5 Linfield Wildcats Named All-West Region, Hedin tapped as West Region Defensive Player of the Year

5 Linfield Wildcats were named today to the D3football.com's All-West Region Team today and Linfield Senior Defensive End, Eric Hedin was selected as the Western Regions Defensive Player of The Year.  4 Wildcats were named to the 1st team, Aaron Boehme (QB), Aaron Heston (OT), Eric Hedin (DE), Drew Fisher (Safety) and one Wildcat was picked for the 2nd team, Paul Nishizaki (DT). Just a fantastic honor for these Wildcats and for the team.  Having a group of 5 players off one team is just fantastic but that happens because of the overall success of the team.  If the team doesn't get it done on the field then these types of awards don't roll in for individual players...it's just the way it goes.  With that said, these 5 players are just a stand-out collection of Wildcats.  Each have come through the Linfield ranks, put in their time, and have been standouts for Linfield for not only this season but in season's past.  Congrats to each of them.

Eric Hedin (Sr.) - Defensive End -1st Team All-West Region - West Defensive Player of the Year.

Phenomenal, Legendary, Dominating.  I think all of those words suit the type of season that Eric Hedin had this year for the Linfield Wildcats.  Lead the team in tackles (which is crazy for a DE), 80 tackles, 53 solo, 27 assist, 36 Tackles for Loss, 4 pass break ups, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 3 blocked kicks, and 22 sacks.  Named Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and now owns Linfield's single season sack record and career tackles for loss (60 TFL's total)

Aaron Boehme (Sr.) - Quarterback -1st Team All-West Region

What can you say about about Aaron Boehme?  He was the linch pin of the resurgence of Linfield football over the past two seasons.  He could do it all for the Wildcat Offense and he did do it all.  I don't think you'll find an argument around the Linfield faithful that Boehme is the company of All-Time great Linfield and NWC quarterbacks.  For 2010, Boehme passing stats were 193 for 327 for 2,661 yards, 26 TD passes to 9 picks.  He also rushed for 386 yards and 9 more TDs.  Aaron was named the NWC's Offensive Player Of The Year for the 2nd consecutive season and now 4th All-Time in Linfield career passing yards (6,276), tied for 3rd in TD passes (65), 2nd for Total Offensive Yards (7,147), 2nd TDs responsible for (86), and he could do all of that by either running you over or by leaping over the top of you. 

Drew Fisher (Jr.) - Safety -1st Team All-West Region

The bigger the game, the bigger Drew Fisher plays.  If Fish isn't handing out bone jarring hits on WR's that dare go over the middle, he's jumping routs to pick off passes, or flying up to the line of scrimmage as a run stopper.  Drew is just a pure football player in every sense of the word and a coach's dream.  Drew finished the year with 45 total tackles, (30 solo, 15 assist), 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked kick.  Thankfully Drew has one more year left in the 'Catdome and I think he's only going to continue to get better.  Keep your head on a swivel NWC WR's.

Aaron Heston (Sr.) - Offensive Tackle -1st Team All-West Region

Very happy to see Mr. Heston get recognized for his play this season.  Aaron was a NWC 1st team Guard during the 2008 season and was asked to move to tackle in 2009.  Heston had to fight and battle injuries during the 2009 campaign and I know he wasn't personally satisfied with his Jr. season.  It's just a testimony to determination and hard work to see Heston have a fantastic Senior season in being named NWC 1st team tackle and 1st team All-West region for an offense that put up over 41 points a game.  Congrats big man.

Paul Nishizaki (Sr.) - Defensive Tackles -2nd Team All-West Region

Now this makes me a very happy man. Nish was named to his 2nd All-West Region Team (2nd team in 2009) and it's MORE than well deserved. Nish's 2010 stats come in at 19 total tackles (10 solo, 9 assit), 12 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. However that stat I want to point to is that the Wildcat defense only gave up 85.5 rushing yards a game and huge part of that was the play of Nishizaki (along with Tyler Steele and Scotty Ray). Nish's main job it to cause havoc in the rush game, chew up space, and make it easy for the 'Cats LBs to clean up the mess. This is what Nish has been doing for the past 3 years and I promiss you that every NWC offensive coordinator popped a bottle of bubbly in celebration that they will no longer have to contend with Nishizaki in the heart of the Linfield Defense.