Paced by All-State selections Trey Fisher, Jack Jacobson and Nate Wilhite, all seniors, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks put a total of eight players on the 2019 8-Man Western division all-conference team it was announced early this week.

Thompson Falls' only two-way first team selection – he earned honors at running back and inside linebacker – Fisher actually played quarterback for the Hawks on offense, but a plethora of quality candidates at that position in the 11-team Western division, forced coaches into voting him in at running back instead.

And his breakout running with the ball was perhaps Thompson Falls' most potent offensive weapon as Fisher wound up gaining 1,459 yards rushing and another 396 passing, scoring 26 touchdowns and passing for 11 more. Wilhite ran for another 1,031 yards and scored 16 touchdowns from his running back position, where he was named second team.

Wilhite was named first team at defensive end, and Jacobson, one of the Hawks most responsible for Wilhite and Fisher gaining all those yards and scoring all those touchdowns, was named first team on the offensive line.

Senior teammates Brad Lantz (first team center), Justin Miller (second team O-line) and tight end Dakota Irvine, also received all-conference recognition for their fine play this season.

Irvine was also honored as a first team pick on the defensive line, fellow senior Brandon Zimmerman earned a second team nod at outside linebacker and junior Roman Sparks also garnered second team honors at defensive back.

The Clark Fork Mountain Cats, the Superior-Alberton cooperative which won the Western division regular season crown and advanced all the way to the State 8-Man title game before falling to Fairview 70-6, placed six players on the All-State team, to lead the division in that category as well.

Western Division 8-Man Football

2019 All-Conference

Offense first team

Quarterback – Bryan Mask, jr., Clark Fork; Kade Cutler, jr., Flint Creek; Nelson Smith, sr., Darby.

Center – Brad Lantz, sr., Thompson Falls.

Wide receiver – Isiah Kovlasky, sr., Clark Fork.

Punter – Nelson Smith, sr., Darby.

Slot back – Jake Calloway, jr., Clark Fork.

Running back – Trey Green, sr., Clark Fork; Trey Fisher, sr., Thompson Falls.

Offensive line – Jack Jacobson, sr., Thompson Falls; Hewston Coon, Sr., Clark Fork.

Tight end – Kyler Francis, sr., Clark Fork.

Kick returner – Kade Cutler, jr., Flint Creek; Dakota Wood, sr., Seeley-Swan; Layne Spidel, jr., Mission.

Offensive MVP – Trey Green, sr., Clark Fork.

Second team offense

Center – Aaron Waddle, jr., Clark Fork; CJ Forgey, sr., Arlee.

Wide receiver – Jedi Christy, sr., Mission; Dakota Wood, sr., Seeley-Swan.

Punter – Walker McDonald, soph., Seeley-Swan.

Slot back – Charley Adams, soph., Mission; Caleb Maughan, sr., Seeley-Swan.

Running back – Troy Matt, sr., Mission; Preston Metesh, jr., Flint Creek; Nate Wilhite, sr., Thompson Falls; Colt Crawford, jr., Arlee; Esvin Reyes, sr., Plains.

Offensive line – Wyatt Rigby, sr., Flint Creek; Justin Miller, sr., Thompson Falls; Hayden Currie, sr., Mission; Tucker Foster, jr., Plains.

Tight end – Daniel Brabender, sr., Flint Creek; Dakota Irvine, sr., Thompson Falls.

First team defense

Defensive line – Jacob Lapinski, sr., Clark Fork; Dakota Irvine, sr., Thompson Falls; Tucker Foster, jr., Plains.

Inside linebacker – Nelson Smith, sr., Darby; Trey Fisher, sr., Thompson Falls; Trey Green, sr., Clark Fork; Jedi Christy, sr., Mission.

Defensive back – Kade Cutler, jr., Flint Creek; Isaiah Kovalsky, sr., Clark Fork.

Defensive end – Layne Spidel, jr., Mission; Wyatt Rigby, sr., Flint Creek; Hewston Coon, sr., Clark Fork; Walker McDonald, soph., Seeley-Swan; Nate Wilhite, sr., Thompson Falls.

Outside linebacker – Wesley Buchanan, sr., Clark Fork; Daniel Brabnder, sr., Flint Creek.

Kicker – Nelson Smith, sr., Darby.

Punt returner – Kade Cutler, jr., Flint Creek.

Defensive MVP – Trey Green, sr., Clark Fork.

Second team defense

Defensive linemen – Hayden Currie, sr., Mission.

Inside linebacker – Brice Hawkinson, shop., Seeley-Swan; Esvin Reyes, sr., Plains.

Defensive back – Dakota Wood, sr., Seeley-Swan; Roman Sparks, jr., Thompson Falls; Charley Adams, soph., Mission; Kyler Francis, sr., Clark Fork.

Defensive end – CJ Forgery, sr., Arlee.

Outside linebacker – Brandon Zimmerman, sr., Thompson Falls; Preston Smith, soph., Darby; Jake Calloway, jr., Clark Fork; Owen Mercado, jr., Seeley-Swan.

Kicker – Walker McDonald, soph., Mission.

Punt returner – Dakota Wood, sr., Seeley-Swan; Deric Parks, jr., Darby.