All-League football | Sawyer, Araiza voted to first team

Eight Truckee football players were honored with selections to the Northern Division I-A All-League team, as decided by the league’s coaches.

Senior Tanner Sawyer and sophomore Jose Araiza led the way with selections to the first team. Sawyer was voted to the first team as a cornerback while also receiving honorable mention as a wide receiver. Araiza made the first team as both a kicker and punter.

Truckee sophomore Wulfe Retzlaff was voted to the second team at both running back and linebacker, senior Eli Delauney made the second team at safety, and junior Erik Swalander made the second team as an offensive lineman.

Gabe Deiro (running back), Jake Deis (offensive line) and Taylor Ludwig (defensive line) received honorable mention recognition.

Fallon’s Nathan Heck was voted league MVP. Fallon’s Joe Pyle and Lowry’s Beau Billingsley were Co-Offensive MVPs, Fallon’s Justin Hatfield was the Defensive MVP, and Elko’s Benton Wickersham was the Lineman of the Year. Brooke Hill of Fallon was voted Coach of the Year.

No Northern Division I-A team advanced past the state semifinal round. Fallon lost 16-0 to Desert Pines and Elko lost 40-7 to Moapa Valley, which went on to defeat Desert Pines 42-36 in overtime to claim the state championship. It was Moapa Valley’s first title since 2008, when the Pirates defeated Truckee before the Wolverines’ run of four consecutive championships.

Northern Division I-A All-League football

MVP: Nathan Heck, Fallon

Co-Offensive MVP: Joe Pyle, Fallon

Co-Offensive MVP: Beau Billingsley, Lowry

Defensive MVP: Justin Hatfield, Fallon

Lineman of the Year: Benton Wickersham, Elko

Coach of the Year: Brooke Hill, Fallon

First team offense

QB: Mason Cain, South Tahoe

QB: Kevin Montgomery, Fernley

RB: Braxton Williams, Spring Creek

RB: Brian Reyes, Fernley

RB: Jason Wilson, Elko

WR: Dylan Jabines, Fallon

WR: Chris Greco, Wooster

K: Jose Araiza, Truckee

TE: Nate Klekas, Elko

OL: Cody Stadtman, Fallon

OL: Tyler Roemer, Fernley

OL: Luis Cardenas, Lowry

OL: Cody Nielsen, Elko

OL: Jordan Walthers, Elko

P: Jose Araiza, Truckee

P: Shane Kelso, Fernley

First team defense

DL: Hunter Holcombe, Fallon

DL: Brandon Erickson, South Tahoe

DL: Tyler Roemer, Fernley

DL: Jacob Pengelly, Elko

LB: Riley Williams, Fallon

LB: Brian Reyes, Fernley

LB: Donovan Brumm, Lowry

LB: Jordan Walthers, Elko

CB: Tanner Sawyer, Truckee

CB: Eric Van Kirk, Elko

S: Shane Kelso, Fernley

S: Adam Bullock, Elko

Return Spec: Chris Greco, Wooster

Second team offense

QB: Hunter Triplett, Wooster

RB: Skyler Berntson, Dayton

RB: Wulfe Retzlaff, Truckee

RB: Donovan Brumm, Lowry

WR: Connor Richardson, Fallon

WR: Kirby David, South Tahoe

K: Will Mori, South Tahoe

TE: Garrett Naveran, Lowry

OL: Jesus Castaneda, Dayton

OL: Braxton Hunter, Fallon

OL: Erik Swalander, Truckee

OL: Danny Lopez, Spring Creek

OL: Felipe Moreno, Lowry

P: Kevin Montgomery, Fernley

Second team defense

DL: Jesus Castaneda, Dayton

DL: TJ Mauga, Fallon

DL: Kelvin Meza, Lowry

DL: LA Jones, Elko

LB: Jonathan Joyner, Dayton

LB: Wulfe Retzlaff, Truckee

LB: Thomas West, Spring Creek

LB: Cody Nelsen, Elko

LB: Tanner German, Fernley

CB: Skyler Berntson, Dayton

CB: Kenan McDonald, Fernley

S: Jon Anguiano, Sparks

S: Eli Delauney, Truckee

S: Kirby David, South Tahoe

Return Spec: Eric Van Kirk, Elko

Honorable mention (Truckee only)

WR: Tanner Sawyer, Truckee

OL: Jake Deis, Truckee

DL: Taylor Ludwig, Truckee

RB: Gabe Deiro, Truckee