Northwestern A football all-conference teams released
Loggers sweep MVPs
The ballots are finally in for the Northwestern A High School football all-conference teams and - no surprise - Libby swept the offensive and defensive MVP awards.
Junior quarterback Joel Fuller won his second consecutive league MVP on offense while senior defensive tackle Jordan Gragert won the defensive honor.
The Loggers posted back-to-back undefeated regular seasons on the field and advanced to the state semifinals for the third time in four years. Under fifth-year coach Neil Fuller (41-13), the Loggers finished 10-2 after an opening-season 53-20 victory was forfeited because an ineligible freshman was used late in the game.
Joel Fuller led the charge for Libby by passing for 2,283 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 333 yards and eight touchdowns. With Gragert's leadership on defense, the Loggers allowed just 80 yards passing and 84 yards rushing per game. They outscored 11 opponents by an average of 44-9.
Gragert (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) was also awarded first-team all-conference recognition at offensive tackle, for the second year in a row, as the Loggers averaged 164 rushing yards per game while scoring 38 touchdowns on the ground.
All told, Libby placed a dominating 17 players on the all-conference first team.
Columbia Falls (6-3), which hosted a playoff game for the first time in three decades, had seven first-team winners. Polson (4-4) had four. Whitefish (3-7) and Ronan (1-8) each had two. Bigfork (0-8) had none.
Including first- and second-team plus honorable mention awards, Libby had 23 (10 on offense, 11 on defense, two on special teams). Columbia Falls had 16 (seven offensive, seven defensive, two special teams). Whitefish had 14 (seven offensive, six defensive, one special teams). Ronan had 13 (seven offensive, five defensive, one special teams). Polson had 12 (six apiece on offense and defense). Bigfork had five (two offensive, three defensive).
Along with Gragert, senior center Ryan Stapley (6-2, 190), junior guard Justin Graham (6-3, 205) and senior tackle Matt Schad (6-1, 245) won first-team honors on the Libby offensive line. They paved the way for first-team running back Jeremy Chumley to rush for 1,263 yards and 27 touchdowns. It was the second-straight year Schad was placed on the first team.
Chumley pried the league rushing title away from two-time winner Josh Wilson of Columbia Falls. Wilson, a junior, also made the first team while rushing for 832 yards and seven touchdowns.
Whitefish senior Kevin McDowell (5-9, 230) was selected as a first-team center for the second straight year. Polson senior Skyler Knutson (5-10, 210) won first-team guard recognition.
Columbia Falls senior Chase Grilley and Libby junior Seth Wright were selected as first-team tight ends. Wright (6-1, 175) had 15 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns. Grilley (6-0, 205) had 10 catches for 126 yards and a TD.
Whitefish senior Byron Whitcomb and Libby senior Zach Rowan were selected as first-team wide receivers. Rowan (6-1, 165) led the league in receiving yards (879) and touchdowns (11), while finishing one reception behind Polson's Ryan Kelley (39). Whitcomb had 29 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, senior Josh Chumley - Jeremy's twin brother - won his second-consecutive first-team award at nose guard. Gragert and Schad were first-team defensive tackles for the first time. Graham was a first-team selection at end for the second year.
Grilley and Knutson were also honored as first-team defensive ends.
Jeremy Chumley and Polson sophomore Tim Rausch were the league's top inside linebackers.
Columbia Falls senior Michael Hader, along with Fuller, were honored as the league's top outside linebackers.
Polson senior John Rausch and Nelson, from Libby, were selected as first-team cornerbacks. It was the second year in a row for Rausch. Nelson had the second-most interceptions in the league, with five.
Columbia Falls senior Chase Fairbank, Whitefish senior Matt Starr and Rowan were all honored at safety on the first team. Rowan led the league with seven interceptions.
2007 Northwestern Class A All Conference Selections
Offense
Most Valuable Player
Name School Height Weight Year
Joel Fuller, QB Lib. 5-11 180 11
Center
First Team
Kevin McDowell Wf. 5-9 230 12
Ryan Stapley Lib. 6-2 190 12
Second Team
Dustin Knoepfle CF 6-0 200 12
Guard
First Team
Justin Graham Lib. 6-3 205 11
Skyler Knutson Pol. 5-10 210 12
Second Team
Brandon Mills Lib. 5-6 230 11
Colin Fuller Wf. 5-11 220 12
Honorable Mention
Bridger Wayman Ron. 6-0 205 11
Dustin Beck Wf. 5-11 175 11
Tackle
First Team
Jordan Gragert Lib. 6-3 235 12
Matt Schad Lib. 6-1 245 12
Second Team
Jason Hatch CF 6-0 180 12
Anthony Golden Pol. 6-2 245 12
Frank Swan Ron. 6-1 215 12
Honorable Mention
Mike Crawford Ron. 6-4 250 12
Dylan Dryden Wf. 6-3 205 11
Tight End
First Team
Chase Grilley CF 6-0 205 12
Seth Wright Lib. 6-1 175 11
Honorable Mention
Adam Skogan Ron. 6-2 205 11
Fullback
First Team
Nick Courville Ron. 5-10 180 12
Second Team
Michael Hader CF 5-10 165 12
Matt Starr Wf. 5-6 165 12
Honorable Mention
Tim Rausch Pol. 6-0 180 10
Tailback
First Team
Josh Wilson CF 5-7 170 11
Jeremy Chumley Lib. 5-8 205 12
Second Team
Cody Doyle Pol. 5-10 180 12
Honorable Mention
Aaron Tkachyk Wf. 5-11 160 12
Brad Bell Bf. 5-10 185 12
Quarterback
First Team
Joel Fuller Lib. 6-0 180 11
Second Team
Craig Bagnell Pol. 5-11 180 11
Honorable Mention
Mackey Nolan CF 5-11 190 11
Mike Fisher Ron. 6-0 160 11
Receivers
First Team
Zack Rowan Lib. 6-1 165 12
Byron Whitcomb Wf. 5-11 160 12
Second Team
Loran Nelson Lib. 5-11 160 12
Chase Fairbank CF 5-9 150 12
Ryan Kelley Pol. 6-3 180 11
Honorable Mention
Andrew Whitaker Bf. 5-10 170 12
Makenzey Kelch Ron. 6-3 190 12
Punter
First Team
Mackey Nolan CF 5-11 190 11
Kicker
First Team
Ricky Luchau Ron. 5-10 170 12
Kickoff Return Specialist
First Team
Scott Palmer CF 5-10 185 12
Second Team
Zack Rowan Lib. 6-1 165 12
Punt Return Specialist
First Team
Zack Rowan Lib. 6-1 165 12
Second Team
Byron Whitcomb Wf. 5-11 160 12
Defense
Most Valuable Player
Jordan Gragert, DT Lib. 6-3 235 12
Noseguard
First Team
Josh Chumley Lib. 5-8 215 12
Second Team
Kelly Houle CF 6-0 190 10
Anthony Golden Pol. 6-3 245 12
Tackle
First Team
Jordan Gragert Lib. 6-3 235 12
Matt Schad Lib. 6-1 245 12
Second Team
Kevin McDowell Wf. 5-9 230 12
Frank Swan Ron. 6-1 205 12
Ends
First Team
Chase Grilley CF 6-0 205 12
Skyler Knutson Pol. 5-10 205 12
Justin Graham Lib. 6-3 205 11
Second Team
Ryan Stapley Lib. 6-2 190 12
Brett Burns Ron. 5-6 165 12
Jake Smith Wf. 6-2 175 12
Honorable Mention
Travis Vincent Bf. 6-2 200 12
Ben Wells CF 6-3 180 12
Outside Linebackers
First Team
Michael Hader CF 5-10 165 12
Joel Fuller Lib. 6-0 180 11
Second Team
Cody Doyle Pol. 5-10 180 12
Honorable Mention
Jesse Strunk Wf. 5-11 180 11
Nick Courville Ron. 5-10 180 12
Inside Linebackers
First Team
Jeremy Chumley Lib. 5-8 205 12
Tim Rausch Pol. 6-0 180 10
Second Team
TJ Benson Lib. 5-7 140 10
Mitch Wassam CF 6-2 215 10
Brock Picard Pol. 5-10 180 10
Honorable Mention
Brad Bell Bf. 5-10 185 12
Cornerbacks
First Team
John Rausch Pol. 5-9 150 12
Loran Nelson Lib. 5-11 165 12
Second Team
Tanner Perry CF 5-10 145 11
Byron Whitcomb Wf. 5-9 160 12
Honorable Mention
Seth Wiley Wf. 5-8 160 11
Jamie Engeldrum Ron. 5-6 140 11
Conner Benson Lib. 5-11 155 11
Safeties
First Team
Zack Rowan Lib. 6-1 165 12
Chase Fairbank CF 5-9 150 12
Matt Starr Wf. 5-6 165 12
Second Team
Mike Fisher Ron. 6-0 160 11
Honorable Mention
Troy Bolivar Bf. 5-9 180 10