Staff Photo by Patrick Smith/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Jacob Huesman is a 2010 Dynamite Dozen selection from Baylor School. Huesman is a finalist for Mr. Football in Tennessee.MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Baylor senior quarterback Jacob Huesman became the program's first Mr. Football Back of the Year winner Monday, winning the Division II-AA award.
There were three finalists for the top back and top lineman in five classifications and Huesman was one of three local players to be finalists, but the only award winner. The others were Signal Mountain quarterback Hogan Whitmire and Eagles linebacker Gervell Morgan in Class 2A. They are the first finalists in Signal Mountain's program history.
Huesman, who transferred to Baylor before his junior season after his father took over as head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has guided the Red Raiders back to the state championship game for the first time since 1977. In nine regular season games, Huesman rushed for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 9.5 yards per carry. He also threw for 788 yards and four TDs.
Baylor will play Ensworth for the state championship Thursday at 8 p.m. at Tennessee Tech and Signal Mountain plays Trinity Christian Saturday at 1 at TTU for the Class 2A title. South Pittsburg also plays for a state title in 1A, Friday at 1.
Despite missing two games with seven cracked ribs, Morgan finished the regular season with 86 solo tackles and 36 assists. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and recovered three fumbles, also returning one of those for a score.
Whitmire gave up a year of varsity competition in transferring but has led the Eagles to a 23-2 record the last two seasons after one year of a junior varsity schedule. In the regular season this year, he completed 72 of 115 passes for 1,765 yards and 22 TDs and went eight games without an interception. He helped the Eagles win nine regular-season games by the state's 35-point mercy rule.