All-area team announced
The Hartselle Enquirer has named its all-area football team for the 2011 football season. Here are the winners and honorable mentions.
Offense
C – Will Swann, Hartselle – Three-year starter at center. Anchored an offensive line that had three 900-yard rushers.
OL – Hunter LaRoche, Danville – 86 percent grade out for season
OL – Skylar Jones, Priceville – Graded out 86 percent for season
OL – Chris Brown, Hartselle – Helped the Tigers roll up nearly 4,000 rushing yards as a team.
OL – Dylan Thompson, Hartselle – blocked for an offensive line that rushed for 265 yards per game en route to a state championship.
Co-QS – Deacon Aldridge, Hartselle: First-year starter threw for 1,600 yards and 12 TDs and ran for another 965 yards and 11 TDs. MVP of the 5A state championship game despite severely spraining his ankle.
Co-QS – Chance Ellsworth, Priceville – 2,274 yards passing, 25 TDs to just 6 INT, 233 yards rushing 5 TDs. Ranks 10th in most yards passing for a game 489 against Danville and 12th for total offense against Danville.
RB –Blake Slayton – Rushed for 1,274 yards and 17 scores. Averaged 6.8 yards per carry as the Tigers’ leading rusher.
FB/TE – Blaze Lawrimore, Hartselle – Had 182 yards on 31 rush attempts with two touchdowns and 11 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown receiving
WR – Harold Blades – Caught 43 passes for 849 yards and 11 TDs, a rushing touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
WR – Jeston Thompson, Hartselle – led the team with 37 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season. The receiver also caught several clutch passes against Pinson Valley including a 34-yard reception that set up the game-winning field goal.
WR – Nick Bell – Finished with 32 receptions for 743 yards and 12 TDs. His performance against Danville ties seventh place for most receiving TDs in a game (4) and ranks 23rd all time for most receiving yards in a game (237). He was also 3-for-5 on FGs and 33-of-35 on PATs kicking for Priceville.
K – Gavin Marsh, Hartselle –Kicked the game-winner with four seconds left in a 22-21 come-from-behind win at Pinson Valley, three field goals in the semis against Briarwood Christian, and the game-winning 47-yard field goal in the championship game. Finished the season 15-of-22 on FGs and 60-of-64 on PATs.
Defense
DL – Alec Durand, Hartselle – Had 100 tackles and six sacks at defensive end.
DL – Thomas Fleischman, Hartselle – Helped anchor a defensive front that allowed just 70 yards per game.
DL – Tyler Jolley, Danville – had 45 tackles and 2.5 sacks
LB: Jordan Orr, Hartselle – had 173 tackles, 19 TFL, two sacks and 1 INT.
LB: Waid Miller – finished with 130 tackles, 13 TFL and four sacks.
LB – Shawn Mears, Falkville – had 69 solo tackles, 30 assist, 2 TFL and 1 fumble recovery.
LB – Casey Goodwin, Hartselle – Had the second most tackles in the championship game. Also scored a touchdown on a punt block recovery and blocked a punt against Pinson Valley.
LB – Seth Fagan, Danville – had 96 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble.
LB – Joseph Hockett, Priceville – had 90 total tackles.
DB: Dax Gillespie, Hartselle, Sr., 5-9, 160: Had 94 tackles, three INTs and four pass break-ups. Honorable mention all-state selection.
DB: Tyler Phillips, Hartselle, Jr., 5-11, 185: His 116 tackles was third best on the team. Also had four interceptions, and two came in the semis against Briarwood Christian. Led the team with nine pass break-ups.
DB – Trey Jones, Danville – had 57 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and 3 forced fumbles.
DB – Caleb Hill, Danville – had 33 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 forced fumbles and 1 INT.
Honorable Mention
Hartselle: Garrett Fowler, Masio Stover, Sidney Steele, Charleston Williams and Aaron Lamb.
Priceville: Jacob Long, Myles Garrison
Danville: Riley Self, Tyler Crowe, Slater Robinson, Justin Morgan.