Football - The Commercial Appeal

OFFENSE FINALISTS
Earl Harrison
Johnathon Johnson
Jamal Jones
Dillon Mitchell
Drew Richmond
Harrison continued
Ridgeway’s stellar
running back tradition
in 2014, leading the
area with 2,296 yards
and scoring 29 touchdowns, also tops in
the city. His efforts
helped the Roadrunners to a 12-2 season and a spot in
the 5A semifinals, where they lost to
eventual state runner-up Hillsboro.
Harrison — who will play at Arkansas State — was named offensive
MVP in District 15-AAA.
Johnson was the
star for a Melrose
team that led the area
in passing throughout the season. The
speedster caught
64 passes for 1,281
yards and 20 touchdowns for the Golden
Wildcats, who lost in the first round
of the 5A playoffs. In addition, Johnson averaged 44.5 yards per kickoff
return, scoring twice.
The only repeat
finalist from last year,
Jones had a terrific
senior season as he
led the Bears to a runner-up finish in Class
4A and a 13-2 season. He ran for 1,678
yards and scored 19
touchdowns, while adding two more
scores through the air. The Arkansas
State commitment had 3,351 yards
rushing in his final two seasons.
Arguably the most
exciting player in the
area, Mitchell turned
heads all season long
for the Spartans. He
scored touchdowns
receiving, rushing and
on punt, kickoff and
interception returns.
Already committed to Oregon, he
totaled 2,238 all-purpose yards and
23 touchdowns, while being named
offensive MVP of District 16-AAA.
Richmond concluded his Owls career
as one of the most
decorated offensive
linemen in nation, being named to play in
the Under Armour AllAmerican game. He
was also named Mr.
Football in D2-AA, the only player
from the Shelby-Metro area to be
honored this year. After fielding offers from some 30 schools, the 6-5,
317-pounder committed to Ole Miss
during the season.
Ridgeway senior
Melrose senior
Trezevant senior
White Station junior
DEFENSE FINALISTS
MUS senior
Darron Johnson
Jonathan Mabone
Torrey Mabone
Patrick Macon
Josh McMillon
The only non-senior
among the defense
finalists, Johnson was
the defensive anchor
for a Ridgeway team
that finished 12-2 and
advanced to the 5A
semifinals. He earned
District 15-AAA
defensive player of the year mention
after recording 112 tackles, including 20 for lost yardage.
Mabone was the
standout on an Arlington defense that
ranked among the top
units in the area all
season. The linebacker finished with
112 tackles, including
14 for lost yardage,
and four sacks. Mabone was named
co-defensive player of the year in
District 14-AAA.
The top performer
on the area’s top
defense, Mabone’s
play was huge for the
Bears, who advanced
to the 4A title game
for the second time in
school history before
falling to nationallyranked Fulton. He finished with 112
tackles and broke up 12 passes,
while leading the state with an
amazing 36 quarterback sacks.
Macon, who shared
14-AAA defensive
player of the year
honors with Arlington’s Mabone, was
outstanding for a
Trojans team that
finished 8-4 after a
second-round 5A
playoff loss to Henry County. He
finished with 92 tackles, three sacks,
three fumbles caused and two interceptions.
Last year’s winner,
McMillon turned in
another excellent year
for the Tigers before
an injury ended his
season in the first
round of the playoffs.
The Alabama commitment had 65 tackles,
20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and
two interceptions as Whitehaven
finished 13-1 and advanced to the
6A semifinals.
Ridgeway junior
Arlington senior
Trezevant senior
Millington senior
Coach of the Year Teli White, Trezevant
Whitehaven senior
TENNESSEE 1A-2A-3A TEAM
Front row (from left) — Kevin Davenport, KIPP, senior; Tomadreus Trezevant, Mitchell, senior; Juanye Stuckey, Fairley, senior; Jaylon Moore, Mitchell, senior; Are’kavious Sears, Hillcrest,
sophomore; James Irvin, Oakhaven, senior. Middle row — Tracy James, Hillcrest, senior; Jimmy Harris, Carver, senior; Eric Thomas, KIPP, junior; Anthony Foster, Carver, senior; Calvan
Scott, Mitchell, junior; Tadarius Davis, Manassas, senior; James Stittiams, Hillcrest, senior; Willie Saulsberry, Fairley, senior. Back row — Brandon Knighten, Carver, senior; Cameron Sesley,
Hillcrest, junior; Gary Keefer, Carver, senior; James Smith, Manassas, junior; Phillip Haynes, Manassas, senior; Lester Holt, Mitchell, senior; Adam Balkin, Mitchell, junior. Not pictured —
Antonio Turner, Manassas, senior.
White led the Bears to the 4A state championship game for the second time since 2010, where they lost to nationally-ranked Fulton, 29-20. Trezevant finished 13-2 and was the only area team to
play in the BlueCross Bowl this year.
MISSISSIPPI-ARKANSAS TEAM
Front row (from left) — Peyton McMahon, DeSoto Central, junior; Alan Lamar, DeSoto Central, junior; Colton Freeman, Lewisburg, senior; Tucker Wammack, Lewisburg, senior; Ky Ky Austin, Olive Branch, senior; Kevaunn Johnson, Southaven, senior. Middle row — Chris Jones, DeSoto Central, senior; Taylor Turnage, Marion, senior; Michael Shirley, Southaven, senior; Todd
Wilson, Horn Lake, senior; Nicholas Kennedy, Southaven, senior; Sanchez Blake, Olive Branch, junior; Dontavis Bruce, Olive Branch, senior. Back row — Cortez Sisco, DeSoto Central, senior; Antonio Reed, Southaven, senior; Fletcher Dickerson, Center Hill, senior; Dan Ellington, Center Hill, junior; Jake Harville, Lewisburg, junior; Dalton Minton, Horn Lake, senior; Jeremiah
Maclin, Southaven, senior. Not pictured — Terence Davis, Southaven, senior; T.J. Jallow, Olive Branch, senior; Fred Walls, Olive Branch, senior.
TENNESSEE 6A TEAM
Front row (from left) — Zach Childress, Houston, junior; Korderic Taylor, Collierville, senior; Austin Hall, Collierville, senior; Mitchell Jensen, Collierville, senior; Deddrick Thomas, Central,
senior; Andre Jones, Central, senior; Eddie Lee, Central, senior; LaMarcus Young, Bartlett, junior. Middle row — Justin Jones, Houston, senior; Tate Kolwyck, Arlington, freshman; Sidney
Austin, Arlington, senior; Jonathan Mabone, Arlington, senior; Kerrick Jones, Whitehaven, junior; Jordan Williams, Whitehaven, senior; Elijah Phipps, Whitehaven, senior; Sean Williams,
Cordova, senior; Greg Harvey, Cordova, senior. Back row — Mason Piper, Houston, senior; Jared Schmidt, Houston, senior; Ben Evans, Arlington, senior; Jonathan Bowlan, Bartlett, senior;
Jonathon Timmons, Southwind, junior; Josh McMillon, Whitehaven, senior; Donte Vaughn, Whitehaven, junior; Rodney Williams, Germantown, junior; Dillon Mitchell, White Station, junior;
Terry Wright, White Station, senior. Not pictured — John McDougle, Southwind, senior; Braylon Porter, Bolton, senior.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS TEAM
TENNESSEE 4A-5A TEAM
Front row (from left) — Jonathan Robinson, Hamilton, junior; Calvin Robinson, Hamilton, senior; Jerry Craine, Wooddale, sophomore; Gabriel Scott, Trezevant, senior; Earl Harrison, Ridgeway,
senior; Johnathon Johnson, Melrose, senior; George Monson, Trezevant, senior; Jamal Jones, Trezevant, senior; Kendric Jones, Melrose, sophomore. Second row — DeVedrick Chaney, Kingsbury,
senior; Cedric Crawford, Melrose, senior; Bobby Harper, Sheffield, senior; Devante Turner, East, junior; Vasco Curry, East, senior; Michael Mason, Kirby, senior; Patrick Macon, Millington, senior;
Demarius Curry, Millington, senior; Angelo Pirtle, Millington, senior; Telvin Rucker, Kirby, senior; Jalen Alexander, Melrose, junior. Third row — Dashawn Boyland, Raleigh-Egypt, sophomore; David
Simon, Munford, senior; Trae Doty, Munford, senior; Zach Camp, Brighton, junior; Tony Pollard, Melrose, senior; Darron Johnson, Ridgeway, junior; Katavious Taylor, Ridgeway, senior; Braxton
Conard, Ridgeway, senior; Justin Swift, Trezevant, junior; Torrey Mabone, Trezevant, senior; Ray Taylor, East, senior; Elontae Bateman, Ridgeway, senior; Davonte Boyland, Raleigh-Egypt, senior.
Back row — Albert Terry, Trezevant, senior; Stonie Fitzgerald, Wooddale, senior; Camren Jones, Ridgeway, senior; Desmond Hawkins, Craigmont, senior; Terry Fultz, Ridgeway, senior; Raidarious
Anderson, Fayette Ware, senior; Marquette Murdock, Ridgeway, senior; Darrius Stafford, Kirby, senior; Jalen Steward, Overton, junior; Andrew McIntyre, Craigmont, senior; Teddrick McGhee, East,
junior; Kristian Wilkerson, Craigmont, senior; Nicholas Clay, Trezevant, senior.
Front row (from left) — Chase Hayden, St. George’s, sophomore; Christian Saulsberry, Northpoint, junior; Brian Novarese, Rossville Christian, senior; A.J. Hunt, MUS, senior; Colton Neel,
MUS, senior; Calvin Austin, Harding, sophomore; David Cummings, Northpoint, senior. Second row — Hunter Hill, Briarcrest, junior; Spencer Mackey, Lausanne, senior; Harrison Cox, ECS,
senior; Christian Rosenberger, ECS, junior; Robby Arthur, Briarcrest, senior; Christian Lewis, ECS, senior; Emmitt Thomas, Harding, senior; Ben Ellis, Briarcrest, senior; Cole Kelly, CBHS, junior. Third row — Jack Evans, First Assembly, senior; Logan Stewart, Tipton-Rosemark Aca., senior; Jacob Still, St. George’s, junior; Jack Oliver, ECS, senior; Tim Hart, MUS, junior; Warner
Hill, CBHS, senior; Khilan Wright, CBHS, senior; Lorenzo Cantu, St. George’s, senior; Noah Pope, St. George’s, sophomore; A.J. Hightower, Tipton-Rosemark Aca., junior; Bobby Downing,
First Assembly, senior. Back row — Drew Rutland, First Assembly, senior; Shermar Chambers, Rossville Christian, sophomore; Isaiah Stokes, Lausanne, sophomore; Peyton Jones, MUS,
senior; Drew Richmond, MUS, senior; Joey Magnifico, St. Benedict, senior; Tyler Currie, St. Benedict, senior; Cameron Sanders, CBHS, senior; Ben Hill, CBHS, junior.
Pepsi Best of the Preps Fall Teams schedule
Today, football • Monday, golf • Tuesday, cross country • Wednesday, girls soccer • Thursday, volleyball
Winners will be announced at the Pepsi Best of the Preps awards ceremony
on June 5, 2015, at Germantown Performing Arts Center