Gunnison’s undefeated finish at the top of the Western Slope League earned the Cowboys’ football team a significant chunk of the postseason awards.
Cowboys’ head coach Bob Howard was named the league’s Coach of the Year, while Liam Mortell was the Western League Lineman of the Year.
Seven Cowboys made the All-Western League first team, which was the most of any team in the league.
Olathe’s Trenton Jole won the league’s Back of the Year award, and Aspen’s John Heapy was the league’s Kicker of the Year.
Five Bayfield players made the league’s first team, and five more players were honorable mention: Clay Crawford, Colter McMenimen, Zane Phelps, Zane Westbrook and Wyatt Williams were named first team, while Blane Barnes, Aubrey Brown, Brady Fields, Mike Goodman and Kelton McCoy received honorable mention.
Crawford led the team with 68 tackles, while Westbrook finished with 63 tackles – eight of them for loss – and two fumble recoveries.
Barnes had four sacks.
Phelps paced the Wolverines’ running attack with 213 carries for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns.
McCoy took over the Wolverines’ starting quarterback position, completing 53 percent of his passes for 697 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions.
Goodman, Westbrook and Williams helped anchor the Wolverines’ offensive line.
BHS finished the season 5-4 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
heraldsport@durangoherald.com
All Western Slope League Football
FIRST TEAM
Ivan Arizaga, Grand Valley
David Balliczek, Gunnison
Max Bettle, Coal Ridge
Tommy Brew, Olathe
Taylor Carlson, Olathe
Chris Contrerez, Coal Ridge
Clay Crawford, Bayfield
Keenan Earley, Pagosa Springs
Ryan Fitzgerald, Aspen
Trenton Haggerty, Grand Valley
Leon Hernandez, Grand Valley
Mario Hightower, Olathe
Michael Howard, Gunnison
Tim Johnson, Basalt
Trenton Jole, Olathe
Jake Ledy, Basalt
Tyler Lynch, Olathe
Colter McMenimen, Bayfield
David McRee, Pagosa Springs
Jerimiah Miller, Pagosa Springs
Taylor Miller, Gunnison
Evan Morris, Aspen
Liam Mortell, Gunnison
Luke O’Callahan, Aspen
Ozwalldo Olmedo, Basalt
Zane Phelps, Bayfield
Trenton Piatt, Olathe
Marcos Quezada, Pagosa Springs
Tyler Scott, Grand Valley
Matt Souich, Aspen
Quinlan Travis, Gunnison
Jake Wallin, Gunnison
Collin Weaks, Grand Valley
Jared Weller, Coal Ridge
Zane Westbrook, Bayfield
Matt Williams, Basalt
Wyatt Williams, Bayfield
Brady Wilson, Gunnison
Henry Woodrow, Aspen
Creede Wylie, Pagosa Springs
Back of the Year: Trenton Jole, Olathe
Coach of the Year: Bob Howard, Gunnison
Kicker of the Year: John Heapy, Aspen
Lineman of the Year: Liam Mortell, Gunnison
HONORABLE MENTION
Blane Barnes, Bayfield
Aubry Brown, Bayfield
Connor Brown, Pagosa Springs
Santos Cornejo, Grand Valley
Brady Fields, Bayfield
Barrett Fuller, Gunnison
Mike Goodman, Bayfield
Rio Green, Olathe
Tayson Harris, Olathe
Brian Hegwood, Grand Valley
Jacob Hemstrom, Olathe
Alonso Hernandez, Pagosa Springs
Alec Herrera, Coal Ridge
Cody Hoffman, Basalt
Deanu Kamanawa, Grand Valley
Nick Koch, Gunnison
Felipe Martinez, Basalt
Kelton McCoy, Bayfield
Lane Meggison, Olathe
Dylan Miller, Gunnison
Alex Nakagawa, Basalt
Triston Niskanen, Aspen
Ian O’Banion, Gunnison
Tristan Olson, Grand Valley
Chris O’Neil
Tyler Percival, Gunnison
Jeremy Pierce, Olathe
Jerome Pizzelli, Coal Ridge
Alex Quintero, Olathe
JJ Ready, Aspen
Noah Schoenberger, Basalt
Dean Scott, Pagosa Springs
Preston Scott, Gunnison
Shea Strutz, Aspen
Tyler Tick, Aspen
Josue Vigil, Basalt
Matt Visio, Pagosa Springs
Aaron Walker, Coal Ridge
Cater Walsh, Pagosa Springs
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