8 Chattanooga area players among Mr. Football semifinalists [photos]

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Eight from area TSSAA Mr. Football semifinalists

Eight players from the Chattanooga area have been named semifinalists for the TSSAA Mr. Football awards in their respective classifications. Four players make up the list of semifinalists for both the back of the year and lineman of the year in each classification, and there are four semifinalists for the kicker of the year award, chosen from all classes combined.

Two players each from McCallie and Marion County headline the area contingent. Blue Tornado quarterback Robert Riddle is among the four semifinalists for Division II-AA back of the year, and teammate Giovanni Hightower-Reviere is up for lineman of the year. Riddle has thrown for more than 2,400 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, while Hightower-Reviere is a two-way lineman who has five tackles for loss, three sacks and 11 quarterback hurries and also blocks for an offense that averages 39 points per game.

Marion County senior teammates Alex Kirkendoll and Hunter McClain, both linebackers, are two of the four semifinalists for Class 2A lineman of the year. Kirkendoll ranks among the area's tackle leaders with 126 and also has 11 for loss, three sacks and two safeties for a defense that has allowed just four rushing TDs this season. McClain has 73 tackles, 10 for loss, and has rushed for 801 yards.

"It's a testament to how hard both of them have worked - on the field, in the weightroom and especially in the classroom," Warriors coach Joey Mathis said. "Their leadership also means a lot to us on the field. They make sure we're lined up where we need to be because they have a good knowledge of the game, and they bring an element of toughness with good speed.

"Those two kids are what's right with high school football."

In 3A, Sequatchie County linebacker and fullback Hunter Davenport is the first player in that program's history to be a Mr. Football semifinalist. As proof of his versatility, he's the only player in any class to be a semifinalist for both the back and lineman of the year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has 92 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four forced fumbles defensively, while on offense he has more than 1,000 total yards and 20 TDs.

"He's just a huge part of everything we do here," Indians coach Adam Caine said. "For two years he's been our most physical and best defensive player. Last year he was a really good blocker as a fullback, and then this year, since we expanded our offense, he's been more involved in the run game and really become a guy we count on to get a lot of yards."

Meanwhile, for the second straight year, Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland is a semifinalist for 6A's top back honor, despite missing the last three games with a shoulder injury. Copeland, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga commitment who is expected back for the playoffs, has thrown for 1,730 yards, rushed for 468 and accounted for 27 total TDs.

South Pittsburg senior two-way lineman Mitch Butner is one of the four up for that 1A award, and East Hamilton's Jake McClure made the list for the state's top-kicker honor. Butner helps anchor an offensive line for a team averaging 52 points over its last seven games, while McClure has made 11 of 12 field-goal attempts, with a long of 56, and averaged 40.2 yards per punt.

For the 10th straight year the Tennessee Titans are sponsoring the Mr. Football awards, and two finalists for each category will be announced on the Titans website at www.titansonline.com on Nov. 15 at noon EST. The two finalists for each award will be invited to attend the awards luncheon at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 28, where the winners will be announced.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis