ALL-AREA CO-CAPTAIN — Fairmont quarterback Zach Jorgensen (11) breaks an arm tackle attempt by a Dassel-Cokato defender during Class AAA state quarterfinal action Nov. 13 in Prior Lake. Jorgensen and Blue Earth Area’s Adam Schavey have been selected as the Sentinel’s 2021 All-Area football players of the year. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Wanted: High school quarterback who can effectively pass and run. Must also be impact player on defense.

Blue Earth Area’s Adam Schavey and Fairmont’s Zach Jorgensen each fit the bill perfectly as two-way standout starters, even though they’re polar opposites from both an offensive perspective and genetic physiques.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Schavey proved the Bucs’ leading rusher by bruising and bulldozing defenders for a staggering 27 touchdowns and 1,583 yards on 210 carries for a 7.5-yard clip per run.

Ironically, the perennial all-district football selection established Blue Earth Area’s single-game school record of 380 yards and six TDs on 43 carries during a 42-13 triumph over Fairmont in the two teams’ battle for the Little Brown Jug on Oct. 20.

The three-time All-Area choice also completed 35 of 87 passes for 473 yards and seven more TDs to prevent defenses from loading the box against the Bucs’ ground-oriented attack.

The hard-working Schavey also spearheaded the Bucs’ smothering defense by recording 60 tackles from his linebacker position. The senior co-captain capped his final prep defensive performance by returning an interception for a score.

On the opposite sideline, the 6-4, 182-pound Jorgensen etched his name in nearly every single-game, single-season and career passing category in Fairmont’s rich football history.

For a third consecutive campaign, the three-time All-Area signal-caller topped the Cardinals’ statistical charts in both passing and rushing yards to cap his three-year varsity career.

The perennial all-district signal-caller completed 102 of 185 passes for 1,934 yards and 22 TDs, while netting 435 yards and five more scores on 102 rushes this fall.

The strong-armed Jorgensen exits his prep football playing days as Fairmont’s all-time career passing TDs leader with 53, while finishing No. 2 in career passing yards (4,195). The senior co-captain is only the fourth Cardinal quarterback to throw for 300-plus yards in a single game — doing it twice to capture the No. 3 (309) and No. 4 (305) spots, respectively, in program history.

Jorgensen also produced 47 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery from his safety position to prove one of the team’s top defenders.

The multi-tasking Jorgensen also handled the majority of the Cardinals’ punting duties by unleashing 13 kicks for a 34-yard average in 2021.

For all of their contributions, both No. 11s — Jorgensen and Schavey — have been chosen as the Sentinel’s All-Area football players of the year.

Here’s an inside look at the rest of the Sentinel’s 2021 All-Area football selections.

Eli Anderson (Fairmont) — The two-time all-district split end garnered a team-best 52 catches for 16 TDs and 1,198 yards to exit his prep football career as the Cardinals’ all-time single-season receiving yards leader.

The repeat All-Area choice became only the second receiver in Fairmont history to eclipse 1,000 yards in a fall and just the third to reach 200-plus yards in a single game. The senior co-captain amassed a career-best 201 yards against Waseca in the Section 3AAA championship game.

The fleet-footed 6-0, 165-pound senior topped the Cardinals in scoring (108) for a second straight season, and paced the defensive secondary with four interceptions — highlighted by a pick-6.

The sure-handed cornerback, who recorded 32 tackles in 2021, closed out his prep playing days with nine interceptions.

Zach Anderson (Martin County West) — The all-district honorable mention wide receiver led the Mavericks by making 26 catches for 545 yards, a 20.7-yard clip and seven TDs this fall.

The lanky 6-6, 170-pound junior, who handled MCW’s punting duties, also tallied one score and 111 yards on just six carries for an impressive 18.5-yard average out of the backfield.

The sure-handed safety also notched one interception, deflected a half-dozen passes and recorded 14 tackles to close out his third varsity football campaign.

Hank Artz (Fairmont) — The all-district two-way starter climbed the Cardinals’ statistical charts on defense and displayed his versatility on offense in 2021.

The 6-1, 225-pound freshman end collected Fairmont’s third-best tackle total (61), including producing the program’s No. 1 marks in tackles for loss (11) and quarterback sacks (6) this fall.

The two-year varsity starter possessed the speed, strength and athleticism to play tight end, tackle and guard on an offense that generated 29.3 points per outing on the strength of 3,711 total yards including 2,428 through the air.

Hudson Artz (Fairmont) — The North Dakota State commit made a smooth transition from linebacker to safety and finished with 51 tackles, one interception and a team-best two fumble recoveries this season.

The two-time All-Area choice tied for third on the Cardinals in receiving with a dozen catches for 205 yards and four TDs, while contributing 69 yards and one more score on 20 carries.

The 6-0, 190-pound senior speedster finished fourth in scoring for Fairmont by chalking up 31 points, including a safety, to cap his stellar prep football playing days.

Christian Bachenberg (Martin County West) — The nimble all-district quarterback proved a double-edged weapon for Maverick opponents by completing 80 of 157 passes for 1,301 yards and 14 TDs to go with seven more scores and 380 yards behind 88 carries.

The 5-8, 160-pound senior cornerback demonstrated his sure-handedness on defense by pocketing three interceptions, returning one fumble recovery for six points and making 25 tackles to close out a stellar prep football career.

Caleb Benes (GHEC/Truman) — The repeat All-Area selection proved a force on defense for the Jaguars by recording 51 tackles during his final prep gridiron campaign.

The hard-hitting linebacker also collected four quarterback sacks, netted one safety and produced one interception to close out his four-year high school football career.

Christian Bierstedt (North Union) — The 5-9, 180-pound linebacker topped the green-and-white’s defensive unit by notching 76.5 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss of yards, this season.

The senior offensive guard also created running room for All-Area teammates Prochniak and Morphew on the ground, and protection for Morphew to find both Fries and Prochniak through the air.

Aidan Fries (North Union) — The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association’s Class A third-team all-state receiver topped the Warriors by hauling in 37 passes for 471 yards and 13 TDs this fall.

The hard-working 5-11, 155-pound senior safety topped North Union’s defense by collecting five interceptions, netted third by delivering 41.5 tackles and added a fumble recovery.

The fleet-footed Fries returned 18 kickoffs for 326 yards and an 18.1-yard clip to close out his stellar prep football career.

Tucker Grathwohl (GHEC/Truman) — The hard-working defender created a team-best 11.5 quarterback sacks to highlight his 2021 gridiron campaign.

Grathwohl closed out the season with 42 tackles to complement collecting two safeties during the Jaguars’ 9-Man schedule.

Kean Hicks (Blue Earth Area) — The repeat All-Area offensive lineman created running room and provided pass protection for a Bucs’ system that churned out 3,756 yards of total offense, 219 first downs and a 40.6-point scoring clip this fall.

The all-district linebacker delivered a second-best tackle total of 55 for a defense that allowed a miniscule 10.9 points per game and 104 total first downs in 2021.

The 5-10, 185-pound senior also garnered one interception and scooped up one fumble to close out a stellar prep football career.

Ashton Lloyd (Blue Earth Area) — The sure-handed all-district receiver topped the Bucs by garnering 19 catches for 289 yards and five TDs during the fall campaign.

The 6-5, 225-pound junior end also proved his mettle on defense by making 21 tackles — including three quarterback sacks, in addition to blocking one kick in 2021.

Lloyd also handled Blue Earth Area’s punting duties, launching eight kicks for 306 yards for a 38.3-yard clip and three inside opponents’ 20-yard line.

Kayden Loeschen (GHEC/Truman) — The Jaguars’ sure-handed linebacker paced the team by notching 81.5 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, this fall.

Loeschen also topped the purple-and-black’s ground game by gaining 369 yards and two TDs on 84 carries from his running back position.

Carter Morphew (North Union) — The multi-tasking Warriors’ quarterback proved double-trouble for opposing defenders by generating more than 1,600 yards out of the backfield in 2021.

The 6-2, 155-pound junior signal-caller completed 74 of 148 passes for 924 yards and 16 TDs to complement producing North Union’s No. 2 rushing total of 684 yards and four TDs on 83 carries.

Morphew topped all area special-teams players by launching 24 punts for 1,069 yards and a staggering 44.5-yard average per kick to round out a stellar prep campaign.

Max Olson (Martin County West) — The district’s defensive lineman of the year topped the Mavericks’ statistical charts by recording 88 tackles, including a body-jarring 27 stops for a loss of yardage, in 2021.

The 6-3, 220-pound junior sensation also recorded five quarterback sacks to go with recovering one fumble this fall.

The two-time All-Area selection proved a path-clearing wrecking machine from his guard position on offense as Martin County West amassed 3,316 total yards.

Luke Norman (Blue Earth Area) — The all-district lineman joined forces with Hicks to deliver hole-opening blocks and a safe passing pocket for Schavey to fuel the Bucs’ high-octane offense that amassed 3,261 rushing yards and 495 more through the air.

The 6-1, 240-pound hard-working tackle clogged up the middle for opposing offenses and delivered 27 tackles on the season for Blue Earth Area’s stingy defense.

Bryer Prochniak (North Union) — The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association’s Class A third-team all-state choice topped the Warriors’ ground game with 1,284 yards and 15 TDs on 158 totes in 2021.

The 6-0, 175-pound junior running back also finished second on North Union’s statistical charts by making 27 catches for 318 yards and two more scores.

The fleet-footed Prochniak, a 2021 state track qualifier in the sprints, recorded 52 tackles from his cornerback position on defense, in addition to pocketing four interceptions — highlighted by a pick-6.

Prochniak utilized his Mercurial speed to net a 25.8-yard average by returning 16 kickoffs for 412 yards to close out an outstanding campaign.

Gavin Rodning (Fairmont) — The two-time All-Area linebacker topped the Cardinals’ tackling charts for yet another season, recording 99 stops in 2021.

The sure-handed tackler also pocketed two interceptions, including a pick-6, to complement returning seven punts for 104 yards from a special-teams perspective.

The all-district senior fullback netted the No. 3 spot on the Cardinals in rushing with 347 yards and four TDs on 69 carries and grabbed 11 passes for 184 yards and one score en route to finishing third in scoring with 36 points.

Luke Schonborn (Blue Earth Area) — The all-district choice produced 45 tackles from his linebacker position on a Bucs’ defense that allowed only 104 first downs in 2021.

The 6-1, 195-pound senior flanker made four catches for 84 yards and one TD, in addition to making path-clearing blocks, to complement returning seven punts for 109 yards.

Tanner Sinn (Martin County West) — The Class A academic all-state football player finished second on the Mavericks by garnering 24 catches for 370 yards and four TDs from his tight end position.

The all-district defensive end delivered 40 tackles — including a dozen for a loss of yardage — to cap an outstanding prep football career.

Wyatt Williamson (Martin County West) — The all-district linebacker evolved into a sure-handed tackler in 2021 by recording the Mavericks’ No. 2 tackle mark of 82, including six for a loss of yards.

The 6-2, 195-pound junior offensive lineman, who also deflected five passes from a defensive perspective, delivered blocks and pass protection for a Martin County West offense that amassed 3,316 total yards.