Lisbon senior linebacker Matthias Kohl was named the Class A District 5 Defensive MVP, and senior Jonah Reiling was named the Lineman MVP, recently.
Kohl led the district with 74.5 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
“He’s been the anchor to our defense all year long,” Lisbon Coach Dylan Hastings said. “He was a heck of a guy to have out there in terms of his ability to lead and make in-game adjustments.”
Kohl finished the season strong, with 14 tackles in each playoff game. That included the loss to East Buchanan, when he missed most of the second half with a torn meniscus. Kohl had surgery and hopes to return and wrestle, yet.
“He’s a hard-nosed linebacker,” Hastings said. “Everything he does, he plays downhill. And he’d be the first guy to tell you, he wouldn’t have half his tackles he did if it wasn’t for the defensive line up front.”
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Reiling had 26 tackles on defense, with seven TFL, and helped anchor the offensive line at right tackle. He’s verbally committed to North Dakota.
“He’s a division one kid who made a huge difference on our line, for sure,” Hastings said. “He was our anchor. When we got in a pinch, and we had to run behind someone, we ran behind Jonah.”.
In total, 11 Lion players earned first-team All-District honors.
On offense, it was Reiling, OL Blake Harms, sr.; QB Dakota Clark, jr.; RB Baylor Speidel, sr.; K Gage Holub, jr.; and RS Tiernan Boots, jr.
“Harms never got a ton of recognition, but he worked his tail off,’ Hastings said.
On defense, it was Kohl, DL Indy Ferguson, sr.; LB Henry Neymeyer, sr.; DB Reid Fridley, sr.; and UT Jacob Walerius, jr.
Senior Mason Lehmer, junior Evan Coleman and junior Quinn Coleman all earned honorable mentions for the Lions.
The six juniors honored will form the core for the Lions in 2024. Lisbon will need to rebuild its offensive and defensive lines.
“That senior group on the line set the bar high,” Hastings said. “We need to get in the weight room. Bigger, faster, stronger.”