Ten Timberwolves named to the 2023 Six Rivers All-Conference Football team
River Ridge football players earning postseason honors in the Six Rivers conference this past season included (from left to right): Brady, Bunge, Owen Callahan, Ty Adrian, Carter Copsey, Peyton Aulwes, Matthew Nies, Brandon Davis, Elliott Thornton, Eli Hamilton and Andrew Nies. (A.J. Gates/Grant County Herald Independent)
By A.J. Gates
PATCH GROVE – Ten members of coach Wade Winkers’ River Ridge football team earned postseason honors at the conclusion of the 2023 season as selected by the coaches of the Six Rivers conference.
Heading the list is senior defensive end/wide receiver Matthew Nies, who was named this year’s Defensive Lineman of the Year, while also earning first-team all-conference honors on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Defensively, Nies was a key component for the Timberwolves defense which allowed an average of 151.6 rushing yards and 56.1 passing yards per game.
Nies was second on the team in tackles with 69, but had a team-high 12 for loss to go along with one sack and two forced fumbles.
Offensively, Nies had a team-high 13 receptions for 401 yards and five touchdowns, while also completing 3-of-7 passing attempts for 55 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had 53 yards on 11 rushing attempts.
Keeping it in the family, junior brother Andrew Nies earned first-team all-conference honors for the Timberwolves, as a running back and inside linebacker.
Defensively, Andrew Nies led the Timberwolves with 80 total tackles, including 12 for a loss. He also had 2.5 sacks and recovered one fumble for a touchdown.
From his fullback position, Nies was the team’s second-leading rusher with 758 yards and 10 TDs on a team-high 146 carries. He also converted on four two-point conversions and had one reception for 34 yards.
Also earning first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the ball was sophomore quarterback/linebacker Brandon Davis.
On defense, Davis had 57 total tackles, 10 for loss, three forced fumbles, one interception and a team-high four sacks. Under center, Davis completed 48-of-117 (41%) pass attempts for 858 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was the team’s leading rusher with 933 yards and 10 touchdowns on 115 attempts, while also hauling in two receptions for 38 yards and two scores.
On the offensive line for the Timberwolves, sophomore Eli Hamilton earned a spot on the all-conference first team, while senior Owen Callahan was named to the second-team, and junior Peyton Aulwes to the honorable-mention squad.
With the help of Hamilton, Callahan and Aulwes up front, the Timberwolves averaged 215.5 yards rushing per contest this past season, and 81.7 yards passing.
Callahan also earned first-team all-conference honors on the defensive side of the ball, where he had 30 total tackles, three for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He was also named to this year’s Sportsmanship Team.
Earning second-team all-conference honors on the defensive side of the ball were juniors Elliott Thornton (DE), Ty Adrian (DB) and Carter Copsey (DB), while senior Brady Bunge (ILB) was named to the honorable-mention squad.
Thornton concluded the season with 43 total tackles, 12 for loss, to go along with three sacks and one fumble recovery.
Adrian had 37 total tackles on the season, one for loss, to go along with five interceptions, while Copsey had 24 tackles, one fumble recovery and a team-high six picks.
Bunge finished the season third on the team with 62 total tackles, seven for loss, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.
On the year, River Ridge averaged 27.2 points per game, while allowing an average of 15.7 per contest. They finished third in the Six Rivers conference standings with a record of 3-2, while going 7-4 overall, advancing to level-two of the WIAA playoffs.
