Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Thatcher’s Jacob Rasumussen has been named the 3A Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
By Jon Johnson
THATCHER – While the storied season Thatcher had this year fell just short of an epic story, the team excelled exceedingly well and finished 13-1 as the state runner-up due, in part, to a dominant defense. At the heart of that defense stands Jacob Rasumussen, the 3A Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Rasumussen was a run-stopper and handled the edge, but perhaps his most exciting plays were on passes when he was free to terrorize opponent quarterbacks.
Rasumussen, along with Cody Jones, were both selected to the 3A All-Conference 1st Team on both defense and offense. Several other Eagles were honored with either 1st Team, 2nd Team, or Honorable Mention selections.
3A State Champion Eastmark took the three other major awards in the conference with Scooter Molander as Coach of the Year, Mack Molander as Offensive Player of the Year, and Austin Johnston as Conference Player of the Year.
3A All-Conference 1st Team
Thatcher: Brandon Napier, defensive backs; Jacob Rasumussen, defensive lineman; Cody Jones, defensive lineman; Ayden Bingham, linebacker; Jacob Rasumussen, offensive lineman, and Cody Jones, running backs.
3A All-Conference 2nd Team
Thatcher: Koye Farris, defensive backs; Jackson Conrad, defensive lineman; Tyler Swapp, defensive lineman; Brett Jones, linebacker; Scott Ambler, offensive lineman; Jackson Conrad, offensive lineman, and Ayden Bingham, running backs.
Honorable Mention
Thatcher: Kody Bingham, punt returner; Derek Cameron, offensive lineman; Brandon Napier, quarterbacks; Gavin Rogers, placekicker; Zachary Salazar, offensive lineman, and Hunter Saline, defensive utility/flex.
Safford: Chris Shatto, receivers/tight ends.
