FORT WAYNE – Three players from Class 2A state championship Bishop Luers are among 17 northeast Indiana football players who earned Associated Press All-State honors on Wednesday.
Senior quarterback James Knapke, junior running back Jaylon Smith and senior linebacker Montez Brooks all made the 2A All-State first team. The trio helped the Knights to their third straight state championship last Friday with a 41-17 win over Evansville Mater Dei in the championship game.
“Obviously it’s great to receive such an honor,” Knapke said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches. (Quarterbacks coach) Kyle Lindsay has been huge in my development as a quarterback, and I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
Two other area players who got their teams to the semistate, one step away from the state finals, also made the All-State team. Snider defensive tackle Donte Bowen was named to the 5A first team and Leo senior linebacker Myikell Payne was named to the 4A squad.
Other area players named All-State were Homestead senior quarterback Zach Terrell (5A), New Haven senior running back Te’Vaughn Hurse (4A), Bishop Dwenger senior punter Connor Friesner (4A), Garrett senior running back Todd Frickey and senior linebacker Austin Gibson (3A) and Tippecanoe Valley senior center Treston Fisher and sophomore receiver Tanner Andrews (3A), Eastside senior defensive end Tyler Ruckman (2A), Churubusco senior linebacker Josh LeFever (2A), Adams Central senior offensive lineman Troy Tonner (1A), Southern Wells senior offensive lineman Seth Biberstine (1A) and South Adams senior defensive back Dustin Wanner (1A).
Danny Anthrop of Class A state champion Lafayette Central Catholic and Gunner Kiel of Columbus East were also named to the AP’s All-State football teams.
Anthrop, a Purdue recruit, ran for 255 yards and three touchdowns to help Central Catholic rout Indianapolis Scecina 38-7 for the Class A football crown. Kiel, who has backed out of a commitment to Indiana, led his team to within one game of the Class 4A finals. He passed for 2,517 yards and 28 touchdowns this season.
Class 5A champion Carmel had three first-team selections: defensive linemen Shawn Heffern and Langston Newton and defensive back Jimmy Herman. Warren Central had four selections in 5A: running back Deionte Buckley, linemen Deyshawn Bond and Sheldon Day and linebacker Tim Kimbrough.
