Host of Bulldogs named to 2009 All-IEL team

SANDPOINT — Senior running back Ben Fisher was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player, Junior safety Eric Nikssarian was tabbed Defensive Newcomer of the Year, and head coach Mike Mitchell garnered Coach of the Year honors for the third consecutive year, leading a strong contingent of Bulldogs voted to the team by league coaches.

Fisher carried for a team high 1,241 yards and 14 touchdows, helping carry the load for stretches in the Bulldogs’ running back-by-committee approach.

“When Cody (Hecker) got hurt, Ben stepped up and had a great senior year,” said Mitchell of Fisher, who last year was the IEL Defensive Player of the Year. “When he decides to play hard, everybody else does too.”

Nikssarian emerged as one of the Bulldogs’ top defensive players, no easy task on a defense with playmakers everywhere.

“He was one of our better players all year long,” said Mitchell of Nikssarian, who transferred to Sandpoint last year.

Also named to the team were quarterback Daniel Charvoz, running back Cody Hecker and receiver Mike Hubbard, all seniors. Hecker scored 12 touchdowns and ran for more than 900 yards on the season, despite missing time with an injured ankle, and Hubbard finished with 770 yards receiving, becoming Charvoz’s go-to receiver.

Tight end A.J. Smith, and offensive linemen Jacob Palaniuk and Joel Cramer rounded out the Bulldogs named to the offensive team.

Shane Kidd and D.J. McIntire each made the team as defensive linemen, Luther Morgan and Ray Lee as linebackers, and Sean Hogan and Anthony Gold as defensive backs. Those players formed the core of what became one of the top defenses in the state this season.

2009 Inland Empire League 4A All-League football team

Coach of the Year — Mike Mitchell, Spt.

Offensive MVP — Ben Fisher, RB, Spt., and Jayson Washington, RB, Mos.

Defensive MVP — Jake Helbling, DB, Mos.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — Eric Cooper, Lak.

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — Eric Nikssarian, DB, Spt.

OFFENSE — Daniel Charvoz, QB/Sr., Spt; Cody Hecker, RB/Sr., Spt; Eric Pokorny, RB/Sr., Lak; Mike Hubbard, WR/Sr., Spt; A.J. Smith, TE/Sr., Spt; Jacob Palaniuk, OL/Sr., Spt; Joel Cramer, OL/Sr., Spt; Jason Underdahl, OL/Sr., Lak; Thomas Garner, OL/Sr., Lak; Drew Papineau, OL/Jr., Mos; Mike Hayes, OL/Sr., Mos.

DEFENSE — Shane Kidd, DL/Sr., Spt; D.J. McIntire, DL/Sr., Spt; Kyle Laven, DL/Jr., Mos; Taylor Derrick, DL/Jr., Lak; Luther Morgan, LB/Jr., Spt; Sam Lewis, LB/Jr., Mos; Ray Lee, LB/Sr., Spt; Justin Parkins, LB/Jr., Mos; Dean Adams, DB/Jr., Mos; Sean Hogan, DB/Sr., Spt; Anthony Gold, DB/So., Spt.