By Becky Walz,
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Ten area football players have been recognized by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association and the Iowa Football Coaches Association and named to the 2021 all-state football teams.
Decorah has five athletes named to the all-state teams, while Turkey Valley has four and South Winn has one.
Vikings
On first team as a linebacker for the Vikings is Keenan Tyler with 54.5 total tackles with 40 solo stops to lead Decorah defensively. The senior also had 7.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Defensive back Jacob Pipho was named to the second team, as was Noah Storts as a utility player.
Pipho was all over the field, finishing the season with 24.5 total tackles with 21 solo tackles. He also had a trio of interceptions for Decorah.
Storts was fourth on the Viking squad in total stops with 39.5, including 31 solo tackles and 17.5 tackles for a loss on defense. On offense, the senior had 39 receptions for 435 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per catch.
Named to the third team was Joe Bockman, a wide receiver for the Vikings, and Joe Hjelle on defensive lineman.
Bockman was second in receiving yards for Decorah with 473, averaging 10.1 yards per catch. The senior also scored four touchdowns and carried the ball 16 times for 47 yards.
As a team, the Viking defense had 508.5 total tackles, of which Hjelle had 50.0 to be second in that category. The senior defensive line had 38 solo stops and 16.5 tackles for a loss.
Trojans
Four Turkey Valley gridders also received all-state nods, led by first team selections Marcus Herold and Collin Kleppe. Senior Dylan Reicks was named to the second team, while junior Noah Hanson earned a third team honor.
Moving the pigskin an average 6.8 yards per carry as one of the Trojans’ running backs/full backs, Herold rolled up 1,171 yards rushing and scored 24 touchdowns. He also had 13 receptions for 164 yards.
Senior offensive lineman Kleppe aided the effort for Turkey Valley to move the ball. The Trojan offense tallied 2,679 yards rushing and an additional 806 passing yards during the 2021 season.
Reicks was named as the utility player on the second team after pulling down 12 receptions for 224 yards and rushing for 426 in 59 carries. The senior also led the Trojans in total tackles with 55.5 with 32 solo stops.
Shouldering much of the return duties throughout the season, Hanson earned a third team nod. The junior had 13 returns for 335, averaging 25.8 yards per touch. He also had 10 punt returns for another 237 yards.
One Warrior
South Winn senior Ethan Timp was the lone Warrior named to an all-state team. Playing the offensive line, Timp was named to the second team after helping South Winn garner 1,629 rushing yards and 211 passing yards.
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