Seniors Gockley, Ledall, Bell and May named team captains

By Russ Pankonin
The Imperial Republican
Captains of this year’s 2012 Longhorns football team all played key leadership roles in the success of this year’s squad.
Seniors Kale Gockley, Callin Ledall, Brian Bell and Michael May were named honorary captains of a team that went 6-4 and captured a first-round playoff victory for the first time since 2006.
Head Coach Dan Lenners said his captains played a key role in creating a team unity and purpose that he hasn’t seen for several years.
He said this year’s team really bought in to working hard during the off-season which paid off late in the season.
He said they also overcame the loss of several players for the season due to injury.
In addition to being named team captains, the four, along with junior Justus Wallin and sophomore Kelton Fisher, were named to the C1-9 all-district team.
Trey Milner, Dan Sullivan and Justin German earned honorable mention recognition on the all-district team.
The leadership of these all-district players also proved apparent in the season-ending stats for the Longhorns.
Milner lead the rushing attack for the Longhorns with 624 yards followed by Sullivan with 611 yards.
May led the receiving with 239 yards on 16 catches and three touchdowns.
At quarterback, Gockley completed 40 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
On defense, Wallin and Bell tallied the most tackles, with Jeff Dickey and Fisher close behind.
Gockley led the team in solo tackles with 23 followed by Fisher with 21. Bell led the team in sacks with three and forced three fumbles.
The Longhorns finished the season with a 6-4 record, bowing out in the second round of the state playoffs. Their loss came against Boone Central/Newman Grove, who played for the C1 title against Norfolk Catholic.
Season-ending stats and members of the all-district team accompany this story.
2012 Season Record
8/31@ Gordon-Rushville    W    38-0
09/07 Sidney    W    48-8
09/14 @ Chadron    L    20-27
09/21 @ Cozad    L    20-32
09/28 Mitchell    W    50-7
10/05 Gothenburg (3 OT)    W    20-17
10/12 @ Kearney Catholic L    0-35
10/18 Minden    W    28-15
10/25 @ Ord (Playoffs)    W    21-7
10/31 Boone Central    L    20-48
(Playoffs)

2012 C1-9 All-District Football Team
Position    Name    School    HT/WT    Grade
OL/DL    Brian Bell    Chase County    6-4  245    12
OL/LB    Justus Wallin    Chase County    6-1  215    11
QB/DB    Kale Gockley    Chase County    5-10  170    12
OL/DL    Callin Ledall    Chase County    6-3  220    12
TE/DB    Kelton Fisher    Chase County    6-3  180    10
WR/DB    Michael May    Chase County    5-9  155    12
RB/DB    Jake Paulsen    Cozad    5-11  160    11
OL/DL    Jimmy Brown    Cozad    6-1  240    12
WR/LB    Jacob Rush    Cozad     6-0  170    11
FB/LB    Alex Boryca    Cozad    6-1  200    11
C/LB    Tanner Evertson    Cozad    5-9  170    11
QB/DB    Nate Bubak    Cozad    6-0  163    11
OL/DL    Jacob Stallbaumer    Cozad    6-5  245    11
OL/DL    Tanner Borchardt    Gothenburg    6-8  245    10
RB/LB    Logan Sheets    Gothenburg    5-10  190    12
QB/DB    Blake Ristine    Gothenburg    6-1  175    11
OL/DL    Adam Speck    Gothenburg    6-0  240    11
K        Trenton Long    Gothenburg    5-11  160    11
RB/LB    Preston Franzen    Gothenburg    5-10  170    12
WR/DB    Isaac Carlson    Minden    6-0  140    12
RB/LB    Ryan Chramosta    Minden    5-9  165    12
RB/LB    Quin Rutt    Minden    5-9  185    11
OL/DL    Mitch Muller    Minden    6-4  270    11
P        Landon Lempka    Minden    6-1  175    12
RB/LB    Alex Lowe    Kearney Catholic    6-0  200    12
OL/DL    David Squiers    Kearney Catholic    6-3  265    12
QB    Abe Clinch    Kearney Catholic    6-2  220    12
WR/DB    Brian Husmann    Kearney Catholic    5-11  185    12
OL/DL    Austin Lowery    Kearney Catholic    5-11  250    12
OL/DE    John Blake    Kearney Catholic    5-10  220    12
RB/LB    Thomas Connely    Kearney Catholic    5-11  180    11
DB/WR    Blake Holtmeier    Kearney Catholic    6-1  190    11
PR/KR    Brett James    Kearney Catholic    5-8  165    12

Honorable Mention
Chase County
FB/LB  Justin German    6-2    225    12
RB/CB  Dan Sullivan    5-9    170    11
RB/DB  Trey Milner    6-1    165    11
Cozad
FB/LB  Colin Wetovick    5-10    150    10
TE/DE  Blaine Petersen    6-1    185    11
WR/DB  Conor Young    5-10    140    10
Gothenburg
OL/DL  Garett James    6-2    180    12
TE/DE  Logan Koehler    6    190    12
RB/LB  Skyler Kottwitz    5-10    170    11
Minden
QB/DB  Jonas Lovin    6-2    190    11
OL/DL  Colton Barton    6-0    195    11
TE/LB  Brendon Sinsel    5-10    190    11
Kearney Catholic
LB  Jack Graham    6-0    190    11
LB/WR  Connor Streit    5-10    185    12
WR/DE  Alex Liess    6-2    190    12
DE/OL  Isaac Richter    6-6    270    12