Mason Palmer (2)/Photos by Noah Clooten
Devils Lake has four honorees on the Class AA All-Conference Team: Mason Palmer, Bryar Exner, Brody Forsberg and Oliver Wirth. The teams for AA and AAA were announced on Monday.
Palmer, the junior starting quarterback, missed the last three games of the regular season with a fractured arm. He had a strong year, though, when on the field. He was effective in both the passing and running game, and his prowess led Devils Lake to a comeback win over Jamestown in the fourth game of the season. He threw for more than 1,000 yards in seven healthy games.
Palmer is a three-sport athlete, also shining in baseball and basketball. He’s the twin brother of Max Palmer, who’s also a member of all three sports teams.
Exner was another player who missed time with injury but was a clear star when healthy. The junior running back combined to rush for more than 500 yards despite missing three games in the middle of the season. When Exner was on the field, handing it off to him was Devils Lake’s go-to play.
Forsberg was one of the Firebirds’ most imposing threats on defense as an inside linebacker. The senior, who’s also the starting goalie on the hockey team, was Devils Lake’s leading tackler. He contributed as an extra man on offense as well.
Wirth, meanwhile, was Devils Lake’s most productive wide receiver with more than 400 total yards on the season. The 6-foot-6 senior was not only fast and adept at catching, but stronger than the typical wide receiver, often forcing his way through piles and breaking tackles.
Exner and Wirth are both on the defending-champion basketball team as well.
Devils Lake’s season came to an end on Nov. 1 with a first-round playoff loss to Minot North. The Firebirds still went 5-5, their best record since 2017. Other notable contributors to the team who weren’t honored include Will Heilman, Weston Nelson, Kade Fee and Talan Gregory, among others.
Wahpeton’s Treyton Mauch was named the Senior Athlete of the Year, while West Fargo Horace’s Harvey McMahon was designated the EDC Coach of the Year.
