Prep Football: Hawley, Warroad top the Heart O’ Lakes All-Classic Conference Team

Hawley had six players receiving postseason accolades when the 23 member Heart O’ Lakes All-Classic Conference Team was announced today.

The Nuggets (10-1) went 6-0 in conference games and finished with the No. 4 ranking in the final Class 2A coaches poll. However, conference rival Warroad stunned the Nuggets 14-7 in the Section 8AA Championship game at the Fargodome.

Making the all-conference roster for Hawley were Riley Burns (Sr., RB/LB), Cassidy Violet (Sr., OL/DL), Keifer Hinrichs (Sr., QB/FS), Brady Pekas (Sr., RB/CB), Josh Johnson (Jr., TE/LB).

The Nuggets secured two individual accolades when Violet was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and head coach Peder Naatz was named the Classic Division Coach of the Year.

Warroad (10-3, 5-1 conference), which fell to fifth-ranked Caledonia in the Minnesota State Class AA Semifinals, had five players named to the all-conference team—but raked in five of the HOL Classic’s eight individual awards.

Warroad’s Ross Merriman (Sr., QB/S) was named the HOL Classic MVP, while Aaron Haataja (Jr., RB/CB) and Alex Sandahl (Sr., WR/CB) were named Most Valuable Offensive Back and Most Valuable Receiver, respectively. The Warriors also picked up two defensive awards when Tyler James Fish (Jr. OL/DL) and Andy Foster (Sr., LB/FB) were named Most Valuable Defensive Lineman and Most Valuable Linebacker.

Pelican Rapids’ Casey Bruggeman (Sr., RB/DB) was chosen as the Most Valuable Defensive Back.

Staples-Motley, which went 0-9 overall (0-6 conference), landed one player to the all-conference squad: Blake Petrich (Sr., QB/FS)

2011 Heart O’ Lakes All-Classic Conference Team

Hawley: Riley Burns (Sr., RB/LB), Cassidy Violet (Sr., OL/DL), Keifer Hinrichs (Sr., QB/FS), Brady Pekas (Sr., RB/CB), Josh Johnson (Jr., TE/LB)

Warroad: Ross Merriman (Sr., QB/S), Aaron Haataja (Jr., RB/CB), Alex Sandahl (Sr., WR/CB), Tyler James Fish (Jr., OL/DL), Andy Foster (Sr., QB/DB)

Breckenridge: Stephen Erlandson (Sr., RB/DE), Cole Praus (Sr., RB/DL), Greg Erlandson (Sr., OL/DL), Casey Materi (Sr., QB/DB)

Roseau: Dylan Gjovik (Sr., RB/LB), Tanner Okeson (Jr., WR/DB), Alex Ziegler (Jr., QB)

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton: Tanner Dufault (Sr., QB/DB), Jake Hanson (Sr., OL/DL)

Pelican Rapids: Casey Bruggeman (Sr., RB/DB), Tucker Forsgren (Jr., SE/OLB)

Staples-Motley: Blake Petrich (Sr., QB/FS)

Most Valuable Player: Ross Merriman (Warroad)
Most Valuable Offensive Back: Aaron Haataja (Warroad)
Most Valuable Receiver: Alex Sandahl (Warroad)
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman: Cassidy Violet (Hawley)
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman: Tyler James Fish (Warroad)
Most Valuable Linebacker: Andy Foster (Warroad)
Most Valuable Defensive Back: Casey Bruggeman (Pelican Rapids)
Coach of the Year: Peder Naatz (Hawley)