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The WSN 8-Player Football Awards were launched in 2016 to recognize the outstanding players participating in reduced player football. Awards presented will be Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. All players are eligible regardless of grade level.

Each year, a preseason Watch List will be produced, then narrowed down to five finalists to be announced after the first week of playoff games. Winners will be announced the week following the 8-Player State Championship.

These awards are not associated with any conference nor the WFCA awards, and are presented independently by WisSports.net.

Jack Anderson, Alma Center Lincoln - Anderson led the state in passing yards this season, totaling 2,630 yards in ten games. he completed 65.3% of his passes (209 of 320) with a state-high 38 touchdowns, posting a 116 quarterback rating. While not a huge threat on the ground, he did add a couple rushing touchdowns as well. In a one-score win over Bruce late in the year that helped the Hornets qualify for the playoffs, he completed 32-of-39 passes for 398 yards and six touchdowns. 

Ben Bates, Newman Catholic - Bates was the WSN 8-Player Offensive Player of the Year as a junior last season, and likely would have been a near shoe-in for the award this year had he not missed four games in the middle of the season with injury. Still, he has put up a huge senior season, completing 123-of-171 yards (71.9%) for 1,958 yards and 26 touchdowns with not a single interception for the unbeaten Cardinals. He has a 149.3 quarterback rating as a senior with an additional seven touchdowns on the ground.

Riley Christensen, Belmont - Christensen was perhaps the most versatile offensive weapons in the state this year, recording a rushing, passing, and receiving touchdown in the same game on three different occasions. For the season the 6-1, 210-pound junior completed 47-of-100 passes for 854 yards and 11 touchdowns, had 1,919 yards and 29 touchdowns on 233 carries, and caught five passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns as Belmont advanced to the state semi-finals.

Ozur Kepler, Wisconsin Heights - Kepler directed the Wisconsin Heights offense to great success this year. In nine games, he completed 137-of-236 passes for 2,514 yards and 36 touchdowns with seven interceptions, good for a 122.1 quarterback rating. In back-to-back wins over Strugeon Bay and Oakfield, he posted 713 passing yards with 13 touchdowns.

Logan Stuart, Suring - Stuart led the state with 2,475 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on 273 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per carry. He added six, two-point conversion runs as well for the Eagles. Stuart had three games over 300 yards, and topped 100 in all ten contests this season. One of the state's elite two-way players, he also led the state in tackles over on defense.

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.