ALL-AREA
FOOTBALL
Large schools
O F F E N S E
FB
Leaves Metamora as all-time leading rusher and with a pair of state-
championship appearances, including a ring this season. The exciting
and rugged runner, a two-time all-area pick also excelled in running
out fakes and proved a crucial blocker in the run-first offense.
Numbers: 1,984 rushing yards, 29 TDs in 13 games; 4,066 rush yds., 58
AARON TDs in two seasons. Can’t live without: My Jeep. Did you know? Is one
PETERS badge away from being an Eagle Scout. Honors: All-state first team with
IHSFCA; honorable mention with Champaign News-Gazette. College plans:
METAMORA Interest from St. Ambrose and Illinois College; study physcial therapy.
6-0, 195 / SR. Coach Pat Ryan: “He got good at so many facets of his game. And he
worked so hard at it.”
OL
Smart and savvy, filled admirably
the big shoes left by all-area
guards who vacated that spot.
Also stepped in and excelled on
defensive line late in the season,
IAN a rarity for top-shelf Redbirds
ZIRCHER O-linemen.
Numbers: Helped Redbirds rush
METAMORA for 4,969 yards (7.5 ypc) — among
6-1, 225 / SR. the most ever statewide. Can’t
live without: My rocking chair. Did
you know? Ian’s grandfather, Jeff,
is the former mayor of Bartonville.
Dream job: ESPN analyst. Honors:
Academic all-state with IHSFCA.
College plans: Attend University
of Illinois and major in industrial
engineering.
Coach Pat Ryan: “We had two
great guards. ... Ian was a very con-
fident and vocal offensive lineman
who played bigger than his size.”
OL
Cerebral and smart, this two-year
starter anchored a Knights line
that controlled most opponents.
His preparation and leadership
helped a young and inexperienced
JORDAN line grow into one that played in a
SNIDER state semifinal.
Numbers: Helped Knights roll up
RICHWOODS 358.3 yds. per game. Best player
6-2, 230 / JR. you’ve faced: Teammate DL Myles
Davis. Dream job: Personal trainer.
Least favorite food: I like all food.
Biggest fear: Spiders. Favorite
movie: Friday Night Lights. If not
playing football: I’d be lifting
weights all the time.
Coach Roland Brown: “Very
solid. Every time we watched film,
we could never find anything for
him to improve upon.”
OL
Smart three-year starter
teamed with Mitchell Brown
to patrol a linebacking crew
that was consistent as it was
GRANT controlling. Also a first-team all-
conference offensive tackle.
DINGLEDINE Numbers: 36 tackles, 4 for loss;
part of O-line that blocked for
WASHINGTON
offense that gained 368.7 per
6-0, 235 / SR. game. Least favorite food: Brussel
sprouts (Who in their right mind
would like them?) If not playing
football .. : I’d be working way too
much. Honors: Academic all-state
with IHSFCA. College plans: Study
electrical engineering at Illinois or
Wisconsin; might play football at
Washington University in St. Louis.
Coach Darrell Crouch: “Very
smart player. He was a nice physi-
cal presence from the first time he
played for us.”
WR
Natural athlete with uncanny
body control and big-play ability.
Matches that ability with hard
work surpassed by few. Several
PETER times he made what amounted to
game-winning catch as the Eagles
SORENSON rebounded to win their final five
games and clinch an eighth playoff
DUNLAP
appearance in nine seasons.
6-3, 175 / JR. Numbers: 35 catches, 504 yards,
4 TDs. Can’t live without ...: My
laptop. Who motivates you? My
father, Jeff. Best player you’ve
faced: Colton Underwood Did you
know? Maternal grandfather is
former Peoria High and Illinois
standout Hiles Stout. Biggest
fear? Darkness. Honors: Academic
all-state with IHSFCA.
Coach Brett Cazalet: “Heck of a
talent. So long, such great hands
and is deceptively fast ... Guys like
him are few and far between.”
TE
Moved strictly to offense after a
shoulder injury nearly forced him
to not play at all. Instead, the
two-time all-area pick became
arguably the top run blocker for a
PETER team built for mashing. Big-play
CUNNINGHAM ability at receiver ascended him
to among the area elite.
RICHWOODS Numbers: 20 catches, 412
6-2, 210 / SR. yds., 8 TDs (20.6 ypc); combined
11 catches, 177 yds., 2 TDs in
playoffs. Favorite musician: Lil’
Wayne Dream job: Shortstop for
St. Louis Cardinals. Least favorite
food: Deviled eggs. Did you know?
Also an all-area baseball player.
College plans: Attend Quincy
University to play baseball.
Coach Roland Brown: “I think he
loved blocking more than catching
passes ... but when he did make a
catch, it was a big one.”
OL
One of few bright spots for win-
less Canton team. Massive, but
also very skilled, the Division I
prospect showed great character
and leadership ability in the face
HUNTER of on-field adversity.
WELLS Numbers: Played both tackle
spots and defensive line; named
CANTON offseason captain for Little Giants.
6-6, 275 / JR. Best player faced: Colton Under-
wood. Favorite TV show: Friday
Night Lights. Biggest fear: Getting
hurt and never playing football
again. Can’t live without: XBox 360
College plans: Talking to Olivet
Nazarene, but expect D-I programs
to come calling soon enough.
Coach Justin Miller: “His size
attracts a lot of attention, but
his has the tools to back that up.
... He’s just a dominant football
player.”
OL
Nicknamed, “Pudge,” this
dominant two-way lineman has
started every game, both ways
since Week 2 freshman year.
Moved seamlessly from tackle
RYAN to center this season and has
RICKETTS garnered Division I attention.
If not playing football: I’d be
GALESBURG hunting. Can’t live without: My
6-4, 280 / JR. guitar. Favorite musician: Trace
Adkins. Who motivates you? My
siblings: Zach, Kelly and Matt. Col-
lege plans: Made unofficial visits
to Northern Illinois, Wisconsin,
Northwestern and Western Illinois.
Ball State visit is upcoming.
Coach Wes Olson: “He plays with
a low pad level and has good
hip and ankle flexibility. ... he
plays with the skill of a smaller
lineman and that makes him a
good one.”
QB
Missed three games, but battled
back from ankle injury and a
concussion to help Redbirds
to a second state title in three
seasons. Confident and calm, his
MICHAEL semifinal and title-game perfor-
FAY mances are instant classics.
Numbers: 1,036 rush yds., 21
METAMORA TDs; 28-for-54, 489 yds, 4 TDs in
6-2, 190 / JR. parts of 11 games; accounted for
452 yards and 9 TDs in final two
playoff games. Dream job: Myth
Busters. Favorite movie: Shooter.
Biggest fear: Snakes. If not
playing football: I’d be lazier than
I am now. Next: Track athlete and
preparing for a senior season filled
with high expectations.
Coach Pat Ryan: “When he got
healthy, we finally saw what we can
get from him ... The last two weeks,
he was near flawless.”
RB
Quietly productive, this elusive
tailback provided a perfect com-
plement to bruising FB and POY
Colton Underwood. Great hands
also made this “glider” — as coach
JUSTIN Darrell Crouch called him — a solid
RILEY receiving threat in balanced and
diversified Panthers offense.
WASHINGTON Numbers: 1,017 rush yds., 15
5-9, 160 / SR. TDs on 149 carries; 13 catches,
155 yds., 5 TDs. School record-
holder in career points (218).
Favorite movie: Coach Carter.
Least favorite food: I like it all.
Who motivates you? Parents, Tim
and Laura Riley. College plans:
Attend ICC or Illinois State to study
business.
Coach Darrell Crouch: “In my
eyes, he’d always been a great
athlete, but not at that elite level
until this year.”
WR
Versatile and athletic quarterback
stepped to the side late in the
season, lining up at tailback and
receiver during the Knights push to
MIKE the 5A semifinals. He shined in all
spots, buoyed by a calm demeanor
DAVIS and a knack for leadership.
Numbers: 737 rush yds., 11 TDs;
RICHWOODS 26-for-54, 551 yds., 10 TDs, 2 INTs.
6-5, 185 / SR. Caught 44-yd. TD pass in upset of
top-ranked Springfield Sacred Heart-
Griffin. Honors: All-state with IHSFCA;
honorable mention Champaign
News-Gazette. know? Father, Did
you know? Father, Mike Sr., was a LB
for Middle Tennessee State. College
plans: Interest from Illinois State,
Northern Illinois and Georgia State.
Coach Roland Brown: “When
his role diminished, he didn’t let
it affect the way he approached
leading this team.”