Bulldogs win All-IEL honors

SANDPOINT — Senior wide receiver/defensive back Kyle Gibson was named the Offensive MVP highlighting a strong Sandpoint showing on the 4A All-Inalnd Empire League teams announced on Monday. Gibson was also first team as a cornerback, as voted on by the league coaches. Tight end/linebacker Matt Shay joined Gibson as the only first teamers on both offense and defense. In all 17 Bulldogs garnered honors.

"It's good for kids to get recognized," said Bulldogs coach Mike Mitchell, noting it's never going to be a perfect system. "But there will always be some kids left out."

Ryan Armbruster (QB), Sione Puailoa (RB), Matt Shay (TE), Will Fancher (OL) and Tanner Roos (OL) were all named to the first team offense. Bryan Buck (DL), Mat Lawrence (LB), Nick Hadeen (DL), Shay (LB) and Gibson (DB) were named to the first team defensively.

Ethan Vest (FB), David Duarte (WR), Jimmy Byers (OL) and Will Piatt (OL) nabbed honorable mention honors on offense, while Thomas Cartwright (DL), Drew Anderson (DB), Jake Semones (DB), Cory Hawkins (DB) and Vest (LB) were honorable mention on defense.

Mitchell talked about each player's strengths, and what they did to earn league honors:

Mitchell on Gibson: "Good in every game and played both sides of the ball really well. He sparked us many times, made big plays and was a go-to guy."

Mitchell on Armbruster: "Great year with more than 1,500 yards passing, which was way ahead of everyone in league. Really grew as a QB."

Mitchell on Puailoa: "I wish we had him for another year. As the year went on, I thought he got better every game and became a great running back in the last couple games."

Mitchell on Shay: "He caught a lot of big balls for us. Outstanding blocker, I'm happy with how he played both tight end and linebacker."

Mitchell on Fancher: "He was a question mark for us at the beginning, and played great for us all year. Graded well every game and made few mistakes for a center."

Mitchell on Roos: "Solid o-lineman. Got a lot quicker than he was the year before and got much better at pulling."

Mitchell on Vest: "Good, solid football player. In the last game he had some mistakes that hurt him when it came to all-conference. Had some great games in the middle of the season."

Mitchell on Duarte: "Solid receiver for two years. One of our best blockers on the team. He was more of an asset that way as receiver."

Mitchell on Byers: "Felt bad he didn't get all-conference. He played hurt all year, we'll miss him a lot."

Mitchell on Piatt: "Could have been all-conference, but you can't have everyone. Solid blocker and a hard worker."

Mitchell on Lawrence: "I never had him healthy. I still think he's an outstanding college quarterback prospect. You have to project with Mat, and that's what the college coaches see. He has the speed and strength, if he has the work ethic, could be a heck of a college player."

Mitchell on Buck: "Great high school player, should have been all-conference on both sides of the ball. Works hard, never says much, everything you want out of a high school player."

Mitchell on Hadeen: "Led us in sacks. He had a great motor going all of the time, had a good year."

Mitchell on Cartwright: "Ability to pressure the QB. We got a lot of pressure from our ends."

Mitchell on Anderson: "Didn't play last year, but came back and did a great job for us."

Mitchell on Semones: "Tickled that he's a junior. Should be our starting quarterback next year. Not real big, a few people went after him and held up. Excited that he's coming back."

Mitchell on Hawkins: "Solid player, could have been first team. Tough, good tackler and aggressive ball player."

4A ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE FOOTBALL

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Kyle Gibson, sr., WR, Sandpoint.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Shawn Hiebert, sr., LB, Lakeland.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR — Ryan Litzko, sr., Lakeland.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR — Ryan Burnett, sr., Lakeland.

COACH OF THE YEAR — Tim Kiefer, Lakeland.

OFFENSE FIRST TEAM

QUARTERBACK — Ryan Armbruster, sr., Sandpoint. RUNNING BACKS — Dan Mosman, Moscow; Shawn Hiebert, sr., Lakeland; Sione Puailoa, sr., Sandpoint. TIGHT END — Matt Shay, sr., Sandpoint. WIDE RECEIVER — Anthony Williams, sr., Moscow. LINEMEN — Will Fancher, sr., Sandpoint; Tanner Roos, sr., Sandpoint; Spencer Goodall, sr., Lakeland; Mitch Ulmer, sr., Lakeland; Matt Snyder, sr., Moscow.

HONORABLE MENTION

QUARTERBACK — Zach Hull, jr., Moscow. RUNNING BACKS — Blake Reeser, sr., Lakeland; Kyle McCrite, jr., Lakeland; Ethan Vest, sr., Sandpoint. WIDE RECEIVERS — Mychael Washington, jr., Moscow; David Duarte, sr., Sandpoint. LINEMEN — Jimmy Byers, sr., Sandpoint; Robert Scott, sr., Moscow; C.J. Schelin, sr., Lakeland; Will Piatt, sr., Sandpoint; Ethan Richards, jr., Moscow. KICKER — John Novak, jr., Lakeland.

DEFENSE FIRST TEAM

LINEBACKERS — Michael Baszier, jr., Moscow; Scott Carr, sr., Lakeland; Matt Shay, sr., Sandpoint; Mat Lawrence, sr., Sandpoint. LINEMEN — Spencer Hubbard, jr., Moscow; Brian Buck, sr., Sandpoint; Nick Hadeen, sr., Sandpoint; Brady Schweikert, jr., Lakeland; Curtis Bennion, jr., Lakeland. DEFENSIVE BACKS — Jason McKinney, jr., Lakeland; Kyle Vandever, sr., Lakeland; John Bieker, jr., Moscow; Kyle Gibson, sr., Sandpoint.

HONORABLE MENTION

LINEBACKERS — Caleb Howard, sr., Lakeland; Ethan Vest, sr., Sandpoint. LINEMEN — Karl Weaver, sr., Moscow; Thomas Cartwright, sr., Sandpoint; Jake Price, sr., Moscow; Skylor Pierson, sr., Moscow. DEFENSIVE BACKS — Drew Anderson, sr., Sandpoint; Dylan Cloyd, sr., Lakeland; Jake Semones, jr., Sandpoint; Mychael Washington, jr., Moscow; Cory Hawkins, sr., Sandpoint.

5A ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MVP — Byron Hout, sr., LB/OT, Lake City.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Levi Buckles, sr., WR, Post Falls.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Christian Hanna, sr., FS, Lake City.

OFFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR — Tom Kerr, sr., QB, Lewiston.

DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR — Michael Schulz, sr., LB, Lewiston.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR - Sean Jolin, sr., DE, Lake City.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Ryan Young, jr., WR/DB, Lewiston.

COACH OF THE YEAR — Emmett Dougherty, Lewiston.

OFFENSE FIRST TEAM

QUARTERBACK — Nikk Reinhardt, jr., Post Falls. RUNNING BACKS — B.J. Palmer, sr., Lake City; Randy Hamilton, sr., Post Falls. WIDE RECEIVERS — Kyle Graves, sr. Lake City; P.J. Munoz, sr., Lewiston; Brandon Brubaker, sr., Post Falls. LINEMEN — Ethan Grizwold, sr., Lake City; Jacob King, sr., Post Falls; Ryan Chapin, sr., Post Falls; Grady Davis, sr., Lewiston; Clint Beale, sr., Lewiston.

SECOND TEAM

RUNNING BACKS — Bubba Goodwin, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Michael Schulz, sr., Lewiston. WIDE RECEIVERS — Nate Clinton, sr., Coeur d'Alene; Christian Hanna, sr., Lake City; Devon Brown, jr., Lewiston. LINEMEN — Mason Tweedt, sr., Lake City; Nick Snyder, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Thomas Mayo, sr., Lake City; Brian Duffy, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Cody Hays, sr., Lewiston. UTILITY BACK — Brad Mitchell, sr., Coeur d'Alene.

DEFENSE FIRST TEAM

LINEBACKERS — Jared Heston, jr., Lake City; Billy Clifford, sr., Lake City; Andy Crateau, sr., Post Falls; Matt Chadwick, jr., Coeur d'Alene. LINEMEN — Matt Jereczek, sr., Lake City; Grady Davis, sr., Lewiston; Bryson Gilbert, sr., Post Falls. DEFENSIVE BACKS — Matt Conger, sr., Coeur d'Alene; Ridge Fuentes, jr., Lewiston; Justin Borgen, sr., Lewiston.

SECOND TEAM

LINEBACKERS — Cole Amende, jr., Post Falls; Kyler Nilson, jr., Lewiston; Kyle Womeldorff, jr., Coeur d'Alene. LINEMEN — Cody Hays, sr., Lewiston; Josh Forbes, jr., Coeur d'Alene; Scott Baxter, sr., Post Falls; Vinny Vetalaigno, sr., Lake City. DEFENSIVE BACKS — Travis Ries, jr., Post Falls; Sean Jackson, sr., Lake City; Johnny Carlson, sr., Coeur d'Alene.