Prep Football: Burke leads nine Roseburg players earning all-league honors
The Roseburg Indians football team had nine players honored in the All-League voting after notching a 4-5 overall record and finishing fifth in the Class 5A Special District 4.
Defensive back Paxton Burke headlined the Roseburg players honored. The senior received first team recognition after collecting eight interceptions this season, tied for the most in the state in 11-man football.
Roseburg’s offensive line had three seniors selected for the all-league second team. Center George Gibby, guard Peyton Sharpless-Tate and tackle Colby Batchelor helped the Indians run game average 173.1 yards per game, the fourth best mark for the program over the past 10 years. It was the first all-league honors for all three.
Batchelor also earned honorable mention honors as a defensive lineman. He was the only Roseburg player to earn two all-league honors. The senior made 31 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and had one fumble recovery.
Senior McLane Stedman received second team honors as a receiver after leading the team with 13 receptions for 316 yards. Stedman also led Roseburg in scoring with three receiving touchdowns, two kickoff return TDs, an interception return for a score and two 2-point conversions.
Linebacker Drea Burwell earned all-league honors for a second consecutive season. The senior was voted to the second team after recording 40 tackles, including five tackles for loss. Burwell received honorable mention honors as a junior.
Receiving honorable mention recognition for Roseburg were seniors Elijah Smith (running back) and Remy Huerta (place kicker) and junior Nick Ruiz (linebacker).
Thurston senior Justin Fisher was voted the league’s Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 986 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. Thurston senior Cruz Gray was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The linebacker led the Colts with 65 tackles, including six sacks.
Thurston head coach Justin Starck was voted the league’s Coach of the Year after guiding the Colts to their 8th league championship in nine seasons.
2025 Special District 4 All-League football
Offensive Player of the Year — Justin Fisher, sr., Thurston
Defensive Player of the Year — Cruz Gray, sr., Thurston
Coach of the Year — Justin Starck, Thurston
Offense
First Team
Centers — Jordan Barr, sr., Thurston; Xander Mafoti, sr., Churchill. Guards — Kai Brusasco, sr., Springfield; William McCluskey, sr., Thurston. Tackles — Travis Ege, sr., Crater; Jonathan Mills, sr., Thurston. Tight Ends — Charlie Dexter, sr., Churchill; Caleb Jones, sr., Thurston. Receivers — Bodie Bonar, jr., Thurston; TJ Wright, sr., Churchill; Aidan Hibler, jr., North Eugene; Julien Grant, sr., Crater. Running Backs — Lukas Babbitt, sr., Churchill; Noah Solo, sr., Springfield; Justin Fisher, sr., Thurston. Quarterback — Emmit Distefano, jr., Thurston. Place Kicker — Hunter Bagwell, sr., Thurston.
Second Team
Center — George Gibby, sr., Roseburg. Guards — Ethan Vang, sr., Churchill; Peyton Sharpless-Tate, sr., Roseburg. Tackles — Jamison Heatherly, sr., North Eugene; Colby Batchelor, sr., Roseburg. Tight End — Jackson Ingram, jr., South Eugene. Receivers — Solger Pescosolido, sr., North Eugene; Adam Hernandez, jr., Springfield; McLane Stedman, sr., Roseburg. Running Backs — Terrius Allen, sr., Crater; Riley Whitwood, sr., North Eugene; Henry Fausett, sr., South Eugene. Quarterback — Lucas Gansen, sr., Churchill. Place Kicker — Ben Warner, sr., Crater.
Honorable Mention
Centers — Reed McNurlin, sr., North Eugene; Dalton Cash, sr., Crater. Guards — Landon Cramer, jr., Thurston; Matthew Carter, sr., Thurston; Gavin Church, jr., North Eugene. Tackles — Parker Edwards, jr., Thurston; Julien Kennedy, jr., Churchill; Gavin Hanan, sr., Eagle Point; Coltrane Nelson, jr., Springfield. Tight End — Hunter Verstegen, sr., Crater. Receiver — Jackson Rich, jr., Springfield. Running Back — Elijah Smith, sr., Roseburg. Quarterback — D’Mariyae Ireland, jr., North Eugene. Place Kickers — Remy Huerta, sr., Roseburg; Charlie Dexter, sr., Churchill; Brady Lo’ser, sr., Springfield.
Defense
First Team
Linemen — Charlie Dexter, sr., Churchill; Leofatu Filipe, so., Thurston; Hunter Verstegen, sr., Crater; Jordan Barr, sr., Thurston. Linebackers — Cruz Gray, sr., Thurston; Caleb Jones, jr., Thurston; Lukas Babbit, jr., Churchill; Finnely Curington, so., Churchill. Defensive Backs — Mikey Johnson, sr., Churchill; D’Mariyae Ireland, jr., North Eugene; Quinn Piquette, so., Thurston; Paxton Burke, sr., Roseburg. Punter — Rylan Sharp, sr., Thurston.
Second Team
Linemen — Ryder Nagel, so., Churchill; Jantzen Godley, jr., Crater; Coltrane Nelson, jr., Springfield; Davion Macy, sr., North Eugene; Brody Curtis, sr., Thurston. Linebackers — Brayden Singrey, sr., Crater; Ethan Vang, sr., Churchill; Drea Burwell, sr., Roseburg; Henry Bock, sr., Springfield. Defensive Backs — Jaxson Godley, sr., Crater; Bentlee Davenport, so., Thurston; TJ Wright, sr., Churchill; Laiden Johnson, fr., Eagle Point. Punter — Colby Kasperek, jr., Springfield.
Honorable Mention
Linemen — Gobind Khalsa, sr., Crater; Colby Batchelor, sr., Roseburg; Travis Ege, sr., Crater; Eli Hamann, so., Eagle Point. Linebackers — Aiden Godley, jr., Crater; Noah Solo, sr., Springfield; Bodie Hough, jr., North Eugene; Khamani James, jr., Springfield; Camden Nosack, sr., Thurston; Nick Ruiz, jr., Roseburg; Ethan Metcalf, sr., Eagle Point. Defensive Backs — Isaiah Buck Lakotas, sr., Springfield; Elijah Herbert, sr., Springfield; Rocco Higbee, jr., South Eugene; Asa Krebs, sr., Churchill. Punters — Octavio Garcia, sr., Eagle Point; Josiah Corsini, jr., North Eugene; Blake Mikel, sr., Churchill.
