Associated Press All-State Team
All-Classification Player of the Year
Greg Reid, ATH, Lowndes
Class AAAAA
Offensive Player of the Year: Hutson Mason, Lassiter
Defensive Player of the Year: Abry Jones, Northside-Warner Robins
Coach of the Year: Chip Lindsay, Lassiter
OFFENSE
Hutson Mason, QB, Lassiter
Michael Boydson, RB, Walton
Toney Williams, RB, Milton
Brice Garrett, WR, Walton
Alan Bonner, WR, Newnan
Phillip Lutzenkirchen, TE, Lassiter
Ray Beno, OL, Newnan
Camden Wentz, OL, Lassiter
Nick Siemer, OL, Camden County
Ed Christian, OL, Lowndes
Kellen Williams, OL, Brookwood
Greg Reid, ATH, Lowndes
Devon Pike, K, Northside-Warner Robins
DEFENSE
Abry Jones, DL, Northside-Warner Robins
Derrick Lott, DL, North Cobb
Joseph Champaign, DL, Grayson
Wesley Hollingshed, DL, Norcross
Kevin Minter, LB, Peachtree Ridge
Jonathan Atchison, LB, Douglass
Nigel Mitchell-Thornton, LB, Stephenson
Steven Smith, LB, Norcross
Michael Green, DB, Camden County
Brian Randolph, DB, Kell
Alec Ogeltree, DB, Newnan
Gerald Demps, DB, Lowndes
Robbie Godhigh, RET, Harrison
Connor Hawk, P, Norcross
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DB Josh Johnson, Camden County; LB Mike Gilliard, Valdosta; RB Xavier Bacon, Northside-Warner Robins; DB Roderick Sweeting, Luella; DB K.J. Morton, Northside-Warner Robins; ATH Wade Brogdon, Brookwood; OL Andre Harris Lovejoy; OL Jacob Mwinami, Grayson; WR Mitchell Williford, Peachtree Ridge; RB Ean Pemberton, Grayson; QB Russell Powell, Newnan; QB Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett; LB Robert Williams, Camden County; RB Ryan Boykin, Etowah; RB Brandon Jacobs, Parkview; LB Darius Ivey, Northside-Warner Robins; RB Mack Brown, M.L. King; LB Josh Abbott, Tift County; ATH Tyler Jarry, North Gwinnett; DL Dumaldis Hill, Newnam.
Class AAAA
Offensive Player of the Year: Danny Madison, Westside-Macon
Defensive Player of the Year: Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon
Coach of the Year: Franklin Stephens, Tucker
OFFENSE
John Wilson, QB, Clarke Central
P.J. Green, RB, Rome
Jonathan Finch, RB, Evans
Danny Madison, WR, Westside-Macon
Dmitri Holmes, WR, Clarke Central
Kevin Steed, TE, Lithia Springs
Austin Nowlin, OL, Westside-Macon
Darius McKeller, OL, Jonesboro
Joe Pfeffer, OL, Marist
Sam Watts, OL, Salem
George Thomas, OL, Westside-Macon
Jonathan Davis, ATH, Tucker
Eric Osteen, K, Richmond Academy
DEFENSE
Jerico Brown, DL, Glenn Hills
Justin Jones, DL, Heritage-Conyers
Kory Threatt, DL, Westside-Macon
Isaiah Cook, DL, SW DeKalb
Julian Burnett, LB, Westside-Macon
Lonnie Moore, LB, Glenn Hills
Chaun Gresham, LB, Apalachee
Stephen Roberts, LB, Starr’s Mill
Teddy Lawrence, DB, Rome
Isiah Johnson, DB, Sandy Creek
Darius Slay, RET, Brunswick
Joseph Harrison, P, Cedar Shoals
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DB DeAthony Green, Westside-Macon; LB Naim Wakeel, SW DeKalb; DL Allen Stripling, SW DeKalb, DL Charmarcus Pittard, Cedar Shoals; DL Nigel Charles, Evans; WR Stephen Hill, Miller Grove; QB Orrin McFadden, Westside-Macon; QB Rio Johnson, Sandy Creek; DB Quinn Boone, Westside-Macon; RB Drayton Calhoun, Tucker; WR Drexel Copeland, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro; RB Clarence Jackson, North Clayton; RB David Carter, Sprayberry; RB Robert Brown, Westside-Macon; LB Will Solomon, Sandy Creek; RB Harold Small, Brunswick; RB Dominique Swope, Sequoyah; DL Emmanuel Dieke, North Clayton; QB Forest Holt, Sprayberry; RB Alfred Moreland, Banneker.
Class AAA
Offensive Player of the Year: Blake Sims, Gainesville
Defensive Player of the Year: Izaan Cross, Flowery Branch
Coach of the Year: Tom Fallaw, Cairo
OFFENSE
Angelo Pease, QB, Cairo
Reginald Bryant, RB, Cairo
William Pratcher, RB, Cedar Grove
Michael Bowman, WR, Ridgeland
Tai-ler Jones, WR, Gainesville
Chris Cannon, TE, Johnson
Johnnie Farms, OL, Perry
Chris Burnette, OL, Troup
Jadarieus Hamlin, OL, Mary Persons
Darius Nelson, OL, Baldwin
Chris Hubbard, OL, Carver-Columbus
Blake Sims, ATH, Gainesville
Austin Breed, K, Dunwoody
DEFENSE
Izaan Cross, DL, Flowery Branch
Josh Jackson, DL, Gainesville
Montavious Williams, DL, Cairo
Meshack Williams, DL, Worth County
Corico Hawkins, LB, Baldwin
Qua Huzzie, LB, LaGrange
Jarvis Jones, LB, Carver-Columbus
LeRon Furr, LB, Carver-Columbus
Nathan Jones, DB, North Hall
Ryan Campbell, DB, Carver-Columbus
Branden Smith, DB, Washington-Atlanta
Greg Palmer, DB, Flowery Branch
Chaz Avery, RET, Mary Persons
Joe Mansour, P, LaGrange
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DB Darren Myles, Carver-Atlanta; LB Thomas Sprague, North Hall; LB Brandon Watts, Washington County; QB Terrell Brigham, Burke County; OL Chartavious Danzy, Washington County; WR Bobby Buum, Burke County; RB Daniel Drummond, Flowery Branch; ATH Donovan Tate, Cartersville; LB Chase Vasser, Chestatee; DL Malcolm Mitchell, Dunwoody; QB Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch; QB Shunquez Stephens, West Hall; RB Demond Dennis, Carver-Atlanta; RB Kyle Griswould, Shaw; RB Ben Souther, Chestatee; DL Logan Bennett, Cairo; LB Jake Elkins, Cairo; QB Josh Morgan, LaFayette; DL John Drew, Northside-Columbus; DB Darius Eubanks, Thomson.
Class AA
Offensive Player of the Year: Cody Getz, Buford
Defensive Player of the Year: Rashard Smith, Dublin
Coach of the Year: Hal Lamb, Calhoun
OFFENSE
Michael Johnson, QB, Calhoun
Adrian Alexander, RB, Southwest-Macon
Cody Getz, RB, Buford
Jamal Patterson, WR, Henry County
Blaker Gowder, WR, Union County
Josh Rousseau, TE, Southwest-Macon
Michael Ozment, OL, Pepperell
Trevor Warbington, OL, Buford
Mike Brown, OL, Northeast Macon
Patrick Allen, OL, Jefferson
Kolton Houston, OL, Buford
B.J. Bostic, ATH, Jefferson County
Daniel Villafuerte, K, Buford
DEFENSE
Chris Crenshaw, DL, Jefferson County
Dallas Lee, DL, Buford
Khiry King, DL, Southwest-Macon
Arlester McKinnon, DL, Brooks County
Landon Anderson, LB, Buford
Blake Southerland, LB, GAC
Demery Hawkins, LB, Toombs County
Omar Daniel, LB, Fitzgerald
Rashard Smith, DB, Dublin
Jemea Thomas, DB, Fitzgerald
Brantley Payne, DB, Sonoraville
Rashad Rose, RET, Brooks County
Mamadou Sanon, P, Cross Keys
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DB Shawn Williams, Early County; LB Matt Cape, GAC; LB Randy Bailey, Callaway; DL Eric McDaniel, Calhoun; QB Drew Little, Henry County; RB Brandon Whitaker, Pepperell; OL David Clemons, Calhoun; TE R.J. Davis, Fitzgerald; RB Justin Beasley, Banks County; DB Darren McCray, Spencer; RB A.J. Cornelius, Northeast-Macon; QB Malcolm Eady, Swainsboro; QB Jonathan Carkhuff, Lovett; RB Keith Christopher, Brooks County; QB Darius Minor, Jefferson; WR Markeith Ambles, Henry County; RB Quan Jones, Henry County; RB Storm Johnson, Buford; QB Kohl Hegetschweiler, Blessed Trinity; QB Colton Chapple, GAC.
Class A
Offensive Player of the Year: Washaun Ealey, ECI
Defensive Player of the Year: Tony McCrea, Wilkinson County
Coach of the Year: Franklin Pridgen, Wesleyan
OFFENSE
Nick Marshall, QB, Wilcox County
Washaun Ealey, RB, ECI
Kyle Karempelis, RB, Wesleyan
Darqueze Dennard, WR, Twiggs County
Hiawatha Parker, WR, Turner County
Brian Volger, TE, Brookstone
Josh Parrish, OL, Wesleyan
Carter Gailbreath, OL, Brookstone
Colby Nelson, OL, Taylor County
Garrett Matthews, OL, Lincoln County
Joseph Altman, OL, Telfair County
Antonio Marshall, ATH, Wilcox County
Vance Tarver, K, Lincoln County
DEFENSE
J.C. Lanier, DL, ECI
Jabiaos Glenn, DL, Dooly County
Maurice Morrison, DL, Pacelli
Chris Hargrove, DL, Wilcox County
Mark Flott, LB, ECI
Bobby Fulton, LB, Wesleyan
Brewton McCluskey, LB, Brookstone
Conrad Quiros, LB, Whitefield Academy
Tony McCrea, DB, Wilkinson County
Cal Hardie, DB, Bremen
Todd Lawson, DB, Turner County
Nate Moorhouse, DB, Wilcox County
Deon Cuyler, RET, Johnson County
Stuart Wilkerson, P, Pacelli
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Caleb Horvath, Chattahoochee County; A.G. Middlebrooks, Lincoln County; Dominque Ellis, Clinch County; Jacovi White, Chattahoochee County; Quayshon Williams, Wilkinson County; Anthony Smith, Washington-Wilkes; Dee Hayles, Turner County; Robert Cooper, Chattahoochee County; Carlos Likely, Clinch County; Dexter Moody; ECI, Will Jenkins, Athens Academy; Javarus Mallard, Twiggs County; Conner Welton, Wesleyan; McKay Matthews, Athens Academy; Kevieon Newberry, Turner County; Trey Miller, Whitefield Academy; Wilkes Goolsby, Lincoln County; Vintavious Cooper, Clinch County; Keith Mumphrey, Dooly County; Cedric Wilson, Chattahoochee County.
In a year in which three teams reached the second round of the Class AAA state playoffs, two reached the quarterfinals and one reached the state title game, Region 7-AAA can now officially be called one of the top football regions in Class AAA.
And while does not contain the best team — that distinction goes to Region 1 and the state champion Cairo Syrupmakers — Region 7-AAA does boast the top two players in the classification.
Gainesville junior quarterback Blake Sims and Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross were named offensive and defensive players of the year by the Georgia Associated Press.
"Blake just has a natural ability that you can’t teach," said Gainesville coach Bruce Miller of his first-year aquarterback that accounted for 42 touchdowns this season. "He’s versatile and he’s like having an extra coach on the field."
Sims, who was selected as an athlete, is joined on the All-State team by Gainesville High teammates Tai-ler Jones (wide receiver) and Josh Jackson (defensive end).
"Tai-ler gave us a dimension on offense where we didn’t have to rely on one person," Miller said. "And Josh is just so strong and physical, that at times he can be a one-man pass rush."
The same can be said about Cross, who finished with 115 tackles and 12 sacks during the Falcons’ run to the state championship game this year.
"He was one of those guys you would consider a catalyst," said Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw of Cross. "He’d set the tempo and he’d get everybody right on defense."
While Cross anchored the defensive line for the state runner-up Falcons, senior Greg Palmer was the man in the secondary, proven by his team-leading 152 tackles and being named to the All-State team as a defensive back.
"He so much deserved that," Shaw said, referring to the honor of being named to the All-State team. "Greg’s an MVP-type player. He’s everything you want in a player."
But Flowery Branch and Gainesville weren’t the only local teams to garner year-end awards from the AP.
Johnson tight end Chris Cannon and North Hall defensive back Nathan Jones also received All-State honors.
"Nathan has great football instincts," Trojans coach Bob Christmas said. "He understands the game and has a great reaction time to the ball.
"I’m very excited about having him back one more year."
Jones led the area with eight interceptions on the year. His teammate Thomas Sprague, along with Flowery Branch’s Daniel Drummond and Connor Shaw, Chestatee’s Ben Souther and Chase Vasser and West Hall quarterback Shunquez Stephens were honorable mentions.
Cairo coach Tom Fallow was named Coach of the Year.
Getz named Class AA Player of the Year
All year long Buford High senior Cody Getz did everything in his power to help his team win back-to-back state championships. With that accomplishment, and the 1,359 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, the 5-foot-7 Getz is the Georgia Associated PressOffensive Player of the Year for Class AA.
"He’s one of the most exciting players to play at Buford," said Wolves coach Jess Simpson of Getz. "Every time he touched the ball everyone held their breath.
"Toughness and determination would be the two words that best describe him," he added. "He played with great intangibles."
Getz, who capped off his remarkable year with 232 yards and three touchdowns in Buford’s state championship win over Calhoun, is not the only member of the Wolves honored by the AP.
Offensive linemen Trevor Warbington and Kolton Houston, kicker Daniel Villafuerte, defensive lineman Dallas Lee and linebacker Landon Anderson were all named to the All-State team.
Jefferson offensive lineman Patrick Allen was also selected.
Buford running back Storm Johnson, Banks County running back Justin Beasley and Jefferson quarterback Darius Minor were honorable mentions.
Calhoun coach Hal Lamb was named Coach of the Year.