Rebels receive All-Conference top honors in MAFC White

PARK HILLS – The Central Rebels were able to sweep the Mineral Area Football Conference White Division this season and as a consequence for their success of repeating as conference champions, the Rebels also swept all of the ‘Players of the Year’ honors as well.

Junior Jake Bridges was named Offensive Player of the Year, senior Colin Bess was selected Defensive Player of the Year and also Offensive Lineman of the Year, and senior Brandon Maberry was chosen Defensive Lineman of the Year. Head-Coach Kory Schweiss along with Assistant Head-Coach P.J. Jones and the entire Central coaching staff were selected as Coach of the Year.

The Rebels had 15 players named to the All-Conference First Team, five to the Second Team and two receiving Honorable Mention. Jake Bridges was a unanimous choice by the conference coaches for First Team quarterback, and Brayden Manion was a unanimous selection for First Team wide receiver.

Also being selected to the All-Conference First Team were running back Brandon Maberry, fullback Drew Harlow, wide receivers Manion and Hunter Strange, center Dakota Pope, tackle Colin Bess, defensive backs Manion and Bridges, linebacker Harlow, defensive linemen Pope and Bess, defensive end Maberry, punter Bridges and returner Manion.

Making the Second Team Offense were tight end Logan Comfort, tackle Brandon Richardson, and guard Russell Harrington. Second Team Defense players were defensive back Strange, and linebacker Comfort. Receiving Honorable Mention were linebacker Tristan Pyatt and guard Kolby Buckley.

The Rebels, now 10-0, are the only conference team still active in the post-season, and they will host Kennett this Friday in the Class 3, District 1 title game for a shot at advancing to the state’s final play-off rounds.

Potosi –

The Potosi Trojans, who finished their season 7-3, placing second in the White Division with a 3-1 record, had 17 players receiving All-Conference recognition. Flex player Austin Cooley was a unanimous choice by the coaches to the First Team Offense.

Also receiving First Team honors were running back Blaine Riddle, tight end Chandler Franklin, guard Zack Drennan, defensive backs Cooley and Riddle, linebacker Jacob Coleman and defensive end Wayland DeClue.

Second Team players were wide receiver Jon Thompson, linebacker Dusty Douglas, defensive linemen Dylan Wright and Kaleb Courtois and kicker Thompson. Honorable Mention was given to defensive back Chandler Franklin, tackle Courtois, and Jacob Neff for both center and defensive lineman.

Ste. Genevieve –

The Ste. Genevieve Dragons (6-4) finished third in the division at 2-2 with 13 players selected. Making the First Team were running back Austin Brewer, defensive back and also kicker Drew Schmelzle, linebacker Logan Dowdy and defensive lineman Morgan Schenck. Schmelzle also made the Second Team as wide receiver, along with Schenck at center, Harrison Womack at guard, Austin Brewer at linebacker, and AJ Gonz at defensive end.

Andrew DeRousse, Logan Rhinehart, Luke Gettinger, and Tate Meyer received Honorable Mention.

Fredericktown –

The Fredericktown Blackcats (4-7) and 1-3 in the division, also had 13 players honored. Dalton King was selected First Team as offensive tackle and also as linebacker for the Blackcats’ only First Team player. Fullback and linebacker Caleb Carver, defensive back Brock O’Neal, defensive end Ryan Matthews and kicker Matthew Williams were all selected to the Second Team.

Honorable Mention was given to Tyler Reed, Matthew Williams, Zack Keller, Ben Ellis, Patrick Smothers, and Austin Stephens.

Shown here scoring a touchdown against St. Pius, are five of the 22 Central players who received All-Conference honors. From left to right are Colin Bess (75), Drew Harlow (40) with ball, Logan Comfort (33), Russell Harrington (66) and Kolby Buckley (54). 

The Fredericktown Blackcats had 13 players named to the three White Division All-Conference squads, including Caleb Carver (30), Matthew Williams (24) and Tyler Reed (85). North County’s Dakota Burns (28) and Garrett Miller (2) were both named to the Red Division’s All-Conference teams.