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Dec. 16 – The 48th annual Idaho Football Groups were announced on Wednesday and the region was well represented.
They were voted on through the state’s coaches, and the Idaho Statesman posted the results on its website.
Here’s a closer look at the best of the region:
Whitepine League Stars
The Whitepine League Division I is well represented, with seven players from 3 other schools on the All-Idaho team.
Kamiah’s Porter Whipple earned first-team honors as an offensive and defensive lineman for the second year in a row.
The eldest placed a brick wall in front, not allowing a single sack and storing 20 blocks of pancakes.
Whipple was a game wrecker on the Kubs’ defense, finishing with 101 tackles and a state-high 35 for loss.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder has had several standout performances in 2023, adding when he recorded 10 tackles, 4 sacks and an interception for a touchdown in a 42-0 win over Council on September 15.
Kamiah’s senior defensive back, David Kludt, also got a nod in the first team, completing the year with six interceptions.
Lapwai’s Ahlius Yearout earned a spot on the All-Idaho first team as a catcher and a spot on the team as a linebacker.
Yearout threw for 1,459 yards on just 91 touchdowns (16 yards consistent with the game). He’s just as dynamic defensively, recording a career-high 15 tackles in a 48-26 win over Troy on Sept. 29.
WPL champion Logos had 3 All-Idaho winners, with senior quarterback Jack Driskill being a first-team member.
Driskill was a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who racked up 3,792 yards of total offense and 58 touchdowns.
The 5-11 Gunslinger led the third-year program to the playoffs for the first time, a 60-26 victory over Murtaugh in the quarterfinals.
In that one, Driskill finished 22-of-34 passing for 530 yards and six touchdowns. He added 107 yards and two more scores on the ground.
One of Driskill’s favorite targets, Lucius Comis, earned a spot on the second team.
The junior finished with 862 yards of total offense.
Linebacker Ben Carlson nodded to the second team.
Kendrick cleans up the DII
Tigers leader Zane Hobart and quarterback Ty Koepp were named 1A DII Coach and Player of the Year, respectively, for the year in a row.
Koepp completed 65% of his passes for 2,400 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Koepp’s favorite weapons, Sawyer Hewett and Hunter Taylor, also found their way into the first team.
Hewett totaled 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns. Taylor added 762 receiving yards and 3 punt return touchdowns. He was also a member of the second team as a defensive back.
The Tigers saw two linemen win first-team honors with either ball, Dallas Morgan and Brock Boyer.
Senior linebacker Lane Clemenhagen also got a first-team nod for Kendrick.
The Tigers also had Wyatt Fitzmorris (LB) and Carson Hogan (OL) make the second team.
Bulldogs, Bengals and Eagles get some teams
Lewiston’s senior kicker, Alex Hernandez, a member of the second team in the 5A ranking.
Hernandez notched 22 touchbacks on 35 kickoff attempts in 2023. In the Bengals’ 42-26 win over Clarkston on Sept. 10, he had six kickoffs reach the back of the end zone.
Grangeville’s senior receiver Carter Mundt and junior offensive lineman Troy Benifield Jr. were also second-team honorees.
Lewis County’s only statewide runner, Gage Crow.
The Eagles running back totaled more than 2,000 yards and accounted for more of his team’s touchdowns in 2023.
Pixley may be contacted at (208) 848-2290, [email protected] or on Twitter @TreebTalks