senior, Sr.; Michael Zachary, West Des Moines Dowling, Sr.; Punter — Alec Hemann, West Des Moines Dowling, Sr.; Utility — Ross Godfrey, Sioux City East, Sr.

Captain — Beyer, C.R. Kennedy

Second team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Aries Davis, C.R. Washington, Sr.; Jackson Coker, C.R. Kennedy, Jr.; Receivers — Oliver Martin, Iowa City West, Jr.; Isaiah Nimmers, C.R. Washington, Sr.; Running backs — Tavian Patrick, C.R. Washington, Sr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Dallas Hobbs, C.R. Washington, Sr.; Linebackers — Johnson Mator, C.R. Kennedy, Jr.; Defensive backs — Valentino Green, C.R. Jefferson, Sr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Dallas McFarland, Linn-Mar, Sr.; Receivers — Jalen Rima, C.R. Prairie, Sr.; Jason Jones, Iowa City High, Sr.; Quarterback — Alex Henderson, Iowa City West, Sr.

Third team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Rane Weiland, C.R. Washington, jr.; Linebackers — Tavian Rashed, C.R. Jefferson, Jr.; Defensive backs — Naeem Smith, Iowa City High, Jr.; Punter — Tyler Nunemaker, C.R. Prairie, Sr.

CLASS 3A

First team offense

Linemen — Colin Brown, West Delaware, Sr.; Jackson Wright, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Jr.; Jake Noel, Sioux City Heelan, Sr.; Cole Banwart, Algona, Sr.; Carter Terpstra, Pella, Sr.; Receivers — Sam Maloney, West Delaware, Sr.; T.J. Hockenson, Chariton, Sr.; Will Ontiveros, Davenport Assumption, Sr.; Quarterback — Noah Clayberg, Pella, Sr.; Running backs — Matt George, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sr.; Gavin Dinsdale, Webster City, Sr.; Chase Schiltz, Creston, Jr.; Kicker — Ethan Knudson, Harlan, Sr.; Utility — Coy Roussell, West Delaware, Sr.

First team defense

Linemen — Daniel Tjaden, Davenport Assumption, Sr.; Cole Schlenker, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr.; Sonny Onken, Norwalk, Sr.; Brandon Hohenstein, Sioux City Heelan, Sr.; Linebackers — Victor Jergens, Webster City, Sr.; Jo Argo, Davenport Assumption, Sr.; Carter Van Essen, Glenwood, Sr.; Kyle Van Ginkel, Boyden-Hull, Sr.; Defensive backs — Jaivon Willis, Washington, Soph.; Will Warner, Pella, Sr.; Landon Daniels, Webster City, Sr.; Punter — Joe Rivera, Grinnell, Sr.; Utility — Zach Vande Weerd, Pella, Sr.

Captain — Clayberg, Pella

Second team offense (Area only)

Running backs — Maliki Wilson, C.R. Xavier, Jr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Drew Wiley, Vinton-Shellsburg, Jr.; Linebackers — Aaron Akers, Clear Creek Amana, Sr. Defensive backs — Nicholas Holt, Independence, Sr.; Punter — Tucker Schroeder, Benton Community, Sr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Seth Townsend, Washington, Jr.; Quarterback — Ryan Reighard, Washington, Soph.

Third team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Matt McMillan, Independence, Sr.; Punter — Cam Thede, Maquoketa, Sr.

CLASS 2A

First team offense

Linemen — Nick Yarkosky, Albia, Sr.; Ethan Lape, North Fayette Valley, Jr.; Zach Dykstra, Spirit Lake, Jr.; Tristan Wirfs, Mount Vernon, Jr.; Chase Bohlken, Anamosa, Sr.; Receivers — Matt Cox, North Polk, Sr.; Connor Hermann, Mount Vernon, Sr.; Xavier Williams, West Burlington, Sr.; Quarterback — Logan Backhaus, Spirit Lake, Sr.; Running backs — Carter Isley, Albia, Sr.; Jerry Lowe, South Tama, Sr.; C.J. Roths, Central Lyon, Sr.; Kicker — Chase Wilkie, PCM, Sr.; Utility – Brady Stover, CMB, Sr.

First team defense

Linemen — Ben Kincart, Davis County, Sr.; Juan Harris, North Fayette Valley, Jr.; Josh Knipfel, Hampton-Dumont, Sr.; Justin Suchanek, South Tama, Sr.; Linebackers — Tyler Duster, Aplington-Parkersburg, Sr.; Peyton Rutledge, South Tama, Sr.; Dallas Poock, Spirit Lake, Sr.; Tyler Hirsch, Dyersville Beckman, Sr.; Defensive backs — Blake Bayer, Albia, Sr.; Kolin Schulte, Anamosa, Sr.; Noah Heitshusen, Williamsburg, Sr.; Punter — Cameron Wernimont, East Sac County, Sr.; Utility — Cody Kellogg, South Tama, Sr.

Captain — Backhaus, Spirit Lake

Second team offense (Area only)

Receivers — Kurt Trumm, Cascade, Sr.; Quarterback — Drew Adams, Mount Vernon, Soph.; Running backs — Kody Johnston, Tipton, Sr.; Kicker — Ben Palmer, Dyersville Beckman, Jr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Levi Duwa, Mid-Prairie, Jr.; Kordell Schrock, South Tama, Sr.; Linebackers — Tyler Zumbach, Anamosa, Sr.; Defensive backs — Joe Corcoran, Mount Vernon, Sr.; Punter — Sam Stelken, Dyersville Beckman, Jr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Austin Hunt, Anamosa, Sr.; Receivers — Tommy Hook, Mount Vernon, Sr.; Wyatt Wille, Waukon, Sr.; Quarterback — Peyton Hesse, Waukon, Sr.

Third team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Trevor Rommann, Center Point-Urbana, Sr.; Andrew Roys, North Fayette Valley, Sr.; Linebackers — Mitch Thede, South Tama, Sr.; Derek Greiner, Williamsburg, Jr.; Defensive backs — Kyle Schepanski, Anamosa, Sr.; Jack Cochrane, Mount Vernon, Jr.

CLASS 1A

First team offense

Linemen — Jared Brinkman, Iowa City Regina, Jr.; Josh Van Lingen, Western Christian, Sr.; Ty Sohn, Dike-New Hartford, Sr.; Burke Prins, Hinton, Sr.; Mitchell Smith, St. Ansgar, Jr.; Receivers — Levi Jungling, Pella Christian, Jr.; Kody Case, South Central Calhoun, Jr.; Tyler Conn, Underwood, Sr.; Quarterback — David Kacmarynski, Pella Christian, Jr.; Defensive backs — Trent Johnson, Dike-New Hartford, Jr.; Austin Lentz, Ogden, Sr.; Michael Santi, Madrid, Jr.; Kicker — Emilio Tovar, Iowa City Regina, Sr.; Utility — Tyson Kooima, Western Christian, Jr.

First team defense

Linemen — Tim Butcher, Manson-NW Webster, Sr.; D.J. Ackerson, Dike-New Hartford, Sr.; Carson Lensing, South Winneshiek, Sr.; Tameron McGutten-Leal, Avoca AHST, Sr.; Linebackers — Dan Bishop, Hinton, Jr.; Austin Van Zee, Western Christian, Sr.; Jared Johnson, West Marshall, Sr.; Justin Miller, Missouri Valley, Sr.; Defensive backs — Levi Leiferman, Panorama, Jr.; Conner Neuroth, Dike-New Hartford, Sr.; Tannen Youngberg, Pocahontas Area, Sr.; Punter — Javin Drake, Wilton, Sr.; Utility —Justin Hunter, Iowa City Regina, Sr.

Captain — Lensing, South Winneshiek

Second team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Thomas Meyer, Clayton Ridge, Sr.; Jacob Barnhart, West Branch, Soph.; Receivers — Nick Phillips, Iowa City Regina, Sr.; Running backs — Luke Lenoch, West Branch, Jr.; Peyton Crawford, Sigourney-Keota, Sr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Landers Kubouschek, South Winneshiek, Sr.; Kyle Schultz, Jesup, Sr.; Defensive backs — Ian Malaby, North Cedar, Sr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Receivers — Robby Sweers, Clayton Ridge, Jr.; Running backs — Brendan Murry, Jesup, Sr.

Third team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Colton Dietz, West Branch, Jr.; Linebackers — Rodney Ciesielski, Jesup, Sr.; Defensive backs — Ben Meyer, South Winneshiek, Sr.

CLASS A

First team offense

Linemen — Dalton Schwartz, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Sr.; Michael Young, AGWSR, Sr.; Jacob Besh, Denver, Jr.; Mason Neisen, Denver, Jr.; Cooper Puls, BGM, Sr.; Receivers — Kyle Dolecheck, Mount Ayr, Sr.; Jacob Lietz, Colfax-Mingo, Sr.; Dylan Irizarry, Akron-Westfield, Jr.; Quarterback — Cal Eskra, Akron-Westfield, Jr.; Running backs — Eric Stoakes, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Sr.; Bryce Flater, Grundy Center, Jr.; Mitchel Siech, Denver, Sr.; Kicker — Noah Engle, Lynnville-Sully, Sr.; Utility — Jared Myers, Colfax-Mingo, Sr.

First team defense

Linemen — Tyler Eiffler, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Sr.; Shane Slaymaker, BGM, Sr.; Montana Jackson, Akron-Westfield, Jr.; Izaak Shedenhelm, Denver, Sr.; Linebackers — Colton Dinsdale, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Sr.; Grant Buscherfeld, Algona Garrigan, Jr.; Colton Massengale, BGM, Sr.; Riley Wohlers, Logan-Magnolia, Sr.; Defensive backs — Zac Kibby, Algona Garrigan, Sr.; Jacob Taylor, Mount Ayr, Sr.; Blake Summy, Colfax-Mingo, Sr.; Punter — Kaiden Fiebelkorn, BGM, Sr.; Utility — Zeb Adreon, Pleasantville, Sr.

Captain — Dinsdale, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Second team offense (Area only)

Receivers — Jayve Knight, BGM, Jr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Griffin Cabalka, East Buchanan, Sr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Rob Bockenstedt, Maquoketa Valley, Sr.; Jordan Hettinger, East Buchanan, Jr.; Receivers — Ben Wolff, North Linn, Sr.; Running backs — Jared Hudson, Lone Tree, Sr.; Kicker — Andrew Crady, BGM, Sr.

Third team defense (Area only)

Linemen — Willis Benyshek, Lisbon, Sr.

EIGHT-PLAYER

First team offense

Linemen — Dalton Smith, Don Bosco, Sr.; Mason Scheidegger, Newell-Fonda, Sr.; Jacob Simonson, Marcus MMC, Sr.; Receivers — Jacob Spieler, Marcus MMC, Sr.; Jack Thode, Janesville, Sr.; Quarterback — Ben Specht, Marcus MMC, Sr.; Running backs — Christopher Brown, Glidden-Ralston, Sr.; Nick Nelson, Janesville, Sr.; Cole Wise, Newell-Fonda, Sr.; Kicker — Tanner Clatt, Colo-Nesco, Sr.; Utility — Michael Girres, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayshire, Sr.

First team defense

Linemen — Noah Borkowski, Glidden-Ralston, Sr.; Kenny Kriegel, HLV, Jr.; Spencer Brown, Lenox, Sr.; Linebackers — Damian Sawvel, Don Bosco, Sr.; Terrel Grant, Meskwaki Settlement, Sr.; Drew Buckholdt, Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton, Jr.; Defensive backs — Connor Walterman, Newell-Fonda, Sr.; Mason Olson, Northwood-Kensett, Sr.; Punter — Drew Ticknor, CAM, Sr.; Utility — Spencer Bruess, Don Bosco, Sr.

Captain — Specht, Marcus MMC

Second team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Aaron Borderer, HLV, Sr.; Receivers — Ben Backes, Elkader Central, Sr.

Second team defense (Area only)

Linebackers — Wyatt Blazek, Turkey Valley, Sr.

Third team offense (Area only)

Linemen — Justin Cummer, Elkader Central, Sr.; Receivers — Connor Harms, Midland, Jr.; Quarterback — Derek Ehrhardt, Elkader Central, Jr.; Kicker — James Fitzgerald, Springville, jr.

Third team defense

Linemen — Seth Blake, Springville, Jr.; Linebackers — Brendan Dicks, Midland, Sr.; Defensive backs — Wyatt Kaplan, HLV, Sr.; Punter — Cody Hackman, Turkey Valley

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