Illustration by Sam Thiel Marshall's Bryce Lance was named the 2020 Marshall Independent Football Player of the Year.

MARSHALL — When senior wide receiver/defensive back Bryce Lance took the field in New Ulm for the first game of the 2020 regular season, he was determined as ever to make the most of the opportunity presented to him after COVID restrictions nearly took it away a month earlier.

The feeling of gratitude was a common thread for the Marshall football team this season.

“Before every game we were always like this could be our last game, we don’t know,” said Lance. “Going into every game we were like we have to give it our all, especially for our seniors.”

The extra layer of motivation was evident that day and for the remaining six games of the shortened season, as his 148-yard, three touchdown debut set the stage for a record-setting final campaign in orange and black.

As a captain of the Tigers this past season, Lance hauled in a total of 30 receptions for 634 yards and eight touchdowns in just seven games to help lead the team to a record of 5-2.

On defense, Lance served as a ball-hawk safety, recording a team-high six interceptions, including a momentum-shifting pick-six in the Tigers’ final game against Jordan in the section tournament. His stellar play on defense recently earned him a spot on the 2020 Minnesota AP First Team All-State roster.

As a result of his on-field production and natural leadership, the Independent Sports staff has named Lance the 2020 Area Football Player of the Year.

Lance thanked his teammates and coaches for helping him to get to this point.

“I’m super thankful to you guys for recognizing my accomplishments this year and definitely my team as well,” said Lance. “They make me look really good, as well as Coach (Terry) Bahlmann. A lot goes into it that helps me make those plays and help my team out.”

“(Coach Bahlmann’s) been coaching me since I was a freshman. I think that’s what makes our program so great is he helps kids out from their freshman year and he even goes to seventh and eighth grade games now so he’s really good,” Lance added.

Lance went on to thank his family, including his father Carlton, a former defensive back for the Southwest Minnesota State University football team, and his brother Trey, a former standout quarterback at North Dakota State University turned coveted NFL prospect, who have passed on their football wisdom to Bryce.

“My dad and brother obviously know a lot about football and they’ve always pushed me to get better and shared what they saw in different games or practices,” said Lance. “My dad’s been able to be my coach throughout my high school career as well, which has been really helpful.”

Lance leaves behind a legacy of greatness in Marshall Tiger football history after setting new career records in receptions with 78, receiving yards with 1,769 and touchdowns with 18. Last season, Lance set a single-season record for receiving yards with 873–surpassing previous record-holder Skyler Stensrud with 657 set in 2009. Lance also holds the record for most career interceptions with 11.

Bahlmann praised Lance for his leadership on and off the field throughout his time as a Tiger.

“He’s a great player for us on both sides of the football, and as good of a player he is, he’s probably even a better person off the field,” said Bahlmann. “His leadership on and off the field have been top-notch. He’s more of a quiet leader, but he strives to make everybody better around him.”

Lance’s football career will continue next fall when he joins the ranks of Tyler Gimmestad, Trey Steinbach and his brother Trey as Marshall football players who took the next step in their careers in signing on to play football at North Dakota State University. As a three star recruit, Lance fielded offers from South Dakota State University, Columbia, Dartmouth and Princeton before deciding to head to Fargo.

Lance said he’s looking forward to the next chapter in his football playing career.

“I’m just super thankful for the opportunity to help out the Bison in any way that I can,” said Lance. “I definitely know some of the guys up there already just being brothers with Trey and hanging out with them, so I’m really excited to get up there with all those guys.”

Based on his work-ethic and natural ability, Bahlmann believes Lance can be a big-time player with the Bison.

“Bryce really works on his skills and the little things,” said Bahlmann. “That’s what I think is going to make him a great player. As he’s grown throughout the years, his body is starting to catch up. He’s going to continue to get better. He’s just under six-foot-four right now and still growing. So as he fills out, I think he’s going to be a big-time player for the Bison.”

Lance has already been in contact with some members of the Bison football team, including his brother Trey’s former teammate, wide receiver Phoenix Sproles, who Lance looks forward to learning from upon arriving to campus.

“I’m really excited to get up there,” said Lance. “I’m really excited to learn from him (Sproles) because he already told me he’s going to be helping me and teaching me along the way. So, it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Trey, Bryce Lance is focused on helping to lead the Bison to the ultimate prize during his time in Fargo.

“(My goal is to) just win national championships. They’re known for that. Anything I can do to help achieve that goal is kind of the plan,” said Lance.