Ridgeland junior Markeith Montgomery leads eight Chattanooga-area players to earn first-team selection on the recently released Georgia Sports Writers Association 2016 all-state football teams.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Montgomery is the GSWA Class AAAA defensive player of the year after recording 84 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and eight pass break-ups for the 9-2 Panthers. It is the second consecutive all-state honor for Montgomery, who also was named to the Times Free Press Best of Preps defensive first team and was the Region 6-AAAA defensive player of the year.
Dalton's Ahmaad Tanner loses his helmet while being tackled by three Northwest Whitfield defenders during Friday night's game at Bruin Stadium in Tunnel Hill, Ga. Dalton won 10-3, its eighth straight victory in a series it now leads 29-5.Class AAAAAA semifinalist Dalton had three first-team members in running back Ahmaad Tanner, kicker Ivan Mora and defensive back Maddux Houghton. Northwest Whitfield had a pair of first-team members in receiver Jay Jones and linebacker Jon Conner, while Chattooga offensive lineman Mike Adams made the Class AA first team and Gordon Lee running back Drew Cobb made the Class A team.
Also honored in Class AAAAAA were Dalton offensive lineman Dylan Cole and defensive lineman John Henry Whiteside as second-team all-state, while Zeke Cobb, Jake Brock, Tucker Sumner and Nasir Love-Porter earned honorable mention.
Northwest Whitfield's Jon Tant (88) tackles Ridgeland's Grayson Moore during their prep football game at Ridgeland High School on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Rossville, Ga.In AAAA, Northwest Whitfield receiver Will Blanchard and linemen Tanner Floyd and Jon Tant made the second team and quarterback Luke Shiflett received honorable mention. Joining Montgomery from Ridgeland is running back Jalyn Shelton, who made the second team, and running back Grayson Moore, who received honorable mention. Heritage quarterback Corbee Wilson also was on the honorable-mention list.
In AAA, Sonoraville had three second-team members, linebackers Sherrod Agee and Lane Moore and kicker Kevin Villatoro, while Calhoun had second-team members in lineman William Long and linebacker Ryan Randall. Linebacker Baylon Spector and defensive backs Ryan Randall and Bailey Lester earned honorable mention. North Murray's Brady Harper was a second-team kick returner, and Murray County running back Tucker Gregg received honorable mention.
In AA, Chattooga running back Isaiah Foster was named to the second team, with twin quarterback Isaac Foster receiving honorable mention. In Class A, Trion defensive back Evan Walker received honorable mention.
Wrestling tourneys slated
One of the oldest wrestling tournaments in Tennessee is scheduled to be held Saturday at Central, weather permitting.
The Central Invitational, an outgrowth of what legendary coach John Farr started in the late 1960s at Red Bank, is supposed to begin at 9 a.m.
"There was a hiatus for a couple of years, and then (former coach) John (Lennon) got it back up and running," said Central coach Ryan Mallory, in his first year as the successor to Lennon. "There was talk about the years when it was the tournament for teams to compete. We're trying to get it back up there again.
"I think coaches are trying to get back to historical pieces. We want to keep it going because it is a piece of Chattanooga history."
Teams joining the host Purple Pounders and defending champion East Hamilton are Memphis Bolton, Boyd-Buchanan, East Ridge, Gibbs, Forrest, Knox Central, Notre Dame, Red Bank, Sale Creek, St. Andrew's-Sewanee, Seymour, Stone Memorial, Tyner, Walker Valley and Whitwell.
"East Hamilton has a good chance to repeat and Notre Dame with its top guys will have a chance, as will Stone Memorial," Mallory said. "Walker Valley will probably have the most participants, so they'll be a factor."
Admission is $8 per person.
The Soddy-Daisy Showdown also is scheduled Saturday, and what it lacks in numbers is made up for with quality. In addition to the host Trojans, a perennial state power, the Showdown also features top-five teams Cleveland and McCallie.
Also in the tournament, which is scheduled for a 10 a.m. start, are Chattanooga Christian, Cookeville, Farragut, Independence, Ooltewah and Rhea County.
The Soddy-Daisy tournament allows two entries a team per weight class.
"It has actually caught on," Soddy-Daisy coach Jim Higgins said of the format. "Now that Mark Reeves and the TSSAA allowed us to do it (last year), other tournaments are beginning to do it."
McCallie is the likely team favorite although Cleveland has the ability - with a full lineup - of doing quite well. Cleveland won its own dual meet tournament in early December, while McCallie placed third in its late December invitational.
Admission is $10 per person.