Meet the Michigan high school all-state football team for Division 5-6

It was another Michigan high school football season filled with outstanding performances from hundreds of players across the state.

Now that the season is behind us, it’s time to recognize the Division 5 and Division 6 players who stood out above the rest and made the 2019 season another one to remember with the Associated Press All-State selections.

Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, first team, second team and honorable mention selections were made by a voting panel of 11 media members from across the state. A unanimous selection means all 11 voters picked an athlete for the first team.

Without further ado, here is the the 2019 Division 5-6 Associated Press All-State football team.

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Player of the Year: Zach Gillespie, Lansing Catholic

Year: Senior

The veteran signal caller did it all for the Cougars to secure their first state championship since 1985. Gillespie was dominant at the quarterback position throwing for more than 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns. Just when teams thought they figured him out through the air, Gillespie made them pay with his legs as he rushed for 598 yards and 20 more touchdowns to help Lansing Catholic finish 13-1 with a state title in Division 5. He also recorded nine interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.

First Team quarterback: Drew Collins, Montague

Year: Junior

Collins nearly led the Wildcats back to the state championship this season and was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in Division 6. Collins completed 162-of-241 passes for 2,450 yards and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He followed that up with 807 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, helping Montague finish 10-3, the team’s third straight 10-win season.

First Team running back: Cam Ashcroft, Harrison

Year: Senior

The 5-foot-10 tailback carried the ball 217 times and rushed for 1,657 yards and 21 scores and was nearly unstoppable on the goal line with 13 2-point conversions.

First Team running back: Alex Morgan, Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic

Year: Senior

The Falcons returned to glory with a Division 6 state championship this year and Morgan was one of the top catalysts for the team. He rushed for a school-record 1,800 yards with 17 touchdowns on 146 carries (12.3 yards per carry).

First Team running back: Ayden Mullin, Kingsley

Year: Senior

Helping lead Kingsley its best season (12-1) since 2005, Mullin was a force in the backfield. He rushed for 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns on 177 carries and hauled in four passes for touchdowns as well.

First Team running back: Leroy Quinn, Muskegon Oakridge

Year: Senior

Quinn capped his career as one of the most successful offensive players from West Michigan in some time.

The 6-foot, 230-pound back rushed for 1,370 yards and 26 touchdowns in his senior season, helping the Eagles finish 10-1. He closed his career with a school-record 4,949 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns and added 226 tackles on defense.

First Team wide receiver: Cameron Underwood, Dearborn Heights Robichaud

Year: Senior

Underwood couldn’t be stopped on the perimeter for the Bulldogs. He hauled in 63 catches for 1,252 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Bulldogs finished the year 9-3, their best record since 2012.

First Team wide receiver: Finn Hogan, Maple City Glen Lake

Year: Junior

Hogan was a mismatch on the outside and constantly came up with the big play for the Lakers during their run to the state title game. Hogan was the team’s top target, finishing the year with 39 receptions for 692 yards and 12 touchdowns.

First Team wide receiver: Alex Watters, Lansing Catholic

Year: Sophomore

Watters had a breakout season this year to help lead the Cougars to the state championship. He caught 44 passes for 1,104 yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding 298 yards rushing and three more scores.

First team wide receiver: Calvin Schullo, Ravenna

Year: Senior

The 6-foot-4 receiver made his impact felt for Ravenna all season. He brought in 47 passes for 796 yards (16.9 yards per catch) with 11 touchdowns.

First Team lineman: Latrell Thompkins, Detroit Denby

Senior:

The Toldeo commit stood out for Detroit Denby during its state semifinal run this year. He was dominant in the trenches with 103 tackles, 30 for loss, 24 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 6 fumble recoveries.

First Team lineman: Jere Getzinger, Ogemaw Heights

Year: Senior

Getzinger was a force upfront for Ogemaw Heights as he finished with 58 tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles. He’s committed to Eastern Michigan.

First Team lineman: Alex Van Sumeren, Essexville-Garber

Year: Sophomore

The youngster was all over the field recording 88 tackles, 29 for loss and 11 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound lineman already has an offer from Michigan.

First Team lineman: Clayton Hackett, Midland Bullock Creek

Year: Senior

The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder closed the season with 53 tackles and 11 sacks for the Lancers, who finished 6-4, their best record since 2007.

First Team lineman: Jon Stone, Frankenmuth

Year: Senior

Helping lead the Eagles to a 9-2 record, Stone was the team’s most dependable lineman. He helped the team finish the year with nearly 3,000 yards of offense and made the all-state team for the second year in a row.

First Team lineman: Hayden Moore, Onsted

Year: Senior

Moore helped lead Onsted to its best record (10-3) since 2008 and a state semifinal appearance in Division 6. The 6-foot, 225-pound lineman registered 60 tackles, 14 for loss and five sacks during his final season with the Wildcats.

First Team lineman: Ben Kroll, Maple City Glen Lake

Year: Senior

Another standout player for the Lakers, Kroll was the team’s top defensive performer. The Saginaw Valley State commit recorded 65 tackles, 10 for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a defense that allowed 16 points per game.

First Team lineman: Garrett Jones, Berrien Springs

Year: Senior

Jones, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman and Kansas commit, helped lead the Shamrocks to an 8-1 record in his senior season and played a part in the team averaging 30 points per game.

First Team linebacker: Derek Draher, Ithaca

Year: Junior

The MLive-Saginaw News Defensive Player of the Year was a force on defense with Ithaca. The 200-pound linebacker finished the year with 164 tackles, 95 solo, with 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and nine quarterback hurries.

First Team linebacker: Sam Cousino, Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic

Year: Senior

Even when coaches game planned against Cousino, he still found a way to disrupt their offenses. The senior finished the year with 104 tackles and was even a threat on offense with 779 rushing yards at full back.

First Team linebacker: Sam Edwards, Lansing Catholic

Year: Senior

The Lansing Defensive Player of the Yea, Edwards was the top defensive threat for the state champion Cougars. He ended the year with 184 tackles, 16 for loss, three sacks, two blocked kids and three interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown.

First Team linebacker: Jack Kalakay, Montrose

Year: Senior

The veteran defensive playmaker was the leader of a Montrose defense that allowed 16.5 points per game. Kalakay piled up 154 tackles, 12.8 tackles per game, three pass breakups, one sack and rushed for 500 yards and five touchdowns on offense.

First Team defensive back: Brennan Schwarz, Montague

Year: Senior

A unanimous first-team all-state selection, Schwarz, a Ferris State commit, finished the season with 45 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, one forced fumble for the Wildcats.

First Team defensive back: Travis Hill, Onsted

Year: Senior

Hill was also a unanimous selection for the first-team after recording 58 tackles and four interceptions for Onstead.

First Team defense: Jack Paupert, Almont

Year: Senior

Paupert was the top defensive player for the Raiders, who finished 2019 with the program’s best season at 13-1 as the defense allowed only 11.5 points per game.

First Team defense: Isaac Brady, Whitmore Lake

Year: Freshman

The lone freshman on the first-team, Brady was a ball hawk for the Trojans in 2019. He led the Ann Arbor area with seven interceptions and finished with 21 tackles and five pass breakups.

First Team specialist: Tristen Perry, Clawson

Year: Senior

A 6-foot-1 athlete, Perry rushed for 1,043 yards and 17 touchdowns, while bringing in 762 passing yards and nine scores. He also had a passing touchdown and recorded 32 tackles and six interceptions.

First Team kicker: Ethan York, Hillsdale

Year: Senior

York was automatic on extra points nailing 39, while also making three fields on the season.

First Team punter: Trent Hoctor, Hanover-Horton

Year: Senior

Hoctor punted 25 times for 941 yards, an average of 37.64 yards per punt, including five punts inside the 10-yard line.

First Team coach: Jim Ahern, Lansing Catholic

Ahern claimed his first state title in 43 years of coaching and secured his 300th win during the Cougars historic season.

SECOND-TEAM ALL-STATE (nominees receiving two or more votes from the voting panel)

Second Team quarterback

Brady Hessbrook, Ithaca, Jr.

Second Team running backs

Heath Flower, Olivet, Sr.

Jason Bialik, Morley-Stanwood, Sr.

Second Team wide receivers

Ethan Champney, Saginaw Swan Valley, Sr.

Shane Brown, Niles Brandywine, Sr.

Second Team linemen

Tylin Ayers, Stockbridge, Sr.

Alex Studebaker, Calumet, Sr.

Walker Martin, Montague, Jr.

Connor Cracchiolo, Richmond, Sr.

Griffin Barnette, Montrose, Sr.

Second Team linebacker

Josh Headlee, Marine City, Sr.

Second Team defensive back

JT Danna, Midland Bullock Creek, Sr.

Second Team specialists

Keagan Monroe, Menominee, Sr.

Noah Beaudrie, Erie-Mason, Jr.

Second Team punter

None.

Second Team kicker

None.

Second Team coach

None.

Honorable Mention quarterbacks

Logan Buckner, Shepherd; Gordie LaFontaine, Elk Rapids; Carson Farley, Grass Lake; Bobby Skinner, Montrose; Deonte McCoy, Flint Hamady; Keelan Eskridge, Manistee.

Honorable Mention running backs

Brock Woodard, Hillsdale; Trenton Holden, Grass Lake; Garrett Warner, Kalamazoo United; Sawyer Travis; Tyler Walters, Ogemaw Heights; Gage Chapin, Midland Bullock Creek; Darius Thomas, Carrollton; Logan Kurth, Whitmore Lake; Jordan Abrams, Niles Brandywine; Danny Vinson, Berrien Springs.

Honorable Mention wide receivers

DJ Voltz, Carrollton; Zack Horky, Blissfield; Taylor Butkovich, Lake City; Marlin Starkey, Elk Rapids; Zach Poff, Ithaca; Colby Schapman, Almont.

Honorable Mention linemen

Cole Pape, Delton Kellogg; Dylan Schalm, Clare; Lucas Gillespie, Harrison; Tyler Lewandowski, Harrison; Ty Coquillard, Essexville-Garber; Jimmy Miron, Sanford-Meridian; Zac Yorke, Millington; Carson Berenyi, Saginaw Swan Valley; Vinnie Kowalski, Freeland; Brody Germain, Millington; Jonathan Kelley, Frankenmuth; Logan Griffes, Morley-Stanwood; Cameron Keller, Jonesville; Gavin LaFollette, Hillsdale; Austin Fowler, Reed City; Drew Weber, Hopkins; Cade Simon, Portland; Desmond Townsend, Flint Hamady; Meric Okoniewski, Almont; Jackson Malcolm, Almont.

Honorable Mention linebackers

Jonathan Wright, Maple City Glen Lake; Colin Dunn, Harrison; Chase Gruno, Birch Run; Bobby Martin, Bridgeport; Austin Whitehead, Reed City; Payson Caballero, Kingsley; Eli Jackson, Grayling; Ben Marion, Lake City; Andrew VanderTuig, Lake City; Nick Aown, Boyne City; Cam Darrow, Grass Lake; Aidan Peterson, Hillsdale; Ethan Gilder, Hopkins; Carson Frewen, Portland; Zachariah Thompson, Warren Michigan Collegiate; Rashon Epps, Detroit Osborn; Jacob Hausmann, Almont; Tyler Walters, Ogemaw Heights.

Honorable Mention defensive backs

Aaryn Sylvester, Hemlock; Owen Graves, Kingsley; Auston Major-Kailing, Reed City.

Honorable Mention specialists

Koronte Lowery, Remus Chippewa Hills; Landon Jennings, Standish-Sterling; Brady Devereaux, Hemlock; Evan Coon, Quincy, Colin Weber, Hopkins.

Honorable Mention kicker

Jack Dreyer, Freeland

Honorable Mention coaches

Adam Kipf, Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic

Chris Holly, Midland Bullock Creek

Lenny Dantinne, Millington