By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford was rewarded for its outstanding football season Tuesday when three players earned All-State honors by the Associated Press.

Defensive end Mason DeBarr and offensive lineman Nolan Walker was named to the first team All-State team and Brek Ruddy earned second team honors.

The team was chosen by a panel of sports writers from across the state. Nominations came from more than 20 sportswriters from newspapers of all sizes and all corners of the state – from The Blissfield Advance to the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.

DeBarr won defensive player of the year accolades from the Toledo Area Athletic Association. He had 17 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks. He also returned an interception for a touchdown.

A three-year starter on the Bobcat line, Walker helped pave the way for Ruddy to become a 1,000-yard rusher. Ruddy averaged a whopping 14.8 yards per rush and scored 156 points for the Bobcats with 21 touchdowns and 15 2-point conversions.

All three players made the Coaches Association Division 7 All-State team, along with defensive back Drew Ruddy. Ruddy led the Bobcats in receiving and interceptions.

By being named to the All-State team, all of the honorees will be inducted into the Whiteford Bobcats Athletics Hall of Fame.

Whiteford went 8-2 overall, losing to Division 8 state champion Harbor Beach and Division 7 semifinalist Clinton.