Seven Cardinals earn all-state football recognition

The Newton football team won 10 games for the first time since 2006, secured its first playoff win since 2014 and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1992.

And for their efforts, seven players from the record-breaking Cardinal squad earned all-state recognition by the Iowa Football Coaches Association recently.

Senior Caden Klein highlighted the group as he was named the Class 4A Player of the Year.

Seniors Finn Martin and Koltt Ahn and junior Nick Milburn also were first-team selections, while senior Dawson Maki and juniors Isaiah Hansen and Qhjuan Coley were named to the second team.

Klein earned player of the year honors in 4A after leading the class with 2,775 total yards, 42 total touchdowns and 21 rushing touchdowns.

He finished 84-of-159 through the air for a school record 1,835 passing yards, which ranked fifth in 4A. His school-record 21 passing TDs ranked third and his 188.3 QB rating was second.

Klein totaled 940 rushing yards, ranked sixth in 4A with an 8.9 yards per carry average and tossed only four interceptions.

Martin earned first-team recognition as a wide receiver. His school-record 49 catches ranked fourth in the class, Martin but led 4A with a school-record 1,173 receiving yards and a school-record 15 receiving TDs.

Martin’s 23.9 yards per catch ranked third in the class and he finished with 50 rushing yards on four carries.

Ahn was part of a Newton offensive line that ranked second in 4A with 64 offensive TDs and 4,822 total yards.

Newton’s 2,987 rushing yards ranked third in the class and its 7.5 yards per carry were second.

Milburn led 4A with a school-record 120 tackles and ranked third with 18 tackles for loss. He also compiled three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Hansen was a second-team running back after ranking sixth in 4A with 1,337 rushing yards. His 18 rushing TDs tied for third in the class and his 8.1 yards per carry ranked ninth.

Hansen also caught 15 passes for 216 yards and one TD.

Coley made second team all-state at the tight end/fullback position. He finished with 11 catches for 300 yards and three scores, ran for 273 yards and one TD on 46 carries and had 169 yards on his seven kickoff returns.

Maki tied for the 4A lead with six interceptions. He made second team as a defensive back after contributing 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and seven passes defensed.