Bulldogs make All-IEL squad
SANDPOINT - Junior running back/defensive back Ben Fisher was named Defensive Player of the Year, senior quarterback Jake Semones was co-Offensive Player of the Year and junior receiver Mike Hubbard was tabbed Newcomer of the Year as the 4A All-IEL football team was announced, as voted on by the league coaches.
A host of other Bulldogs made the team, which consisted of only Moscow and Sandpoint players because Lakeland is no longer in the IEL and they break up the 4A and 5A league teams.
"You take them for what they're worth," said Sandpoint head coach Mike Mitchell. "They never get them totally right, it's just to get the kids some recognition."
Receiver Shawn Visintin, offensive linemen Spencer McCartney and Joel Cramer, defensive linemen A.J. Smith and D.J. McIntire, linebackers Coleman Frank and Ray Lee and defensive back Brandon Lawrence joined the aforementioned trio of Bulldogs on the first team. Many were first time varsity players this year, a far departure from next year, when Sandpoint returns seven starters on each side of the ball.
Head coach Mike Mitchell on what each player did earn their way onto the first team.:
n Semones: "I talked with a doctor the other day who said he's watched football for 35 years in Sandpoint and Jake was one of the most accurate passers he's seen in all those years. Too bad we had a bad night on our last game. On a dry field with Jake I feel we'd have won the game by two touchdowns."
n Fisher: "100 percent effort guy on everything he does on the field. One of our guys that go full time."
n Hubbard: "Outstanding receiver and blocker, I'm happy with that award. If he'll work at it, he can be a big time receiver."
n Visintin: "Solid performer all year. Was really effective at bubble screen and a good blocker as well."
n McCartney: "Definitely an all-conference tackle. A steady Eddy; never had to worry if he was going to get it done that night."
n Cramer: "Our real surprise. Could have been Newcomer of the Year. One of those guys where size doesn't matter; he executes all of the time."
n Smith: "He played excellent all of the time at tackle, tight end and defensive end; real effective in all of the roles. Plays with a motor, will be one of our captains next year."
n Frank: "He goes tackle to tackle, sideline to sideline. Middle linebacker has to be one of the key guys and he was one of our leading tacklers."
n Lee: "We think we'll build a lot of next year's defense around him. Runs well, could play a lot of positions."
n Lawrence: "When he was out you really noticed it. Moves well and covers a lot of ground in the secondary."
n McIntire: "Another steady Eddy. Did job all year long and will be a two-way player next year."
ALL-4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
COACH OF THE YEAR - John Sheaff, Moscow, and Mike Mitchell, Sandpoint
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Mike Hubbard, jr., WR/DB, Sandpoint, and Jake Helbling, so., Moscow
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jayson Washington, jr., Moscow, and Jake Semones, sr., QB, Sandpoint
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Ben Fisher, jr., FS, Sandpoint
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Jayson Washington, RB, jr., Moscow; Ben Fisher, RB, jr., Sandpoint; Jake Semones, QB, sr., Sandpoint; John Merickel, TE, sr., Moscow; Mike Hubbard, WR, jr., Sandpoint; Shawn Visintin, WR, sr., Sandpoint; Spencer Hubbard, OL, sr., Moscow; Keith Wear, OL, sr., Moscow; Ethan Richard, OL, sr., Moscow; Spencer McCartney, OL, sr., Sandpoint; Joel Cramer, OL, jr., Sandpoint.
DEFENSE
Michael Baszler, LB, sr., Moscow; A.J. Smith, DL, jr., Sandpoint; Ben Fisher, DB, jr., Sandpoint; Jayson Washington, DB, jr., Moscow; Coleman Frank, LB, sr., Sandpoint; John Merickel, LB, sr., Moscow; Raymond Lee, LB, jr., Sandpoint; Brandon Lawrence, DB, jr., Sandpoint; Mychael Washington, LB, sr., Moscow; Johnny Bieker, LB, sr., Moscow; D.J. McIntire, DL, jr., Sandpoint.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Zach Hull, QB, sr., Moscow; Mychael Washington, RB, sr., Moscow; Ricky Lang, RB, sr., Sandpoint; Brandon Lawrence, TE, jr., Sandpoint; Johnny Bieker, WR, sr., Moscow; Jonas Cafferty, WR, sr., Sandpoint; Jacob Palaniuk, OL, jr., Sandpoint; Austin Posey, OL, jr., Sandpoint; A.J. Cook, OL, sr., Sandpoint; Mitch Nelson, OL, sr., Moscow; Drew Papineau, OL, so., Moscow.
DEFENSE
Micah Allard, DL, sr., Sandpoint; Dain Adams, DL, so., Moscow; Shane Kidd, LB, jr., Sandpoint; Kyle Laven, DL, so., Moscow; Lloyd Hammack, DL, sr., Sandpoint; Jake Helbling, DB, so., Moscow; Jonas Cafferty, DB, sr., Sandpoint; Ricky Lang, DB, sr., Sandpoint; Joey Renner, DB, sr., Moscow; Michael Hays, LB, jr., Moscow; Spencer Hubbard, DL, sr., Moscow.'