While all-conference selections tend to rely heavily on how well a player impresses rival coaches, Warrenton junior offensive lineman Marcus Greene said he feels his honor was just a by-product of how he feels about himself and how he wanted his teammates to view his contributions.

Greene was one of seven all-GAC North selections for Warrenton (7-4) as he blocked for an offense that averaged 24 points per game.

"I had a bad game, and I felt like I had a lot to prove to myself and my team,” Greene said. “Every game, I went out with the mindset that I had to play a great game. It means a lot to me to get first team all-conference two years in a row."

While Greene led the way up front with fellow first-teamer and senior Jack Morris on the line, Warrenton wide receiver Deadrick Forrest (782 receiving yards, eight touchdowns) proved to be a key cog in the team’s offense.

Forrest said he used visualization to his advantage on the gridiron, and it produced results that others have noticed and he can take pride in.

"It made me feel a lot more confident knowing the other coaches respect me that much,” Forrest said. “I just thought of all the little things. Seeing myself catch the ball and make a big play before it happened. I feel a lot more confident now."

Morris echoed his teammate’s words.

"It is a great honor,” Morris said. “I have been playing football almost my whole life. Getting the honor is a huge blessing. I am thankful that the other coaches think that highly of me." 

On defense, senior linebacker Jake Mincher represents the Warriors as a selection to the all-GAC North first team.

This season, Mincher tallied 92 tackles, five sacks and a fumble recovery.

“Hard work pays off,” Mincher said. “I had a really good off-season and it paid off.”

Warrenton coach Jason Koper had the highest of praise for each of his first-team selections.

“These guys were all great at their respective positions, probably the best in the conference,” Koper said. “Jack might be the best center the GAC North has ever seen. Jake is a guy you look at who might not have the height or size, but is one of the toughest guys in the conference. You could see that these guys all put in a ton of work in the offseason.”

On offense, a pair of Warriors made the all-GAC North second team.

Senior Brody Reel (334 yards, three touchdowns) made the team at wide receiver, while Logan Nichols made it for his play on the offensive line.

On defense, senior Billy Speiser (19 tackles, one sack) earned a second-team nod at defensive tackle.

In addition to the on-field honors, the Warriors picked up a litany of other conference awards.

Speiser, junior Jake Kinney, sophomore Eli Schneider, senior Keegan Mellegaard, senior Joseph McNeely, sophomore Bradley Tucker and senior Owen Wright earned all-conference academic honors.

Kinney also earned the conference’s sportsmanship award for Warrenton.

Warriors head coach Jason Koper, who guided the team to its third consecutive winning season for just the third time in program history, lauded his players for their efforts throughout the season.

It was a season in which the Warriors won back-to-back games three times.