Coming off the first weekend without NFL, college, or high school football since September, the Marshall Independent has announced its 2023 All-Independent Football Team.

Zack Fier was named the Independent’s Player of the Year for his instrumental role in Minneota’s Class A State Championship run. The Vikings running back rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns on the season, the most of any area player.

Scott Hanson was named the Independent’s Coach of the Year for Lakeview’s 9-2 season that exceeded many people’s expectations and resulted in a Section 5A Championship Game appearance.

The Lakers’ three first-team players ties them with Red Rock Central for the most this year. Their seven total players on the list–including honorable mentions–is the most of any team, ahead of Red Rock Central Minneota, with six apiece.

FIRST TEAM

Zack Fier, Sr. RB/LB

Minneota

225 att, 1,487 yards, 23 TD;

17 rec, 375 yards, 7 TD;

43 total tackles, FF, INT, INT return TD

Owen Louwagie, Sr. QB/S

Lakeview

94 of 163, 1,505 yards, 24 TD, 4 INT;

38 att, 526 yards, 5 TD;

26 total tackles

Clayton Kosel, Sr. RB

Lakeview

184 att, 1,470 yards, 19 TD

Nathan Fenske, Sr. WR/CB

Lakeview

51 rec, 917 yards, 14 TD;

19 total tackles, TFL, 2 INT

Holt Larson, Sr. RB/LB

Dawson-Boyd

156 att, 1,233 yards, 14 TD;

5 rec, 83 yards, 2 TD;

61 total tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT, INT return TD, kick return TD

Caden Anderson, Sr. RB/LB

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton

221 att, 1,261 yards, 21 TD;

5 rec, 53 yards;

2 of 5, 71 yards;

42 total tackles, 2.5 TFL

Chidi Nwakama, Sr. RB/LB

Marshall

95 att, 676 yards, 9 TD;

10 rec, 135 yards, TD;

41 total tackles, 4 sacks, 10.5 TFL

Vander Mathiowetz, Sr. LB/TE

Red Rock Central

134 total tackles, 2 sacks, 13 TFL, 2 INT, FF, 2 kick return TD;

36 rec, 510 yards, 9 TD;

25 att, 131 yards, 2 TD

Carter Therkilsen, Fr. RB/CB

Red Rock Central

265 att, 1,533 yards, 11 TD;

11 rec, 141 yards, TD

Jayden Lang, Jr. CB/WR

Red Rock Central

9 INT, 117 INT return yards, 39 total tackles;

26 rec, 331 yards, 4 TD

Jonah Vierstraete, Sr. DB/TE

Marshall

33.5 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT

Scott Hanson, head coach

Lakeview, 9-2, Section 5A runner-up

SECOND TEAM

Isaac Pohlen, Sr. QB

Minneota

119 of 185, 1,814 yards 20 TD, 11 INT;

60 att, 103 yards, 3 TD

Jesse Vierstraete, Fr. DE/T

Marshall

35 total tackles, 5 sacks, 17 TFL

Levi Olson, Sr. RB/LB

Dawson-Boyd

84 att, 659 yards, 9 TD;

11 rec, 171 yards, TD;

44 total tackles, 4 sacks, 5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FR

Sawyer DeSmet, Jr. TE/DE

Minneota

44 total tackles, 8 sacks, 10 TFL, FF

Peyton Gillund, Sr. WR/DB

Minneota

54 rec, 606 yards, 9 TD;

46 total tackles, 2 INT

Tyler Maeyaert, Sr. DB/QB

Marshall

32 total tackles, 5 INT, 1 INT return TD;

68 of 150, 1,037 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT;

49 att, 176 yards, 4 TD

Keaton Skarupa, Sr. OG/DE

Red Rock Central

109 total tackles, 5 sacks, 22 TFL, FF

Parker Bradley, So. MLB/OG/RB

Minneota

123 total tackles, 2 sacks, 11 TFL, FF

Justin Timm, Sr. LB

Lakeview

77 total tackles, 4 sacks, 6 TFL, 2 INT, INT return TD

Greg Schafer, Sr. RB/LB

Lakeview

57 att, 526 yards, 5 TD;

18 rec, 357 yards, 4 TD;

Punt return TD

Brayson Boike, So. WR/DB

Dawson-Boyd

34 rec, 656 yards, 9 TD;

15 total tackles, 4 INT, FF

Chad Johnston, HC

Minneota, 12-2, Class A state champions

HONORABLE MENTION

Trevor Smith, So. QB/DB

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton

100 of 182, 1,170 yards, 15 TD, 7 INT;

64 att, 516 yards, 5 TD

John Erbes, Sr. LB/WR

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton

38.5 total tackles, 11 TFL, 4 FF

Keegon Wicht, QB/LB

Dawson-Boyd

80 of 124, 1,480 yards, 20 TD, 8 INT;

7 total tackles, INT

Jordan Fischer, Sr. OL/DL

Lakeview

93 total tackles, sack 3 TFL, 2 INT

Gavin Schaefer, So. DE/FB

Marshall

28 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL

Aiden Swenson, Sr. WR/DB

Dawson-Boyd

23 rec, 416 yards, 7 TD;

6 att, 80 yards, 3 TD;

50 total tackles, 5 TFL, INT

Ayden St. Pierre, Sr. TE/LB

Lakeview

73 total tackles, 2 sacks, 6 TFL, 3 INT

Andrew Wallen, Jr. LB/TE

Marshall

40.5 total tackles, 3 sacks, 3.5 TFL, INT

Ashton Juhnke, Sr. DE/OG

Red Rock Central

66 total tackles, 2 sacks, 11 TFL, 3 FF

Isaac Simonson, Jr. QB/S

Red Rock Central

123 of 228, 1,407 yards, 18 TD, 7 INT;

1 rush TD

Ryan Meagher, So. RB/LB

Minneota

58 att, 540 yards, 9 TD

Terry Bahlmann, HC

Marshall, 9-1, 2AAAA runner-up