Casey Westfield High School Casey Illinois

Brazil Times: High School Sports: Former Knights hitting the ...

By CAREY FOX

Times Sports Editor

Indiana State University's Memorial Stadium plays host to the annual Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association all-star game on Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The group was founded in February of 2003 and originally included 22 schools, but has since added seven new schools.

The first all-star game was held in 2004 and helps raise money to support the various clinics that the WVFCA hosts for athletes and coaches during the year. Since the first game in 2004, over $20,000 has been raised in support.

The Northview football team will be well represented once again as graduated seniors Andrew Butts, Trent Lancaster, Beau Judd, Taylor Pinnick and Zac Niehaus were each named as members of the North team that was originally scheduled to be coached by Greg Barrett, who coached the North Putnam Cougars to the state championship game. However, Barrett joined the coaching staff at ISU in May.

The North assistant coaches are Dan Fouts of North Putnam, Chris Barrett of Terre Haute North, West Vigo's Jeff Cobb, Troy Johnson of Mattoon, Ill., Hank Lopez of Riverton Parke, Ernie Simpson's North Vermillion and both Todd Butler and Kevin Maynard of Cumberland.

Judd, Lancaster, Niehaus and Butts were each named to the all-conference team during the season.

Lancaster, who signed a letter-of-intent to play at Indiana State next season, put up some dazzling passing numbers during his senior season. He completed 34 touchdown passes and threw for 2,553 yards and completed 62 percent of his passes while also rushing for 689 yards and eight scores.

One of Lancaster's favorite targets was wide receiver Butts, who hauled in 45 passes for 1,023 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged 93 receiving yards per game for the Knights. Niehaus also was a big part of the air game despite being limited for a time with an ankle injury. He caught 35 passes for 796 yards and 12 touchdowns for an offense that got into the endzone 50 times during the year.

Taylor Pinnick and Beau Judd were both disruptive forces for the Knights and earned their way onto the all-star squad accordingly.

Pinnick had a pair of fumble recoveries from his linebacker position for the Knights and Judd, a 6'3, 280 lb. lineman that went both ways, also excelled on the wrestling mat.

Civil War, the magazine of the Civil War Society

Profiles of America: Illinois, Missouri

The College Board guide to high schools

Congressional Record

Who's who in athletics in American colleges and universities