Roseburg football lands four players on All-Special District 4 first team
The Roseburg football team capped off a winning season with 11 Class 5A Special District 4 all-conference selections, including four players who earned first-team recognition when the selections were announced this week.
Seniors AJ Baker, Kaden Austin, Kaden Luther and Noah Nelson were all named first-team All-SD4. Baker (guard) and Austin (receiver) were selected on the offensive side, while Luther (lineman) and Nelson (back) were chosen on the defensive side.
Austin was Roseburg’s leading receiver with 451 yards and four touchdowns on 19 receptions. He also added three touchdowns and 384 yards on the ground.
Luther was a force on the defensive line with three sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and 27 tackles. Nelson had four pass breakups and one interception to lead the Indians in the secondary.
Roseburg was one of the top rushing teams in the league, running for an average of 211 yards per game behind a strong offensive line. That earned seniors Jack Banta and Carson Tyler second-team honors.
The Indians ranked fourth in the league in scoring defense and earned a total of seven all-conference selections.
Senior linebacker Tyler Rietmann was a second-team selection after leading the Indians in tackles (55.5).
Fellow seniors Bracen Parker (lineman), Byron Irvin (back) and Jacob Michael (punter) all received honorable mention along with junior Drea Burwell (linebacker). Parker was fourth on the team in tackles (29.5). Irvin was second in tackles (40.5) and had two fumble recoveries.
Michael averaged over 36 net yards per punt and Burwell had an interception and 27.5 tackles. Burwell will be the only player eligible to return next season for the Indians.
Class 5A Special District 4
Football All-Conference
Offensive Player of the Year — Ceville Pasi, sr., Churchill.
Defensive Player of the Year — Lukas Babbitt, sr., Churchill.
Coach of the Year — Layne Coffin, Churchill.
OFFENSE
First Team
CENTER — Xander Mafoti, jr., Churchill. GUARDS — Tyler Howe, soph., Churchill; AJ Baker, sr., Roseburg. TACKLES — Travis Ege, jr., Crater; Kellen Hooker, sr., Churchill. TIGHT END — Charlie Dexter, jr., Churchill. RECEIVERS — Matthew Newell, jr., Thurston; TaeSean Tarusan, jr., North Eugene; Finn Lessner, sr., Springfield; Kaden Austin, sr., Roseburg. RUNNING BACKS — Ceville Pasi, sr., Churchill; Valentin Rodriguez, sr., Crater; D’Mariyae Ireland, soph., North Eugene. QUARTERBACK — Noah Blair, sr., Thurston. KICKER — Noah Zanotto, sr., Thurston.
Second Team
CENTER — Jordan Barr, jr., Thurston. GUARDS — Justin DiTorrice, sr., North Eugene; Jack Banta, sr., Roseburg. TACKLES — Carson Tyler, sr., Roseburg; Gabe Walker, sr., Willamette. TIGHT END — Ryan Roser, sr., Thurston. RECEIVERS — David Macdonald, sr., Thurston; Kyle Petty, sr., Crater; Mackai Adams, sr., Willamette; Tyson Rather, sr., Willamette. RUNNING BACKS — Lukas Babbitt, jr., Churchill; Peyton Smith, sr., Eagle Point; Maveryck Akers, jr., Willamette. QUARTERBACKS — Lucas Gansen, jr., Churchill; Noah Solo, jr., Springfield. KICKERS — Charlie Dexter, jr., Churchill; Cole Newton, sr., Willamette.
Honorable Mention
CENTER — Giovanni Gonzales, sr., Crater; Mayson Brooks, sr., Willamette. GUARDS — Jakobi Cole, sr., Crater; Braysun Puha, sr., North Eugene; Peighton Rofinot, sr., Thurston; Kai Brusasco, jr., Springfield; Cooper Collier, soph., Springfield; Julien Kennedy, soph., Churchill. TACKLES — Jamison Heatherly, jr., North Eugene; Ethan Vang, jr., Churchill; Logan Brown, sr., Eagle Point. TIGHT END — Hunter Verstegen, jr., Crater. RECEIVERS — Isaiah Francis, sr., South Eugene; Aidan Hibler, jr., North Eugene. RUNNING BACKS — Clay Rhoades, sr., Springfield; Justin Fisher, jr., Thurston. QUARTERBACKS — Brody Gilliam, soph., North Eugene; Tre People, sr., Willamette; Ben Higginson, sr., Crater. KICKERS — Jonathan Morgan, sr., North Eugene; Brady Lo’sier, jr., Springfield.
DEFENSE
First Team
LINEMEN — Caleb Jones, jr., Thurston; Justin DiTorrice, sr., North Eugene; Charlie Dexter, jr., Churchill; Kaden Luther, sr., Roseburg. LINEBACKERS — Cruz Gray, jr., Thurston; Lukas Babbitt, jr., Churchill; Ben Kluth, jr., Churchill; Dylan Freeman, sr., Willamette. BACKS — Tristen Collins, sr., Thurston; Aiden Pangelinan, sr., Churchill; TJ Wright, jr., Churchill; Noah Nelson, sr., Roseburg. PUNTER — Ben Higginson, sr., Crater.
Second Team
LINEMEN — Kymani Williams, sr., South Eugene; Hunter Verstegen, sr., Crater; Kingsli Roberts, sr., Churchill; Tony Cumberland, jr., Willamette. LINEBACKERS — Payton Ferriera, jr., Thurston; Ceville Pasi, jr., Churchill; Carter Beebe, sr., Springfield; Tyler Rietmann, sr., Roseburg. BACKS — Riley Foxx, sr., Thurston; Jaevon Spencer, sr., Springfield; Grady Kik-Down, sr., North Eugene; Brody Robinson, sr., Willamette. PUNTER — Kyle Miller, sr., Thurston.
Honorable Mention
LINEMEN — Kadin Anthony, jr., Eagle Point; Tim Dreiling, sr., Thurston; Ryder Nagel, fr., Churchill; Bracen Parker, sr., Roseburg. LINEBACKERS — Peyton Smith, sr., Eagle Point; Brayden Singery, jr., Crater; Riley Whitwood, jr., North Eugene; Kaden Anderson, sr., Willamette; Drea Burwell, jr., Roseburg. BACKS — Kyle Miller, sr., Thurston; Terrius Allen, jr., Crater; Byron Irvin, sr., Roseburg; Tyson Rather, sr., Willamette. PUNTER — Blake Mikel, soph., Churchill; Jacob Michael, sr., Roseburg; Cole Newton, sr., Willamette.
