Mason Palmer (Photo by Cameron Carlson)
The awards and recognition continue to pour in for the state champion Devils Lake Firebirds.
Five days after leading Devils Lake to its first ever state football title, quarterback Mason Palmer was one of four Firebirds named to the Division AA all-state teams.
The awards were voted on by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association. They were released to the media Wednesday afternoon.
After Devils Lake beat Minot North at the Fargodome on Friday, Palmer was named Senior Athlete of the Year. Head coach Todd Lambrecht was also named Coach of the Year.
In the all-state teams released Wednesday, Palmer and running back Bryar Exner were both First Team Offense selections. Will Heilman and Casey Brown were named to the Second Team.
Palmer ended up with 2,700 passing yards and a 65% completion rate this season. He totaled 31 touchdown passes, including 11 to his twin brother, Max. He added 279 yards on the ground.
Exner had a huge senior year at running back. He ran for 1,726 yards and collected 17 rushing touchdowns. He added 400 receiving yards — many of which came after the catch.
Heilman was named to the Second Team after a strong junior year at wide receiver, capped by an enormous performance in the Dakota Bowl. Although Max Palmer had more receiving yards than him for most of the season, Heilman ended up with a team-high 634 after putting up 168 in the championship game.
Heilman also had 28 total tackles on defense. He was the leader on special teams as well, with 446 kick return yards and 67 punt return yards.
Brown, a junior, was Devils Lake’s center. He was a more under-the-radar but still key component of allowing the offense to flourish. The line created a ton of holes for Exner throughout the season. Brown also had 10 total tackles on defense.
Palmer received another accolade at the team’s banquet on Tuesday. He was this year’s recipient of the Joe Roller Award, given each year to the Devils Lake player who “demonstrates good character, academics, leadership and success on the football field,” per the award’s plaque.
Past recipients include Oliver Wirth in 2024, Hudson Hudous in 2023 and Ben Heilman — Will’s older brother — in 2021.
Palmer and Exner now leave this program behind as leaders of Devils Lake’s first ever state football championship.
