PELLA—Led by its special teams unit, the Central Football team had seven players selected for the D3football.com All-Region 5 Team Wednesday.
Punter
Austin Burns (fifth year, Williamsburg) and long snapper
Josh Dennison (senior, Romeoville, Ill.) were both selected for the first team. Offensive tackle
Kade Tippet (junior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) and linebacker
Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) landed on the second team. Kicker
Logan Sunvold (fifth year, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS, defensive end
Nick Bandy (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) and cornerback
Gavin Smith (junior, Audubon) were all picked for the third team. All seven were previously first team American Rivers All-Conference picks.
Burns punted 33 times for an average of 41.1 yards. He had four punts of over 50 yards, including a long of 75 yards. He pinned opponents inside their 20-yardline 10 times.
A four-year starter, Dennison snapped on every punt attempt this season and helped Central limit opponents to 13 return yards on six attempts, making one tackle.
Tippet was the right tackle for an offense that averaged 436.2 yards and 38.5 points a game. He caught a 2-yard touchdown pass on the final play of his career.
Pakkebier led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss from his outside linebacker position, including 5.5 sacks. He also had an interception, three breakups, a forced fumble, and six quarterback hurries while totaling 53 tackles.
Sunvold is now a four-time all-region honoree. He made all 44 of his kicks in 2024, including five field goals. He kicked off 50 times and had an average of 59.6 yards with 19 touchbacks and a pair of onside kick recoveries.
Bandy paced the Dutch and the American Rivers Conference with 7.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He had 26 total tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble and recovered another.
Smith had a trio of interceptions, including a 35-yard interception touchdown return. He had a team-high 11 pass break-ups and 27 tackles.
