Franklin, Bryan named Players of the Year

Thursday, December 16, 2010
Travis Franklin

GREENCASTLE -- The North Putnam football team put together a season that broke school records and ignited the imagination of the county. The team finished as state runners-up and is represented by 14 selections of the Putnam County All-County team, including the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

North Putnam senior Travis Franklin was named the offensive player and junior Nate Bryan was named the defensive player.

Franklin recorded 966 rushing yards on 94 carries and eight touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns. Franklin had 104 rushing yards and three catches for 43 yards and the Cougars' only offensive touchdown in the state championship.

Nate Bryan

He was also named the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude award winner in North Putnam's 26-14 loss to Fort Wayne Luers in the contest. Franklin was also named first team All-State.

Bryan led the Cougars in tackles with 120 tackles and had one sack, one forced fumble and nine tackles for a loss. He also had four solo tackles and two assisted tackles in the state championship.

The Cougars placed four players on the offensive All-County squad. Named to the team was guard Tommy Welch, tackle Hunter Logan, tight end Tyler Shorter and quarterback Kolten Everts.

Everts accounted for 25 touchdowns for the Cougars this season. He rushed 76 times for 485 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 1,120 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had a 61 percent completion rating.

On defense, the Cougars placed eight players on the squad, highlighted by first team All-State selection Caleb Vondersaar.

Vondersaar had 45 tackles and led the team with 10 interceptions on the season. He recorded three critical interceptions in the Cougars' state championship game.

Joining him on the team are linemen Tyler Watson (69 tackles, four sacks), Jordan Murphy (22 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble) and Aaron Vondersaar (68 tackles, eight sacks, one interception).

Linebacker Hank Spencer recorded 103 total tackles, with one sack, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He also had six tackles for a loss and a blocked punt in the state championship. Fellow linebacker Travis Kratt joins Spencer, adding 103 tackles, one forced fumble and seven tackles for a loss. In the championship game, he recovered a blocked punt in the endzone on special teams for the Cougars.

Defensive back Jake Smerage was named and Jake Worth earned the defensive at-large honor.

South Putnam placed six players on the offensive All-County squad, led by junior Rob Gibson and senior Brayden Freeman.

Gibson was named for wide receiver after recording 357 yards on 18 catches for a 19.8 per catch average and three touchdowns. Freeman was named at running back, collecting 596 yards on 146 carries and nine touchdowns.

Also named at running back was Zach Smith. He had 334 yards on 69 carries for a 4.7 per rush average with four touchdowns. Dean Varvel was named at wide receiver with 20 catches for 305 yards and two touchdowns.

Kicker Jake Gould had 22 extra points and was 1-for-1 on field goals. Senior center Seth Arnold and sophomore tackle Ryan Chestnut were named to the squad as well.

Junior linebacker Wade Custis had 90 total tackles (41 solo) and two fumble recoveries for the Eagles this season. Defensive back Grant Zimmerman had 52 total tackles, one forced fumble and two interceptions.

The Tiger Cubs had six players make the squad this season, including three selections on the offensive side.

Senior quarterback Tanner Battin was named the offensive at-large. He passed for 701 yards and eight touchdowns. His main target was fellow senior Keegan Remsburg, who caught 27 receptions for 503 yards and seven touchdowns for Greencastle. Punter Dakota Campbell was named after averaging 33 yard per punt average.

Senior Jesse Vermillion spearheaded the GHS defensive selections. He had 109 total tackles, including three sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. Defensive lineman Levi App (62 total tackles) and special teams standout Hayden Stuckwisch were also named to the team.

Cloverdale had three players make this year's team. Rusher Donavan Scisney and offensive lineman Matt Hall were named to the offensive team, while Jordan Brinkman was named to the defensive squad.

Scisney led the county in rushing this season with 1,362 yards with 16 touchdowns. He averaged whopping 7.1 yards per carry for the Clovers and averaged 136 yards per game.

Defensive back Brinkman had 44 total tackles, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

This year's 2010 All Putnam County team was comprised of 18 seniors, 12 juniors and two sophomores. The team was voted on by area coaches and a representative of the Banner Graphic.

2010 All-Putnam County Team

Offense

Offensive Player of the Year

Travis Franklin, North Putnam

Center -- Seth Arnold (SP)

Guard -- Matt Hall (CHS), Tommy Welch (NP)

Tackle -- Hunter Logan (NP), Ryan Chestnut (SP)

Wide Receiver -- Keegan Remsburg (GHS), Rob Gibson (SP), Dean Varvel (SP)

Tight End -- Tyler Shorter (NP)

Running Back -- Donavan Scisney (CHS), Brayden Freeman (SP), Zach Smith (SP)

Quarterback -- Kolten Everts (NP)

At-Large -- Tanner Battin (GHS)

Punter -- Dakota Campbell (GHS)

Kicker -- Jake Gould (SP)

Defense

Defensive Player of the Year

Nate Bryan, North Putnam

Linemen -- Tyler Watson (NP), Aaron Vondersaar (NP), Jordan Murphy (NP), Levi App (GHS)

Linebacker -- Jesse Vermillion (GHS), Travis Kratt (NP), Wade Custis (SP), Hank Spencer (NP)

Defensive Back -- Caleb Vondersaar (NP), Jordan Brinkman (CHS), Jake Smerage (NP), Grant Zimmerman (SP)

At-Large -- Jake Worth (NP)

Special Teams -- Hayden Stuchwisch (GHS)