IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- Ellsworth CC wide receivers Malcolm Gillie and Darrius Jackson, offensive lineman Kariem Al Soufi and linebacker Michael Acri represent the Panthers on the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference All-Conference football teams announced this week. All four ECC players were also on the separate All-Region teams released by the league office. Ellsworth placed a total of 21 players on the All-Region squads.
Jackson, a sophomore, led Ellsworth in receptions this season with 25. His catches were good for 382 yards and he had one touchdown. Gillie, also a sophomore, caught 15 passes for 146 yards and 3 TDs. Al Soufi was a mainstay on the Panthers offensive line as a redshirt soph. Acri was tops on the team with his 61 tackles from his linebacker spot. The sophomore also had 3 sacks, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Of the 21 ECC All-Region selections, 9 were on offense, 11 on defense and the other one on special teams. Seven were 1st team choices, 6 were on the 2nd team and the rest were all honorable mention.
On offense, quarterback Joshua Bauer, Malcolm Gillie and Kariem Al-Soufi were all named to the 1st team. The 2nd team members were Darrius Jackson and lineman Kaden Bricker. On the offense honorable mention list were running backs Ernesto Rios and Trent Lane, wide receiver Aghogho Eyafe and lineman Joseph Kallies. Defensive linemen Elijah Johnson, Jaden Davis and Jaylin Vaughn along with Michael Acri, the linebacker, were 1st team on defense. Second-team picks were lineman Malcolm Bryant, linebacker Dan Knudsen and defensive backs Jeremiah Gill and Kmari Watson. All-Region honorable mention players also included defensive lineman Ari Curtis and defensive backs Dedrick Flint and Nashon Johnson. Long snapper Reid Schilb was the other ECC All-Region performer.
Of the All-Region players, Kallies, Schilb and Nashon Johnson are freshmen, Elijah Johnson, Knudsen and Gill are redshirt freshmen and the other players are all sophomores and redshirt sophomores.