Bismarck coach Mark Gibson is excited to have six of his players on the 2008 Class AAA all-state first team.

The fact that four of them are underclassmen makes it all the more exciting.

The state champion Demons placed juniors Esley Thorton (quarterback), Jake Miller (running back), Carson Winkels (linebacker) and Calvin Krueger (defensive back), and seniors Eric Klein (offensive lineman) and Tyler Karel (defensive lineman) on the first team, which also includes offensive lineman Andrew Munson of Century.

All six BHS honorees earned all-state accolades for the first time, but Thorton, Miller, Winkels and Krueger have a chance to join some elite company in 2009.

"We haven't had many three-time or two-time all-staters in the years I've been here," said Gibson, who has coached at BHS since 1999. "But now we have a number of kids who have a good chance of doing that next year. We've had skill kids come back before, but never four all-staters. That's a great core of kids to build around. We're excited about next year."

However, Gibson said the Demons will miss Klein and Karel immensely. Both were two-way starters, and served as team captains this fall.

"Those two kids were the heart and soul of our team," Gibson said. "They were good enough to be named all-state on both sides of the ball, but to me, what really stood out was their leadership. They were our captains. They took charge in practice and in games. And that leadership started after last year's state championship game. After South beat us (40-14), they came up to me and told me that it wasn't going to happen again. They did all they could to make sure it didn't."

Klein, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound guard and a three-year starter, anchored an offensive line that cleared the way for 2,778 yards rushing, and provided BHS quarterbacks time to throw for 1,333 yards.

"We ran behind Eric a lot," Gibson said. "Everybody knew we would and he still dominated. Our offensive line got the job done all season long. Check out our stats. We put up some big numbers."

Karel, a 6-3, 220-pound defensive end, was a two-year starter for the Demons. This season, he racked up 40 tackles, including nine for loss. He also had six quarterback hurries and three sacks.

Karel was one of the standouts in last Saturday's state title game win.

"Tyler was definitely one of the factors in that one," Gibson said. "That was one of the best games he played. But he made plays for us all season. He was relentless, and he had a nose for the football."

Thorton and Miller spearheaded the Demons' offense.

The 6-2, 190-pound Thorton completed 77 of 132 passes for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns. The second-year starter also rushed for 320 yards and 15 scores.

"I've never had a quarterback as good as him," Gibson said of Thorton. "He's a tremendous athlete with a cannon for an arm, and he runs the show for us. We like to run the ball here, so we don't give him that many opportunities to throw. But he doesn't mind. He's very unselfish. All he wants to do is win."

The speedy 155-pound Miller rushed for 1,618 yards and 19 TDs, and picked up another 324 markers on 23 catches.

"Jake's only 155 pounds, but probably 149 of that is heart," Gibson said. "He's one of the hardest-working kids in the weight room. He's quick and strong, and he's dynamite when the ball is in his hands."

Gibson said Winkels was "born and bred to be a linebacker." The 6-foot, 190-pound middle backer led the Demons with 78 tackles (51 solo). He also had 10 QB hurries, five sacks, and two interceptions.

"Carson's 100 percent football," Gibson said. "His instincts are as good as anybody we've had at that position. He's a sure tackler, and boy can he hit people."

Krueger turned in an outstanding season on defense, offense and special teams. On defense, he recorded 57 tackles (39 solo) and intercepted five passes. He returned three picks for TDs.

The 180-pound Krueger also led the Demons with 26 catches for 458 yards, and kicked 51 extra points.

"Without a doubt the best overall athlete on our team," Gibson said of Krueger. "He can do it all. What's scary is he didn't start playing football until his freshman year. What he's done in such a short period of time is amazing."

Munson was the lone first-team pick from Century. The 240-pound senior guard was a three-year starter for the Patriots.

"Andrew was a very sound, very consistent player for us," Century coach Ron Wingenbach said. "He was by far our best lineman. A lot of our offense went his way. And he was there every day, every game. He never missed a game in three years."

The Patriots also had four second-team selections - Hunter Johnson and Garret Jacobs on offense, and Seth Erickson and Bruce Govig on defense.

St. Mary's Zach Reisenhauer, a 175-pound senior linebacker, was a second-team pick on defense.

Williston had three first-team selections on offense, including tackle Brent Qvale, the AAA senior athlete of the year. The others are quarterback Alex Hanson and wide receiver Jeff Skadeland.

First-team offense

Quarterbacks: Alex Hanson, Williston; Esley Thorton, Bismarck. Running backs: Jake Miller, Bismarck; Ryan Smith, Wahpeton; Spencer Bickel, Minot. Wide receivers: Jordan Piatz, Jamestown; Jeff Skadeland, Williston; Jake Kaiser, West Fargo. Tight end: Danny Luecke, Fargo South. Linemen: Brett Baune, South; Eric Klein, Bismarck; Brent Qvale, Williston; Andrew Munson, Century; Sam Trappen, Wahpeton.

First-team defense

Linemen: Tyler Karel, Bismarck; Zac Akers, Fargo North; Shane Ringdahl, Wahpeton; Lucas Seltvedt, South. Linebackers: Kalvin Larson, Minot; Carson Winkels, Bismarck; Matt Nagel, South; J.D. McDougall, North. Defensive backs: Brandon Jemison, South; Shawn Egge, Williston; Calvin Krueger, Bismarck.

Second-team offense

Connor McGovern, Fargo Shanley; Seth Zygarlicke, Grand Forks Central; Kyle Graham, GFC; Luke Baumgarner, Wahpeton;j John Smykowski, Wahpeton; Robert Moos, Jamestown; Zach Reisenhauer, St. Mary's. Wyatt Zeitz, Minot; Hunter Johnson, Century; Garrett Jacobs, Century; Gerad Fugelberg, South; Tom Knowlton, South; Ethan Schnabel, North.

Second-team defense

David Schmidt, West Fargo; Scott Schiller, West Fargo; Jake Bucholz, West Fargo; Luke Solum, West Fargo; Cody Zarak, Wahpeton; Charles Regan, Jamestown; Tyler Gefroh, Grand Forks Red River; Sam Herauf, Dickinson; John Oyloe, Williston; Seth Jorgenson, Williston; Seth Erickson, Century; Bruce Govig, Century; Kyle Kingsley, South.