Charles City football players feted

Seven Comets named to All-District teams; five named to All-Academic squad

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Football is a game of inches fought in the trenches.

It’s also a game of long swaths of yardage broke in the open field.

Those were the respective terrains Comet co-MVPs AJ Maloy and Jaden Foster commanded this past season with the Charles City football team.

“It was tough to take,” said Maloy of when the season ended at Waverly-Shell Rock, leaving the Comets with a 3-6 overall record. “For us seniors, that was it. It was very emotional.”

Maloy’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed as he was recently named to the Class 3A District 3 First-Team as an offensive lineman.

“AJ’s footwork was excellent,” Comet head coach Darren Bohlen said. “One of his best games was against (Vinton-Shellsburg) Drew Wiley, who is the District Defensive Player of the Year. You could see his helmet snap back whenever he was blocked by AJ.”

Foster was another All-District Offense first-teamer. The senior receiver compiled 506 yards on 28 catches (18.1 yards per catch). He also rushed for 238 yards (7.7 ypc), compiled 344 yards on kickoff returns (20.1 ypr) which included an 83-yard TD.

In addition to leading the team in touchdowns (7), Foster also led the Comets and was among the district leaders in interceptions (4).

“I hope to play football somewhere in college,” Foster said, “but I just haven’t decided where yet.”

Maloy, who will be a returning state-qualifier wrestler, says he will more likely wrestle in college than continue his football career.

Other Comets making the Class 3A District 3 first-team included Charles City senior running back Zion Jordan, who led the Comets with 408 yards on 73 carries (5.6 ypc), senior receiver Tre Walker, who had 401 yards on 24 catches (16.7 ypc), and senior defensive back Malik Knighten, who had an interception and a fumble recovery this season.

Comet senior linebackers Alex Koehler, who led the Comets with 72 solo tackles and 7 solo tackles for losses, and Tony Knecht, who was credited with 5 solo tackles for losses and 1 quarterback sack, were both named to the All-District second-team.

Maloy and Walker were also named the to the Class 3A District 3 Academic All-District Football Team. Other Comets making the team included junior Theo Arndt, who averaged 8.6 yards per punt return; junior Derek Milligan, who was 14 of 18 in PAT kick attempts; and senior quarterback Drew Mitchell, who was second in the District in passing yards (1,230), which places him fifth all-time among Comet season totals while moving him up third all-time among Comet career leading passers with 2,257 yards.

Xavier quarterback Bryce Schulte, who competed nearly 70 percent of his passes; and Xavier running back Maliki Wilson, who led the district with 1,435 yards; were named the district’s Co-Offensive Players of the Year.