Repeat picks Larmie, Clark, Whitinger among 10 Hawks on all-district first team

Ankeny running back Daniel Larmie follows the blocking of Owen Liechti during the Hawks’ 26-13 victory at Waukee on Sept. 5. Larmie has been named to the all-district first team for the third consecutive year. He was joined on the squad by nine of his teammates, including Liechti. (Photo by Stephen McDaniel)

Senior running back Daniel Larmie has been named to the all-district first team for the third consecutive year, while senior defensive back La’Marious Clark and junior linebacker Dawson Whitinger were both repeat picks after leading the Ankeny football team to a 7-3 record this season.

The Hawks placed seven more players on the first team, including senior quarterback Kael Roush, who was named to an offensive utility position. The other first-team picks are senior receiver Andrew Brandhorst, senior tight end Nathan Richmond, senior offensive lineman Owen Liechti, senior kick returner Owen Fischer, junior defensive lineman Hunter Minner and senior defensive back Joey Sandvig.

Liechti was the anchor of an offensive line that allowed Larmie to run the ball 221 times for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns. Larmie is the fourth-leading rusher in Class 5A.

Clark made 30.5 tackles while leading Class 5A with five interceptions, including one that he turned into a pick six. He also recovered two fumbles and returned one of them for an 83-yard score.

Ankeny defensive back La’Marious Clark returns an interception as linebacker Dawson Whitinger (No. 6) looks for somebody to block during the Hawks’ 21-14 loss to visiting Southeast Polk in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs on Oct. 31. Both Clark and Whitinger have been selected to the all-district first team for the second straight season. (Photo by Stephen McDaniel)

Whitinger placed second on the team with 51 tackles, including 12 for losses and four sacks. Sandvig, meanwhile, led the Hawks with 57 tackles and 29 solo stops.

Whitinger and Sandvig both had a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Brandhorst, who was a second-team pick a year ago, had 47 catches for 620 yards. He is tied for fifth in Class 5A with 10 receiving touchdowns.

Roush completed 134-of-212 passes for 1,627 yards and 17 touchdowns. Richmond had nine catches for 50 yards and a score.

Ankeny tight end Nathan Richmond (right) looks on as quarterback Kael Roush fights for some extra yards during the Hawks’ 25-24 loss to visiting Waukee Northwest on Aug. 29. Both Richmond and Roush have been named to the all-district first team. (Photo by Stephen McDaniel)

Fischer averaged nearly 30 yards on 12 kickoff returns and had a 97-yard return for a touchdown. He also had 33 catches for 384 yards and three scores.

Minner had 23 tackles for the Hawks.

Five other Ankeny players were selected to the all-district second team, including sophomore offensive lineman Jack Aubrey, who was named to a utility position on offense. The others are senior defensive linemen Andy Lu and Tyton Westemeier, senior linebacker Nathan Becker and senior defensive back Daniel Frazee.

Five other Hawks earned all-district honorable mention, including senior offensive lineman Zach Breitbach, who also received honorable mention as a junior. The others are senior offensive linemen Kael Bodin and Ryan Pruin, senior linebacker Nathan Jenkins and sophomore defensive back Grant Fischer.