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Wednesday, November 2, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Gurney named league’s top defender
Correspondent
Senior Jacob Gurney was
named the Defensive Player
of the Year in the Sky-Em
League for the second year in
row.
Coach Gary Thorson told
The Nugget that the award is
not only a reflection of Jacob’s
abilities as a player, but also a
recognition of the Outlaws’
defense as a whole, and how
well they play together.
Sisters offense had several
players selected to all-league
teams.
Brady Wessel (junior)
earned first-team honors as
guard for the second con-
secutive year. Wessel was
without a doubt the Outlaws’
most physical lineman and,
according to Thorson, a great
technician.
“Brady’s off-season work-
ethic in the weight room —
and his commitment to the
program — have helped build
him into an outstanding offen-
sive lineman,” said Thorson.
“He has a great drive to finish
his blocks.”
Gurney (senior) was a first-
team pick at tackle. He made
the switch from an all-league
guard last year to a first-team
tackle this year, and didn’t
miss a beat.
“Along with Jacob’s tre-
mendous work-ethic and
desire to excel, he is a great
technician with good mobil-
ity, and that combines to
make him a great tackle in our
offense,” Thorson said.
Senior Tyler Head earned
first-team tight end for the sec-
ond consecutive year, and is
one of the team’s best athletes.
“Tyler has improved
his blocking over last year,
possesses good hands, and
has had a big impact on our
offense,” said Thorson.
Jacob Stevens (junior)
rounded out the first-league
offensive players at running
back.
Thorson said, “While a bit
under-sized at his position,
‘Little Stevie,’ is a tough run-
ner that hits the hole hard, and
has been consistent all year
long. He has the speed to take
it all the way every time he
touches the ball, and has bro-
ken off several long runs for
the Outlaws this past season.”
Christopher Luz (junior)
earned second-team slot-back.
Luz was one of the league’s
most explosive players, and
has become a big play threat
in the Outlaws offense.
“Christopher is one of the
team’s most improved play-
ers,” said Thorson. “He has
great hands, and is very elu-
sive once he has the ball in his
hands. He is a consistent play-
maker for us. He also spent
some time at quarterback for
us as well. He’s a very intel-
ligent football player who
understands the game, and
what we are trying to do on
both sides of the ball.”
Sisters had two players
recognized at quarterback.
Johnny Gurney was a sec-
ond-team pick at the posi-
tion and Tanner Head earned
honorable-mention.
Thorson told The Nugget
that to have two players earn
honors at the same position
speaks to the abilities of the
two team leaders.
“Johnny has been a wild-
cat quarterback in our offense,
and his running ability has
added another dimension to
the Outlaws’ offense,” said
Thorson. “Tanner received
honors at quarterback last
year as well, and he’s one of
the best throwers in our con-
ference. Tanner has had sev-
eral outstanding games for us
this fall. He’s shown amazing
character and desire in com-
ing back from injuries, and
has earned the respect of not
only his teammates, but oth-
ers throughout the league as
well.”
Jaden Condel (junior) was
honorable-mention at center
on offense. Condel played
at both center and guard for
the Outlaws, but his play at
center has been critical in the
development of the Outlaws’
offense.
“Jaden has a great prac-
tice work-ethic and a desire
to excel, and that shows every
Friday night for Jaden,” said
Thorson. “He’s a smart and
heady player who has devel-
oped into a great technician.”
Specialist all-league recog-
nition went to Christopher Luz
and Zach Morgan.
Luz was named first-team
kick-returner. Christopher is
explosive and dangerous, and
returned several punts and
kickoffs for scores and is a
major weapon in the Outlaws’
special teams play.
“Christopher is very shifty
and elusive,” said Thorson.
“He has a great knack for
making people miss, and is a
threat to score every time the
ball is kicked to him.”
Morgan (junior) was a
second-team punter. Zach has
been consistent in punting the
ball for the Outlaws all year
long, and has been a weapon
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Jacob Gtrney’s defensive skills earned him top honors in leagte.
in the Outlaws’ special teams’
play.
“Zach has learned to place
his punts where he needs to,”
said Thorson. “He’s saved us a
few times with his athleticism
when the snaps were off, and
made great plays in getting the
punts off.”
On defense, senior Tyler
Head was a first-team outside-
linebacker pick, a repeat for
this award for Head at this
position. Tyler has started at
this position for the Outlaws
for the past three years.
“Tyler has been very tough
against the run for the Outlaws
from his rover position, and
his athleticism shows in cov-
erage as well,” said Thorson.
“His knowledge and under-
standing of the game at this
position shows every week for
us and he consistently made
big plays for us every Friday
night.”
Three defensive linemen,
Brady Wessel, Joel Miller,
and Austin Lake all earned
spots on all-league teams.
Wessel was selected
first-team, Miller earned
second-team, and Lake was
honorable-mention.
Thorson told The Nugget
that the success of the Outlaws
defense and linebackers was
due to the work of the defen-
sive line, which included
Wessel, Miller, and Lake.
“Each of these guys did
a great job of drawing dou-
ble teams and allowing the
linebackers behind them to
flow and fly to the ball,” said
Thorson. “Brady is the most
experienced and physical of
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