Several locals are All-State

Five Greater Spokane League football players were named on Wednesday to the Associated Press All-State first teams.

Senior wide receiver Jason Bates (Ferris), senior defensive back Bo Tully (Mead) and senior kicker Jake Miller (Central Valley) were chosen from the 4A ranks while senior running back Colten Williams and senior offensive lineman Ashton Boothroyd, both of Mt. Spokane, were 3A picks.

Four seniors from the Great Northern League were first-team 2A picks: offensive lineman Nick Brown and linebacker Sam Schoesler, both of West Valley, plus Alex Wolf (Deer Park) and DeAngelo Jones (Cheney).

Senior defensive back Will Lohman of Chewelah was the lone area first-team choice to the 1A team.

Three Colfax players were first-team 2B choices. Senior Sam Mellor was picked at both offensive and defensive line and was joined by senior all-purpose player Will Hatley and junior linebacker Alex Teade.

In Class 1B, Colton senior Sam Robertson was a first-team pick at running back and defensive back. Senior offensive lineman Reid Ashley (Almira/Coulee-Hartine) and senior Spencer Shanholtzer of Cusick are also first-teamers.

Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps, headed to Brigham Young University, picked up his second straight AP high school player of the year award, a unanimous choice in voting by AP members.

Already regarded as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country, Heaps concluded his career with a 40-2 record – both losses coming this season – and three consecutive state titles. In his senior campaign, Heaps threw for more than 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns as the Spartans overcame regular-season losses to Oaks Christian, Calif., and Bothell to beat Ferris in the State 4A title game.

Heaps also led Skyline to the State 3A title in 2007 and the 4A title in ’08. He was the AP state player of the year as a junior and a first-team selection in Class 3A as a sophomore.

He was also voted the Class 4A player of the year and first-team quarterback.

In Class 3A, Bellevue defensive disrupter Julious Moore was voted player of the year, a rare honor for a defensive lineman. Moore was the KingCo 3A/2A lineman of the year and is expected to play at UCLA. Moore helped the Wolverines to the State 3A title with a win over Liberty of Issaquah.

Lynden’s Jordan Hastings was selected as the Class 2A player of the year after the Lions beat West Valley of Spokane for the state title. Hastings threw for 2,400 yards and 24 TDs and ran for another 959 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Youth was honored in Class 1A as Connell sophomore Matt Hadley was voted player of the year. Hadley ran for 1,863 yards and 23 touchdowns, and caught another 20 passes with three more scores. Connell beat Cascade Christian in the state title game with Hadley running for 107 yards.

Kyle Grosshans of Adna was selected the Class 2B player of the year. Grosshans led the Pirates to their first state title in 20 years, and was a standout on offense and defense. He was a first-team selection at quarterback and defensive back.

Will Hoppes from Tri-Cities Prep was the Class 1B player of the year after throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns. Hoppes finished his career with a number of state records in career passing and all-purpose yards.

He finished with 60 combined touchdowns passing and running this season.