The folks who picked the INA all-state football teams this year looked kindly on the Metro area with a whopping 17 selections.

In fact, you could assemble an outstanding team with just those 17 players, although a few of them would have to play both ways.

You could start on offense with Reggie Schulte of Xavier at quarterback. He led the Saints to the Class 4A championship game this year and was one of the most accurate passers in the state.

Corbin Woods of Xavier and Jarred Edmonds of Prairie would give Schulte a pair of premier receivers, and Alex Hillyer of Kennedy would give the Metro all-staters a 1,600-yard rusher in the backfield.

Ethan Herren of Marion would give the Metro club a superb athlete at tight end, someone able to block effectively and catch passes. The offensive line would feature Seth Fahnle of Xavier, Justin Green of Linn-Mar, Austin Holzer of Kennedy and Zach Borens of Marion.

You'd need one more offensive lineman, but you could ask 6-foot-8 Matt Nelson of Xavier if he wouldn't mind plugging a gap at tackle. He was selected to the INA all-state team as a defensive lineman, but he also was a fine tight end for the Saints and could easily play on the offensive line.

You'd have a premier place-kicker with Ryan Persick of Xavier and a very good punter with Brock Skow of Kennedy.

You need a fullback for that club, so let's plug Trev Biery of Marion into that spot. He made the Des Moines Register all-state team as a defensive back, but he was also a 1,000-yard rusher for the Indians and a tough dude.

You have to admit, that's a pretty salty offensive unit right there, comprised entirely of INA and Register all-state performers.

You'd have to get a little creative on defense, because there aren't quite as many players to go around. Nonetheless, you could build a strong team with the INA and Register guys.

You've got Andrew Davis of Marion and Nelson for the defensive line, and you could easily recruit some of the offensive linemen like Fahnle, Green, Holzer or Borens to fill the rest of the spots on D-Line.

Craig Murtha of Xavier and Cam Rathje of Prairie are premier linebackers. So is Herren, who made the INA all-state club at tight end.

The defensive backfield would feature Trey Sampson of Xavier and Mitch Dellamuth of Prairie. Edmonds played in the defensive backfield for Prairie as a two-way performer, so let's put him back there as well. And there's Biery, the Des Moines Register all-state pick.

I like our chances.