Four Pirates earn all-conference football honors on both sides of ball

HANNIBAL, Mo. — To no one’s surprise, the North Central Missouri Conference’s best football team dominated the all-league selections.

Hannibal, which went 5-0 and outscored its opponents 275-28 in league play, landed seven players on the first-team offense and six players on the first-team defense. The Pirates had five others earn second-team plaudits. Four players earned honors on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, the Pirates took three of the five spots in the backfield and three of the five spots along the line.

Junior quarterback Waylon Anders has thrown for 1,288 yards and 22 touchdowns heading into this week’s Class 4 District 4 semifinal against Wentzville Holt. He has completed 81 of 120 passes with just two interceptions. He also has 266 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

The Pirates’ running back tandem of senior Aneyas Williams and junior Mike Ferriera were both first-team picks. Williams, who is committed to the University of Notre Dame, has rushed for 636 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 7 yards per carry. He’s also caught 36 passes for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ferreira has rushed for a team-leading 1,325 yards and 14 touchdowns, while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Senior tight end Kane Wilson, limited to four games due to injury, has caught 14 passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns.

Up front, senior Ryan Ross, senior Xxavion Washington and senior Noah Young earned three of the offensive line spots. The trio has helped the Pirates average 47 points and 393.4 yards per game. The Pirates have rushed for 2,646 yards and 5.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, Hannibal has allowed 14.5 points and 182.4 yards per game. The defense is led by three first-team All-NCMC linemen — senior Trenton Cowden, sophomore Tre Hoskins and Wilson. 

Junior linebacker Dylan Bock and senior defensive back Dorian Turner were also first-team picks, along with Williams at defensive back.

Second-team selections included junior Jarren Landis and Cowden along the offensive line, Ross at defensive line, sophomore Kaisen McAfee at linebacker and senior Ashlin Sharkey at defensive back.