Power

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- One could make a case for Springfield's Bryan Reimers to be the 2004 All-Journal offensive player of the year based on the following:

He led the Tigers to the state tournament for the first time since 1997. He rushed for 1,282 yards on 193 carries. He scored 12 touchdowns.

But even more eye-opening isn't what he did when he was running with the ball, but what he did running after it.

Reimers finished with 174 tackles on the season, three sacks, two interceptions, seven tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery.

Over the course of a three-year career, those numbers translated into nearly 500 tackles (he finished with 484), nine sacks, four interceptions and 19 tackles for a loss. Those numbers alone deserve merit for the 2004 All Journal Defensive Player of the Year.

While its impossible to hide a 6-foot 4, 220 pound fullback and linebacker, Reimers said he enjoyed being the focal point of the opposing team from week to week.

"I like being the one that's keyed on," Reimers said.

Reimers has tasted the state tournament before, taking second place at the 2004 state wrestling tournament a year ago. But he said the taste was much sweeter going to state again, this time as a team.

"It was a lot better playing in the state tournament as a team than it is as an individual, because you have people around you that you rub off of," Reimers said.

Even though the Tigers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs against Goodhue, Reimers was proud of the team and especially proud of his offensive line.

"I'm really proud of our team -- our line did awesome this year," Reimers said. "We were bigger than we've ever been. They just held their own; they did a great job."

With New Ulm Cathedral running back Jeff Schnobrich earning offensive honors, Reimers speculated what might have happened had the two powerhouses squared off on the field.

"It would've been a battle. It would've been a one-score game," Reimers said.

All-Journal Area

Defensive Team

Zach Sturm, Springfield, junior, FS/QB: Sturm finished the season with 96 total tackles and seven interceptions, including four in the playoffs. Offensively, he quarterbacked the Tigers to the state tournament. He rushed for 260 yards and threw for 690 yards and seven touchdowns.

Dan Vetter, Cathedral, senior, S: A hard-hitting safety with a nose for getting to the ball, the 6-foot senior set a school record this year with eight interceptions. Vetter also recorded 72 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 1 1/2 sacks. For his career, he finishes with 151 tackles, nine interceptions, 2 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries.

"Dan had the respect from his opponents as a hard hitting safety," coach Denny Lux said.

Mike Rosin, Nicollet, senior, RB/LB: Rosin led the Raiders' defense this year, recording 100 tackles with four fumble recoveries. On offense, he rushed for 1,083 yards on 183 carries, with 14 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 149 yards for another two touchdowns.

Mike Struss, Nicollet, senior, DT: Named lineman of the year in the Southern Confederacy conference, Struss had 66 tackles this year. His 16 sacks were a school record, and he set another school record when he recorded five sacks in one game.

Patrick O'Malley, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, senior, RB/WR/LB: Defensively, O'Malley had 30 solo tackles and 55 assists, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a quarterback sack. He had three games this year in which he had at least 17 tackles. O'Malley had 129 carries for 608 yards. He had 24 receptions for 279 yards and he scored 78 points.

David Krenz, CM/C, senior, WR/ML: Defensively, he contributed 141 tackles with three interceptions. He ranks second in school history with 352 tackles in his career. Offensively, Krenz caught 45 passes for 554 yards and a school record nine touchdowns. He was also a threat on special teams, owning school records in kick returns (62), return yards (903), longest kick return (92) and yard returns in a season (388, '03).

Jared Schwanz, St. James, senior, NT: He finished with 63 tackles, two sacks, and forced four fumbles. He was chosen to play in the All-Star football game for the outstate team.

Chad Altermatt, Wabasso, senior, LB/RB: Altermatt finished the year with 116 tackles, one interception, one sack, one fumble recovery, and five tackles for a loss. He rushed for 383 yards, seven touchdowns, and caught eight passes for 135 yards.

Tyler Morgan, MVL, senior, LB: Morgan was again the leader of the Charger defense and registered 104 tackles and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He finished with 214 career tackles. Selected all-conference twice.

Brad Meyer, NUHS, senior, LB: Meyer led the Eagles in tackles with 104, and he had seven sacks.