Knowing Grant Singer the way he does, Central McLean co-coach Keith Sundquist says his prize running back isn't much into personal accolades.

To Singer, it's all about the team.

"Grant would be the first one to tell you that none of the awards or honors come without good people playing around you," said Sundquist, who shares Central McLean's coaching duties with Kevin Dockter. "He's a pretty humble kid - a team player all the way."

Singer and one of his teammates, offensive lineman Ryan Rauhauser, are among the 18 first-team selections on the 2009 9-man football all-state team. Singer, the 9-man senior athlete of the year, is a first-team pick for the second year in a row and one of only three repeat selections from 2008. Rauhauser, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior, is a first-time pick.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Singer rushed for 1,517 yards and 22 touchdowns on 224 carries this fall for the Cougars, who went 8-3 and advanced to the state quarterfinals. He also had a touchdown receiving.

Last season, Singer ran for 1,651 yards and scored 30 total touchdowns.

"Grant was our main guy the last couple of years. He's a tough, talented kid who always gave 100 percent," Sundquist said. "He's a hard-working and dedicated young man who led by example both on and off the field. He certainly deserves every good thing that comes his way."

Rauhauser helped clear the way for Singer. He played at a guard position before moving to center in mid-September.

"Ryan is a big, strong kid who did his job well," Sundquist said. "He was a force on the defensive line, too. You could put him anywhere and he would do a good job."

South Border also had two first-team selections - offensive lineman Devin Olson, and linebacker Ross Martell.

Olson, a 215-pound junior guard, anchored a young South Border line that helped make the backfield tandem of Martell and Tallon Lippert one of the most productive in 9-man football. Martell and Lippert combined for nearly 2,700 yards rushing.

"Devin was a bulldozer all year. I would say we ran behind him 75 percent of the time," said Jason Klusmann, who coaches the South Border team along with Brad Eik. "He did everything you ask an offensive lineman to do, and he did it well."

Martell, a senior who racked up 1,841 yards from scrimmage, had 92 tackles to lead the Mustangs for the second straight season. He also had three sacks and two interceptions.

"His offense overshadowed his defense, but he was an outstanding defensive player for us the last couple of years," Klusmann said of Martell. "He's everything you look for in a linebacker. He's aggressive, has good instincts, likes contact, and is a heavy hitter."

Mott-Regent end Nick Kautzman made the first-team defense for the second straight year.

Despite battling nagging injuries throughout the season, the 6-3, 215-pound senior recorded 25 tackles, three sacks, and three blocked punts while helping the Wildfire to the Region 6 championship.

"Nick is one of the most physical players I've coached," Mott-Regent coach Ron Benson said. "His numbers aren't as big as most, but that's because he had some injuries, and when he was in there teams liked to go away from him. But he was still an impact player. He could disrupt an offense. He made a big difference."

Kautzman had 20 career sacks.

Wesley Nicholson of Kidder County got on the first team as a defensive back. The senior posted 82 tackles, including five for a loss, defended six passes, and forced two fumbles for the Pirates, who went 7-3 and notched their first playoff victory since 2004.

"Wes was our quarterback on both offense and defense. He made sure everybody was in the right place," Kidder County coach Jack Biesterfeld said. "He's a physical player and a good tackler. And he could play linebacker or defensive end, too. We liked to move him to the strength of the other team's offense."

On offense, Nicholson rushed for 1,083 yards, passed for 693, and accounted for 28 touchdowns (21 rushing, seven passing). He leaves the program with nine school records.

Other first-team selections include Wells County running back Kelby Houchin, who gained 1,880 yards from scrimmage (1,531 rushing) and scored 224 points, and linebacker Dwight Anderson of state champion Hankinson.

Regions 1 and 6 are well-represented on the second team. Defensive back Philip Reuer and linebacker Donovan Gross of Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter; linebacker Norman Nicholson of Kidder County, and defensive back Lippert made it from Region 1. Quarterbacks Jeff Rasmussen of Washburn and Luke Honeyman of Mott-Regent; running back Justin Maus of Beach, and defensive end Ben Duben of Central McLean are out of Region 6.

Rasmussen, a junior, racked up 2,747 yards from scrimmage in 2009. He completed 147 of 240 passes for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns, and carried 72 times for another 620 markers and eight scores.

First-team offense

Quarterback: Jaren Enockson, Parshall-White Shield.

Running backs: Grant Singer, Central McLean. James Ihry, Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page. Kelby Houchin, Wells County.

Receivers: Dalyss Hanson, Divide County. Calvin Teubner, North Star.

Offensive line: Devin Olson, South Border. Ryan Rauhauser, Central McLean. Tyler Meyer, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.

First-team defense

Defensive line: Asle Sondrol, Central Valley. Zach Thompson, Towner-Granville-Upham. Nick Kautzman, Mott-Regent.

Linebackers: Tyler Bryant, St. John. Ross Martell, South Border. Dwight Anderson, Hankinson. Alec Foertsch, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.

Defensive backs: Brett Allmaras, New Rockford-Sheyenne. Wesley Nicholson, Kidder County.

First-team at large

Running backs: Garret Reineke, Thompson. Garrett Stein, Hankinson.

Defensive back: Ryan Orth, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.

Second-team offense

Quarterbacks: Jeff Rasmussen, Washburn. Luke Honeyman, Mott-Regent. Tanner Komrosky, North Star. Tyler Thorson, TGU. Tyler Luehring, Dakota Prairie. Josh Mayo, Hillsboro.

Running backs: Justin Maus, Beach. Ian Keller, TGU. Ben Keith, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood. Tate Aronson, Lakota-Adams-Edmore.

Receivers: Ryan Lenz, Central Valley.

Tight end: Danny Hangaard, Hankinson. Greg Oster, Parshall-White Shield.

Offensive line: Chris Hoff, Wells County.

Second-team defense

Defensive line: Ben Duben, Central McLean.

Linebackers: Donovan Gross, Napoleon-GS. Norman Nicholson, Kidder County. Kelly Illies, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.

Defensive backs: Philip Reuer, Napoleon-GS. Tallon Lippert, South Border. Seth Kuchar, Lakota-Adams-Edmore. Brock Wieber, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.