The 10th annual All-O-Zone Top 44 Football Team is here.

This team is different than other teams in that we are selecting the top 44 players in the Ozarks regardless of position and placing them on a First 11, Second 11, Third 11 and Fourth 11. This leaves room for multiple players from the same position without having to force a team together based solely on positions and allows us to evaluate players for what they did on both sides of the ball.

To get to these final 44 we used coach nominations and observations along with staff observations throughout the season. In addition, stats, postseason honors and team success played a big role in helping us identify the Top 44 players in the Ozarks from the thousands that played this season.

2024 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2023 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2022 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2021 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2020 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2019 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2018 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2017 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE
2016 All-O-Zone Football Team – CLICK HERE

NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER EXCEPT FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jackson Cantwell, Nixa (Player of the Year)

There isn’t much more to say about Cantwell that hasn’t already been said. The University of Miami signee became the first Missouri player (and second offensive lineman) to be named Gatorade National Player of the Year. He helped lead Nixa back to the Class 6 state championship game with 173 pancake blocks on the season. It will be fun to watch what his future on the football field brings.

STATS: 173 pancake blocks
HONORS: Gatorade National Player of the Year; Class 6 First-Team All-State OL; SWMFCA Class 6 Offensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 6 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL, COC East Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-COC East OL

Landon Bland, Carthage

Bland is heading to Oklahoma State next season, and if you watch his tape above, you will see why. He performed well in the state title game against a stout Platte County offensive line recording a sack and getting pressure on star quarterback Rocco Marriott. He also had several great plays against Nixa’s offensive line in their game which you can see after the state title game highlights above. Bland was also effective as a receiver and blocker from his tight end spot.

STATS:  66 total tackles, 7 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR; 12 rec, 268 yards, 6 TD
HONORS:  Class 5 First-Team All-State DE; SWMFCA Class 5 Unanimous First-Team All-Region TE & DE, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West TE & DE

Zane Browning, Carthage

Browning was a dual-threat force guiding the Carthage offense to a state runner-up finish in Class 5. He just missed out on a 1,000-1,000 season throwing for 1,406 yards and rushing for 981 with 35 combined touchdowns on his way to second-team all-state honors and Offensive Player of the Year honors for both the region and conference.

STATS: 118 completions, 1,406 yards, 10 TD; 201 carries, 981 yards, 25 TD
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State QB; SWMFCA Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year; SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team QB, COC West Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-COC West QB

Jordan Brunnert, Carthage

Brunnert was all over the place for the Carthage defense. While offenses could run try to away from Landon Bland coming off the end, there was no hiding from Brunnert who was making tackles at all levels this season. He had 118 total tackles with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries on his way to Class 5 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

STATS: 118 total tackles, 2 INT, 2 FR
HONORS:  Class 5 Defensive Player of the Year; Class 5 First-Team All-State LB; SWMFCA Class 5 Defensive Player of the Year; SWMFCA Class 5 Unanimous First-Team All-Region LB, COC West Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West LB

Randy Flint, Nixa

Flint is an athlete in every sense of the word. He was a rare two-way star at the Class 6 level hauling in 27 receptions for 607 and 10 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he was even better. Flint, the region and conference defensive player of the year, picked off five passes with 47 total tackles as a defensive back. He is signed with Southern Illinois University.

STATS: 27 rec, 607 yards, 10 TD; 47 total tackles, 2 TFL, 8 INT, 5 PBU
HONORS: Class 6 First-Team All-State DB; SWMFCA Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year; SWMFCA Class 6 Unanimious First-Team All-Region WR & DB, COC East Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-COC East DB

Jaxon Hunter, West Plains

Hunter was a game-wrecker for West Plains this season with 23 tackles for a loss, six sacks and four forced fumbles. He earned region and conference defensive player of the year honors for his efforts. He was also a key cog on an offensive line that paved the way for over 4,600 yards of offense.

STATS: 77 total tackles, 23 TFL, 6 sacks, 4 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 1 def TD
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State DL, SWMFCA Class 4 Region Defensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL & DL, OMC Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-OMC DL & First-Team OL

Marcus Lopez-Durman, Carl Junction

Between the tackles or getting to the edge, Lopez-Durman was a versatile running back for the Bulldogs this season with 281 carries, 1956 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. He was named both the region and conference offensive player of the year.

STATS: 281 carries, 1,956 yards, 31 TD
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State RB, SWMFCA Class 4 Region Offensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB, OMC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-OMC RB

Jayden McCaster, Nixa

Game. Breaker. McCaster was the most explosive high-volume back in the area in 2025. He carried the ball 229 times for 2,119 yards and 36 touchdowns on the season for an average of 9.3 yards per carry. That was almost a full yard per carry more than the next running back in the area with at least 200 carries. His 36 rushing touchdowns were second in the area. He is signed with Southern Illinois University.

STATS:  229 carries, 2,119 yards, 36 TD
HONORS:  Class 6 First-Team All-State RB, Unanimous First-Team All-COC East RB

Adam McKnight, Nixa

There is one player in our Top 44 who didn’t earn any form of all-state honor and that is Adam McKnight, and it makes no sense to me as to why there was no room for him on that all-state team. There were six quarterbacks named all-state in Class 6 at either quarterback or athlete. None of those six made it to the state title game. You will not convince me there are six Class 6 quarterbacks better than McKnight. All he did is lead Nixa to a Class 6 state title game for a second straight season and a top three ranking in the state poll the entire season. In the biggest game of the year, McKnight shined brightest. He was 11-for-14 for 183 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions adding another 75 yards and a score on the ground in the state championship game.

STATS: 96-143 passing, 1,819 yards, 23 TD, 3 INT; 100 carries, 695 yards, 11 TD
HONORS: SWMFCA Class 6 Unanimous First-Team All-Region QB, First-Team All-COC East QB

Roman Miller, Seneca

In many other years, Miller would be the Player of the Year. He led the area in rushing and touchdowns with 2,542 yards and 44 touchdowns. Defensively, he added 101 total tackles and 13 tackles for a loss. Dominant is the only way to describe Miller. He was named both Big 7 and Class 3 Region Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in addition to Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year.

STATS:  321 carries, 2,542 yards, 44 TD; 101 total tackles, 13 TFL, 1 IN, 1 FF, 2 FR
HONORS: Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year; Class 3 First-Team All-State RB; SWMFCA Class 3 Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 3 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB & LB, Big 8 Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 RB & LB

Brodie Probert, Seneca

There were only three area players with 1,000 yards passing and rushing this season, and Probert was one of them. He and Miller were an unstoppable two-player force sharing the backfield on offense and the second level on defense. Probert didn’t throw much, but when he did, it was a big play. He averaged 23.4 yards per completion, which was the highest YPC by three full yards for any area quarterback with at least 1,000 yards passing.

STATS: 46-66 passing, 1,082 yards, 12 TD, 1 INT; 178 carries, 1,541 yards, 22 TD; 35 total tackles, 3 TFL
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State QB, SWMFCA Class 3 First-Team All-Region QB & LB, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 LB & First-Team QB

SECOND 11

Gavin Beachner, Carl Junction

COLLEGE: Western Michigan Signee
HONORS: Class 4 First-Team All-State OL, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL, First-Team All-OMC OL

Keiran Govan, Republic

STATS: 57 total tackles, 3 TFL, 4 INT, 6 PBU, 1 BLK Punt, 1 FF; 10 rec, 220 yards, 4 TD
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State DB, SWFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region DB, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West DB

Landon Harper, Republic

STATS: Central Michigan Signee
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State OL, SWMFCA Class 5 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West OL

MJ Martsolf, Carthage

HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State OL, SWMFCA Class 5 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West OL

Hayden Mays, Nixa   

STATS: 80 pancake blocks
HONORS: Class 6 Second-Team All-State OL; SWFCA Class 6 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL, Unanimous First-Team All-COC East OL

Preston McCracken, Republic

STATS: 174 carries, 1,368 yards, 20 TD; 25-59 passing, 400 yards 6 TD
HONORS: Class 5 Third-Team All-State Athlete; SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region Athlete, First-Team All-COC West Athlete

Jace Renfro, Seneca

STATS: 60 total tackles, 10 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
HONORS: Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year; Class 3 First-Team All-State DL, SWMFCA Class 3 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL & First-Team DL, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 Guard & DT

Colton Roark, Cassville 

STATS: 37 rec, 885 yards, 11 TD; 55 carries, 448 yards, 8 TD; 48 total tackles, 2 TFL, 4 INT, 4 PBU, 1 Def TD
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State WR; SWMFCA Class 3 Unanimous First-Team All-Region WR & First-Team DB, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 WR & First-Team DB

Cordell Washington, Thayer

STATS: 82 carries, 1,131 yards, 19 TD; 12 rec, 311 yards, 3 TD; 87 total tackles, 1 TFL, 4 INT, 11 PBU, 1 def TD
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State Athlete, SWMFCA Class 1 Offensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 1 Unanimous First-Team All-Region WR, Kicker, DB & Returner, First-Team All-SCA WR, Second-Team Punter & Honorable Mention Kicker

Landon West, Carthage

STATS: 281 carries, 1,912 yards, 24 TD
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State RB; SWMFCA Class 5 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB, Second-Team All-COC West RB

Bryson Whitman, Hollister

STATS: 184 carries, 1,601 yards, 28 TD; 19 rec, 324 yards, 4 TD; 11 returns, 421 yards, 3 TD; 94 total tackles, 20 TFL, 2 FF, 2 FR, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 3 sacks
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State Athlete; Class 3 Second-Team All-State LB; Class 3 Second-Team All-State Returner, SWMFCA Class 3 First-Team All-Region LB & Second-Team RB & Returner, MLC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-MLC RB & LB & First-Team Returner

THIRD 11

Aden Estep, Mountain Grove

STATS: 116 carries, 1,189 yards, 17 TD; 17-40, 376 yards, 10 TD, 1 INT; 32 total tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT
HONORS: Class 3 Second-Team All-State Athlete, Class 3 First-Team All-Region Athlete & DB, SCA Back of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-SCA QB

Gage Hale, Logan-Rogersville

STATS: 50 rec, 1,025 yards, 11 TD; 7 carries, 67 yards, 2 TD; 64 total tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT, 4 PBU
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State WR, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region WR & Second-Team DB, Unanimous First-Team All-OMC WR

Hunter Hanes, Seneca

STATS: 86 total tackles, 5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF; 18 carries, 253 yards, 2 TD
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State DB; SWMFCA Class 3 First-Team All-Region DB & Second-Team WR; Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 DB & Second-Team All-Purpose & Retuner

TaMarkus Holmes, Forsyth

STATS: 175 carries, 1,198 yards, 18 TD; 9 rec, 114 yards, 1 TD; 420 passing yards, 6 TD; 50 total tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FR, 1 FF
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State Athlete, SWMFCA Class 2 First-Team All-Region RB & DB, MLC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-MLC RB & DB

Ryder Martin, McDonald County

STATS: 123-200, 1,489 passing yards, 8 TD; 199 carries, 1,358 rushing yards, 24 rushing TD; 1 rec, 31 yards, 1 TD; 101 total tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 1 def TD
HONORS: Class 4 Third-Team All-State DB; SWMFCA Class 4 First-Team All-Region QB & Second-Team DB, First-Team All-Big 8 DB & Second-Team QB

Kaleb Norman, Republic

STATS: 100 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 7 hurries, 1 INT
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State LB, SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region LB, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West LB

Logan Reser, Stockton

STATS: 335 carries, 2,476 yards, 28 TD; 76 total tackles, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 1 sack
HONORS: Class 2 Second-Team All-State RB, SWMFCA Class 2 First-Team All-Region RB & LB, Unanimous First-Team All-SWC RB & LB

Keisean Rhone, Neosho

STATS: 220 carries, 1,840 yards, 22 TD; 7 rec, 93 yards
HONORS: Class 5 Third-Team All-State Athlete, SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region RB, First-Team All-COC West RB

Everson Tomlinson, Neosho

STATS: 40 total tackles, 7 TFL, 1 PBU
HONORS: Class 5 Third-Team All-State DL, SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region OL & DL, First-Team All-COC West OL & DL

Reed Tune, Liberty

STATS: 163 total tackles, 14 TFl, 4.5 sacks
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State LB, SWMFCA Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 2 Unanimous First-Team All-Region LB, Unanimous First-Team All-SCA LB

Terren Williams, Lamar

STATS: 148 carries, 1,152 yards, 20 TD; 7 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD; 47 total tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State RB, SWMFCA Class 2 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB & First-Team DE, First-Team All-Big 8 RB & DE

FOURTH 11

Coy Felton, Mt. Vernon

STATS: 68 rec, 1,073 yards, 13 TD; 49 total tackles, 2 TFL, 3 FF, 1 FR, 3 INT, 1 def TD
HONORS: Class 3 Second-Team All-State WR; SWMFCA Class 3 First-Team All-Region WR & DB, First-Team All-Big 8 WR & DB

Bryer Guerin, Marionville

STATS: 168 carries, 1,276 yards, 22 TD; 64-111 passing, 792 yards, 12 TD, 4 INT; 90 total tackles, 19 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State DB, SWMFCA Class 1 Unanimous First-Team All-Region QB & DB, SWC Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-SWC QB & DB

Josh Harvath, Warsaw

STATS: 110 carries, 1,254 yards, 23 TD; 7 rec, 141 yards, 3 TD; 79 total tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF, 5 FR, 5 def TD
HONORS: Class 2 Third-Team All-State RB, OHC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-OHC RB & LB

Will Jackson, Nevada

STATS: 183 carries, 1,498 yards, 14 TD
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State RB, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB & First-Team Returner, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 RB & Second-Team Returner

Owen McCullah, Bolivar

STATS: 81 pancakes; 55 total tackles, 11 TFL, 1 sack
HONORS: Class 4 Third-Team All-State OL, SWMFCA Class 4 Unanimous First-Team All-Region OL & DL, Unanimoous First-Team All-OMC OL & DL

Noah Norbury, Carthage

STATS: 133 total tackles, 2 INT, 2 FR
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State DB; SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region DB, Unanimous First-Team All-COC West DB

Cash Pomeroy, Marionville

STATS: 182 carries, 1,316 yards, 21 TD; 7 rec, 82 yards, 2 TD; 65 total tackles, 19 TFL, 4 PBU
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State RB, SWMFCA Class 1 Unanimous First-Team All-Region RB & LB, SWC Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-SWC RB & LB

Grant Rodriguez, Cole Camp

STATS: 136 total tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 9 FF, 4 FR, 3 def TD, 4 blocked kicks; 237 carries, 1,174 yards, 21 TD; 56-102 passing, 728 yards, 8 TD
HONORS: Class 1 Second-Team All-State LB

Cameron Rose, Lebanon

STATS: 146 total tackles
HONORS: Class 5 Third-Team All-State LB, SWMFCA Class 5 First-Team All-Region LB, First-Team All-COC East LB

Jett Snyder, Nevada

STATS: 13 rec, 192 yards, 2 TD; 102 total tackles, 13 TFL, 2 FR, 4 INT, 3 def TD
HONORS: Class 4 Third-Team All-State LB, SWMFCA Unanimous Class 4 First-Team All-Region LB, Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 LB

Parker Tune, Liberty

STATS: 68-118 passing, 1,014 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT; 72 carries, 619 yards, 10 TD, 38 rec, 622 yards, 9 TD
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State WR, SWMFCA Class 2 Offensive Player of the Year, SWMFCA Class 2 Unanimous First-Team All-Region Athlete, Unanimous First-Team All-SCA WR