Beer, Kerner lead Pines on Northwoods all-conference teams

Northland Pines senior Eli Kerner and junior Jacob Beer led the Eagles on the Northwoods football all-conference teams, both landing as second- team recipients on offense. Beer was also a second-team defensive back this season. 

Three other Northland Pines players, including Cody Vojta, Brett Schalinske and Peter Anderson, were second-team or honorable-mention selections for 2024. 

All five players impacted the game in different ways that helped Northland Pines to a 1-8 (1-6) season.

Kerner led the Eagle backfield this season with most of the carries. The senior back ran the ball 127 times, 84 carries ahead of the second-leading rusher on the team. Kerner’s 675 yards ranked ninth in the Northwoods Conference, while finding the end zone five times. 

Just like Kerner, Beer dominated the receptions with 34 catches in 2024. The junior tallied 598 yards while gaining 18 yards per catch. Beer was a familiar face in the end zone, as he found the pay dirt seven times, which averages out to one score per conference game. 

Schalinske assisted in the pass, protecting and run blocking up front, which led to being an honorable mention selection as an offensive lineman. He helped the Eagles pass for 794 yards and ran for nearly 1,200 yards with his blocking up front.

Turning to the defensive side of the ball, Beer also grabbed second-team honors as a defensive back. He had 28 total tackles and came away with three interceptions. 

Vojta, who is also the leading scorer on the soccer team, finished second-team all-conference as the Eagles’ punter. The senior kicked 23 punts with an average of 35 yards per boot. 

Lastly, Anderson was slotted as an honorable mention defensive player for his season as an outside linebacker for Pines. 

He had 40 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, three tackles for loss and added one sack this season. He was third on the team in total tackles. 

A few of these guys can add to their performances next year as Beer, Schalinske and Anderson are all juniors this season.