SHA’S Predum, Wilson named to eight-player All-state team
Jameson Chesser does more than display his blazing speed and amazing moves on a football field.
The Adrian Lenawee Christian senior running back huddles with teammates and opponents, leading them in prayer after every game.
“We decided to invite the other team to be a part of it, and Jamie’s responsible for that,” Lenawee Christian coach Bill Wilharms said. “There is a brotherhood in football and it doesn’t matter if we’re all on the same team. We are so thankful, especially this year, for making it through a season of ups and downs, and he reiterates that in each prayer.”
Chesser was voted the 2020 Michigan Associated Press Player of the Year for eight-player football as a do-it all performer. He has committed to play at Indiana Wesleyan next year.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s Luke Predum (receiver) and Ben Wilson ( line) also made the first team. SHA quarterback Gabe Ruggles is honorable mention.
Wilharms was voted Coach of the Year, leading his team in its first year as an eight-player program.
He was looking for someone to set a positive tone for his team and zeroed in on the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Chesser with the makings of something special.
Chesser ran for 1,155 yards and 25 touchdowns on 79 carries, good for 14.6 yards per carry. He went over 200 yards in the past two games, leading the Cougars into the state semifinals before the season was halted by the coronavirus shutdown.
“After he makes a cut, he’s back to full acceleration on the next step,” Wilharms said. “His ability to cut, twirl and go fast again is incredible. He leaves people grabbing air.
“We put 12 of 13 guys on the field in practice, just so Jamie doesn’t think he can run through everybody. It forces him to keep his eyes going back and forth and seeing everybody.”
Chesser was voted Division 7-8 All- State last season when he scored 30 touchdowns,
This season, he also caught 26 passes for 427 yards and three scores and was 12 of 16 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He is a skilled punter and kicker, averaging 43.3 yards per punt and booming a 47-yard field goal. Chesser is one of the top linebackers in the state. He had 82 stops, including 18.5 tackles for losses, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
The 18-player All- State first team also includes Portland St. Patrick’s Connor Cross and Powers North Central’s Luke Gorzinski at quarterback; St. Patrick’s Derec Fedewa at running back; Mayville’s Steven Gilbert at receiver; Colon’s Brandon Crawford, North
Central’s Carter Eichmeier and Lenawee Christian’s Jacobus Keggereis as linemen; Cedarville’s Grant Fountain and Suttons Bay’s Michael Wittman at linebacker; and Indian River Inland Lakes’ Derick Armstrong and Merrill’s Logan Heath at defensive back.
Genesee’s Alton Davis and Mayville’s Austin Middleton were selected as athletes while Lenawee Christian’s Clay Ayers is the kicker and Burr Oak’s Branson Hernandez is the punter.
8-player All-state
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jameson Chesser, Adrian Lenawee Christian
FIRST TEAM
QB — Luke Gorzinski, Powers North Central
QB — Connor Cross, Portland St. Patrick
RB — Jameson Chesser, Adrian Lenawee Christian
RB — Derec Fedewa, Portland
St. Patrick
WR — Luke Predum, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
WR — Steven Gilbert, Mayville OL/DL — Carter Eichmeier, Powers North Central
OL/DL — Ben Wilson, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
OL/DL — Jacobus Keggereis, Adrian Lenawee Christian
OL/DL — Brandon Crawford, Colon
LB — Michael Wittman, Suttons Bay
LB — Grant Fountain, Cedarville DB — Logan Heath, Merrill
DB — Derick Armstrong, Indian River Inland Lakes
ATH — Austin Middleton, Mayville
ATH — Alton Davis, Genesee
K — Clay Ayers, Adrian Lenawee Christian
P — Branson Hernandez, Burr
Oak
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill Wilharms, Adrian Lenawee Christian
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Gabe Ruggles, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Simon Vinson, Colon; RB: Wyatt Wesley, Morrice; Micah Bailey, Pickford; WR: Keaton Jobson, Genesee; Max Lenaker, Rapid River;
Damion Ultz, Burr Oak; Line:
Joey Breckel, Adrian Lenawee Christian; Chase Fitzsimmons, Portland St. Patrick; Erik Huyck, Pickford; Joe Weiss, Kinde
North Huron; Russell Wilson, Whittemore-prescott; LB: Dylan Acevado, Gaylord St. Mary; Isaiah Crawford, Pellston; Brayden Eckman, Martin; Chris Koscielniak, Gaylord St. Mary; Keaton Ludwig, Hale; Jacob Mccormick, Merrill; Braxton Teachworth, Portland St. Patrick; Mateo Barnett, Manistee Catholic;
DB: Tyler Ducolon, Bay City All Saints; Conrad Korte, Gaylord St. Mary; Gabe Meyers, Martin.