CG-Belgium fills all-league teams

This year’s all-conference teams in the Big East are easy to read.

Just check out Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s roster.

The undefeated Big East champion Rockets landed 18 selections in repeating as league champs, including Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Michael Navis.

The junior field general rushed for 793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 carries in eight conference games. He averaged 9.1 yards per carry and nearly 100 yards per game.

He completed 25 of 52 passes for 440 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions.

It was his dual-threat ability that put him over Hilbert running back Evan Lau, coach Dan Schreurs said.

“Michael was deemed more of the offensive threat just based on the position he played and based on his ability to run and throw the ball and get more combined yards from scrimmage,” Schreurs said.

Lau finished with 941 yards rushing on 126 carries and 17 touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per run and 117.6 per game.

The honor is more special for Navis since this was his first year as starting quarterback after making the switch from an all-conference receiver.

“I think that really shows Michael’s athleticism and dedication,” Schreurs said.

Navis got help up front from three-year starting tackle Brett Feind, who was a unanimous selection for the first team and among the best linemen in school history.

“It was fun to watch him grow from being a sophomore,” Schreurs said.

Feind earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association all-state honorable mention honors and made the WFCA All-Region team.

Besides Navis, Feind helped open holes for running back Chris Jentges, who made the second team for his running, pass-catching and blocking. Jentges ran for 653 yards and 10 touchdowns on 98 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per rush and 81.6 per game. He caught four balls for 62 yards and a score.

“He’s got a complete all-around package,” Schreurs said.

When Jentges or Navis weren’t getting the ball, junior Alex Acevedo created a three-headed monster. He had 587 yards rushing and 10 scores  on 137 carries, averaging 4.3 per rush and 73.4 per game. Acevedo earned honorable mention honors.

Two other Rocket offensive linemen made the second team. Senior guard Garrett Dodson was another three-year starter whose experience really showed this year, Schreurs said, and tackle Trey Ebbers, a two-year starter.

Junior split end Max Ford made the second team. He caught 11 balls for 215 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 19.5 yards per catch.

“He was definitely Michael’s go-to, especially on the long passes and the quick outs. It will be nice to get him back,” Schreurs said.

Junior tight end Jacob Peiffer earned honorable mention. He caught five balls for 45 yards in the conference and had a touchdown catch in the Rockets’ second-round playoff loss to Amherst.

“He rarely dropped any. He’s big-bodied, strong, just an all-around athlete,” Schreurs said.

After the Rockets reached the end zone, the trusty foot of Jentges put the extra points through, making the first team as kicker He went 41-for-41 in the Big East, 48-for-48 on the season and 150-for-157

in his career. He didn’t attempt a field goal this season thanks to the Rockets’ prolific offense.

“He was a consistent, confident-type kicker that we knew we could rely on at all times,” Schreurs said.

Daniels leads defense that stayed off field

Ten of the Rockets 11 defensive starters earned some kind of postseason honors.

Senior defensive end Chris Daniels used his 6-foot-6-inch frame, skill, strength and speed to make the WFCA All-Region team and Big East first team.

His stats, much like the rest of the defense, don’t look spectacular because they got off the field so fast.

The Rockets allowed fewer than 40 first downs in eight games, holding teams to 6-for-51 on third down (11.8%) and 0-for-9 on fourth down.

“That’s a lot of three-and-outs,” Schreurs said.

“Most teams average about 45 offensive plays a night. We averaged in the 60s.”

Daniels had 31 tackles in the conference, including seven for loss, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown. Schreurs said opposing coaches avoided Daniels’ side.

“Chris Daniels was a force at defensive end,” Schreurs said.

Lau was Defensive Player of the Year  with 90 tackles, three interceptions and one touchdown.

Senior inside linebacker Ben Anzia led the Rockets with 77 tackles, including 15 for loss, three sacks and one fumble recovery.

“I’ll take Ben over any other defender in this conference any day of the week. Going against him at practice every day was impossible,” Schreurs said.

Feind added a second first team selection as tackle. He made 24 stops, three for loss.

“Inside the middle he controlled the line of scrimmage up front as much as he did offensively,” Schreurs said.

Ford made the first team as a defensive back, with 16 tackles and one interception.

Outside linebacker Tyler Kowalkowski earned honorable mention, with 28 tackles, including five for loss. He forced three fumbles and had a sack. He provided a clutch quarterback pressure on the last play of an overtime win at Hilbert that played a big part in the Rockets repeating as solo league champs, as well as making a big play to stop a Howards Grove scoring threat that helped preserve a shutout.

“I thought he deserved first team. He’s probably one of the strongest pound-for-pound kids in the conference,” Schreurs said.

The problem was Kowalkowski lined up behind Daniels, so he had to use his speed to catch ball carriers on the other side of the field because so few plays came his way.

Junior inside linebacker Matt Poull was second on the team with 43 tackles, including five for loss. He forced and recovered two fumbles each and broke up three passes.  He earned honorable mention honors.

Senior A.J. Schaefer earned honorable mention at outside linebacker. He made 23 tackles, including five for loss, had two sacks and one pass defended.

“We put him in the hardest position to play, and he picked it up really good,” Schreurs said.

Dodson earned honorable mention at defensive tackle, making 13 stops, one for loss.

Jeffrey Emperly earned honorable mention at defensive back. He had 12 tackles, one interception and three passes defended.

Senior Wade Navis missed part of the year due to joining the Army, but came back to earn honorable mention at defensive back. He made 24 tackles, including three for loss, and had a forced fumble, fumble recovery and one pass defended.

“A lot of teams didn’t even try to throw on us. We were relatively good in stopping the pass, and they came up and tackled as good as they defended the pass,” Schreurs said of his defense.

Schreurs repeated as Coach of the Year after the Rockets again went 8-0 in the Big East. Hilbert and Reedsville each went 7-1 with their only losses to the Rockets.

“I thought that with the seasons that Hilbert and even more Reedsville had that it could have gone to any of us,” he said.

“It really makes it easy when you have the players and the staff I have.”

Berweger, Bell lead Ozaukee selections

Ozaukee earned eight all-conference honors in returning to the playoffs with a 5-3 Big East record after a year hiatus.

Ozaukee senior Ben Berweger, a three-year starter, made the first team as an offensive lineman, leading the way for a rushing attack that eclipsed 1,300 yards in the conference.

On defense, he made the second team at end with 86 tackles, including eight for loss.

What might be more amazing is that Berweger hasn’t missed a practice since third grade and only one game.

“He’s really a solid football player for us, a well-deserving player,” coach Jim Lippe said.

Junior inside linebacker Logan Bell made the second team. He led the Warriors in tackles with 142, including nine for loss and six sacks. He had one fumble recovery, one interception and one blocked kick.

“He has a nose for the football, plays the position about as well as you can play it,” Lippe said.

He made the second team as a tight end, catching nine balls for 146 yards and one touchdown and averaged 16.2 yards per reception. He was the Warriors’ second-leading receiver and a good blocker.

“He basically never comes off the field for us. We need him on the field at all times,” Lippe said.

Junior Brent Hoffmann made the first team in his third year starting at outside linebacker. He had 69 tackles, including four for loss, one sack, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Hoffmann also plays quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, free safety and inside linebacker.

“He’s a heck of a football player, and we’re expecting huge things from him next year,” Lippe said.

Jack Penney-Galindo made the first team as a defensive tackle. The senior made 59 tackles, including five for loss, along with two sacks and one forced fumble. It’s a noteworthy accomplishment for someone who didn’t start playing football until seventh grade.

“He worked hard through the years and spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Lippe said.

Junior Brent Hoffmann made the first team at outside linebacker. He had 69 tackles, including four for loss, one sack, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Senior Mitchell Weyker made the second team at defensive back. He made 44 tackles and led the team with two interceptions in his second year starting in the backfield.

Like Hoffmann, Weyker is a multi-talented player who can handle quarterback, running back and fullback duties.

“He’s a team captain, has a lot of energy,” Lippe said.

Junior Dakota Hart earned honorable mention on the offensive line after starting the last few games last season.

“He just made a lot of improvements as the season went on. He will definitely be an anchor next year,” Lippe said.