Austin Ballhagen, PJ Johnson, Jack Majerus and Austin Weber were among the leaders for the Minnewaska Area for the 2022 season.  The Lakers, coached by first-year head coach Jared Lyle, finished the season 0-9 after going 1-8 the previous season.

The Lakers, who ended the season with a 59-12 loss to second-seeded Albany in the Section 6AAA quarterfinals, scored 102 points this season while giving up 395 points.  Albany went on to lose to NLS in the section finals.

PJ Johnson, the starting quarterback, ended the season 35-of-96 passing for 630 yards with eight interceptions and four touchdowns.  Levi Johnson was 21-for-44 for another 273 yards with four interceptions and two touchdowns, while Ballhagen was 2-of-9 for eight yards with one interception.

Nine players had at least one reception this year for the Lakers, including Ballhagen with 17 receptions for 453 yards and four scores, while Austin Weber had 13 catches for 188 yards, Majerus had eight for 83 yards, Hunter Kloos also had eight for 81 yards, Blake Andreas had five for 63 yards, Conner Stein had four for 21 yards before being injured for the season and PJ Johnson, Bode DeZelar and Noah Jensen each had one catch.

The Lakers rushed 285 times for 960 net yards this season.  Majerus was the top rusher with 127 carries for 548 yards and four touchdowns, while Chase Boelke rushed 35 times for 121 yards, Myles Reichmann had 20 carries for 107 yards and PJ Johnson ran 41 times for 58 net yards.

On defense, Reichmann had a team-high three sacks, while Weber, Boelke, Brady Blair, Jack Larson and Jensen each had one.  Majerus had five of the Lakers’ six interceptions this season, with Ballhagen snaring one, while Weber and Boelke both had two fumble recoveries and Levi Johnson and Jensen both had one.

The top kickoff returners were Weber (14-for-165 yards), Majerus (12-for-161 yards) and Andreas (6-for-96 yards), and Andreas was also the top punt returner, returning two for 15 yards.

Handling the kicking duties this year was Zach Guggisberg, while the punters this season were Stein, Kloos and Guggisberg.

•  During the final Mid State 1 Football Standings, Pierz, Rockford and Morris Area-CA tied for first with 4-1 records, while Melrose Area was fourth (2-3), Montevideo fifth (1-4) and Minnewaska Area sixth (0-5).

Assisting coach Lyle this fall were Nathan Snider, Ryan Christianson, Trevor Solem, Jason Weber, Chris Lence, Brian Walker, Andrew Goracke, Dan Dahl and Matt Meagher.

•  Seniors lost to graduation from this year’s team are Paul Johnson, Jr., Conner Stein, Blake Andreas, Hunter Kloos, Cole Baker, Ethan Barron, Chase Boelke, Brady Blair and Jack Larson. 

•  Members of the C-squad football team this year were ninth-graders Riley Dell, Marc Gruber, Tate Anderson, Braylen Scharmer, Carter Huckle, Riley Week, Kearri Dickens, Asante Adams, Luke Danielson, Tyson Metz, Evan Armstrong, Jackson Marquardt, Kolton Rogers, Joel Lange, Oliver Van Der Hagen, Eric Bowen, Alan Svec, Tristan O’Neil, Ike Spychalla and Ethan Jacobs.