All-state football: Grundy Center's Knaack named Class A captain

Grundy Center senior Logan Knaack was selected as the Class A captain on the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association/Iowa Football Coaches Association's all-state football teams released Tuesday.

Knaack completed 56 percent of his passes this season for 1,524 yards, with 20 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 784 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, he made 31 total tackles and led the Spartans with seven interceptions.

He was selected to the Class A first team at quarterback, the third-straight year he has earned first-team honors. Knaack was under center for all three of the Spartans' state runner-up runs.

Joining Knaack on the first team is offensive lineman Brayden Sawyer, kicker Colin Gordon, defensive back Dexter Whitehill and Dayne Zinkula at defensive utility.

Sawyer, a senior, blocked for a Spartan offense that generated over 3,400 yards of offense, including five yards per rush this season. He also made 57 total tackles, seven for a loss, on defense.

Gordon, a sophomore, connected on 42-of-47 point after attempts and was 2-of-3 kicking field goals with a long of 30 yards. He adds 30 1/2 tackles and three touchdown receptions in the other two phases of his game.

Whitehill was Knaack's top target in the passing game with 36 catches for 613 yards and eight touchdowns. He added five interceptions on defense.

Zinkula led the team with 12 tackles for loss and 55 total tackles, adding two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. On offense, he rushed for 781 yards and seven touchdowns and caught three touchdown passes.

In Class 1A, state semifinalists Dike-New Hartford put eight players on the all-state teams, including first-teamers Cale Jensen at offensive line, Wil Textor on the defensive line, Nick Reinicke at linebacker and defensive back Parker Adams.

D-NH second-teamers were running back Jerek Hall, wide receiver Devon Kollasch and linebacker Nathan Graves. Nolan Dall was chosen as the third-team kicker.

Jensen, a senior, represents an offensive line that helped the Wolverines rush for six yards per carry this season. Defensively, Jensen led the Wolverines with 18 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks.

Textor, a junior, finished with 16 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks.

Reinicke, a junior, led the team with 102 1/2 tackles, including 51 solo stops, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Adams, a senior, made 38 1/2 tackles this season and led the team with eight interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.

Hall, a junior, rushed for 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns as D-NH's leading rusher this season.

Kollasch, a senior, made 39 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns.

Graves, a senior, made 50 1/2 tackles, including 28 solo stops, and 3 1/2 total tackles for loss.

Dall, a senior, connected on 58-of-61 point-after kicks, 2-of-3 field goals with a long of 26 yards, and averaged 46 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks this season.

Casey Trudo of Van Meter was selected as the Class 1A captain.