Wildcats total five all-state selections
The Daily Inter Lake
Columbia Falls led all Northwestern A football teams in all-state selections for the 2008 season with five players named in balloting by Class A coaches.
There were 16 picks total from Northwestern A, which was up one from a year ago.
Columbia Falls players named all-state were: Nathan Woods, 6-5, 250, sr., offensive tackle; Stephen Baumgartner, 6-0, 180. sr., running back; Mackey Nolan, 6-0, 200, sr., punter; Kelly Houle, 6-0, 205, jr., defensive end; and Quenton Hegel, 6-0, 165, sr., cornerback.
Columbia Falls was the league runner-up, finishing 4-1. Overall, the Wildcats went 6-4, including a 1-1 mark in the playoffs.
League champion Polson. 5-0 and 7-3, had four all-state picks - Craig Bagnell, 5-11, 180, sr., quarterback; Ryan Kelley, 6-3, 180, sr., wide receiver; Tim Rausch, 6-0, 185, jr., outside linebacker; and Brock Picard, 5-10, 190, jr., outside linebacker
Northwestern A's other postseason participant - Whitefish - had two: Dustin Beck, 5-11, 190, sr., offensive guard; and Dylan Dryden, 6-2, 210, sr., defensive line.
Joel Fuller, 6-1, 185, sr., quarterback, headed the list for Libby, which had three selections. Justin Graham, 6-3, 220, sr., defensive line; and Conner Benson, 5-10, 160, sr., cornerback, were also selected.
Ronan had one all-state performer - Mike Fisher, 6-0, 170, sr., outside linebacker.
Bigfork did not have an all-state player.
Northwestern A did not have an all-state candidate at center, tight end, fullback and safety.
Fuller repeated at quarterback for a third time, while Graham was named for a second time at defensive end.
Class A
All-State Football Team
Offense
Centers - Tyler Dyk, 6-6, 220, sr., Dillon; Brandon Watson, 5-10, 195, sr., Belgrade; James Love, 6-2, 225-, sr., Miles City
Guards - Trevor Rehm, 6-3, 185, jr., Dillon; Josh McQueen, 6-1, 190, sr., Billings Central; Dustin Beck, 5-11, 190, sr., Whitefish; Will Devries, 6-0, 225, jr., Havre; Brett Goodsell, 6-3, 190, sr., Corvallis
Tackles - Mitch Schnittgen, 6-2, 260, jr., Havre; Nathan Woods, 6-5, 250, sr., Columbia Falls; Eric Digiovine, 5-11, 200, sr., Butte Central; Cody Rummell, 6-2, 240, jr., Billings Central
Tight ends - Colton Weigle, 6-0, 190, sr., Hamilton; Jordan Van Voast, 6-0, 185, sr., Havre
Quarterbacks - Bryce Carver, 6-1, 170, sr., Dillon; Joel Fuller, 6-1, 185, sr., Libby; Craig Bagnell, 5-11, 180, sr., Polson
Wide receivers - Toby Shepherd, 5-11, 170, jr., Dillon; Ryan Kelley, 6-3, 180, sr., Polson; Casey Norbeck, 5-11, 185, sr., Butte Central; Bobby Hirsch, 6-4, 200, sr., Belgrade; Martin Old Horn, 6-2, 165, sr., Hardin
Running backs - Cody Kirk, 5-10, 180, sr., Frenchtown; Derek Crane, 6-0, 175, sr., Belgrade; Dontaye Northcutt, 6-0, 215, sr., Browning; Drew Zelka, 5-9, 185, sr., Hardin; Brennan Haughian, 5-9, 205, sr., Miles City; Stephen Baumgartner, 6-0, 180, sr., Columbia Falls
Fullbacks - Eric Brangocci, 5-9, 160, sr., Hamilton; Jarrett McLain, 5-10, 175, sr., Havre; Aleksie Grosulak, 5-11, 200, sr., Billings Central
Punter - Mackey Nolan, 6-0, 200, sr., Columbia Falls
Defense
Line - Wes Sherman, 5-11, 245, sr., Hamilton; Dalton Sybrant, 6-7, 240, sr., Corvallis; John Beardsley, 6-2, 265, sr., Miles City; Tristan Costa, 6-1, 225, sr., Hardin; Justin Graham, 6-3, 220, sr., Libby; Dylan Dryden, 6-2, 210, sr., Whitefish
Ends - Jake Anderson, 6-3, 250, jr., Frenchtown; Kelly Houle, 6-0, 205, jr., Columbia Falls; Nick Love, 6-2, 220, sr., Miles City; Jordan Waldo, 6-0, 210, sr., Corvallis
Outside linebackers - Austin Byron, 6-0, 190, sr., Corvallis; Tanner Strozzi, 5-11, 170, sr., Dillon; Sam Anderson, 6-0, 180, sr., Lewistown; Beau Melby, 5-9, 205, sr., Sidney; Cord Berg, 6-0, 190, sr., Miles City; Mike Fisher, 6-0, 170, sr., Ronan
Inside linebackers - Brady Anderson, 5-11, 200, sr., Hamilton; Nathan Murphy, 6-1, 210, sr., Hardin; Aleksie Grosulak, 5-11, 200, sr., Billings Central; Tim Rausch, 6-0, 185, jr., Polson; Brock Picard, 5-10, 190, jr., Polson; Ethan Hinebauch, 5-11, 170, sr., Havre; Sean Condon, 6-2, 200, jr., Laurel
Cornerbacks - Daniel Aichlmayer, 5-10, 170, jr., Frenchtown; Quenton Hegel, 6-0, 165, sr., Columbia Falls; Conner Benson, 5-10, 160, sr., Libby; Mike Hickman, 6-0, 160, sr., Havre
Safeties - Matt Smith, 5-10, 205, sr., Corvallis; Tyler Hawkins, 6-0, 170, sr., Billings Central; Hayden Kalfell, 5-11, 165, sr., Miles City; Nate Christiansen, 6-3, 160, sr., Havre
Return specialist - Matt Thibault, 6-1, 175, jr., Belgrade