Bout time Ewing and Turgeon got some pub...
Photo courtesy of Mitchell Daily Republic....
By Rich Winter
It's funny, in a way, as I pour over the ridiculously impressive list as nine Winner players were named first-team all-state in 11B football. While I scan over that list, I can't help but be drawn to the names Wyatt Ewing and Jordan Turgeon, who made the team as lineman for the undefeated Winner Warriors.
You look at the list of 11B All-staters in the recent publication in the Mitchell Daily Republic - http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/sports/4168344-winner-lands-nine-players-class-11b-all-state-team and the nine Winner kids, in a row, really hits you like a brick wall. It's impressive to pour over those stats and you see guys like Drew DeMers and Cameron Kuil and Jay Schroeder and my mouth just drops at the yards per carry from some of these guys.
Kuil - 13.9 yards per carry....DANG
Schroeder - 10 yards per carry, 9 TD's (goes from all-state guard to the best fullback in 11B, that's impressive.
Nice to see Drew DeMers on that list as QB, will be working on an Ultimate Warriors piece about him as we get close to basketball season.
* Of course Krockett Krowlikowski makes the list and he'll soon head off for South Dakota State where I'm looking forward to him becoming a bigger monster than he already is.
* Loved that Kayleb Brozik made the team as a DB, and will be looking to do something oh him...IF, he makes 170 for wrestling.
* Wrote something on Isaac Naasz a few weeks back and delighted to see him on the all-state team for a second consecutive season.
* Have written several times about Chase Kingsbury and his toughness on the basketball court that I'm looking forward to seeing in a few weeks. Some of the best sounding HITS I heard this fall, came as a result of Kingsbury just lighting someone up.
And through it all, this run of two consecutive seasons of perfection, the names Wyatt Ewing and Jordan Turgeon, rarely come up. All of those gaudy yards per carry totals are a direct result of the big-boys up front doing their job. All of those LB sacks and tackle numbers are a direct result of the Winner big boys getting a push up front, occupying bodies and letting the people behind them go to work.
Bout the only time anyone hollers about the offensive line is when they make a mistake, but I'm assuming you could ask Dan Aaker, despite all of these wonderful accomplishments by these nine seniors that just shredded their way into Winner sports immortality, that he'd say the strength of the football team started with the guys on the line.
So, Wyatt Ewing (who I can't wait to see play basketball this season...good feet, soft touch, will likely see more playing time this season) and Jordan Turnquist...Well done...You made everyone's job easier and you did it without seeing or seeking your name in the spotlight, and yet, at the end of this season, those two stand out on a loaded, Winner-heavy, All-state football team.
Jordan Turgeon, Wyatt Ewing and Tre Doren part of the boys up front that helped Winner to this perfect season.
Jordan Turgeon, senior tackle. Two-year starter on an offensive line that rushed for over 6,600 yards and scored over 1,200 points while going 24-0 during that period. "Jordan's been an anchor of our line the past two seasons," Aaker said. "He was an excellent run blocker who played hard every snap. Just a true pleasure to coach."
Wyatt Ewing, senior center. Two-year starter. "Wyatt has been a huge asset for us, not only for his play but his leadership and intelligence as well," Aaker said. "His ability to read/understand defenses and make the calls offensively kept everyone on the same page."
