Not even missing two games with an ankle injury could stop Zach Nellis from being a force to be reckoned with on the football field.
The Waupaca senior linebacker was named the Eastern Valley Conference’s defensive player of the year and is one of 12 Comets to be singled out.
Nellis is one of first-team picks for the Comets. Senior offensive lineman Jared Cain was a unanimous selection, while sophomore running back Beau Ash and senior defensive interior lineman Connor Hanson also made the first team.
Second-teamers for Waupaca are senior quarterback Harley Anderson, junior linebacker Ajay Johnson, junior defensive interior lineman Jordan Johnson, senior defensive back Jim Minton and junior punter Bjorn Asher.
Comets named to the third team are senior wide receiver Marcus Johnson and junior defensive back Aaron Gooch.
Freshman wide receiver Nate Jenson received honorable mention.
Eastern Valley All-Conference Football Teams
First Team
Offense
Quarterback: Austin Ryf, senior, Winneconne.
Running Back: Ben Wetzel, senior, Ripon; Joe Hauser*, senior, Clintonville; Beau Ash, sophomore, Waupaca.
Tight end: David Schepp, senior, Little Chute.
Wide receiver: Craig Schommer, junior, Little Chute; Michael Brooks, senior, Berlin.
Lineman: Matt Knox*, junior, Appleton Xavier; Jude Grishaber, senior, Appleton Xavier; Zach Pamer, senior, Winneconne; Jared Cain*, senior, Waupaca; Charlie Bruyette*, senior, Little Chute.
Kicker: Nate Reynebeau, senior, Appleton Xavier.
Defense
Linebacker: Zach Nellis, senior, Waupaca; Zach Pamer, senior, Winneconne; Joe Hauser, senior, Clintonville; Charlie Albers, senior, Little Chute.
Interior lineman: Max Machurick, senior, Appleton Xavier; Charlie Bruyette, senior, Little Chute; Connor Hanson, senior, Waupaca.
End: Grant Thayer*, senior, Appleton Xavier; David Schepp*, senior, Little Chute.
Back: Connor DeBruin*, senior, Little Chute; Jimmy Schmidt, junior, Appleton Xavier; Austin Ryf, senior, Winneconne.
Punter: Brandon Sivertson, sophomore, Clintonville.
Second Team
Quarterback: Harley Anderson, senior, Waupaca.
Running Back: Kevin Vosters, senior, Freedom; Jimmy Schmidt, junior, Appleton Xavier; Joey Mayefski, senior, Winneconne.
Tight end: Levi Kossow, senior, Fox Valley Lutheran.
Wide receiver: Connor DeBruin, senior, Little Chute; Nick Pflum, senior, Appleton Xavier.
Lineman: Jacob Albrecht, junior, Winneconne; Kyle Petermann, sophomore, Clintonville; Riker LeNoble, senior, Little Chute; Aaron Wellhover, senior, Fox Valley Lutheran.
Kicker: Brandon Billman, senior, Winneconne.
Defense
Linebacker: Kevin Vosters, senior, Freedom; Logan Spillner, senior, Ripon; Joey Mayefski, senior, Winneconne; Ajay Johnson, junior, Waupaca.
Interior lineman: Alex Hein, senior, Appleton Xavier; Andy Schroeder, junior, Winneconne; Jordan Johnson, junior, Waupaca.
End: Jamen Pettit, senior, Clintonville; Ryan Radue, junior, Fox Valley Lutheran.
Back: Tom Klister, senior, Appleton Xavier; Jared Langenhorst, senior, Ripon; Jim Minton, senior, Waupaca.
Punter: Bjorn Asher, junior, Waupaca.
Third Team
Quarterback: Grant Thayer, senior, Appleton Xavier.
Running Back: Ben Johnson, senior, Appleton Xavier; Collin Worm, senior, Fox Valley Lutheran; Danny Verhagen, senior, Little Chute.
Tight end: Nate Reynebeau, senior, Appleton Xavier.
Wide receiver: Marcus Johnson, senior, Waupaca; Jared Langenhorst, senior, Ripon.
Defense
Linebacker: Matt Barg, senior, Ripon; John Mass, senior, Clintonville; Max Gunderson, senior, Fox Valley Lutheran; Ben VandenBoogard, senior, Little Chute.
Interior lineman: Kyle Epping, junior, Winneconne.
Back: Cason Schroeder, senior, Winneconne; Kolin Kubitz, sophomore, Clintonville; Aaron Gooch, junior, Waupaca.
Punter: Riker LeNoble, senior, Little Chute.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Quarterback: Josh Malkowski, Fox Valley Lutheran; Michael Polcyn, Ripon.
Running back: Daniel Hron, Ripon.
Tight end: Brandon Sivertson, Clintonville; Billy Koeck, Winneconne.
Wide receiver: Nate Jenson, Waupaca; Jordan Hecker, Winneconne.
Defense
Back: Mitch Skarban, Fox Valley Lutheran; Caleb Stern, Fox Valley Lutheran.
Punter: Cole Krueger, Freedom; Billy Koeck, Winneconne.
Offensive Player of the Year: Austin Ryf, senior, Winneconne.
Defensive Player of the Year: Zach Nellis, senior, Waupaca.
* – Denotes unanimous selection.