All-Union defense would be formidable

The 2020 football season was a constantly changing situation, with even a team's opponent could be different in the afternoon than it was in the morning of Game Day.

A lot of defense was played against the coronavirus but there was some outstanding talent on the football field as well.

Area teams excelled defensively and especially on the specialty teams. The kicking and return game of the 2020 All-Union team is a threat to field position as well as the possibilty of a score at any time.

The inaugural All-Union defense featured all-state selections in Sigourney-Keota's Brady Duwa and Washington's Trashaun Willis and both returned but Willis moved up to captain.

The following list is the Union's choices for defensive and special team units comprised of area athletes that would shut down any school's offenses or keep the kicking and return team coach up late with worry.

Zayne Laws, senior, Washington, defensive line

A 6-foot-4, 235 pound nose tackle, Laws was a physical presence in the middle of the Demons defense. He had 15 solo tackles and 31.5 total that included 11 tackles for loss and five sacks (both second in the district) while sitting out the latter parts of games due to big leads. He recovered two fumbles.

Carter Allen, Junior, New London, defensive line

It hasn't been easy for Class 8-Player teams to move the ball against New London, and that doesn't mean just this year. The Tigers have been one of the top defensive teams in their district since moving to 8-Player in 2018, and the D-line has been strong all three years.

The consistent force on that line has been Carter Allen, who logged another fantastic year in 2020. Allen finished the year with 55 tackles, including a season high 40 solo take downs.

Allen had a team-leading 19 tackles for loss and also led New London with nine sacks. He also recovered two fumbles.

Reece Mayer, senior, Washington, defensive end

The Demons shut teams down and in three games an opponent had negative rushing totals. Mayer racked up nine tackles for loss (third in the district) and was a constant disruption in the opponents' backfield. He had three sacks, 19 solo tackles and 31.5 total.

Josh Wallington, senior, Mid-Prairie, defensive line

An agile lineman is always a tough test for blockers. Wallington thrived in the Golden Hawks defense and had 28.5 total tackles, 18 solo 1.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss, which was eighth in the district.

Justice Jones, junior, Mid-Prairie, linebacker

The Golden Hawks defense dispenses Justice behind its middle linebacker. Jones was 10th in Class 2A and first in his district with 69 total tackles, second with 42 solo and third with 10,5 tackles for loss.

Wyatt Stout, senior, Washington, linebacker

A first team all-district pick two years straight, Stout was All-Union last year when he had 27 solo tackles and 40.5 total with six tackles for loss. Despite being injured for a couple games in the middle of the season, he had 21 solos, 36 tackles and six TFL. He led the Demons in rushing with 585 yards on 68 carries and 11 TDs.

Klayton Kleinkopf, senior, Mt. Pleasant, linebacker

Mt. Pleasant co-op with Danville has paid off big time in the last few years and the Bears of 2020 have given the Panthers a boost. Kleinkopf led the defense with 63 tackles, 36 of them solo. He also finished the year with eight tackles for loss, and one sack.

Although defense was his strong suit, Kleinkopf also helped out in the running game with 132 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Cael Baker, senior, Pekin, linebacker

Pekin is a tradition-rich program built on defense and the run game and Baker brought both to the field. The defensive leader for the Panthers in tackles with 56 (second in the district), solo stops at 34 and tackles for loss with 8.0 (sixth in district), he also had 49 carries for 280 yards, four touchdowns and was the leading receiver.

Ethan Zieglowsky, junior, Washington, defensive back

In 3A, only 10 other players had more than Zieglowsky's four interceptions and nobody did more with those pilfered balls. Zieglowsky scored 18 points from his position on defense. His three interceptions returned for a score was tied for the most in the state, first regardless of class.

Blaise Porter, sophomore, New London, defensive back

Porter is one of those tied for the most in the state who have three interceptions returned for touchdowns. He was terrific on both sides of the ball, but he earns his All-Union spot on defense. Porter ended the season with 38 tackles, 31 of them solo, but what he did to disrupt the passing game was even more impressive. Porter picked off nine passes on the year and led the entire state with 186 return yards. Porter's eye-popping offensive numbers were 1,340 yards rushing with 23 touchdowns and he threw for 424 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.

Tucker Bright, senior, Columbus, defensive back

The Wildcats turned some heads this season under new coach Dave Lekwa and Bright's defense contributed to that. He was fourth in total tackles (44) and fifth in tackles for loss (6.0) in a district that had the state champions. He returned 10 kickoffs for 221 yards (fourth) and was sixth in punt returns. He rushed 48 times (12th) for 282 yards and was 10th in receptions and seventh in yards.

Treyton Bainbridge, senior, Van Buren County, punter

Bainbridge was an all-around player for the Warriors, blocking on the offensive line and leading the defense with 54 tackles, but it was his work on the punting unit that earned him the nod.

Bainbridge was Top-10 in Class A in both punt yards and yards per punt. He had 1,046 yards off the boot, 10th best in Class A, and finished eighth in the class with 40.2 yards-per-punt.

Colten Clarahan, junior, Sigourney-Keota, kicker

His prowess was evident with his placing in several categories, third in Class 1A in kickoffs, kickoff yards, longest field goal, PAT points made and attempted. He was seventh in touchbacks. At linebacker he was third in the district in both total tackles (54.5) and solos (40).

Spencer Sotelo, senior, Washington, kick returner

The Demons had double danger to their return game with junior Jacob Miller, who was first in 3A in punt return yards with Sotelo ninth. Kickoff returns combined totaled 13 for 288.

Eighth in Class 3A with seven TD receptions, Sotelo also had three interceptions.

Brady Duwa, senior, Sigourney-Keota, punt returner

For an all-around threat, there was none better than the player Duwa became. Sixth in 1A in punt returns, he was first in yards and average per return (32.5), fourth in kickoff return yards, sixth in average (40.6) and first with four kickoff and punt TDs combined. First in 1A with nine interceptions last year, he had five to tie for fifth this year.

Of those with at least 50 rushes in 1A, Duwa's average of 9.6 was second (53-for-507). He caught 15 passes for an average of 21.6 per catch, seven for TDs, (ninth in 1A).