Hulke, Pichotta are All-Journal offensive and defensive players of the year

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Statistics don't lie.

Both Nicollet's Tony Hulke -- the All-Journal Area Offensive Player of the Year -- and McLeod West's Brent Pichotta -- the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year -- put up some numbers that are eye-popping.

Hulke, who led the Raiders to a State Nine-Man Runnerup in this year's Prep Bowl, rushed for almost 600 yards this season, scored 14 touchdowns including an 87-yard kickoff return in the title game against Verndale.

He passed for over 1,500 yards in the 2002 season and connected for 26 touchdowns through the air. He also has caught three scoring strikes.

Pichotta, a hard-nosed linebacker for the Falcons, was a tackling machine recording 107 first-hit stops this year along with 112 assisted tackles and 11 tackles for loss of yardage.

Pichotta also recorded four quarterback sacks.

And their respective coaches, Tom Murphy of Nicollet and Curt Strand of McLeod West, know that both Hulke and Pichotta are complete football players who lead by example on the gridiron.

"Tony is an extremely confident athlete on the field," commented Murphy who coached Hulke's older brother, Ryan, at NHS. "He is very confident in his abilities and in what he can do. Along with that, he has gained confidence in his teammates and he knows what each abilities on the field are."

Hulke, the 2002 Southern Minnesota Confederacy Conference Tri-Back of the Year, "gets his team into positions where they are in a succeed situation," said Murphy. "He is also very football smart -- he has an understanding of what we, the coaches, are trying to do in a game-situation and what opposing defenses are trying to do."

And Hulke's ability on the field may well come from a good blood line at Nicollet. His older brother, Ryan, also quarterbacked the Raiders to a Prep Bowl appearance back in 1999 where Nicollet lost to Stephen-Argyle in the Nine-Man title game.

That year Ryan was named the All-Journal Area Offensive Player of the Year, making him and Tony the only brother combination to be chosen as Players of the Year.

"They both know the game of football," commented Murphy. "And they both have the desire and will to win. In their senior seasons, they were both great field leaders. But their styles were different -- Ryan was a pro-typical dropback passer where Tony (who was a running back before switching to quarterback) was expected to run the ball more. This past summer, they both spent a lot of time talking football."

Tony Hulke's 53 career touchdowns are a school record and he has been involved in 83 touchdowns in his career.

In his career at Nicollet, Hulke's stats are even more jaw-dropping. He has accounted for over 6,500 yards in all-purpose yards. He has rushed for 2,355 yards, passed for almost 2,000 yards, has caught passes for 1,016 yards and has 1,100 yards in kick returns.

Pichotta is described by Strand as " the best tackler that I have ever coached. He is a great player -- he is undersized as linebackers go, but he plays like an All-American. He simply cannot be blocked."

His career stats prove that he has a nose for the football.

He has 257 first-hit tackles, 285 assisted tackles and 39 stops for losses of yards. He has recorded 11 quarterback sacks and recovered four fumbles.

Strand commented that Pichotta's biggest asset on the field " is his uncanny ability to read the play and get to the ballcarrier. He very seldom gets blocked -- he is tenacious. When he was a sophomore, he made many tackles on special teams. If we saw a ballcarrier go down and could not see who made the tackle, the coaches knew that it was Brent.."

"He made big plays every game," Strand continued. "And you got used to seeing him do that -- doing something special on the field. He made other players around him better."

Here are the remaining members of the 2002 All-Journal Area Football Team.

KEVIN NEIDECKER, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: This junior tailback rushed for 884 yards to lead the Eagles' offense and scored eight touchdowns. He averaged just over seven yards a carry.

JOSH KRAL, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: Kral; a senior, led the purple and white defense with 50 solo tackles and added 19 assisted stops. He won the Eagles' Lineman of the Year Award.

TRAVIS AUFDERHEIDE, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: This junior noseguard raised havoc with opposing team's offensive backfields. He was chosen the Eagles' Most Valuable Defensive Player, registering 46 solo tackles.

SPENCER DICKINSON, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: Another junior who will be back for the Eagles next season, Dickinson -- the MVP of the Eagles -- totaled 509 yards rushing from his fullback spot and had 55 total tackles at middle linebacker.

MATT SUESS, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: A tight end, Suess led the Eagles with 13 receptions for 189 yards and four touchdowns.

ERIC AUSTVOLD, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL; "Ozzie" was second in rushing for NUHS with 589 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 14 kickoffs for 263 yards ( an 18.8 yard average) and brought back eight punts for 94 yards and one touchdown.

JIMMY VANCURA, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: The senior defensive back had 64 solo tackles and 61 assisted stops along with three interceptions. "We were fortunate to have him in our secondary for two seasons -- he did everything that we asked of him," commented Hounds' coach Denny Lux.,

DUSTY WILFAHRT, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: Wilfahrt latched onto 21 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns for a 19.4 yard average. On defense, the senior had 84 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

TOM HAZUKA, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: The senior fullback rushed for 521 yards and nine touchdowns. As a linebacker, Hazuka had 35 solo tackles and three assisted tackles. He was also 11-for-15 on extra point kicks.

JEREMY PENKERT, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: The junior lineman had 40 solo tackles and 32 assists. He also sacked enemy quarterbacks seven times and caused two fumbles and blocked a kick. "He improved a lot from his sophomore season," commented Lux.

ANDY BEILKE, MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN: Beilke, a junior, had 64 tackles in eight games and added seven interceptions. He was the Chargers' Most Valuable Player this year. "He is a good player now and will only get better," said coach Jim Buboltz.

NATHAN NASS, MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN: Nass led the Chargers this year with 105 tackles (36 solo and 69 assisted stops) while recovering two fumbles and intercepting three passes.

JAKE FIRLE, MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN: The senior tight end latched onto 34 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns. For his career, Firle had 88 catches for 1,067 and 10 touchdowns.

REGGIE VACEK, McLEOD WEST: The junior lineman recorded 73 first-hit stops and 47 assisted tackles. On offense, his coach Curt Strand said that Vacek "is the best trap-blocker that I have ever coached."

NATHAN STRAND, McLEOD WEST: A senior quarterback, Strand passed for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. He added 425 yards rushing and six touchdowns. For his career, Strand totaled passed for 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns.

JAMIE WAGNER, NICOLLET: A senior linebacker for the Raiders, Wagner led the team with 163 tackles. On offense, he ended with 1,800 all-purpose yards. "He was our leader on defense -- he is a coach on the field,": commented Raider coach Tom Murphy.

JEFF NAUMANN, NICOLLET: Naumann had 73 tackles, six quarterback sacks and blocked six passes.

J.J. HORNUNG, NICOLLET: Hornung recorded 46 tackles and took back a pass interception for a touchdown. He also recorded a safety.

PAUL NOURIE, NICOLLET: He rushed for 511 yards and scored seven times while adding two more touchdowns on pass receptions.

MIKE ROSIN, NICOLLET: He was the beneficiary of six touchdown passes and added 51 tackles on defense.

BRENT BAUNE, WABASSO: Baune passed for 1,574 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 457 yards and eight touchdowns. "He was an excellent leader," commented coach Todd Hendricks. "Brent was a leader." Baune ended with 2,011 yards in total offense.

COLE ALTERMATT, WABASSO: Altermatt rushed for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, he had five interceptions and 36 tackles.

JAMIE FOX, SPRINGFIELD: Fox recorded 100 solo tackles on defense and rushed for 527 yards. He also added nine pass receptions for102 yards.

BRANDON WILHELMI, SPRINGFIELD: Wilhelmi ended with 1,298 yards in total offense.

JOSE SAENZ, SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC: The senior scored seven touchdowns this season while rushing for 789 yards. On defense, Saenz hd 45 solo tackles. His career saw him set three school records for carries with 468, yards rushing with 2,950 and 28 touchdowns.

TIM BRAULICK, SLEEPY EYE ST.MARY'S: Braulick had 532 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Defensively, he totaled 67 tackles and had eight quarterback sacks.

ANDY COOK, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: Cook rushed for 436 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he had 29 solo tackles and 96 assisted stops.

JAKE BOHNEN, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: The sophomore quarterback threw for 1,454 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Knights.