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ELK RAPIDS - Finishing the season in second place in the Lake Michigan Conference gave the Elk Rapids football team four spots on the Lake Michigan All-Conference Team, and four on the Honorable Mention list.

It wasn't difficult for head coach Ed Schindler to pick out his nominations for the honor squad.

All played integral roles in the Elks' 7-2 regular season that secured a third straight berth in the state playoffs.

Tyler Smith was the Elks' leading rusher this season in the final year of his high school career, senior tight end Charlie Hoch paced the team in reception yardage; Andy Kamp was a top defender and Jared Isenhart an excellent offensive lineman and defensive stalwart.

Selecting the players he would nominate for Honorable Mention was also an easy chore for Schindler, who had a plethora of outstanding players and team leaders.

Jimmy Armstrong was second on the team in rushing yardage and touchdowns scored, quarterback Derek Sentieri had a tremendous season in his first year running the Elks' vaunted Houston veer offense as a sophomore, Wes Phillips made some clutch receptions in crucial situations and Zeth Wheelock was tough on offense and defense.

The Elks retooled after losing more than a dozen seniors off last year's team that made its second consecutive appearance in the playoffs and with a new quarterback at the controls for the second straight year.

Much of that success hinged on the Elks' ability to run the ball and execute the play action passing attack.

And the Elks had excellent options in every phase of their offense, with Smith leading the ground attack with a school record 1,083 yards.

He also set a new record for career yards with 2,007 and had the most kickoff return yardage ever as well with 487.

But he was also a sure tackler on defense from his spot in the defensive secondary, with a school record 92 tackles which gave him a career total of 200, another school record.

Hoch set a school record on defense with 10.5 career sacks, and had 815 receiving yards to put his career total at 1,129.

The Elks scored a school record 349 points this season for an impressive 38.8 points per game.

Kamp finished the season with four interceptions and 86 tackles on defense, and many more quarterback hurries.

Sentieri, who was the junor varsity's starting quarterback the year before, threw the ball for 1,107 yards and added 512 yards rushing in his varsity debut.

Hoch was voted the player who most exemplifies the program, and Smith was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

While other players have had scholarship offers to play in college, only Hoch will continue his athletic career past high school.

At the moment, he's mulling over offers from Dartmouth as well as several Mid-American Conference schools.

But in the immediate future there's the boys basketball season. Hoch will play a major role in the Elks' attack on the court, as a bona fide big man.

The Elks began the season with a seven-game winning streak, but lost their last three - starting with a 28-26 overtime dandy at home against Boyne City.

"I thought it would be an exciting season, and it was," Schindler said. "I was proud of the kids' effort in coming back after falling behind, and also holding off teams after taking the lead."

Schindler will again be faced with a major project in finding replacements for graduating seniors, but has several key players coming back.

Key among those will be Sentieri, who barring injury will be the Elks' quarterback for the next two years.

It's just a matter of restocking the shelves.

Contact Greg Gielczyk at gielczyk@jackpine.com.