Propst Tabbed Defensive Lineman Of Year

By ERIC X. VICCARO

EVICCARO@STEGENHERALD.COM

PARK HILLS — Ste. Genevieve High School junior Dale Propst may only weigh 204 pounds according to the Dragons’ souvenir program.

However, Propst carried more weight than that when it came to Mississippi Area Football Conference White Division honors.

League football coaches met recently at Central High School to select first- and second-team choices on offense, defense and special teams.

Four special accolades also were presented, and each school received a smattering of honorable mentions.

“All-conference means a lot,” said Ste. Genevieve head football coach Ken Weik. “The kids look forward to it, and seeing where they rank. It lets them know what they’ve accomplished.”

The coaches meeting was in-person rather than virtual. Coaches were able to nominate their own players; however, they couldn’t vote for their own.

The system is weighted according to a team’s success during the season, with Central tops followed by Ste. Genevieve second place in the division.

As for Propst, it was a banner season — collecting defensive lineman of the year honors along with being a first-team selection on both the offensive and defensive lines.

“Dale is a focused, hard-working kid,” Weik said. “He was tougher on both sides of the ball (this season). I am proud of Dale.”

As an offensive lineman, Propst helped pave the way for 3,028 yards in total offense through nine games. The Dragons finished with a 4-5 record, including a Class 3 District 1 loss to eventual champion Kennett.

Propst also was third on the team in tackles with 49 overall points, including 35 solo. He also had nine tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and forced a fumble.

Bret Bieser and Klayton Squires join Propst on the first-team defense. Bieser was second on the team in tackle points with 53 (41 solos). Squires intercepted one pass and returned it 28 yards.

Bieser also was chosen as the first-team punter, with 19 punts and an average of 34.3 yards per boot. Two of his punts landed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

The Dragons had a wealth of skill position players, and wide receiver Payton Matthews and running back Zach Boyer were both first-team choices.

Boyer, who dealt with injuries throughout the season, rushed for 197 yards and five TD. Matthews finished with 21 receptions for 587 yards (nearly 28 yards per catch) and eight TD.

“Klayton tackled well and played a hybrid on defense,” Weik said. “When Bret was healthy, he had very high numbers. Zach had some big plays, and Payton was our main receiver.”

Several Ste. Genevieve players were second-team picks: Aiden Boyer at quarterback, Thomas Pecaut offensive line, Landon Rose defensive back, Jacob Johns linebacker and Bryant Schwent kicker.

Johns was the Dragons’ leading tackler with 69 stops, plus 12 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Rose produced 23 solo tackles. Schwent kicked a 33-yard field goal and was 30-of-35 on extra points.

Pecaut was stellar in pass protection, helping Aiden Boyer finished the season going 81-of-179 through the air for 1,609 yards, 16 TD, 11 interceptions and an 82 quarterback rating. Aiden also rushed for a team-best 466 yards and eight more scores.

Weik will present more awards to the team during tonight’s awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at the Ste. Genevieve R-II School District Performing Arts Center.

VALLE CATHOLIC

Valle Catholic head football coach Judd Naeger reported to the Herald that the Interstate-55 Conference postseason honors meeting took place on Tuesday.

Look for those honors in a future edition of the Ste. Genevieve Herald — in addition to all-district and all-state accolades.

This past Friday, Kennett defeated St. Mary’s of St. Louis by forfeit due to COVID-19, and the associated player quarantines.

In addition to St. Mary’s, defending state champion Odessa announced it would no longer be able to participate in the playoffs due to “multiple positive COVID-19 cases in this program.”

Another regional note, Lindbergh also forfeited the Class 6 District 1 championship to Fox of Arnold.