Czarnecki, Dingus head IFCA 2A all-state list
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Football Coaches Association ( IFCA) released its all-state selections for each class and heading up the 2A list are two local players.
Bremen running back Blake Dingus and Laville kicker/tight end Leyton Czarnecki were honored by the coaches as first-team selections in their class.
“It’s really just crazy coming from hardly playing at all a year ago with my injury to being one of the best in the state at my position,” said Dingus of his selection. “I don’t know that you can beat that feeling.”
Dingus made up for lost time with an injury claiming his junior year by piling up 1,518 yards rushing on 252 carries in his senior year, averaging six yards a carry and 126.5 yards a game with 17 touchdowns.
“The crazy thing about it was that last year was going to be my first year playing running back,” said Dingus. “To go from that to coming back to play almost every snap was crazy.”
Dingus grew up with the tradition of Bremen football and is humbled by his place now in the list of outstanding players.
“I’ve played with almost all of these guys since we were 5 or 6 years old. To start there until we all get to play on Bunge Field you can’t beat it,” said Dingus. “I’m really proud of the fact that I get to take a place in that long line now with all those other guys I looked up to when I was a kid.”
“To be recognized not by only my coaches but coaches from other schools as well is special,” said Laville’s Czarnecki. “My coaches spent a lot of time with me which allowed me to show my potential on the field this past season. I was able to showcase my abilities that stood out to others as well. It feels good knowing that all my hard work and time paid off.”
Czarnecki ended up being the top punter in Indiana according to Maxpreps. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt, with a long of 59 yards. He also successfully booted seven of his 14 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
He was 21- of- 22 on point-after attempts and 83-of-101 in his career. He also finished 11-for-22 in field goal attempts, including a school-record 46-yard kick at Lancer Field against Knox in the 2019 season.
“Kicking is something special to me,” said Czarnecki. “I would have never guessed that I would be in the position that I am in at this point. I started kicking as a sophomore so it has been a grind to this point and it has paid off planning to play at the collegiate level.”
Planning to major in criminal justice Dingus is being patient in his college decision as well.
“I’m kind of waiting to see what happens,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of offers, but we’ll see what happens.”