The Trenton Bulldogs, in their first season as a member of the Grand River Conference, had a banner 2016 season, winning a regular-season co-championship (with Maysville), winning the program’s first district game in the three years under Coach Brandon Boswell, and, in voting announced at midnight, having seven players named Class 2 all-northwest district by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Named all-district from Trenton High School are senior running back Austin Burkeybile, sophomore offensive lineman Jadan Whitney, junior all-purpose Lathan Croy, junior defensive lineman Mason Owen, junior defensive end Cole Schilling, senior linebacker Connor Cotton and junior defensive back Colton Colston.
The six Bulldogs are joined on the Class 2 team by a slew of players from Lawson, a program that won District 8 on a run to the state semifinals, where Todd Dunn’s team lost to eventual runner-up Trinity Catholic. Coach Dunn was named all-district coach of the year, with other Cardinals named all-district being Cody Glenn at quarterback, Adrean Eskew and Corbin Menke at running back (with Eskew a linebacker selection), wide receiver and kick returner Colton Williams, offensive linemen Clayton Campbell and Lane Maddux, defensive lineman Jaden Moxley and Ethan Bowers, and defensive back Max Ross.
The rest of the Class 2 all-district squad has Lathrop running back Josh Saling, LeBlond wide receiver Mason Cross, offensive lineman Andrew Stroud, placekicker Kalvin Hudson, linebacker Michael Modlin, and punter Jacob McEnaney, and Carrollton linebacker Luke Staton.
As expected, the Class 1 state champion Penney Hornets dominate the all-district selections, highlighted by quarterback Jaran Richman and state offensive player of the year (Class 1 coaches) LaTroy Harper. The Trosper brothers, Garrett and Tyler, are defensive line selections, with other Hornets on the team being running back and linebacker Brock Swindler, offensive linemen Kenny Pulley and Clayton Cook (Pulley is also a linebacker selection), and defensive backs Derek Dixon and LaTroy Harper. Caleb Obert, the second-year coach at Penney, is the all-district coach of the year.
Princeton’s dynamic offense was recognized with three all-district selections, as quarterback Andrew Smith and receivers Blaine Millburn and Cash Hartley were recognized.
Others named Class 1 all-district are running backs Gunnar Martin of Polo, Ben French of North Platte, and Troy Powers of Maysville; wide receiver Riley Brill of Mid-Buchanan; offensive linemen Zack Phillips of Polo, Clayton Gibson of Maysville, and Elijah Curl of Plattsburg, all-purpose Stetson Brant of Mid-Buchanan; placekicker Adrian Hernandez of Gallatin; kick returner Hayden Catlett of Maysville; defensive linemen Graydee Rains of Gallatin and Hayden Matthews of Mid-Buchanan; linebackers Wes Neil of Maysville, Wyatt Bird and Cole McBee of Gallatin, and Austin Potter of East Buchanan; defensive backs Matthew Graham of Plattsburg and Austin Podbevsek of Maysville; and punter Jordan Kremer of Plattsburg.
Six Chillicothe Hornets and one player from the Cameron Dragons were named all-district for Classes 3 through 5. Named from Chillicothe were running ack Josh Kille, offensive linemen Walker Graves and Max Anderson, placekicker Jack Willard, defensive lineman Brad Mosier and defensive back Cade Snyder. Cameron’s Matthew Simmons was an all-district selection at defensive line. Smithville’s Jason Ambroson was the all-district coach of the year.
