HONOR ROLL
Seven Gaels on all-district teams
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Griffin Laufersweiler of St. Edmond breaks a tackle against Kingsley-Pierson.
—Messenger file photo St. Edmond's Ty Mericle runs with the ball inside Dodger Stadium.
Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Matthew Crimmins of St. Edmond runs for a first down against Remsen St. Mary's.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Griffin Laufersweiler of St. Edmond breaks a tackle against Kingsley-Pierson.
—Messenger file photo St. Edmond's Ty Mericle runs with the ball inside Dodger Stadium.
Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Matthew Crimmins of St. Edmond runs for a first down against Remsen St. Mary's.
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Seven St. Edmond football players were named to the all-district team, the league announced.
Seniors Ty Mericle, Griffin Laufersweiler and Jacob Nieland were joined by juniors Thomas Ehn, Matthew Crimmins and Jack Webster, and freshman Gavin McClain.
Mericle, Nieland, Ehn and Crimmins made the first team, Laufersweiler the second and both Webster and McClain honorable mention. Ehn was also a second team selection as a punter.
Coltin Fevold was presented with the Golden Award, an honor that goes to an injured player that would have made all-district. The junior had three receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, ran for a TD and had 8.5 tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery before being hurt in the season opener.
"I'm proud of the guys that were honored," retiring St. Edmond head coach Matt Dillon said. "They put in the work and were the backbone to our team. We had to overcome a lot of key losses to important players, but those guys gave us everything they had."
Ehn, a first-year starter, threw for 1,397 yards with 24 touchdowns. He added 166 yards rushing and three more scores, recording 16.5 tackles on defense with a forced fumble. Ehn also handled kickoff duties and was the punter for the Gaels.
"Thomas made incredible strides, and I am excited to see what he does next year as a senior," Dillon said. "He really was one of the best quarterbacks in our district and in eight-player."
Ehn ranked seventh in the state in passing touchdowns at the conclusion of the regular season and was fourth among all eight-player quarterbacks. His yardage total ranked fourth in eight-player and was in the Top-50 for all QBs.
Mericle had 37 receptions for 538 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns while recording 24 tackles on defense. Laufersweiler had 34 catches for 480 yards and five scores, making 17 tackles with two interceptions.
Crimmins ran for 580 yards and four touchdowns, had six receptions for 50 yards and another score, and made 26.5 tackles on defense with two sacks and three tackles for loss.
"It was the first time Ty and Griffin both were starters at wide receiver, and they really helped Thomas in the passing game," Dillon said. "They stretched the field and opened things up for the ground game and Matthew."
Mericle tied for third in eight-player in the regular season for touchdown catches, seventh for receptions and eighth for receiving yards. Laufersweiler was tied for 12th in receiving yards and in the Top-40 for receiving TDs.
Nieland, a returning starter, had 36.5 tackles with two sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. McClain finished with 35.5 tackles with four for loss and Webster had 27.5 with four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
"Our defense had some really strong performances during the year," Dillon said. "(Assistant coach Mark) McDermott did a great job. Guys like Jacob and Jack provided important leadership, and we got a lot out of Gavin as just a freshman."
Nieland was tied for 19th in tackles for loss in eight-player.
Newell-Fonda's Lincoln Gauley, Gunnar Baron and Liam Gauley each made first team, as Brayden Johnson, Jackson Bellcock and Levi Lindgren were second. Will Voyles and Jesse Cole earned honorable mention status for the Mustangs.
Dalton Klein from Remsen St. Mary's was the offensive MVP, Wyatt Klaschen and Darius Rasmussen from Kingsley-Pierson were the defensive and specialist MVPs, with Travis Neumann earning coach of the year.