Brett Weaver of Sartell, who was named “Coach of the Year” by the Midwest Premiere Football League, said this season was a “dream come true” for him and his team.

Weaver is head coach for the semi-pro Granite City Renegades. He and his wife, Danelle, also own the team, which they organized and formed three years ago.

Along with “Coach of the Year” honors for Weaver, two Renegades players were named to the league’s all-star team. The players are defensive end Anthony Carpenter, who was named all-star player for the third consecutive year; and punt returner Jermaine Holmes.

The team won the West Division of the Midwest Premiere Football League. However, in the semi-finals July 20, the Renegades lost to the Brainerd Lumberjacks in the final seconds of the game.

The Renegades closed the season with a 5-2 division record and a 5-4 record in league play. The team consists of 53 players, an average age of 24, from throughout the tri-county area. The Renegades’ home turf is St. John’s University.

“This season has been a dream come true,” Weaver said. “We have a great corps of players. They kept winning and did so well. The chemistry among them is great, and win or lose those guys have fun playing.”

The Renegades are part of the Minnesota Pro Football League, which consists of two divisions (West and East) of four teams each. The Renegades play in the West Division with the Willmar Broncos, the Twin City Rhinos and the Brainerd Lumberjacks.