Honors Announced

Local Players Rack Up Awards

Austin Allen, Fayetteville quarterback, looks downfield for an open receiver Saturday in the third quarter of the game against Bentonville at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Class 7A football state championship.
Austin Allen, Fayetteville quarterback, looks downfield for an open receiver Saturday in the third quarter of the game against Bentonville at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Class 7A football state championship.

Austin Allen left his mark on the 7A/6A-West.

Allen led his Fayetteville Bulldogs to two straight state championships, becoming the first quarterback in conference history to win consecutive state titles.

“That's a long history of great quarterbacks,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “That's phenomenal.”

Allen was named the Outstanding Back of the conference as announced by conference coaches on Tuesday.

Bentonville linebacker Garrett Kaufman was elected the Outstanding Lineman of the conference.

Kaufman and Allen are automatically eligible to play in the Arkansas Coaches Association All-Star football game in June.

Allen passed for 3,565 yards and 29 touchdowns against just five interceptions this season in leading the Bulldogs to the state title. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes with 228 completions in 362 attempts.

He was named state championship game Most Valuable Player after leading the team to back-to-back titles.

For his career, his completed 511 of 811 passes for 7,813 yards and 77 touchdowns. His yardage ranks fourth all-time in the conference, but first for two-year starters. His touchdowns rank third all-time, but also first for two-year starters.

“He's had two phenomenal seasons on the field throwing the football, running the football and leading the team,” Patton said. “Off the field, I've seen him grow up, mature and become a young man. He's got a big future ahead of him.”

Maybe the most impressive part of Allen's career is following in the shoes of big brother Brandon, who threw for 10,092 yards and 98 touchdowns in three seasons as the Bulldogs' quarterback.

“We talked about when he first came in as the starting quarterback was just being himself and not being another Brandon Allen,” Patton said. “We just told him to trust his teammates and trust his abilities and be the best Austin Allen could be. Wow, being the best Austin Allen could be is pretty good.”

Kaufman was undoubtedly the best lineman in the conference, playing linebacker for two years for Bentonville while also playing running back at times and on special teams.

“It was voted on by the conference coaches so they obviously recognized through-and-through his ability,” Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. “That's always a great award when the coaches in the league vote on him. It's a great honor, and he's very deserving. He's been a very special player for us for three years from his sophomore year.”

Kaufman played mostly on offense his sophomore year before working on defense his final two years although the Tigers still used him on offense at times.

“We fought over him to play offense because we in such need of running backs,” Lunney said. “We had to play him at running back the first year.”

After that, though, it was obvious his biggest contribution would be as a linebacker.

“He has great instincts,” Lunney said. “He has a wonderful awareness of where the ball is going. Offensively, he was very productive when we used him. He's one of the finest players that I've had the pleasure of coaching.”

For the season, Kaufman had 122 tackles, including 73 solos and eight for lost yardage, with three sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Last year, he had 129 tackles, including 87 solos with four tackles for lost yardage, with three sacks and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Joining Allen from Fayetteville on the all-state squad are linebackers Brooks Ellis and Brandyn Young, safety Alex Brignoni and place kicker Ryan Starr.

“Brooks Ellis, what else can you say?” Patton said. “He started as a sophomore and made plays. Brignoni's best football is probably ahead of him. He's a steal for the Razorbacks. He's a ballhawk in the secondary. He got a chance to play as well.”

Young's career is much different, though. He broke his leg as a sophomore so badly that he was expected to miss spring drills and even summer practices.

“He played for the 2010 team until he broke his femur,” Patton said. “He was in traction for most of three months. They told me he wouldn't be back for spring ball and that I'd be lucky to get him in the summer.”

Young, though, made it back much quicker that projected.

“He's such a strong worker and a tough, tough kid mentally that he was back the middle of April and went through spring practice,” Patton said. “He knows where he wants to go and how to get there.”

Young, who is the oldest of four brothers, is the president of the student body among other organizations. He's related to Brigham Young, where he wants to go to college and play football.

Young, Ellis and Brignoni combined for 25 of Fayetteville's 57 tackles in Saturday's 31-20 win against Bentonville.

Starr was selected kicking specialist for the conference. Starr converted 47 of 50 extra-point attempts this season, 12 of 15 field goals and had 26 touchbacks.

Joining Kaufman on the all-state team from Bentonville were running back Tearris Wallace, linebacker John Donald, defensive back Chris Mizelle, and safety Nate Gneiting.

Wallace rushed for 1,777 yards this season and 23 touchdowns. He finished his career with 4,689 yards and 67 touchdowns, tying De'Arrius Howard of West Memphis and Dedrick Poole of Little Rock Central for the most in the state's largest classification.

“He would have had it by a landslide if h would have played full games,” Lunney said. “For two years, he played about half the number of games; we pulled him. A whole bunch of games he didn't play but a half. I'm disappointed we didn't get him one more. He's a warrior. He's a great competitor.”

Tight end Nick Bryne, linebacker Payton Squires, and noseman Josh Frazier were named all-state from Springdale Har-Ber.

Bryne was Har-Ber's leading receiver with 44 catches for 715 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Receiver Forrest Johnson and junior quarterback Josh Qualls of Rogers Heritage were selected all-state.

They were a lethal duo for the War Eagles. Qualls completed 162 of 197 passes for 2,371 yards and 27 touchdowns. Johnson snared 72 passes for 1,396 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Deft option quarterback Nick Wary and offensive lineman Bryce Bray were picked all-state from Rogers.

Wary ran for 1,120 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing a game and parts of two others to injuries.

Senior linebacker Clay Patrick and junior running back Deandre Murray were voted all-state from Springdale High.

Murray rushed for 1,421 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a 356-yard, four-touchdown performance in Springdale's 41-40 win against Van Buren.

Scout Alexander provided most of Siloam Springs' offense this season. Alexander ran for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns, and caught 36 passes for 616 yards and two touchdowns.

“He was our real big-play threat this year,” Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross said. “He was short, but played real big. He had the most catches and receiving yards. We did a lot of things with him. He returned kickoffs for us as well. He had a real good year.”

Van Buren quarterback Jacon Eason was named all-state after passing for 1,712 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushing for 816 yards and 11 touchdowns.

7A/6A-WEST CONFERENCE

ALL-STATE

PLAYER SCHOOL POS. HT. WT. CLASS

Chris Mizelle Bentonville DB 5-8 155 SR

Nate Gneiting Bentonville S 6-1 170 SR

Tearris Wallace Bentonville RS 5-10 212 SR

Garrett Kaufman Bentonville LB 6-2 220 SR

John Donald Bentonville LB 5-11 200 SR

Austin Allen Fayetteville QB 6-2 210 SR

Brooks Ellis Fayetteville LB 6-3 220 SR

Alex Brignoni Fayetteville FS 6-1 200 SR

Brandyn Young Fayetteville LB 6-1 225 SR

Ryan Starr Fayetteville PK 6-1 165 SR

Nick Byrne Springdale Har-Ber TE 6-4 225 SR

Peyton Squires Springdale Har-Ber LB 6-2 210 SR

Josh Frazier Springdale Har-Ber NG 6-5 335 JR

Forrest Johnson Rogers Heritage WR 5-10 175 SR

Josh Qualls Rogers Heritage QB 6-0 175 JR

Nick Wary Rogers High QB 5-10 200 SR

Bryce Bray Rogers High OL 5-10 220 JR

Clay Patrick Springdale High LB 5-9 215 SR

Deandre Murray Springdale High RB 5-10 175 JR

Jacob Eason Van Buren QB 6-1 220 SR

Scout Alexander Siloam Springs RB 5-5 165 SR

ALL-CONFERENCE

PLAYER SCHOOL POS. HT. WT. CLASS

Austin Haggard Bentonville S 5-9 160 SR

Trey Perkins Bentonville WR 5-11 170 SR

Reece Dollins Bentonville QB 5-10 175 SR

Gavin Shadrick Bentonville DB 6-0 175 SR

Jimmy Short Bentonville LB 6-0 153 SR

Zach McBride Bentonville OL 6-1 260 SR

Justin Fair Bentonville DL 6-0 255 SR

Nick Fernandez Bentonville DL 6-2 199 JR

Jared Conover Bentonville DL 6-1 266 JR

Jack Kraus Bentonville TE 6-6 234 JR

Cole Harris Fayetteville WR 5-10 175 SR

Heath McCracken Fayetteville S 6-1 190 SR

Reese Fitchue Fayetteville DE 6-0 245 SR

Jared Thurman Fayetteville OL 5-11 280 SR

Giovanni Negrete Fayetteville DL 5-10 265 SR

Austin Hubble Fayetteville C 5-9 235 SR

Chase Carney Fayetteville OL 6-4 250 SR

Jordan Williams Fayetteville OL 6-3 250 SR

Jordan Dennis Fayetteville WR 6-1 175 JR

Tucker Lee Springdale Har-Ber TB 5-9 192 SR

Jerry Wood Springdale Har-Ber FS 5-11 170 SR

Blake Tucker Springdale Har-Ber DE 6-2 224 SR

Mason Herndon Springdale Har-Ber LB 6-0 220 SR

Jake Hall Springdale Har-Ber DE 6-5 230 JR

Holden Thomas Springdale Har-Ber CB 5-7 145 JR

Isaac Johnson Springdale Har-Ber OL 6-6 270 JR

Gus Vitt Springdale Har-Ber WR 6-0 160 JR

Richard Banegas Rogers Heritage OL 5-7 231 SR

Utah Julius Rogers Heritage LB 5-9 158 SR

Brandon Gates Rogers Heritage RB 5-10 185 JR

Brandon White Rogers Heritage LB 5-8 164 JR

Forrest Ward Rogers Heritage LB 6-0 175 JR

Daniel Spickes Rogers Heritage DB 5-10 150 JR

Jeremy Spickes Rogers Heritage WR 6-0 163 JR

Colby Isbell Rogers Heritage DL 6-1 230 JR

Chase Lamers Rogers DB 6-1 152 SR

Brandon Uhrig Rogers LB 5-8 160 SR

Jordan Wiggins Rogers LB 5-8 199 SR

Drew King Rogers OL 5-9 207 SR

Alex McClung Rogers DL 6-1 195 JR

Ty Galyean Rogers RB 5-10 170 JR

Jay Patrick Springdale High DL 5-9 215 SR

Wyatt Whatley Springdale High WR 5-7 144 SR

Joe Burlingame Springdale High OL 5-10 260 SR

Cua Rose Springdale High DB 5-10 167 JR

Edwin Espinoza Springdale High OL 6-0 280 JR

Wayce Conner Van Buren WR 6-0 180 SR

Chris Baldwin Van Buren LB 5-11 195 SR

Tyrone Joseph Van Buren LB 5-9 206 JR

Austin Van Poucke Siloam Springs QB 6-1 190 SR

Bronson Tucker Siloam Springs WR 6-0 170 SR

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