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All-Metro football first team offense

QB: Dillon Duff, senior, De Smet

Helped guide De Smet to third state championship and first since 2019. Kansas State signee finished season with 2,735 yards passing and 26 touchdowns and 666 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Threw for 4,938 yards, rushed for 1,370 and accounted for 60 TDs in four-year career. Had 191 total yards of offense and three TDs in the Class 6 state championship game against Nixa.

RB: Dierre Hill Jr., senior, Althoff

All-Metro offensive player of the year and Oregon signee rushed for an area-high 2,588 yards on 156 carries and accounted 51 touchdowns, 43 coming on the ground, this season. Had 518 total yards and seven rushing touchdowns in victory over Lena-Winslow in Class 1A state championship game. In two years, he piled up 4,376 rushing yards for the Crusaders.

RB: Austin Haas, senior, Warrenton

Workhorse in backfield as Warriors went 12-1 and reached Class 4 state semifinals. Rushed 295 times for 2,471 yards and 30 touchdowns. Also had 11 receptions for 233 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Rushed for career-high 268 yards in the district title victory over Hannibal. GAC Central player of the year rushed for 5,557 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns in four seasons.

RB: Jamarion Parker, senior, Cardinal Ritter

University of Nebraska signee rushed for 1,702 yards and 21 touchdowns on 168 carries as Lions advanced to Class 5 quarterfinals. Accounted for 4,013 yards of offense and 55 touchdowns in his career, including unbeaten Class 5 state championship in 2023. Had a season-high 261 rushing yards in nonconference victory against Bishop Miege midway through October.

WR: Robby Preckel, senior, Lafayette

Northwestern signee did a little bit of everything to help Lancers finish 12-2 and reach Class 5 semifinals. Led team with 1,395 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 88 receptions. Also was second on team with 182 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 45 rushes. First area player to post successive seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards since turn of the century.

WR: DJ Miller, senior, Cardinal Ritter

Signed with University of Kentucky, Miller was the top target in the Lions' offense and caught 71 passes for 1,032 yards and seven touchdowns. He popped off for 207 yards on five receptions in a regular-season victory over Francis Howell. In two years at Cardinal Ritter, including last season's Class 5 championship campaign, Miller had 2,393 yards and 31 touchdowns.

WR: Trey Bass, senior, Lutheran North

Helped Lutheran North to first state championship since 2019 with 942 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 48 receptions. Also rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. Popped off for 190 receiving yards and four touchdowns in Class 4 state championship game victory. Recently announced commitment to Sacramento State.

WR: Larry Robinson, senior, Kirkwood

Signed with Indiana State. Helped Pioneers to first state semifinal appearance since 2016. Led team with 982 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 53 receptions. Had a career-high 158 receiving yards on seven receptions against Fort Zumwalt West in season opener. An all-state selection for the Pioneers, he collected 1,761 receiving yards in four years and totaled 18 touchdowns.

TE: Gabe Cunningham, senior, Holt

Signed with North Dakota State. Caught 20 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns and opened season with three consecutive games of 60 or more yards receiving. A Class 4 first team all-state selection. Had a season-high 79 receiving yards and one touchdown against Orchard Farm. In three seasons, totaled 1,182 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.

OL: Jack Lange, senior, Eureka

A 6-foot-8 and 300-pound tackle, Lange was one of the top recruits in the state and signed with the University of Missouri. Helped pave the road to an undefeated regular season for the Wildcats, who had 2,406 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Named offensive lineman of the year in Suburban Conference Yellow Pool.

OL: Jonathan Rulo, junior, Belleville East

One of the top wrestlers in the area, the 6-foot-2 and 285-pound Rulo showed that mean streak on the line in leveling the way for an offense that averaged nearly 27 points a game. Behind him the rushing attack gained 1,466 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns while punching its ticket to the playoffs for the third successive season. Standout on both sides of the line.

OL: Elijah Knowles, sophomore, Lutheran North

The 6-foot-2 and 270-pound all-stater helped the Crusaders roll to the Class 4 state championship (the program's first since 2019) by winning their final 13 games of the season. Knowles and the line led the way as a the team scored 686 points and amassed 5,756 yards of offense, including 3,376 came on the ground.

OL: John Kruse, senior, SLUH

A 6-foot-3 and 280-pound center, Kruse was a first team all-Metro Catholic Conference selection and earned Class 6 all-state third team honors after helping the Junior Billikens to seven victories and a district runner-up finish.

OL: Hudson Brewer, senior, De Smet

Signed with Southeast Missouri State and a first team all-state selection, the 6-foot-3 and 285-pounder played center and guard while helping the Spartans win the Class 6 state championship. De Smet's offense gained 5,801 yards and averaged nearly 35 points a game. 

All-Metro football first team defense

DL: Quincy Byas, senior, De Smet

The All-Metro defensive player of the year logged an area-high 19 quarterback sacks for Class 6 state champions. Eastern Michigan signee had 86 tackles and recovered three fumbles while picking off one pass. Had four sacks and six tackles in win at Class 4 runner-up Festus. Logged eight tackles and had a key fumble recovery in the state championship game against Nixa.

DL: Ke'Andre McClendon, senior, East St. Louis

Helped lead ferocious defense that carried Flyers to 11th state championship. Lindenwood signee led team with 138 tackles and had 11 sacks. Flyers held opponents to eight points a game, including six shutouts on the season. In the quarterfinal win at Chatham Glenwood, McClendon recorded a season-high 18 tackles and had two sacks.

DL: Titan Davis, junior, De Smet

Helped the Spartans to the Class 6 state championship. The 6-foot-7 and 300-pound lineman registered nine sacks and totaled 46 tackles. Matched up against Nixa standout Jackson Cantwell in Class 6 state title game, Davis had four tackles. Recorded two sacks in conference victory against Chaminade.

DL: Jason Dowell, senior, Althoff

University of Missouri signee helped lead Althoff to a 14-0 record and Class 1A state championship. Dowell registered 86 tackles and a team-high 10 sacks and 14 tackles for losses. Recorded eight tackles and three sacks in regular-season victory against Belleville East, a Class 8A playoff qualifier. A state champion wrestler in the heavyweight division as a junior.

DL: Iose Epenesa, senior, Edwardsville

The No. 1 recruit in the state of Illinois and University of Iowa signee racked up seven sacks while making 47 tackles as Tigers finished second in Southwestern Conference and reached Class 8A playoffs. Also had 11 tackles for losses. In a conference showdown against East St. Louis, had seven tackles and two sacks. Also scored a touchdown on offense.

LB: Elmo Gilliam Jr., senior, East St. Louis

Main man in the middle of a defense that recorded six shutouts and limited teams to just eight points a game on way to Class 6A state championship. Collected 119 tackles and tallied five sacks. In a Southwestern Conference contest against O'Fallon, Gilliam made a season-high 13 tackles, 10 of them solo.

LB: Mason Schirmer, senior, Festus

Committed to the University of Missouri to play baseball, Schirmer was just as productive on the gridiron to help Tigers to a Class 4 runner-up finish. He had a team-high 142 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions. Also rushed for 202 yards and six touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball.

LB: Carson Lindquist, senior, Kirkwood

Defensive leader for the Pioneers, who won 10 games and reached Class 6 state semifinals for first time since 2016. Posted a team-high 114 tackles with five sacks and one fumble recovery. He also had 14 tackles for loss for a defense that only allowed 18 points a game. Class 6 all-state first team selection.

LB: Semaj Flowers, senior, Hazelwood East

A behemoth for the Spartans' defense in both pass and run defense. Logged a team-high 106 tackles, nine sacks and eight interceptions. He also had 14 tackles for losses and three fumble recoveries as East returned to the district title game. In season opener, posted 17 tackles and one interception against Hazelwood West.

DB: Karvon Jefferson, senior, Lutheran North

A first-team All-Metro selection as a linebacker last season, the Ball State signee shifted to the back end of the defense and still shined. All-state selection had three interceptions as Crusaders won Class 4 state championship. Recorded 109 tackles and one sack. In 50-48 victory at Cardinal Ritter to close regular season, he tallied a season-high 18 tackles and one interception.

DB: Charles Bass, senior, East St. Louis

University of Missouri signee locked down opposing No. 1 receivers throughout the season as Flyers shut out six opponents on way to Class 6A state championship. Bass recorded 102 tackles, including season-high 10 in quarterfinal victory on the road against Chatham Glenwood, and one interception. 

DB: Griffen Becker, senior Breese Central

Helped Cougars win first 11 games before falling in Class 4A quarterfinals. Registered 73 tackles and made four interceptions to go along with one fumble recovery. In a conference victory over Roxana, he posted a season-high 15 tackles. Was also a threat on offensive side of ball with 853 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. 

DB: Greg Hollis, sophomore, St. Mary’s

Tied for area lead for interceptions with eight, making two in four different games including a first-round district victory against Mehlville. Was a stalwart on Dragons defense with 77 tackles and three fumble recoveries. Scored two touchdowns on interception returns and also was main kicker for the Dragons, making four field goals and 23 extra points.

All-Metro football first team utility, specialists

UT: Brian Gould, senior, MICDS

Helped guide Rams to a Class 5 state semifinal appearance by thriving in a variety of ways. Passed for 839 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also caught 20 passes for 346 yards. Defensively, made 59 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions. Punted 22 times for a 40.1-yard average. Heading to Army to play baseball.

UT: Mike Clark, junior, Lutheran North

Explosive returner for the Class 4 state champions. The 5-foot-8 dynamo scored 16 touchdowns, 12 receiving and four on returns. Clark had 812 receiving yards, 465 kickoff return yards, 106 punt return yards and 77 rushing yards. He also made 40 tackles and seven interceptions on defense.

UT: Christopher Bennett, senior, East St. Louis

Signed to play for Lindenwood. Registered three rushing touchdowns and seven receiving touchdowns while amassing 753 yards of total offense for the Class 6A state champion Flyers. He scored a touchdown on an 84-yard kickoff return in the state title game against Geneva. Also had 187 yards on eight punt returns. In four years, he rolled up 4,121 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns.

UT: Nick McClellan, junior, CBC

A dual-threat at quarterback position, McClellan helped CBC to nine wins. The junior quarterback threw for 2,062 yards and 22 touchdowns to only one interception. He had a team-high 891 rushing yards on 79 attempts and scored 12 times. Had his best game against Peoria Notre Dame, throwing for 338 yards and rushing for 118 yards while scoring seven touchdowns.

P: Tucker Dias, Brentwood-Clayton

Helped co-op team to five victories by averaging an area-leading 46.82 yards per punt on 33 attempts. He also booted 18 extra points and averaged 44.8 yards on 41 kickoffs. Named the Suburban Conference Blue Pool's kicker of the year a second-team Class 4 all-state selection.

K: Malik Orsan, MICDS

Helped Rams advance to the Class 5 state semifinals. He made eight field goals, including a 53-yarder in a loss to De Smet. Also connected on a 44-yard field goal in a victory against Lutheran South. Orsan made 50 extra points and averaged 57.5 yards on 78 kicks.