FAIRMONT – Trio of triple-threats. Hunter Cox, Nate Kallenbach and Cory Lyons proved a lethal combination in all three phases of prep football to power Fairmont to a 7-3 overall record and a second consecutive appearance in the Class AAA, Section 3 championship game this fall.

Cox utilized every inch of his 6-foot-7 frame to block a single-season school record four kicks, including one PAT and three punts – with two being returned for touchdowns by fellow 2016 Sentinel All-Area selection Sam Schwieger.

Cox also delivered 43 tackles, including a season’s-best 13 quarterback sacks for a loss of 100 1/2 yards, from his defensive end position.

The 2016 South Central Red District’s defensive lineman of the year, who also recorded a safety, displayed his offensive skills by catching two passes for 82 yards and one TD against Class 4A, No. 7-ranked Waseca during the regular-season finale.

“Hunter proved to be a defensive nightmare for opposing teams trying to pass against us,” Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney said in reference to his senior defensive and special-teams standout.

While Cox produced numerous defensive highlights on special teams, the 6-foot, 164-pound Kallenbach pinned opposing offenses deep in their own territory via his punting prowess this fall.

The all-district choice unleashed 27 punts for a 35.3-yard average, including a season-long of 57 yards twice, during his second year of punting at the varsity level.

The sure-footed Kallenbach topped the Cardinals in scoring with 70 points on the strength of 28 of 35 PAT kicks to complement seven TDs.

Fairmont’s field general generated a second-best rushing total of 463 yards for six scores and added one TD receiving during his junior year.

The strong-armed Kallenbach topped all area quarterbacks by completing 100 of 192 passes for 1,348 yards and nine more TDs during his second season under center.

“Nate’s a jack-of-all-trades on the field, and just an all-around great athlete,” said Mahoney.

Like Kallenbach and Cox, the hard-nosed Lyons displayed his multi-tasking skills game in and game out on the prep gridiron this fall.

The 6-foot, 201-pound senior middle linebacker topped the Cardinals’ statistical charts by recording 112 tackles this season to finish as the program’s No. 2 all-time tackler (289) from 2001-16.

The two-time all-district selection also collected one and a half quarterback sacks and recovered one fumble this fall.

The hard-blocking Lyons pounded out 356 yards and three TDs at fullback, in addition to making 11 receptions for 126 yards and another score.

Lyons finished fourth on the Cardinals in scoring with 24 points to close out his outstanding three-year prep career.

Lyons punted 32 times during the last two seasons, with opponents only being able to return a total of two. Lyons also tied the school record via his 71-yard punt in 2015.

“He definitely was a difference-maker for us. He was a tough and physical leader on the field,” Mahoney said in reference to Lyons, who also was the 2015 All-Area co-player of the year.

For all of their contributions on the high school football field, Cox, Kallenbach and Lyons have been selected as the 2016 Fairmont Sentinel All-Area football players of the year.

Here’s an inside glance at the rest of this year’s Sentinel All-Area football team.

Offensive Backfield

Logan Jahnke (Blue Earth Area) – The all-South Central White District choice topped the Bucs in three major offensive categories this fall.

The 5-9, 155-pound senior quarterback completed 79 of 175 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 TDs to complement 662 yards and 10 more scores on 143 rushes.

Blue Earth Area’s leading scorer with 60 points also garnered two interceptions and recorded 48 tackles from his safety spot on defense.

Dylan Jones (Martin County West/Martin Luther) – The repeat All-Area choice topped the Mavericks’ offense by churning out 916 yards and three TDs on 249 rushes.

The hard-charging 5-7, 170-pound senior running back capped a solid three-year varsity career.

Derek Shoen (Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman) – The 6-3, 190-pound junior running back set the Minnesota and national single-game rushing records (576 yards) and the state’s all-purpose yardage mark (629) during Week 8 of the regular season.

The all-9Man Southwest District leader topped all area rushers with 1,546 yards to complement 14 TDs and eight 2-point conversion runs.

The two-time All-Area selection added 177 passing yards and made four catches for 69 more yards to go with 17 kickoff returns for 298 yards and six punt returns for 104.

Shoen produced 68 tackles, including two sacks, and pocketed two interceptions from his linebacker spot on defense.

Offensive Line

Jared Armon (Blue Earth Area) – The two-time All-Area tackle supplied stellar run blocking and pass protection for an offense that produced 2,563 total yards and a 22.9-point scoring average in 2016.

The all-South Central White District selection displayed his multi-tasking skills by registering 67 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, from his defensive end position to close out his outstanding prep football career.

Logan Ebeling (MCW/ML) – The 6-4, 250-pound junior tackle delivered blocks for a Maverick offense that generated 1,360 total yards during a rebuilding year in 2016.

The defensive tackle recorded 20 tackles, including five for a loss of yards, to cap a solid campaign.

Theo Krumholz (Fairmont) – The honorable mention all-South Central Red District choice opened running room and provided pass protection for a Cardinal offense that amassed 3,200 total yards and netted 25.6 points per outing.

The 6-5, 230-pound senior offensive tackle played a key role in guiding Fairmont to a 7-3 overall record and its second consecutive appearance in the Class AAA, Section 3 finals.

Mitchell Scheff (GHEC/Truman) – The all-9Man Southwest District center delivered run-blocking and pass protection for a Jaguars’ offense that amassed 2,268 yards and 150 points.

The 6-1, 250-pound senior defensive lineman recorded 24 tackles, including a team-leading six sacks to cap a solid two-way prep career.

Parker Stevens (GHEC/Truman) – The honorable mention all-9Man Southwest District guard opened holes for the record-setting Shoen during the fall.

The 6-0, 235-pound junior defensive tackle delivered 14 tackles, including two sacks, to cap his season.

Receivers

Christian Engeman (Fairmont) – The South All-Star selection capped a stellar three-year varsity career by garnering 19 receptions for 248 yards and one TD from his wide receiver spot.

The two-time All-Area choice tied for the Cardinals’ team lead with Levi Bulfer by pocketing five interceptions en route to 10 for his prep career.

The honorable mention all-South Central Red District pick recorded 52 tackles, including one quarterback sack, during his senior season.

Sam Schwieger (Fairmont) – The two-year varsity starting split end pocketed 16 passes for 218 yards and two TDs during his junior campaign.

The 6-2, 166-pounder returned a pair of Hunter Cox blocked punts for two TDs en route to being the Cardinals’ third leading scorer on the season with 26 points.

The sure-handed Schwieger made three interceptions and notched 28 tackles from his safety spot on defense.

Special Teams

Kaylan Legred (Blue Earth Area) – The all-South Central White District first-teamer paced the Bucs’ special-teams return unit to close out his prep gridiron playing days.

The 5-9, 150-pound senior returned 13 kickoffs for a 26.3-yard clip and one TD, while topping Blue Earth Area with eight punt returns for 64 yards.

The Bucs’ No. 2 scorer with 50 points on the season also generated a team-best four TDs to go with 239 yards on 16 catches. He also gained 198 yards and tallied three more scores on 32 carries.

The scrappy Legred also contributed two interceptions and 30 tackles from his cornerback spot on defense.

Defensive Line

Parker Anderson (MCW/ML) – The Mavericks’ nose tackle produced 27 tackles, including eight for a loss of yards and two and a half quarterback sacks this fall.

The 6-0, 170-pound junior also handled the offense’s snapping duties and pass protection from his starting center position.

Jesus Quintero (Blue Earth Area) – Quintero earned honorable mention all-South Central White District accolades from his defensive spot this fall.

The 5-11, 195-pound senior garnered 73 tackles, including one quarterback sack, to close out his prep football career.

Linebackers

Eythan Blair (North Union) – The four-time All-Area linebacker piled up a team-best 106 tackles and scooped up two fumbles to close out his brilliant prep football career.

The perennial Iowa Class A, all-district choice also provided blocking for an offense that generated 1,883 yards and 19 TDs this fall.

Zach Buseman (Blue Earth Area) – The Bucs’ stalwart linebacker chalked up a team-leading 88 tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks, and recovered a team-best three fumbles in 2016.

The all-South Central White District choice proved a quadruple-threat by handling the team’s running back duties, in addition to punts and kickoffs.

The 5-11, 170-pound junior fullback placed second on the Bucs with 354 yards and six TDs on 99 carries, while making three catches for another 16 yards and a score.

Blue Earth Area’s third-leading scorer with 42 points also drilled 41 kickoffs for a 35.8-yard average and two touchbacks, while launching 30 punts for a 30.6-yard clips and four inside the 20-yard line, including one touchback.

Collin Steuber (Fairmont) – The all-South Central Red District first-teamer garnered 70 tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks, from his linebacker position this fall.

The 6-1, 180-pound junior also made a smooth transition from the backfield to offensive guard this season.

Steuber played an integral role in Fairmont generating 3,200 total yards of offense.

Carter Wille (MCW/ML) – The two-year starting linebacker tallied 31 tackles, including two for a loss of yards, to cap a solid senior campaign.

The 5-10, 195-pound Wille also opened running room and gave pass protection for a Maverick offense that generated 1,360 total yards in 2016.

Secondary

Isaac Engeman (North Union) – The Iowa Class A, District 2 first-teamer made a second-best 58.5 tackles to go with one fumble recovery for the Warriors.

The sophomore phenom also topped North Union’s ground game with 595 rushing yards and seven TDs.

Engeman, who made a team-best eight catches for 78 yards, finished No. 2 in scoring with 48 points.

Quintin Greier (GHEC/Truman) – The honorable mention all-9Man Southwest District cornerback collected 22 tackles and two interceptions, while breaking up nine passes this season.

The 5-10, 150-pound junior quarterback threw for 362 yards and four TDs, tallied 95 rushing yards and two more scores and one 2-point run, while catching three passes for 34 yards and another TD.

Ethan Hurn (MCW/ML) – The two-time All-Area choice garnered one interception to complement 25 tackles from his spot in the defensive secondary this fall.

The 5-10, 170-pound senior quarterback handled the playmaking duties for an offense that tallied 1,360 total yards in a rebuilding season.

Chris Sanders (Blue Earth Area) – The all-South Central White District honorable mention pick proved a jack-of-all-trades during his senior campaign.

The 5-9, 145-pound safety made a second-best team total of 78 tackles to go with two interceptions, including a pick-6.

Sanders demonstrated his versatility by returning 13 kickoffs for a 25.1-yard clip, while catching 13 passes for 271 yards and one TD. Sanders added 120 more yards on 20 carries to close out a solid prep football career.

Special Teams

Trent Pedersen (North Union) – The Iowa Class A, District 2 specialist of the year launched 30 kickoffs for 1,205 yards to complement a punting average of 34.7 yards, including a long of 64 in 2016.

The three-time All-Area choice, who kicked one field goal, also returned 16 kickoffs for 358 yards during his fourth varsity campaign.

The senior standout topped the Warriors in scoring (56 points), finished second in rushing (551 yards) and tied for first in rushing TDs (7).

The sure-handed Pedersen delivered 36.5 tackles, including six for a loss of yards keyed by three sacks, and recovered two fumbles to cap his senior season.