WOODWARD — The Class 1A District 5 postseason honors were recently announced, with eight members of the Woodward-Granger football team earning recognition. The Hawks were 3-6 overall and 3-4 in in district play.
Senior Tanner Vermaas was named to the All-District 5 First Team at both running back and punter, with junior offensive lineman Joe Sturgeon and sophomore defensive lineman Alex Kirton also earning First Team spots.
Vermaas ran for 1,367 yards and 21 touchdowns in 221 carries to secure his position at running back while averaging 37.2 per punt to secure his special team recognition. Sturgeon helped the Hawks run for 1,952 yards and 24 touchdowns while Kirton had 17 tackles, including three for a loss and a sack.
Second Team honors went to junior linebacker Austin Scharlau and junior defensive back J.P. Nixon. Scharlau finished with a team-high 49.5 tackles, two of them for a loss and with one sack. He had two interceptions and recovered two fumbles. Nixon had both a fumble recovery and an interception while making 32.5 tackles.
Junior linebackers Josh Saak (37 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery) and Devan Kirkman (48.5 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks) were chosen for the honorable mention list, as was junior offensive lineman Dillon Fogarty.
Academic All-District honors were also awarded, with three Hawks — juniors Logan Canova and Ian Thompson and sophomore Gabe Yingst — recognized for their efforts in the classroom.
