Four Bears make the INA All-State team

By Matt Chinander  |   November 21, 2017, 2:10 p.m.

The Iowa Newspaper Association's Class 1A All-State Football teams have been announced and for the 2017 season, four West Branch Bears have been honored.

First-team selections include kicker Beau Cornwell and receiver Ben Thompson.

Cornwell completed eight of 11 field goal attempts this season which is a new school record for most in a season and most in a career. The junior hit multiple times from 40+ yards throughout the season and made a school-record three field goals in a game (against West Burlington-Notre Dame). Cornwell also converted on all but one of his extra piont (28 of 29) attempts during the season.

Thompson, a team captain, caught 39 passes during the regular season, totaling 658 yards, which was good for third-best in Class 1A during the regular season. The senior also nabbed a school-record 11 touchdowns. In his team's win over Durant, Thompson set another school record with 176 receiving yards in a game.

Second-team selections include offensive tackle Jacob Barnhart and defensive back Jacob Graves, both who were named to the same honor after the 2016 season.

Barnhart, a senior captain, was a staple of the team's offensive line that helped them to a very successful season running and passing the ball.

Graves, also a senior captain, had two interceptions and 30 tackles from his defensive back position. On the offensive side of the ball, he stepped in for an injured Tanner Lukavksy for half of the season and rushed for 612 yards and eight touchdowns while also catching 48 passes for 588 yards and four touchdowns.

Congratulations to Jacob Barnhart, Beau Cornwell, Jacob Graves, and Ben Thompson for their outstanding invidividual performances during the 2017 season.

The Iowa Newspaper Association is a group of nearly 300 daily and weekly newspapers throughout the state. The full list of teams has yet to be released by the association. When it does, we will link to it here.