Atwater and Henry: An all-state package

DES MOINES -- From offseason workouts through a magical season, Mark Atwater and Andy Henry were a package deal.

Atwater to Henry.

"We really developed a good relationship last spring in the weight room, and it carried over," Atwater said.

Now, it's an all-state combo. Just not in the pass-catch mode.

Atwater was selected as a first-team all-state linebacker while Henry -- who set the Mississippi Valley Conference mark for touchdowns catches in a season -- earned first-team honors as a receiver by the Iowa Newspaper Association in the media's meeting Sunday.

"It's obviously a really big honor," Atwater said. "It's something I've worked toward for 18 years, and it's great that people see me in this light.

"It takes some sting away from the way the season ended."

Linn-Mar was the best team in the MVC this season, rolling through the regular season with an unbeaten record. The Lions were tripped up by Cedar Rapids Washington, 28-26, in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, finishing 10-1.

"The thing that's great about this is that Mark and Andy are two kids with a very high commitment level," said Lions Coach Bob Forsyth.

"Mark has meant a lot, both what he does as a football player on Friday nights, and what he does away from the spotlight as a leader."

Atwater was a two-way star, passing for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 808 yards. Defensively, he collected 53 tackles.

Henry set an MVC record with 18 receiving touchdowns, a mark that ranks sixth all-time in 11-man football.  He caught 53 passes for 1,020 yards.

"Andy has always been a great athlete, and he evolved into a fantastic football player," Atwater said. "His football skills and football smarts really came out."

Other Metro/Iowa City players to earn first-team honors in 4A were Charles Rogers of Iowa City West (offense/utility), Amos Lavela of Iowa City High (defensive lineman) and Josh Jahlas of Cedar Rapids Kennedy (defensive back). Jake McDonald of Marion was a 3A first-team linebacker.

In the smaller classes, it was a banner year for area teams, with three earning state championships. Iowa City Regina (Class 2A) and Lisbon (Class A) capped 14-0 seasons with titles. For the Regals, it was their second title in a row.

Union was the 3A champion, book-ending a 12-2 campaign with wins over Decorah in Week 1 and in the state final. The Vikings finished 11-3.

Union's Wes Burnside and Lisbon's Ben Knake were named captains of their respective classes.

Burnside rushed for 1,993 yards on 296 carries and scored 30 rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown in the championship game.

He was joined on the first team by teammates Josh Clark (offensive linemen) and Trev Hadachek (defensive back).

Knake threw for 1,084 yards and 12 TDs while rushing for 583 yards and seven scores. Defensively, he recorded 65 tackles and five interceptions while adding five kick-return touchdowns. Lisbon lineman Tyler Smith joined Knake on the Class A first team.

Regina had three first-teamers in 2A -- offensive lineman Zach Ries, quarterback Nate Streb (as an offensive utility player) and linebacker Jacob Vollstedt.

Other class captains are Barkley Hill of Cedar Falls (4A), Dalton Ferch of West Marshall (2A), John Sievert of Saint Ansgar (1A) and Nate Meier of Fremont-Mills (eight-man). 

IOWA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE FOOTBALL

CLASS 4A

First Team Offense

WR -- Amara Darboh, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Ty Steffensen, sr., Marshalltown; Andy Henry, sr., Linn-Mar; OL -- Trevor Hanson, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Austin Stephens, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Devin Schone, sr., Pleasant Valley; Ross Pierschbacher, soph., Cedar Falls; Luke Guenther, sr., Southeast Polk; QB -- Blake Gimbel, jr., Marshalltown; RB -- Barkley Hill, sr., Cedar Falls; Trey Lewis, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Tylis Smith, sr., Davenport Central; PK -- Cole Netten, sr., Ankeny; UT -- Charles Rogers, sr., Iowa City West.

First Team Defense

DL -- Justin Van Houtan, sr., Bettendorf; Jorden Studer, sr., Ankeny; DeAdrian King, sr., Bettendorf; Amos Lavela, jr., Iowa City High; LB -- Mark Atwater, sr., Linn-Mar; Nate Shaw, sr., Bettendorf; Brandon Ellingson, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Ben Challgren, sr., Cedar Falls; DB -- Josh Jahlas, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Nolan Lodden, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Cory Meyers, sr., Ankeny; P --  Zach Brown, sr., Sioux City East; UT --  Tim Kilfoy, sr., Davenport Assumption.

Second Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Dondre Alexander, jr., Iowa City West; OL --  William Wright, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Nile Banks, sr., Iowa City High; RB -- Ronald Thompson, sr., Iowa City High.

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Logan Letellier, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; DB -- David Tann, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington.

Third Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Flynn Heald, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington; OL -- Austin Holzer, soph., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; RB -- Carter Valentine, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Third Team Defense (area only)

DB -- Jeremy Johnson, sr., Iowa City High; P -- Michael Peterson, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington.

CLASS 3A

First Team Offense

WR -- Lucas Musich, sr., Harlan; Lane Hovey, sr., Adel ADM; Brad Chritensen, sr., Carroll; OL -- Josh Clark, jr., Union; Cole Wentworth, sr., Maquoketa; Robert Rathje, sr., Benton Community; Noah Taylor, jr., Adel ADM; Tommy Hamiel, sr., Solon; QB -- Gavin Glenn, sr., Adel ADM; RB -- Wes Burnside, sr., Union; Keagan Parks, Webster City; Sam Lahr, sr., West Delaware; PK --  Nate Criswell, sr., Grinnell; UT -- Zach Osborn, sr., Harlan.

First Team Defense

DL -- Collin Bevins, sr., Creston; Joe Carber, sr., DeWitt Central; Zach Skibinski, jr., Sioux City Heelan; Jose Zambrano, jr., Carroll; LB -- Kane Seeley, sr., Perry; Jake McDonald, sr., Marion; Jeremy Nelson, sr., Sioux City Heelan; Josey Jewell, jr., Decorah; DB -- Trey McTaggart, sr., West Delaware; Carson Klocko, sr., Norwalk; Trev Hadachek, jr., Union; P -- Tyler Stolen, jr., Sioux City Heelan; UT -- Brandt Van Roekel, sr., Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

Second Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Josh Schulte, jr., Anamosa; RB -- Craig Johnson, sr., Maquoketa; PK -- Josh Lee, jr., Decorah.

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Jay Pike, sr., Solon; LB -- Gunner Tranel, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; DB -- Logan Pitz, sr., Western Dubuque.

Third Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Perry Hawks, sr., Maquoketa; OL -- Ryan King, sr., West Delaware; James Lowery, sr., Decorah; Blaine Snitker, sr., Waukon; RB -- Colton Storla, sr., Marion.

Third Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Kyle Ansley, sr., Union; LB -- Jake Humpal, sr., Decorah; Dylan McLaughlin, sr., Union; P -- Stephen Meyer, sr., Oelwein.

CLASS 2A

First Team Offense

WR -- Ty Troutman, sr., Dyersville Beckman; Jacob Darbyshire, sr., Mediapolis; Brandon VanZandt, sr., Wilton; OL -- Zach Ries, sr., Iowa City Regina; Will Kincart, sr., Davis County; Trevor Thompson, sr., Albia; Sawyer Harms, sr., Spirit Lake; Jack Christensen, sr., West Marshall; QB -- Jesse Ertz, jr., Mediapolis; RB -- Dalton Ferch, sr., West Marshall; jake Greco, sr., North Fayette; Michael Strautman, sr., Carroll Kuemper; PK -- Brett Cochran-Bray, jr., Spirit Lake; UT -- Nate Streb, sr., Iowa City Regina.

First Team Defense

DL -- Jerod Franzen, sr., North Fayette; Andrew Broocks, sr., Spirit Lake; Avery Meyers, sr., West Liberty; Cass Weitl, sr., Carroll Kuemper; LB -- Kirby Kendrick, jr., Dyersville Beckman; Noah Pickard, sr., North Polk; Kevin Vierow, sr., North Fayette; Jacob Vollstedt, sr., Iowa City Regina; DB --  Hutch Burns, sr., Monroe PCM; Alex Dau, sr., Spirit Lake; Dylan Stepleton, sr., Wilton; P --  David Hicks, sr., Carroll Kuemper; UT -- Duncan Ferch, soph., West Marshall.

Second Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Robbie Anstoetter, sr., Dyersville Beckman; OL -- Zach Brennan, sr., Iowa City Regina; QB -- Connor Golden, sr., Dyersville Beckman.

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL --  Todd Manternach, sr., Dyersville Beckman; DB -- George Sehl, sr., Iowa City Regina.

Third Team Offense (area only)

OL -- Nick Gerard, sr., Iowa City Regina; RB -- Erik McKillip, sr., West Liberty; Joe McCaffery, sr., Iowa City Regina; PK --Austin Errthum, soph., Mid-Prairie.

Third Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Austin Aschbacher, sr., South Winneshiek; Dustin Ihns, sr., Tipton; LB -- Dylan Wertz, sr., Mid-Prairie; Nick Schmelzer, sr., South Winneshiek.

CLASS 1A

First Team Offense

WR --  Cory Crnkovich, sr., Woodward-Granger; Adam Teunissen, sr., West Lyon; Luke Skinner, sr., Lawton-Bronson; OL --  Marco Naughton, sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert; Derrick Miller, sr., West Branch; Dylan Liebe, sr., Alburnett; Andrew Garrelts, Emmetsburg; Lucas Bouwman, sr., West Lyon; QB --  Taylor Ashman, jr., Woodward-Granger; RB -- Mitchell Harger, sr., Alburnett; Brady Berkland, Emmetsburg; Andrew McCune, jr., Woodward-Granger; PK -- Gabe Summerhays, sr., Ogden; UT -- Paul Hutson, jr., Logan-Magnolia.

First Team Defense

DL -- Dante Copeland, jr., Panorama; John Sievert, sr., Saint Ansgar; Trenton Geer, sr., Treynor; Sam Bowers, sr., Alburnett; LB -- jackson Steinberg, sr., Saint Ansgar; Zane Cozad, sr., Council Bluffs St. Albert; Dustin Gilbert, jr., Central Decatur; Cody Stepanek, sr., Panorama; DB -- Cael Halfman, sr., Saint Ansgar; Parker Bolt, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Justin Studer, sr., Emmetsburg; P -- Nate Crozier, sr., Woodward-Granger; UT -- Jacob Musser, sr., Woodward-Granger.

Second Team Offense (area only)

RB -- Cade Jones, sr., West Branch; Vincent Otdoerfer, sr., Starmont.

Second Team Defense (area only)

DB -- Zach Hoyle, jr., Alburnett; P -- Cameron Vinsand, jr., Highland.

Third Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Bo Bower, jr., West Branch; OL -- Josh Sander, sr., North Cedar; RB -- Jordan Mitchell, sr., Turkey Valley.

Third Team Defense (area only)

LB -- Eli Elliott, sr., West Branch

CLASS A

First Team Offense

WR -- William Dougherty, jr., Woodbury Central; Cole Bonde, jr., Bedford; Brandt Becker, sr., Don Bosco; OL -- Tyler Smith, sr., Lisbon; Pat Smith, jr., West Hancock; Micah Neary, sr., LeMars Gehlen; Troy Rowan, sr., Bedford; Sean Loew, sr., Madrid; QB -- Gabe Lorack, jr., Lone Tree; RB -- Trevor Bouma, sr., LeMars Gehlen; Cody Morris, sr., Bedford; Zac Schleuger, sr., West Hancock; PK -- Gabe Dunn, sr., Mason City Newman; UT -- Chris Schleuger, jr., West Hancock.

First Team Defense

DL -- Kyle Terlouw, sr., Lynnville-Sully; Conor Kneip, sr., LeMars Gehlen; Brandon Sleep, sr., Bedford; Dustin Osier, sr., North Butler; LB -- Kane Louscher, jr., Mason City Newman; Nolan Hefty, jr., North Tama; Will Crum, sr., Bedford; Rob Rottler, jr., North Butler; DB -- Ben Knake, sr., Lisbon; Nathan Schmadeke, sr., Grundy Center; Michael Whitehead, jr., LeMars Gehlen; P -- Jordan Clapp, soph., Grundy Center; UT -- Gerardo Ibarra, sr., West Hancock.

Second Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Riley Brockway, soph., Postville; Skylar Ellerbach, sr., Lisbon; OL -- Harry Miller, sr., Lone Tree; RB -- Danny Brau, sr., BGM; PK -- Abdeel Hernandez, sr., Postville.

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Ed Kline, sr., BGM; Max Larew, sr., Lone Tree; LB -- Jace Roberts, sr., Iowa Valley; DB --  Bryan Forbes, jr., Lone Tree; P --  Cooper Northrop, sr., Belle Plaine.

Third Team Offense (area only)

WR -- Nate Beck, jr., BGM; OL -- Logan Forbes, jr., Lone Tree; Connor Johnston, sr., Montezuma; RB -- Tait Simpson, sr., Lisbon; John Gormley, jr., Iowa Valley; PK -- Tanner Swanger, jr., North Tama.

Third Team Defense (area only)

DL -- Brandon Imoehl, sr., Postville; LB -- Nick Whannel, sr., North Tama; Levi Reitzler, sr., Lone Tree.

EIGHT-MAN

First Team (area only)

DL -- Jack Janett, jr., Lansing Kee

Second Team (area only)

RB -- Michael Lincoln, jr., West Central.

Third Team (area only)

RB -- Jordan Milton, sr., Lansing Kee;

LB -- Elias Nissen, soph., Springville.