Marion Football

Jake McDonald picks Coe for football

Marion High School senior Jake McDonald has decided to continue his stellar football career at Coe College.

McDonald, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, led the Metro in tackles last season with 135 and finished his career with 325, including 36 tackles for loss.

"After much contemplation and weighing all the factors, I have decided to continue my education and football career at Coe College," he informed the Metro Sports Report in an e-mail Monday night. "It was a very difficult decision, but in the end Coe fit the criteria I was looking for."

McDonald was a first team all-state selection in Class 3A by the Des Moines Register and the Iowa Newspaper Association. He will play in the Shrine Bowl in Ames on July 21.

McDonald also played fullback at Marion and carried the ball 34 times for 204 yards last season. He caught five passes for 44 yards.

Cedar Valley, Marion get football schedules

The Cedar Valley Christian eight-man football team got its feet wet last fall with four games. Now comes the real thing.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced full schedules for all 8 Player, 1A, 2A, 3A and western 4A schools Tuesday on the IHSAA website.

Cedar Valley will open its nine-game schedule for 2012 with a road game at HLV Victor on Aug. 24 before embarking on its 8 Player District 4 schedule with a home date against Valley of Elgin on Aug. 31.

The Huskies will have eight district games this season, with four road trips and four home games. The other home games are against Lansing Kee Sept. 21, Midland Wyoming Sept. 28, Central Elkader Oct. 12 and Preston Oct. 19.

Cedar Valley Christian is eligible for the IHSAA playoffs this season. The Huskies lost all four of their games last year in their inaugural campaign. Cedar Valley will have five home games and four road games in 2012.

The Marion Indians have been assigned to Class 3A District 6 this season and will open the 2012 campaign with a non-district game at Mount Pleasant on Aug. 24. The Indians will compete in a seven-team district with Anamosa, Maquoketa, Benton Community, Solon, Clear Creek Amana and DeWitt Central.

Marion will have five home games and four road games in 2012.

CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN
8 Player District 4
(* Denotes District Game)

Aug. 24 - at HLV Victor
Aug. 31 - Valley of Elgin*
Sept. 7 - at Springville*
Sept. 14 - at West Central*
Sept. 21 - Lansing Kee*
Sept. 28 - Midland Wyoming*
Oct. 5 - at Central City*
Oct. 12 - Central Elkader*
Oct. 19 - Preston*

MARION
Class 3A District 6
(* Denotes District Game)

Aug. 24 - at Mount Pleasant
Aug. 31 - Decorah
Sept. 7 - Anamosa*
Sept. 14 - at Washington (Iowa)
Sept. 21 - Maquoketa*
Sept. 28 - at Benton Community*
Oct. 5 - Solon*
Oct. 12 - Clear Creek Amana*
Oct. 19 - at DeWitt Central

McDonald 3A first team all-state by Register

DES MOINES - Linn-Mar High School seniors Andy Henry and Mark Atwater were named to the Des Moines Register Elite All-State Football Team Sunday morning.

Henry made the Elite Offense at wide receiver after catching 53 passes with 18 touchdowns. Atwater was named to the Elite Defense after starring at linebacker.

Atwater also excelled as a quarterback for the Lions, but Blake Gimbel of Marshalltown and Kyle Starcevich of Southeast Polk were honored as the top quarterbacks in the state.

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Sean Bredl and Xavier senior William Wright were named to the Class 4A Second Team Offense as linemen. Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Logan LeTellier was honored on the Class 4A Second Team Defense as a lineman.

Marion High School senior Jake McDonald was named to the Class 3A First Team Defense at linebacker.

You can see all of the Register's all-state football selections at www.dmregister.com.

Storla, McDonald, Banes 1st team all-Metro

Mark Atwater, who quarterbacked Linn-Mar to an unbeaten regular season and No. 2 ranking in the polls, is the Metro Football Player of the Year, according to voting by the Metro football coaches.

Atwater, a senior, completed nearly 4 percent of his passes for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for 808 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also started at linebacker for the Lions and had 53 tackles.

Atwater was one of three Lions named to the All-Metro first team offense. Senior wide receiver Andy Henry caught 53 passes for 1,020 yards and a Mississippi Valley Conference record 18 touchdowns. Senior Mitch Wantock rushed for 1,109 yards and nien touchdowns in nine games. He broke his ankle in Linn-Mar's regular season finale at Xavier and was unavailable for the Lions' two playoff games.

Linn-Mar seniors A.J. Garcia and Tommy Feller were named to the first team defense. Feller led the Lions with 86 tackles. Garcia, a lineman, had 25 tackles, including seven for loss.

Linn-Mar finished 10-1, losing to Washington in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Washington had five players on the first team. Senior Flynn Heald was the only Warrior to make the offensive team. He caught 63 passes -- 21 in one game -- for 954 yards and five touchdowns.

Seniors David Tann, Sean Bredl and Ryan Cain were named to the first team defense. Bredl, a linebacker, led the Warriors with 106 tackles, including 10 for loss. Tann, who alternated between safety and linebacker, had 101 tackles (18 for loss) and intercepted three passes, one for a touchdown. Cain, a cornerback, missed most of the first four games because of a broken collarbone, but came back and had 33 tackles and three interceptions.

Senior Michael Peterson was named the punter on the team with a 39.2 average.

Tony Lombardi and the Washington coaching staff were named Coach of the Year. The Warriors finished the season 8-4, reaching the quarterfinals of the playoffs where they were beaten by Cedar Falls, 35-32.

Xavier also had five players on the first team, three on offense. Senior tackles William Wright helped open the holes that allowed senior running back Carter Valentine to rush for 1,149 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Reggie Schulte completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,501 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Kevin Hosch had 32 tackles for the Saints. Senior Chad Gilmer converted 20 of 21 PAT kicks and 4 of 8 on field goals with a long of 42 yards.

Kennedy had four first teamers, two on each side of the ball. Senior Trevor Heitland ran for 714 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 542 yards and five touchdowns as a flanker/running back. senior quarterback Jimmy Lizarraga completed 53.5 per cent of his passes for 1,385 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior safety Josh Jahlas led the Cougars in tackles with 116. He also intercepted two passes. Senior defensive end Logan Letellier had 93 tackles, 10 for loss.

Marion had three players on the first team. Senior Colton Storla led the Metro in rushing with 1,222 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Marion senior linebacker Jake McDonald was the Metro leader in tackling with 135, including 21 for loss. His 135 tackles ranked fourth in Class 3A and his 21 for loss ranked second in 3A. He finished with 325 career tackles.

Marion senior cornerback Hunter Banes had seven interceptions, ranking him tied for second in Class 3A. He also had 65 tackles.

Prairie had two players on the first team. Junior wide receiver Jarred Edmonds caught 26 passes for 529 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore Tristan Beyer had 52 tackles.

Jefferson's lone representative on the first team was senior defensive lineman Mic Vesey, who had 16 tackles.

2011 ALL-METRO FOOTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Offense
Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar, sr.
Andy Henry, Linn-Mar, sr.
Mitch Wantock, Linn-Mar, sr.
Flynn Heald, Washington, sr.
Trevor Heitland, Kennedy, sr.
Jimmy Lizarraga, Kennedy, sr.
William Wright, Xavier, sr.
Carter Valentine, Xavier, sr.
Reggie Schulte, Xavier, jr.
Colton Storla, Marion, sr.
Jarred Edmonds, Prairie, jr.
PK - Chad Gilmer, Xavier, sr.

Defense
A.J. Garcia, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tommy Feller, Linn-Mar, sr.
David Tann, Washington, sr.
Sean Bredl, Washington, sr.
Ryan Cain, Washington, sr.
Logan Letellier, Kennedy, sr.
Josh Jahlas, Kennedy, sr.
Kevin Hosch, Xavier, sr.
Jake McDonald, Marion, sr.
Hunter Banes, Marion, sr.
Mic Vesey, Jefferson, sr.
Tristan Beyer, Prairie, soph.
P - Michael Peterson, Washington, sr.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
Dustin Smith, Linn-Mar, sr.
Tyler Burrell, Washington, sr.
Zac Gilles, Washington, jr.
Austin Holzer, Kennedy, soph.
Alex Hillyer, Kennedy, jr.
Zach Borens, Marion, jr.
Ethan Herren, Marion, jr.
Christian Knox, Jefferson, sr.
Ryan Eivins, Jefferson, sr.
Sam Manternach, Prairie, sr.

Defense
Colton Sanchez, Linn-Mar, sr.
Travis Kvach, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Redmond, Linn-Mar, sr.
Michael Daughtery, Washington, sr.
Stohrm Henry, Washington, sr.
Shane Williams, Kennedy, sr.
Colm Larkin, Xavier, sr.
Jordan Weber, Xavier, sr.
Jack Boland, Xavier, sr.
Justin Dolley, Marion, jr.
Brayton Carlson, Prairie, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Marion -- Brennen Kelly, Taylor Rogers, Trev Biery, Cale Cannoy, Tyler Gunderson
Xavier -- Seth Fahnle, Josh Giles, Matt Hansen, Jordan Hoffman, Corbin Woods
Jefferson -- Tanner Lunfd, Aaron Gruwell, Austin Short, Austin Goodell, Alex Baxter
Prairie -- Jace Hanna, Bryce Meeker, Demetrius Harper, Mitch Dellamuth, Bryce Alberts
Washington -- Braedon Tovey, Mitch Bredeson, JoJo McBride, McCauley Todd, Mitch Blades
Kennedy -- Michael Lawshea, Gage Berry, David Hynek, Riley Fergus, Drew Heitland
Linn-Mar -- Jacob Hutchins, Bryan Goings, Justin Green, Zach Martins, Nick Trabuco

2011 METRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Mark Atwater, Linn-Mar

2011 METRO COACH OF THE YEAR -- Tony Lombardi and staff, Washington