PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vonn BellVONN BELL
When the junior transfer from Central first showed up for summer workouts, Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis knew right away he was getting a talented athlete. He just didn't know how good. Bell, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder, was the main piece for a Ridgeland team that, despite starting nine new defensive players, overcame a slow start to earn a Georgia playoff spot and reach the second round. Bell, a two-way starter, totaled 178 tackles (119 solo stops), picked off five passes, caused three fumbles and recovered five, returning three for touchdowns, from his safety position. Offensively, on a team not known for its passing prowess, he had 31 receptions for 487 yards and six touchdowns. "Honestly, he's the best we've ever had here," said Mariakis, who currently has three players in the SEC and another starting for Oklahoma State. "He's just scratching the surface of what he can do. When he first got here, I wasn't sure, but as the season went along we saw a great player emerge."
COACH OF THE YEAR
Hal LambHAL LAMB
Any coach in any sport at any level would envy Hal Lamb's accomplishments. Entering this season he had coached Calhoun to 10 region titles in 12 years, four of those ending in the state championship game. But he lacked a state title, until 2011, when the Yellow Jackets completed their 15-0 season by beating the Buford program that had defeated them the last three years in the title game. "It was a special season for a lot of reasons, and I feel so good for the seniors on this team after losing to the same team three years in a row and for this community that has supported us so well over the years," said Lamb, who had among his starters this year his son, senior receiver Ben Lamb, and nephew Taylor Lamb, the junior quarterback. "These kids overcame a lot of adversity, and now they get to say they're state champions."
FIRST TEAM
Reed AllenReed Allen
CALHOUN
- Senior lineman
- The end headed to the Air Force Academy had 71 tackles and four sacks for the state champions.
Jake AblesJake Ables
SODDY-DAISY -
Senior lineman
- He was among the area's leaders with 23 tackles for loss.
Deres BennDeres Benn
RED BANK
- Senior defensive back
- He led the area with eight interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Coltin BlevinsColtin Blevins
SOUTH PITTSBURG
- Senior linebacker
- A two-time all-state player, he was named Class 1A's Mr. Football and led the Pirates with 120 tackles.
Kahne CooperKahne Cooper
NORTH JACKSON
- Senior defensive back
- He turned two of his four interceptions into TDs and had 39 tackles and 1,600-plus allpurpose offensive yards.
Rue GoldstonRue Goldston
BRADLEY CENTRAL
- Senior defensive back
- He had 75 tackles, five for loss, and seven pass breakups and returned one of his interceptions for a TD.
Caleb HoustonCaleb Houston
WALKER VALLEY
- Senior punter
- He led the area with a 42.3-yard punting average for the Mustangs this season.
Alex KirbyAlex Kirby
CALHOUN
- Senior linebacker
- The future UTC Moc totaled 184 tackles and was Georgia's Class AA defensive player of the year.
Hunter KnightHunter Knight
CALHOUN
- Senior linebacker
- He had 139 tackles, 131/2 sacks and 10 other tackles for loss for the state champions.
Phillip McClainPhillip McClain
OOLTEWAH
- Junior kick returner
- He averaged 25.5 yards per punt return with three TDs and also returned one kickoff for a TD.
Henry McClendonHenry McClendon
CLEVELAND
- Senior lineman
- He played both tackle and defensive end, finishing with 53 tackles, 15 for loss and seven sacks.
Jay RudwallJay Rudwall
OOLTEWAH
- Senior linebacker
- He led the Owls with 1201/2 tackles and was named all-state in Class 6A.
Dorian SimpsonDorian Simpson
McMINN COUNTY
- Senior defensive back
- He had 50 tackles, intercepted three passes and had six pass breakups.
SECOND TEAM
JUSTIN ADEKOYA Heritage Lineman Senior
ALEX AKINS Polk County Defensive back Senior
C.J. BELL Gordon Central Linebacker Senior
ZACK BOWMAN Signal Mountain Linebacker Senior
GABE FREEMAN Calhoun Linebacker Senior
DUSTIN LEWIS Heritage Punter Senior
CHANDLER PATRICK Tyner Linebacker Senior
KELLY PAYNE Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Lineman Senior
CHASE REED Boyd-Buchanan Kick returner Senior
ZACK REED Dalton Linebacker Senior
ADAM SELBY Northwest Whitfield Lineman Senior
ELI STOUT Sequatchie County Defensive back Senior
KYLE THOMAS Boyd-Buchanan Defensive back Senior
THIRD TEAM
HAYDEN CRONAN McCallie Linebacker Senior
KLAY DURHAM Gordon Lee Defensive back Senior
TYLER HENDERSON Bledsoe County Linebacker Senior
DEMETRIC JOHNSON South Pittsburg Kick returner Junio
MIKE JOHNSON East Ridge Linebacker Senior
JESSE JONES Cleveland Linebacker Senior
CHRIS MOORE East Hamilton Punter Senior
FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ East Hamilton Lineman Junior
NATHAN SCHUSTER Chattooga Defensive back Senior
CARTER SCOTT Meigs County Lineman Senior
JAMES STONE Ooltewah Lineman Senior
JOSEPH STURKEY Tyner Defensive back Senior
JOSH TISDALE Central Lineman Senior