Local Athletes Earn All-Region Honors

By Mike Blum

The 2016 high school football season was a historically successful one across North Fulton, with two teams reaching state championship games, three teams winning outright region titles and two tying for first.

Nine of the 13 area teams qualified for the playoffs, with North Fulton schools sweeping all four spots in Region 7-AAAAAA. It was an especially good year for the four Roswell schools, who accounted for the three region titles and had a share of the fourth.

Overall, the four Roswell teams went 36-4 during the regular season, with Roswell and Fellowship Christian losing in overtime in championship games and Blessed Trinity suffering an equally difficult loss in the quarterfinals. Centennial had its best season in years, tying Johns Creek for first in 7-AAAAAA and putting up a battle in its first round playoff loss.

As a result of the overall success, a sizable number of local athletes earned all-region selections in the five regions that include North Fulton teams, plus nine Player of the Year honors from six schools. The nine were almost equally divided between Player of the Year (2), Offensive Player of the Year (2), Lineman of the Year (2) and Defensive Player of the Year (3).

Here is a list of the North Fulton players who made all-region this season, with stats included for some of the top players:

Region 7-AAAAAA

Centennial senior quarterback Casen Conway was the region’s Player of the Year, passing for 2154 yards and 16 touchdowns with only three interceptions in 220 attempts. Conway also carried 126 times for 756 yards and 9 scores, leading the Knights to their best season since 2002. Centennial finished 8-3.

Cambridge senior running back Kaelyn Byrd was the region’s Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1461 yards and 23 touchdowns on 238 attempts to propel the Bears to their first ever state playoff berth.

Johns Creek senior linebacker Myles Myers was the region’s Defensive Player of the Year and was instrumental in the Gladiators earning the region’s top seed in the state playoffs and finishing with an 8-3 record.

First team selections:

• Quarterback: Matthew Downing, Alpharetta, junior (174 of 267, 2245 yards, 24 TDs, 3 ints); Chase Owens, Chattahoochee, senior (1924 yards passing, 17 TDs; 305 yards rushing, 4 TDs).
• Running back: Matthew Taylor, Johns Creek, senior. (1093 yards, 14 TDs regular season); Cal Dickie, Centennial, sophomore. (63-579- 8 rushing, 21-399- 5 receiving); Tyreke Smith, Centennial, senior (7-yard average, 8 TDs on 52 carries).
• Receiver: Isaac Kinsey, Chattahoochee, senior (50-1010- 12; 672 yards, 4 TDs on returns, tied for team lead in tackles); Zach Williams, Johns Creek, junior (919 yards, 8 TDs); Blaine Mason, Centennial, junior (46-836- 4; starter on defense); Carlos Carriere, Alpharetta, senior (44-771- 13); Cameron Moore, Cambridge, senior (48-628-3); Andrew Thomas, Chattahoochee, junior; Farid Nana-Neboah, Northview, junior ; Jackson Davenport, Northview, TE/DE, senior.
• Offensive line: Jack Coco, Johns Creek, senior; Mason Mitchell, Centennial, senior; Peter Utesch, Northview, senior.
• Defensive line: Nick Marcus, Alpharetta, junior (14 ½ sacks, 24 tackles for loss); Nick Croawell, Centennial, junior; Kaleb Wenson, Cambridge, sophomore; K.J. Simpson, Johns Creek, senior; Zack Leffler, Cambridge, senior.
• Linebacker: Jacob Gregory, Centennial, senior (93 total tackles); Matt Gadecki, Alpharetta, senior (82 tackles); Jack Gregg, Chattahoochee, senior (71 tackles, 7 games); Reid Schulz, Alpharetta, junior (79 tackles); Will Britain, Cambridge, senior; Quin Geer, Johns Creek, junior; Logan Tamisin, Chattahoochee, senior; Tyler Werth, Cambridge, senior; Kevin Siatkowski, Northview, senior; Cole Neuber, Johns Creek, senior.
• Defensive backs: Jaycee Horn, Alpharetta, junior (6 ints, 24 passes broken up); Daquez Crawford, Johns Creek, senior; Malcolm Gallagher, Centennial, senior (76 tackles; 9-yard average, 9 TDs on 37 carries on offense); Jack Somers, Johns Creek, senior.
• Kickers: Jacob Friant, Johns Creek, senior (PK); Dylan Schorr, Alpharetta, junior (P).

Region 6-A South:

Fellowship Christian senior quarterback Jack Hardin was the region’s Offensive Player of the Year, passing for 1674 yards and 24 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Ten of his TD passes came in the playoffs, and he rushed for 364 yards on 70 carries with four touchdowns in four post-season games, boosting his season totals to 729 yards and 16 TDs. Hardin was also a starter on defense at safety.

Two-way Fellowship starter Tad Aycock, a junior, was the region’s Lineman of the Year.

First team selections:

• Quarterback Jacob Cendoya, Mt. Pisgah, junior (over 3000 yards total offense and 30 TDs).
• Running backs: Andrew Johnson, FCS, senior, (193-1114- 12); Andrew Minkert, FCS, senior, (159-996- 10).
• All-purpose: Robert Jones, St. Francis, sophomore.
• Receivers: Ryan Reid, FCS, senior (65-1243- 16; 28-438- 6 in 4 playoff games); Kai Williams, Mt. Pisgah, junior; David Woodward, Mt. Pisgah, junior. Tight end: Trevor Lewis, FCS, senior.
• Offensive line: Jackson Kreiekemeier, FCS, senior; Kyle Brown, King’s Ridge, senior; Charlie Thompson, FCS, senior (LS).
• Defensive line: Billy McCurry, FCS, junior (89 tackles, 19 for loss, 8 sacks); Jack Geier, Mt. Pisgah, senior.
• Linebacker: Max Miller, Mt. Pisgah, senior; Orion Caldwell, King’s Ridge, senior; Trey Robinson, FCS, Sr.; Carter Isaacs, FCS, senior.
• Defensive back: Connor Norwood, Mt. Pisgah, sophomore; Joshua Stallworth, King’s Ridge, junior.

Second team all-region (by team):

• Fellowship Christian: Merrick Haigler, RB/WR, junior; Mason Russell, OL, junior; Davis Shaw, OL, junior; Ethan Minkert, DL, senior; Zach Murray, DL, senior; Matt Morton, LB, junior; Matt Curry, LB, junior; Cameron Gill, DB, sophomore; Garrett Depew, PK, senior.
• Mt. Pisgah: Parker Bishop, OL, senior.
• King’s Ridge: Lawson Hill, RB, senior; Jack McHugh, WR; Hayden Milling, AP, junior; Kaleb Morris, DL, sophomore.
• St. Francis: Jonathan Pittman, OL, freshman; Sean Paradise, DL, sophomore; Sam Hines, LB, freshman; Matt Davis, P, senior.

Region 4-AAAAAAA

Roswell went 14-1 for a second straight season and the Hornets were rewarded with the Region’s Player of the Year (senior quarterback Malik Willis) and Defensive Player of the Year Xavier McKinney (senior safety).

Willis passed for 2834 yards (1220 in five playoff games) and rushed for 1075. He accounted for 41 touchdowns, passing for 29 and running for 12. McKinney intercepted five passes in the playoffs and was a close second on the team in solo tackles with 60.

Roswell’s first team selections included running back Sheldon Evans (1625 yards, 17 TDs, despite being limited in the playoffs by an ankle injury). Evans compiled more than 5300 yards in three seasons as a starter with 65 rushing touchdowns.

Also making first team on offense was senior receiver Jayden Comma (43-780- 11, 3 TDs in the playoffs), junior tight end Tyneil Hopper and senior lineman Jack Nichols. The dominant Roswell defense landed six all-region players in addition to McKinney.

Senior ends Justin Ellis and Koby Cumberlander were credited with a combined 30 sacks, a total that seems low considering the number of multi-sack games for each player. Senior tackle Max Boyd gave the Hornets a strong interior presence and joined them on the first team, along with senior linebacker Sam DiRoberto, who led the team in solo tackles (62), assists (70) and tackles for loss (20).

Senior cornerbacks LeAnthony Williams and Justus Harris also made the first team, with Williams battling McKinney for the team lead in interceptions. Linebacker Mitch Stone and lineman Lamon Titus, both seniors, were honorable mention selections on defense, with senior offensive tackle Jordan Tucker and receivers Kentrell Barber and Christian “Scooby” Ford, one of a handful of junior starters for the Hornets.

Region 7-AAAA

Blessed Trinity players landed two individual honors, as sophomore tailback Steele Chambers was selected as Offensive Player of the Year and senior offensive tackle Jacob Bolton earned Lineman of the Year honors.

Chambers carried 220 times for 1508 yards and 21 touchdowns, and was also one of the Titans’ top defensive players, sharing the team lead in interceptions and ranking among the leading tacklers.

Chambers rushed for 185 yards and four TDs in BT’s opening round playoff win. The Titans finished the season 10-3, the fourth straight year they’re reached at least the quarterfinals in the state playoffs and the sixth in a row in which they’ve won at least one playoff game. The Titans are 64-17- 1 in six seasons under coach Tim McFarlin.

Making first team all-region for BT was: Ryan Davis, WR, sophomore (49-676- 7, 15-181- 2 in 3 playoff games, starter at CB on defense); J.D. Bertrand, TE, sophomore (4 TD catches in 7 games, also 68 tackles, 8 for losses as a DE); Chase Harof, OL, senior; J.R. Bivens, DL, sophomore; Jake Rudolph, LB, junior (102 tackles); Harrison Weltlich, DB, senior (4 ints); Brooks Hosea, PK, senior (13 of 15 FGs).

Second team: Jake Smith, QB, sophomore (1545 yards passing, 16 TDs); Mitch Weidner, FB, senior; Wes Leckie, TE, senior; Matt Maloof, OL, senior; Griffin Gilder, OL, senior; James Ellis, DL, senior; Jacob Kornick, LB, senior; Alex Parham, LB, senior.

Region 5-AAAAAAA

Justin Blanks, a junior defensive end at Milton, was selected the region’s Defensive Player of the Year. Blanks was credited with 50 solo tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, leading an Eagles’ defense that helped produce wins over local rivals Alpharetta and Cambridge, gave state No. 2 Roswell a battle and was a key part of victories in the team’s final three games to secure a state playoff berth.

Milton’s first team all-region selections are Mason Nutter, OL, senior; Jack Griffin, DL, senior; Chase Hooper, DL, senior; Troy Simon, DB, senior; Trevor Allison, LS, senior.

Second team: Cameron Adams, RB, senior. (177-810- 9); Dash Hairston, WR, junior; Blake Watson, OL, junior; Cade Leonard, LB, senior; Joe Charleston, DB., sophomore; Nick Auguello, PK, senior (11 of 16 FGs, 25 of 25 PATs).

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