Norris, Sundquist earn All-IEL MVP honors

SANDPOINT — Record breaking quarterback Davan Norris was named Offensive Most Valuable Player, and linebacker Paul Sundquist was named Defensive Most Valuable Player, highlighting a dominating showing by the Sandpoint football team as the 4A All-Inland Empire League football team was announced recently, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

Walker Jacobson (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Sam Johnson (Defensive Lineman of the Year), Carlos Collado (Defensive Lineman of the Year) and Michael Plaster (Offensive Newcomer of the Year) each earned individual awards, and head coach Satini Puailoa was named Coach of the Year, as the Bulldogs swept the marquee awards and had 20 players make the team from a deep senior class.

Norris threw for more than 2,700 yards and 27 touchdowns, leading an offense that rolled up more than 5,000 yards for the second consecutive year. Collado was named MVP for the second straight season, and Johnson was named after tying the SHS school record of 14 sacks held by Ryan Knowles.

Puailoa said the coaching award simply means they were the last team standing, and is a testament to the organization as a whole.

“It starts with administration, the coaching staff, and the fact these players bought in. You need to understand where you start, how do you get out of it? Otherwise, you’re going to live it over again,” said Puailoa, who turned around a losing program. “These kids had none to follow, but they had (Crosby) Tajan, (Chris) Lassen and us (coaching staff), and they followed us. It’s a whole community thing. If we don’t have the support of everyone else, it doesn’t work. With 20 guys making it (all-league), it’s obscene. That’s really how far we’ve come.”

Puailoa on what each player did to earn a spot in the team:

• Norris: “Unbelievable year. This team kind of morphed into the team that it became, and a lot of it was due to Davan. They were really good receivers. We ended up throwing for more than we ran. He called more audibles for touchdowns than we did.”

• Sundquist: “Last year as a junior, we had him play defensive end. It was best for the team. It helped him this year as a linebacker. He understood where everybody was supposed to be. The football IQ on defense was the best I’ve ever seen. They were able to change things on the fly, and you don’t see that often. Paul was at the center of it.”

• Plaster: “Was one of our best football players. Started at linebacker. 6-2, 220, runs an 11.5 100 meters, has great hands. Could have been one of our top receivers, could have been one of our best running backs. At 220, he would stone guys, gave us the battering ram at fullback. He led the team in scoring with his kicking.”

• Jacobson: “I told him at the start of the year ‘everywhere you look, you’ll see a really good senior.’ I said ‘as soon as there’s an opening, grab it.’ Walker immediately made an impact. Played unbelievably well from the time he got on the field. Has an unbelievable IQ. Could play running back, receiver or defensive end. He played at a very high level down the stretch.”

• Collado: “He was our best lineman. Only true two-way player that we had. He could probably be all state on both sides. 6-5, 240, he can run, and has a warrior mentality. In any conditioning, Carlos would lead the pack. He’ll leave an impression on future players with how hard he worked. Tough, played with a broken hand, sprained ankle. Consummate warrior, great teammate, complete package kid.”

• Johnson: “Tied Ryan Knowles for the all-time lead with 14 sacks. He started as a wide receiver, behind Wyatt and Jake. Then he starts to grow. As soon as we put his hand down, he was a completely different kid. A motor, aggressiveness, it was like we unleashed him. He’s 6-2, 220 with sprinter’s speed. Technically our best d-lineman, he just became a force. He anchored down that side. He and Carlos were as good as any pair we’ve had.”

• Perry: “Tough year, showed a lot of mental toughness. He’s our best blocking back, and played a significant role on the defensive side. How much of a team guy he was when he wasn’t able to be himself.”

• Irish: “We started the season with eight all-league running backs competing for playing time. Levi has the ability to run downhill. I’m excited for him next year, putting him in the I.

• Magro: “Wasn’t sure if he’d be a safety, a running back. He excelled in the slot, 36 catches, 600 yards plus. Ran for over 100 yards against East Valley, a couple 100 yard receiving games.

• Timothy: “Hard-nosed, competitive kid, runs really good routes and will fight for every ball.”

• McCormick-Cox: “If he plays in all the games, he probably owns every receiving record that we have. We probably win another two games. The guy was a physical force, you couldn’t get him down. He’ll win most jump balls. Had more than 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns.

• Murray: “Extremely fast and athletic. As fast as a lot of team’s running backs. He’s 200 pounds but plays like he’s about 240. He could drive block.”

• Davis: “Mirror image of Murray. Fast and athletic. Standing long jump 9 feet. Jumps like a basketball player.”

• Rodriguez: “Team leader, tough kid. Strong and tenacious, our center for two years. All of the calls started with Marcus.”

• Diercks: “High energy guy, allowed us to run man coverage because he could cover backs like a corner. One of our strongest guys. Smart, fast and strong.”

• LaCroix: “An anomaly, 5-7, 200 pounds, tough for teams to handle. He’s lining up against guys that are 6-5, 260, and they couldn’t handle him. So explosive and fast. Raised havoc inside.

• Oliver: “In order to play a nine man front defense, your corners have to play man coverage. Caiden has a sixth sense, anticipation and quickness, he could cancel a guy out.”

• Engel: “All the physical tools, one of our fastest players. He drew the other team’s best receiver in the playoffs, bump and run on an island. Played his best ball in the biggest games.”

• Fournier: “Moved him to safety in the third game and he just took off. By the end of the year, he and (fellow safety) Robbie Johnson were playing at an all-state level. He’s got the speed and athleticism to cover, but he fills like a linebacker.”

4A All-IEL Team

Coach of the Year — Satini Puailoa, Sandpoint

Offensive MVP — Davan Norris, sr., Sandpoint

Defensive MVP — Paul Sundquist, sr., Sandpoint

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — Mike Plaster, sr., Sandpoint

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — Walker Jacobsen, jr., Sandpoint

Offensive Lineman of the Year — Carlos Collado, sr., Sandpoint

Defensive Lineman of the Year — Sam Johnson, sr., Sandpoint

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Devin Carscallen, sr., Moscow. Running backs — Chad Robertson, sr., Moscow; Kyle Perry, sr., Sandpoint; Levi Irish, jr., Sandpoint. Wide receivers — Logan Magro, sr., Sandpoint; Jake Timothy, sr., Sandpoint; Wyatt Cox, sr., Sandpoint. Offensive linemen — Bradley Allen, sr., Lakeland; Tyrell Murray, sr., Sandpoint; Travis Davis, sr., Sandpoint; Marcus Rodriguez, sr., Sandpoint.

DEFENSE

Linebackers — Josh Brandt, so., Lakeland; Jackson Dierks, sr., Sandpoint; Jared McDaniel, jr., Lakeland. Defensive line — Wyatt Youngblood, jr., Moscow; Devin La Croix, sr., Sandpoint; Pat Coulter, sr., Moscow; Tanner Newton, so., Moscow. Defensive backs — Dylan Vahey, so., Lakeland; Caden Oliver, sr., Sandpoint; Colt Engle, sr., Sandpoint; Clayton Fournier, jr., Sandpoint.