Longhorns, Sugarbeeters earn Northern C accolades

It was a special season for high school football, all the way around Montana. And the Northern C was certainly special, as well.

The Northern C, of 8-Man football, is arguably the toughest and deepest division in all of the Class C every year, and with five playoff teams, and two semifinalists, 2020 was no different.

The individual talent in the Northern C was special again this season, as well, with Hi-Line teams contributing to that rich talent pool. And that's why the Northern C All-Conference Team was littered with area players.

Of course, Fort Benton, which reached the Class C semifinals for the second straight year, had a huge season and that was reflected in all of the postseason accolades the Longhorns received. Fort Benton had seven Class C All-State selections, with Brock Hanford, Hayden Axtman, Hayden Diekhans, Jace Thompson, Tim Lane and William Ullery all making the list. All seven Longhorns earned All-Conference honors, as well, along with Andrew Ballantyne and Colter Ball. Jory Thompson was also named Coach of the Year in the Northern C.

Chinook had several All-Conference selections, as well. Ethan MacLeod, Reese Elliot, Drake Berreth and Tyler Schoen earned All-Conference honors for the Sugarbeeters, while Chester-Joplin-Inverness' Lane Fischer was also honored.

Northern C 8-Man

All-State: Aiden McDaniel, Sr., Belt; Kaimen Evans, Sr., Belt; Teagan Jorgenson, Jr., Cascade; Brock Hanford, Jr., Fort Benton; Hayden Axtman, Sr., Fort Benton; Hayden Diekhans, Sr., Fort Benton; Jace Thompson, Sr., Fort Benton; Tim Lane, Jr., Fort Benton; William Ullery, Sr., Fort Benton; Aiden Torgerson, Jr., Shelby; Cameron Bursven, Jr., Shelby; Jackson Appley, Sr., Shelby; Rhett Reynolds, Jr., Shelby; Lane Hinderager, Sr., Simms; Michael Leach, Jr., Simms; Stephan Links Jr., Sr., Simms.

Northern C All-Conference

League A

Offense

First team all-conference: Brock Hanford, Jr., C, Fort Benton; River Hanson, Sr., OG, Cascade; Tim Lane, Jr., OG, Fort Benton; Aiden McDaniel, Sr., WR, Belt; Hayden Diekhans, Sr., TE, Fort Benton; Kaimen Evans, Sr., QB, Belt; Hayden Axtman, Sr., FB, Fort Benton; Jace Thompson, Sr., RB, Fort Benton.

Second team all-conference: Cole Hepfner, Jr., C, Belt; Jared Selander, Jr., OG, Choteau; Andrew Ballantyne, Jr., WR, Fort Benton; Kaden Shelton, Sr., TE, Cascade; William Ullery, Sr., QB, Fort Benton; Carter Morgan, Jr., FB, Choteau; Teagan Jorgensen, Jr., RB, Cascade.

Defense

First team all-conference: Hayden Diekhans, Sr., S, Fort Benton; Teagan Jorgenson, Jr., OLB/CB, Cascade; Jace Thompson, Sr., OLB/CB, Fort Benton; Colter Ball, Jr., ILB, Fort Benton; Kaimen Evans, Sr., ILB, Belt; Hayden Axtman, Sr., DL, Fort Benton; Brock Hanford, Jr., DL, Fort Benton; Tim Lane, Jr., DE, Fort Benton.

Second team all-conference: William Ullery, Sr., S, Fort Benton; Toney Daley, Sr., OLB/CB, Choteau; Andrew Ballantyne, Jr., OLB/CB, Fort Benton; Kaden Shelton, Sr., ILB, Cascade; Jared Selander, Jr., ILB, Choteau; Carter Morgan, Jr., DL, Choteau; Gabe Waters, Sr., DE, Cascade.

Honorable mention: Aiden McDaniel, Sr., S, Belt; Garrett Metrione, So., OLB/CB, Belt; River Hanson, Sr., DL, Cascade; Keaghn McDaniel, So., DE, Belt.

League B

Offense

First team all-conference: Jackson Appley, Sr., C, Shelby; Joryn Bunnell, So., OG, Shelby; Lane Hinderager, Sr., OG, Simms; Tabris Correa, Sr., WR, Shelby; Rhett Reynolds, Jr., TE, Shelby; Stephen Links Jr., Sr., QB, Simms; Aiden Torgerson, Jr., FB, Shelby Camerson Brusven, Jr., RB, Shelby, Cameron Brusven, Jr., P/K, Shelby.

Second team all-conference: Sam Michler, Sr., C, Simms; Ethan MacLeod, Sr., OG, Chinook; Caden Smerker, Sr., WR, Simms; Reese Elliot, Sr., TE, Chinook; Taylor Parsons, Jr., QB, Shelby; Michael Leach, Jr., RB, Simms.

Honorable mention: Carter McDowell, Jr., TE, Simms; Lane Fischer, Sr., RB, Chester-Joplin-Inverness.

Defense

First team all-conference: Caden Smerker, Sr., S, Simms; Tabris Correa, Sr., OLB/CB, Shelby; Stephen Links Jr., Sr., OLB,/CB, Simms; Cameron Brusven, Jr., ILB, Shelby; Michael Leach, Jr., ILB, Simms; Jackson Appley, Sr., DL, Shelby; Rhett Reynolds, Jr., DE, Shelby; Lane Hinderager, Sr., DE., Simms.

Second team all-conference: Trenton Emerson, So., S, Shelby; Drake Berreth, Jr., OLB/CB, Chinook; Bryce Lee, So., OLB,/CB, Shelby; Tyler Schoen, So., ILB, Chinook; Aiden Torgerson, Jr., ILB, Shelby; Jacob Remsh, Jr., DL, Simms; Ethan MaLeod, Sr., DE, Chinook.

Coach of the Year: Jory Thompson, Fort Benton.