Five Bulldogs football players earn All-Conference recognition

Five Haxtun Bulldog football players were honored with post-season awards following a six-game season. The team finished 3-3 overall with wins over Dayspring Christian Academy, Caliche and Akron in the 2020 season. The 21-member team is under the direction of Head Coach JD Stone and Assistant Coach Marc Bornhoft.

Post-season honors are announced at the conclusion of the season and are determined by a vote of coaches from the Lower Platte League.

Three Bulldogs received All-Conference honors, including senior Ryan Tempel, junior Owen Knode and sophomore Michael Gerk. Sophomores Osman Coss and Gehrig Thompson received All-Conference, Honorable Mention honors.

Tempel, one of two seniors on the team, served as a co-captain and played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Bulldogs. Tempel tallied four pancake blocks in his six games this season while also racking up 18 solo tackles and 42 assisted tackles for a total of 60 on the season. The senior leader averaged 10 tackles per game in his final season on the field for Haxtun.

Knode, co-captain and quarterback for the Bulldogs, threw for a total of 741 yards this season for an average of 123.5 yards per game. Knode tallied nine passing touchdowns in his 44 pass completions. On the ground, the junior added 188 rushing yards. Defensively, Knode added 37 solo and 37 assisted tackles for a total of 74 in his junior season.

Bulldog running back Gerk tallied 419 yards on the ground for an average of 5.4 yards per carry; 69.8 yards per game. Gerk put up four rushing touchdowns and four from the air for a total of eight this season. He also nabbed three interceptions. On defense, Gerk racked up 21 solo tackles and 29 assisted for a total of 50.

Coss, who played tight end and defensive end for the Bulldogs, tallied three solo and 20 assisted tackles on the season as well as one sack and a pancake block. He racked up 246 rushing yards on offense for an average of 4.3 yards per carry. He also had one 10-yard catch on offense.

Thompson, a defensive end and center, tallied 26 tackles in his sophomore showing including four solo tackles and 22 assisted for an average of 5.2 tackles per game. He also had two fumble recoveries.