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The Times' 2009 All-Area Team
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Player of the Year: Gainesville High's Blake Sims

Coach of the Year: Buford High's Jess Simpson

First Team Offense

Quarterback

Connor Shaw

School: Flowery Branch

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-2, 200

Notable: 3,829 total yards, 47 total TDs, completed 76% of his passes

Athlete

Blake Sims

School: Gainesville

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 200

Notable: 3, 376 all-purpose yards, accounted for 49 TDs

Running back

Ben Souther

School: Chestatee

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 205

Notable: 186 carries, 1,377 yards (137.7 per game), 11 TDs

Running back

Deon Brock

School: Commerce

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 5-9, 165

Notable: 151 carries, 1,679 yards (139.9 per game), 11.1 avg., 22 TDs

Running back

Imani Cross

School: Flowery Branch

Class: Sophomore

Height, weight: 6-1, 218

Notable: 1,407 rushing yards (6.5 yards per carry), 17 TDs.

Wide receiver

Tai-ler Jones

School: Gainesville

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-0, 170

Notable: 76 rec., 1,384 yards, 18 TDs; 1,639 all-purpose yards, 22 TDs

Wide receiver

Blake Gowder

School: Union County

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-2, 215

Notable: 72 rec., 1,237 yards, 14 TDs

Offensive line

Kolton Houston

School: Buford

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-4, 285

Notable: Committed to the University of Georgia.

Offensive line

Du’Von Millsap

School: Buford

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-5, 330

Notable: Committed to South Carolina.

Offensive line

Austin Todd

School: Flowery Branch

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 5-11, 215

Notable: Three-year starter; first-team All-Region

Offensive line

Daniel Blitch

School: North Hall

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-6, 320

Notable: GACA All-Star; committed to Wake Forest.

Offensive line

Michael Waters

School: Gainesville

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-0, 210

Notable: Three-year starter; first-team All-Region

Kicker

Mark Bardenwarper

School: White County

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 170

Notable: 81% KO in end zone; 7/10 FGs, 38/41 PATs

First Team Defense

Defensive end

Sterling Bailey

School: East Hall

Class: Junior

Height, weight: 6-5, 255

Notable: 68 tackles, 22 TFL, 5 sacks, 17 hurries; more than 20 D-1 offers

Defensive end

A.J. Cunningham

School: Buford

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-0, 205

Notable: 84 tackles, 15 TFL, 7 sacks; Offer from Oklahoma State

Defensive tackle

Tyler Hamilton

School: White County

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 285

Notable: 67 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries

Linebacker

Thomas Sprague

School: Gainesville

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-0, 215

Notable: 194 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, 3 defensive TDs

Linebacker

A.J. Johnson

School: Gainesville

Class: Junior

Height, weight: 6-3, 220

Notable: 174 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 defensive TDs; verbally committed to Tennessee

Linebacker

Jessel Curry

School: Buford

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-2, 210

Notable: 118 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries; committed to Auburn.

Linebacker

Aaron Gambrah

School: Riverside Military

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 200

Notable: 109 tackles, 9 TFL, committed to Georgia State

Linebacker

Peyton Wilhoite

School: North Hall

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 215

Notable: 101 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks

Defensive back

Nathan Jones

School: North Hall

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 5-11, 185

Notable: 114 tackles, 8 TFL, 9 INTs, 2 defensive TDs

Defensive back

Daunte Carr

School: Gainesville

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-3, 195

Notable: 104 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 forced fumbles

Defensive back

Rodney Young

School: Flowery Branch

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 190

Notable: 3 INTs, 1 TD; 887 receiving yards, 12 TDs

Athlete

Lucas Redd

School: Jefferson

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 6-1, 205

Notable: 100 tackles; 859 all-purpose yards, 13 TDs

Punter

Chrisel Flores

School: East Hall

Class: Senior

Height, weight: 5-10, 245

Notable: 42.3 avg., 7 punts of 66 yards or more

Second Team All-County

Offense

Quarterback

Shunquez Stephens, Jr., West Hall: 2,331 passing yards, 24 TDs; 424 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Running backs

Teryan Rucker, Sr., Gainesville: 152 att., 1,304 yards, 8.5 avg., 13 TDs; 9 rec., 200 yards, 2 TDs

Tyson Smith, Sr., Gainesville: 81 att., 503 yards, 6.2 avg.; 15 rec., 156 yards; 263 passing yards; 18 total TDs

Wide receivers

Darius Kimbrough, Sr., Flowery Branch: 58 rec., 614 yards, 3 TDs; 245 rushing yards, 6.8 avg., 2 TDs.

Ishamil Nuckles, Sr., West Hall: 39 rec., 674 yards, 4 TDs; 2nd team All-Region

Tight end

Brandon McKinney, Sr., Riverside: 32 rec., 429 yards, 3 TDs

Offensive line

Brantley Beck, Sr., Chestatee: 125 knockdowns, 28 pancake blocks

Kameron Clingman, Jr., Riverside: 91% season grade, allowed only 2 sacks

Sloan Strickland, Sr., Gainesville: Three-year starter, 2nd team All-Region

Dave Harkins, Jr., Johnson: 2nd team All-Region

Athlete

Anthony Prophet, Sr., Johnson: 748 rushing yards, 9 TDs; 576 passing yards, 2 TDs

Kicker

Billy Thompson, Sr., Flowery Branch: 68/72 PATs; 74 % kickoffs in end zone

Defense

Defensive line

Marlan Edwards, So, Riverside: 72 tackles, 13 TFL, 7 sacks

Chaz Cheeks, Jr., East Hall: 40 tackles, 10 TFL, 8 sacks

Stephen Flanagan, Sr., North Hall: 67 tackles, 2 TFL

Taylor Stowe, Sr., Gainesville: 95 tackles, 14 TFL, 6 sacks

Linebackers

Corey Sanderson, Sr., Flowery Branch: 108 tackles, 6 TFL

Robbie Poole, Sr., Chestatee: 111 tackles, 8 TFL

Alberto Sanabria, Sr., Gainesville: 110 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks

Graham Simmons, Sr., Gainesville: 132 tackles, 17 TFL, 6 sacks

Defensive backs

Keaton Summerlin, Sr., Chestatee: 43 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 INTs

Tevin Yarbrough, Sr., Gainesville: 83 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 forced fumbles

Rod Frazier, Sr., Flowery Branch: 85 tackles, 2 INT

Athlete

Lucas Bersin, Sr., Riverside: 82 tackles; 883 passing yards, 12 total TDs; 37.7 yards per punt

Punter

Will Monday, Jr., Flowery Branch: 33 punts, 40-5 avg., 9 inside the 20

Second Team All-Area

Offense

Quarterback

Kolt Owenby, Sr., Union County: 2, 593 passing yards, 27 TDs; 827 rushing yards, 9 TDs

Running backs

Ashely Lowery, Jr., White County: 110 att., 905 yards, 10 TDs; 14 rec., 270 yards, 2 TDs

J.J. Damons, Sr., Jefferson: 48 att., 405 yards, 6 TDs; 15 rec., 380 yards, 5 TDs; 2 punt return TDs

Jon Cash, Sr., Commerce: 81 att., 513 yards, 3 TDs; 12 rec., 256 yards, 1 TD

Wide receivers

Sherman Page, Sr., Buford: 56 rec. (school record), 718 yards, 5 TDs

Caylan Tanner, Sr., Union County: 27 rec., 523 yards, 4 TDs; 3 KO return TDs

Offensive line

Lafoga Tokio, Sr., White County: First-team All-Region

Kyle Mosley, Jr., Jefferson: Dragons’ top lineman

Ben Brown, Jr., Jackson County: 81% season grade, 11 pancake blocks

Kalan Jones, Sr., Habersham Central: 85% season grade

Gus Jones, Jr., Lumpkin County: 83% season grade

Athlete

Darius Minor, Sr., Jefferson: 1,010 passing yards, 9 TDs; 714 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 2 punt return TDs

Kicker

Michael Aiken, Sr., Union County: 6/10 FGs, 43/46 PATs

Defense

Defensive line

Ryan Howe, Sr., Jackson County: 76 tackles, 4 sacks

Zach Allen, Jr., Jefferson: 100 tackles, 12 TFL

Mitchell DeWalt, Sr., Buford: 86 tackles, 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks

B.J. Doresy, So., Lumpkin County: 66 tackles, 7.5 sacks

Linebackers

Josh Streetman, Sr., Commerce: 115 tackles

Matthew Patton, Jr., Banks County: 119 tackles, 9 TFL

Keylan Myers, So., Habersham Central: 114 tackles, 11 TFL

Michael Sossie, Sr., Union County: 135 tackles, 1 INT

Defensive backs

Ryan Dillard, So., Buford: 78 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 INTs, 10 pass break ups

Caleb Meek, Sr., Jefferson: 67 tackles, 8 pass break ups

Lee Smith, So., Dawson County: 101 tackles

Athlete

Lance Chuvala, Sr., Lumpkin County: 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks; 369 rushing yards (6.0 avg.)

Honorable mentions

All-County

Chestatee: ATH Lamar Brooks, Sr.; DB Cam Phillips, Sr.; DL Tyler Terr, Jr.

East Hall: DB Desmon Gardner, Sr.; ATH Jamon Witt, So.; DB T.D. Teasley, So.

Flowery Branch: DE Matt Bell, Sr.; DB Mykah Hester, Jr.; WR Robby Boudreau, Sr.; OL Brandon Keller, Jr.

Gainesville: DL Thomas Niles, Jr.; OL Jacob Couch, Sr.; OL David McConnell, Sr.; DB Justin Owens, Sr.; WR Michael Lorentz, Jr.
Johnson: DL E.J. Wright, Sr.; RB Mantevius Rucker, Jr.; K Chris Henry, Sr.; DL Caleb Jackson, Sr.

Lakeview Academy: RB Tom Drury, Sr.; QB Jordan Chastain, Sr.; LB Lex Little, Sr.

North Hall: ATH Ben Booth, Sr.; TE Trevor Ross, Sr.; RB Robert Humphrey, Sr.; RB Jordan Chaffin, Sr.; DL Nathan Hewell, Sr.; K Shane Doster, Jr.

Riverside Military: WR Richard Tribble, Sr.; DB Seth Sloan, Jr.; DB Brian Cox, Sr.; LB John Walker, Sr.

West Hall: WR Brandon Fuqua, Jr.; LB Nathan Turner, Sr.; RB Marquise Young.

All-Area

Buford: QB Alex Ross, Sr.; LB Andrew Swope, Sr.; RB Seon Jones, Jr.; DB Eric Barr, Jr.; LB Nathan Staub, So.

Banks County: LB Jeremy Greenway, Jr.; RB Clay Frink, Sr.; OL Travis Betts, Sr.

Commerce: DB Casey Drinkard, Sr.; OL Joe Sanders, Sr.; WR Carl Allen, Sr.; QB Cody Streetman, So.; DB Jessie Savage, Jr.; OL Tyler Austin, Sr.

Dawson County: OL Zack Johnson, Jr.; ATH Ethan Brown, Jr.

Habersham Central: LB Avery Dodd, Sr.; DB Dee Ellison, Sr.; RB Kevin Ellison, So.; RB David Griffin, Jr.; WR Chuck Rucker, Sr.; K Josh Welborn, Jr.

Jackson County: WR Jon Holton, Sr.; DB Nick Oney, Jr.

Jefferson: TE Hoytes Damons, Jr.; C Austin Przybysz, Sr.; DT Sam Loggins, Sr.; DB Tyler Porter, Sr.; WR Sky Porter, Sr.

Lumpkin County: ATH Michael Flanagan, Jr.; DL Jonathan Whitehead, Jr.; ATH Chad Fulton, Sr.; LB Lee Cagle, So.; ATH Jake McClure, Sr.

Union County: DB Wesley Adams, Sr.; OL Gabe Miller, Sr.

White County: WR Cam Segraves, Jr.; ATH Tyler Dotson, Sr.; DL Dylan Lewis, Sr.; LB Adam Hooper, Jr.; DL Rick Anglin, Jr.; QB Cole Segraves, Fr.

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