North Valley players on all-state football unit

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2002-10-28

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North Valley players on all-state football unit Skyline Conference football champion North Valley claimed one second-team and five third-team spots on the Class 3A all-state list, which was released Wednesday. Knights senior offensive guard Travis Wheeler is the Skyline's highest representative, earning a second-team offense nod. Colin Beard, a senior running back/defensive back who was the Skyline offensive player of the year, got third-team honors both ways for North Valley. Senior wide receiver Cole Parmelee and senior center Brenden McLean of the Knights are third-team offense picks. Henley senior tight end Morgan Grohs also received third-team recognition. North Valley senior linebacker Ross Kudlac and Beard are the lone Skyline defensive players to be named to one of the all-state squads, each being placed on the third team. Skyline athletes given honorable mention are: Henley senior quarterback Frank Gauntz, North Valley senior tight end Derek Wright, Rogue River senior kicker Fred Perryman, North Valley senior defensive lineman Brian Neumann and North Valley senior defensive back Ken Hiler. Elsewhere around the state, Scappoose running back Eliot Vinzant and Pleasant Hill defensive tackle Dustin Holmes both were overshadowed by teammates last season, but they emerged to dominate their respective sides of the ball this year. Vinzant was named 3A offensive player of the year by the state's coaches, and Holmes won the honor on defense. Vinzant, a 6-foot, 193-pound senior, ran for 1,571 yards and 30 touchdowns to help Scappoose win its second straight state title and finish 13-0. He also had two receiving touchdowns and returned a punt, kickoff and interception for scores. Vinzant lost his starting position to injury last year, and watched as replacement Alan Iverson made first-team all-state. He got hurt again before this year's playoffs, breaking a finger, but he gained 240 yards and scored four touchdowns in a semifinal win over Junction City, and had 139 yards and three scores in a win over top-ranked Pleasant Hill in the championship game. Holmes, a 6-3, 260-pound senior, did not receive any honors in the Sky-Em League as a junior while playing next to all-state lineman Travis Tubbs. "This year I knew I had to play a dominant role," Holmes said. He finished this year with 21 solo tackles, 53 assists, nine sacks, five fumble recoveries and an interception. Holmes was among eight Pleasant Hill players picked to the first team, and one of three who made it on offense and defense. Holmes also made the first team as an offensive tackle. Junction City's Mark Henderson was named 3A coach of the year after leading his team to an 11-2 record and the state semifinals.   Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.