The Jackson County Central football team announced special recognition for a pair of players on Tuesday. 

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association named Thomas Liepold Academic All-State this season. 

Winners of the award must be a senior varsity letterman who is a starter this season with outstanding football and leadership ability plus academic excellence including a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in his sophomore, junior and first quarter of the senior year.

Liepold is a two-way leader for the Huskies on the offensive and defensive line. The senior is among 15 individuals in Class AA and only 112 student-athletes in Minnesota to receive the honor. 

JCC also shared congratulations to Ben Dahlin for being selected to play in the Minnesota Football Showcase at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 14th. The senior is the leading Huskies receiver this year and has three interceptions at cornerback. He has also returned a pair of kickoffs and one punt for a score this year. 

JCC plays Kimball Area in the state semifinals at US Bank Stadium on Friday with kickoff at 9:00 a.m.