Six members of the 2007 Trenton Bulldog football team were named to the Class 2 All-Northwest District team.
Trenton Bulldog Head Coach Wes Croy was also honored, as he was named the Class 2 All-Northwest District Coach of the Year.
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The awards for the Bulldogs come on the heels of a season that saw Trenton set school records for wins in a season, with 11, and points scored in a season, with 450.
The Bulldogs had three players earn all-district recognition on the offensive side of the ball in running back De’Andre Vandevender and offensive linemen Ethan Tabbert and Zach Kinnison. On the defensive side, safety Michael Kurtz, linebacker Matthew Mayfield and defensive lineman Kyle Hoyt received all-district nods.
“You go to other places and you have these kids walking around with all these patches on their jackets and we have a lot less opportunity to put those on ours because we don’t have a conference,” Coach Croy said. “I think the opportunity to make all-district is huge because it means your team has been pretty good. It’s hard to get a lot of kids on the all-district team if you haven’t had success as a team. I realize that individual honors come after team honors, but it is still a nice feeling and it is important to us.”
Kurtz was the team’s lone junior to be named to the all-district team. He played a vital role in the Bulldogs’ success this season with his play at safety. Kurtz nabbed a team-high nine interceptions, which came at crucial moments in the season as well. He had two against Brookfield to help clinch a district title, and he grabbed two more against Clark County to help Trenton take the sectional title.
“Michael’s development went a long way to the development of our defense,” Croy said. “He was a leader in the secondary and he just has a nose for the football. He had an outstanding season for us and he got some big picks at big times.”
Mayfield had a breakout season for the Bulldogs. Mayfield’s speed made him a force at the linebacker position, allowing him to chase down running backs around the end and disrupt opponents’ plays in the backfield. Mayfield was a hard-hitter as well, stopping opponents in their tracks and breaking up pass completions.
“Matt really ‘seniored up’,” Croy said. “He was a good football player as a sophomore and junior, and turned into an outstanding player as a senior. He was our glue on defense. He quarterbacked the defense and made play after play. He was our leading tackler and was someone we just could not have survived without.”
Hoyt, an offensive selection to the all-district team last year, was selected on the defensive side this season. Hoyt was a force on the front line as he made running up the middle on the Bulldogs nearly impossible. Hoyt led the team in sacks with eight and was among the team leaders in tackles as well.
“Hoyt was just dominant up front,” Croy said. “He led the team in sacks and tackles for loss and when we got him down at defensive tackle, he was almost un-blockable. He was an outstanding football player and we are certainly going to miss him.”
Tabbert was named to the all-district offensive line after being a defensive selection last season. Tabbert was a key reason the Bulldogs’ running game was so successful.
“Tabbert was an all-stater on defense last year and we felt like he played even better on the offensive side this year,” Croy said. “He pulled on everything that our team pulled on. He’s a big physical kid who also has great speed. His ability to get out on the quick pitch and seal inside was a big key to our success in the running game this year.”
Joining Tabbert on the all-district offensive line is Kinnison. Like Tabbert, Kinnison was a key reason that the Bulldogs rushed for over 4,000 yards this season.
“Zach was the opposite guard of Tabbert,” Croy said. “We had our side that did the pulling and we had our side that did the grunt work and he was there. He does a great job of getting leverage and he really moves his feet well. He had a great season for us up front.”
Rounding out the Bulldogs’ all-district selections was Vandeven-der, who was outstanding, running for over 2,600 yards and 31 touchdowns. Vandevender broke several records this season, including single season touchdowns, 31, career touchdowns, 58, and career yards, 5,409.
“He was a good player as a sophomore, a great player as a junior and an outstanding player as a senior,” Croy said. “That didn’t come natural for him. It came through a lot of hard work and effort in the weight room. He’s a great kid and one that certainly deserves every honor he gets.”
Croy was also recognized for coaching the Bulldogs to their first 11-win season and first-ever playoff win by being named Class 2 Coach of the Year for the Northwest District. Croy led the Bulldogs to just their third district title this season as well. Coach Croy stresses the fact, however, that this award comes as a result of his team.
“I feel coach of the year is more of a team award than an individual one,” Croy said. “It’s a great honor and one that comes as a result of having a great season. Great seasons are a product of having great kids and coaches that work hard.”
The all-district awards garnered by the Bulldogs just add to the fantastic season Trenton had this season, a season that could be considered the greatest in school history.
Class 1
OFFENSE
QB — Dillon Stonum, Lathrop, Sr., 6-4, 180
Ryan Humes, West Platte, Jr., 6-1, 190
RB — Stephen Wood, Gallatin, Sr., 5-11, 185
Logan Kelim, South Harrison, Sr., 5-9, 175
Morgan Duff, Princeton, Sr., 6-1, 190
Logan Smith, Hamilton, Sr., 5-9, 160
WR/TE — Erick Roe, West Platte, Sr., 6-4, 180
Matt Holt, Lathrop, Sr., 6-5, 200
Trent Best, Maysville, Sr., 5-9, 165
Ethan Stark, Princeton, Sr., 6-3, 210
OL — Mitch Giger, North Platte, Sr., 6-4, 260
Brad Madison, South Harrison, Sr., 6-5, 238
Jon Brown, Gallatin, Sr., 6-3, 210
Macon Allan, King City, Sr., 6-5, 225
Josiah O’Brien, East Buchanan, Sr., 5-10, 235
Tyler Wolfe, Mid-Buchanan, Jr., 5-10, 185
PK — Erick Roe, West Platte, Sr., 6-4, 180
KR — Josh Duncan, Polo, Sr., 5-9, 167
DEFENSE
DL — Justin Kottman, Princeton, Sr., 6-1, 190
Joe Stonecypher, South Harrison, Sr., 6-0, 220
Tye Lydon, South Harrison, Sr., 6-2, 235
Dustan Youngs, Princeton, Sr., 5-11, 205
Jon Schreir, Braymer, So., 6-6, 230
LB — Corey Lee, Gallatin, Sr., 5-11, 200
Kyle Elder, West Platte, Sr., 6-6, 210
Ryan Barnes, Polo, Sr., 6-2, 217
Skylar Cline, Maysville, Sr., 5-11, 190
Joe Pickrell, Hamilton, Jr., 5-10, 163
Jay Stanton, Rock Port, Sr., 6-3, 234
Travis Williams, Lathrop, Sr., 6-2, 230
DB — Brentlee Thomas, Rock Port, Sr., 6-2, 190
Ivan Greenwood, Hamilton, Sr., 5-9, 135
Andy Ward, Gallatin, Sr., 5-11, 160
Wes Johnson, North Platte, Jr., 5-9, 170
P — Erick Roe, West Platte, Sr., 6-4, 180
COACH OF THE YEAR — Dave Cavanah, Princeton
Class 2
OFFENSE
QB — Joe Kassanavoid, Lawson, Sr., 6-6, 220
Andy Walter, Maryville, Sr., 5-10, 165
RB — De’Andre Vandevender, Trenton, Sr., 6-2, 215
Adam Mattson, Maryville, Jr., 5-11, 185
David Noblet, Lawson, Sr., 6-0, 220
WR — Pat Lawhon, Bishop LeBlond, Jr., 5-10, 165
T.J. Apple, Plattsburg, Jr., 5-11, 150
OL — Ethan Tabbert, Trenton, Sr., 6-3, 240
John Bright, Lawson, Sr., 6-5, 245
Dillon Owens, Maryville, Sr., 6-2, 245
Zach Kinnison, Trenton, Sr., 6-2, 290
Justin Embrey, Lawson, Sr., 5-10, 215
Ryan Flick, Carrollton, Jr., 6-3, 250
K — Troy Green, Lawson, Sr., 5-10, 180
KR — Cody Renzelman, Carrollton, So., 5-10, 160
DEFENSE
DL — Kyle Hoyt, Trenton, Sr., 6-1, 240
Zach Sherry, Maryville, Jr., 5-11, 205
Jacob Payne, Lawson, Sr., 6-0, 215
Nathan Torre, Plattsburg, Sr., 6-0, 180
LB — Joe Kassanavoid, Lawson, Sr., 6-6, 220
Tyler Oglesby, Maryville, Sr., 5-9, 175
Matthew Mayfield, Trenton, Sr., 6-0, 200
Alex Bridges, Bishop LeBlond, Sr., 6-0, 200
DB — Michael Kurtz, Trenton, Jr., 5-11, 170
Tanner Archer, Maryville, Sr., 6-2, 175
Charlie Lowe, Maryville, Sr., 5-9, 175
Logan Pettz, Lawson, Sr., 6-2, 175
P — Joe Kassanavoid, Lawson, Sr., 6-6, 220
COACH OF THE YEAR — Wes Croy, Trenton