TWO FOOTBALL PLAYERS from Kohler/Lutheran/Christian made first-team all-conference: Robby Michael (No. 2) and Colin Girdaukas (No. 80). – Photos by Jenni Pickel

Five Kohler/Lutheran/Christian football players made all-conference, including two with some impressive stats.

Sophomores Robby Michael (quarterback) and Colin Girdaukas (receiver) made first-team all-Big East Conference in their first season as starters.

“We definitely knew what we had in both of them, but I don’t think we expected the numbers that we got,” coach Ryan Eigenberger said. “We expected big things from them. They have a lot of potential and they work hard, so that helps too. We expected good numbers, but maybe not what we saw out of them.”

Michael has the seventh-most passing yards in the state (2,240) and ranks 12th in touchdown passes (24) to go with 667 yards rushing and 10 TDs entering this past weekend.

Eigenberger says his dual-threat quarterback was asked to do a lot this season.

“The numbers are there, but I think what the others coaches want to see in the all-conference team is they always schemed against trying to shut Robby down,” Eigenberger said. “It worked to an extent maybe every once in awhile, but usually he was able to figure it out, overcome that and still have a really nice year.”

Girdaukas is seventh in the state in touchdown catches (12) and eighth in receptions (64). He also had 902 yards receiving, and was similar to Michael in that he was a big feature in the offense that teams would also try to take away.

“They really couldn’t do that as much because we moved him around because he showed some versatility,” Eigenberger said. “He got some carries, he played the slot, the outside, so again I think other coaches kind of recognized how versatile he was on offense and kind of what he could do.”

Three teammates also made the all-conference team, including sophomore Casey Verhagen, who made the second team as a receiver and defensive back.

Two offensive linemen received honorable mention as well: senior John Putnam and sophomore Tristan Moctezuma.

SOUTH

There were also five Redwings who made all-Fox River Classic Conference, but four are seniors and will have to be replaced.

The only junior is Marcus Fish, who made the second team as a inside linebacker.

Seniors Colin Brennan (wide receiver) and Kalen Buchner (defensive end) were on the second team as well.

Seniors who received honorable mention were Mike Steffen (offensive lineman) and Josh Govek (defensive back).

“They deserve it,” South coach Jason Harder said. “All those guys – there’s even more – put in a ton of work. They were determined to make themselves better, make the team better, so we could have a better season and so some things we haven’t done in awhile. The season meant a lot to them and they definitely deserve it.

“Unfortunately everybody can’t get on first team. It’s a really good conference. Every position is stacked with great, talented players. So you get any kind of honors in our conference and it means something because there’s some pretty dang good players at every position.”

NORTH

Standout Cassius Rohadfox was the lone Golden Raider to make all-conference, as the senior earned second team as an offensive lineman and honorable mention as a defensive lineman.

He finished with 21 solo tackles, two sacks and seven tackles for a loss, and also made 40 “pancake” blocks on offense.

It is the second straight season Rohadfox made all-conference second team on the offense.

Several Division I schools are interested in him, including Northern Iowa, which wants him to also compete in track and field.

“By far he’s the hardest-working athlete I’ve worked with over the last 10 years,” Golden Raiders’ coach Joe O’Brien said. “He’s just a remarkable young man.”