The All-Pioneer District first and second teams were loaded with players from the Bath County Chargers and Covington Cougars.
A total of 25 Chargers and Cougars were named to the first and second All-Pioneer teams.
While the Narrows Green Wave had the offensive player of the year (POTY) (Kolier Pruett) and the coach of the year (Kelly Lowe), the defensive POTY award belonged one last time ever to a Covington High School player, Cougars Luke Conner.
Conner finished the season with 109 total tackles and was named to the all-district first team as a linebacker as well as to the all-district second team as a wide receiver.
The Cougars who started out the season 0-7, went on to win their final three regular season games by double digits and made it into the Class 1, Region C playoff tournament as the sixth seed. The Cougars wound up losing to the Green Wave in the first round.
Along with Conner, there was a total of 12 Cougars who were selected amongst the first and second teams, while several players were on both teams for different positions.
Of the Cougars on the first team included; Conner, Purcel Turner, Nate Phillips, Neeko Jeter, Rocklynn Phillips, Desmond Jordan, and Randy Ingram.
The Cougars on the second team included; Conner, Turner, Jordan, Ethan Martin, Joseph Rogers, and Mark Hunter.
Darian Johnson and Garrett Carper were honorable mentions.
There will be a list below of all the positions the players were selected for and the teams they were selected on.
For the Chargers, after recording just two wins in their previous two seasons, the team took a big leap winning four games, while finishing second in the district. Led by sophomore Wyatt Campbell, the Chargers reached the postseason as the eighth seed in the district. While the team lost in the first round to Galax, it was a remarkable turnaround for the team under first year head coach, Jake Phillips.
The Chargers had 13 players selected to the first and second all-district teams with several on both teams.
Among the first team selections were; Campbell, Jaden Ryder, Andrew Turner, Bransen Gordon, and Caiden Offer.
The Chargers on the second team included; Turner, Offer, Braiden Mabe, Isaac Gwin, and Dillan Royer.
Honorable mentions included; Cameron Lowry, Hunter Waldeck, Kamoy Stone, Ethan Bryant, and Luke Hooker.
We’ll have full season reviews of both teams in an up coming edition.
All-Pioneer Second Team
Second Team Offense;
Quarterback – Desmond Jordan, Covington
Center – Joseph Rogers, Covington
Offensive Line – Rayshan Richardson (Parry McCluer), Dillan Royer (Bath County), Mark Hunter (Covington), Alex Drake (Craig County)
Running Back – Evan Cook (Parry McCluer), Xavier Brown (Eastern Montgomery), Reed Perdue (Narrows)
Wide Receiver – Luke Conner (Covington), Caiden Offer (Bath County), Bryton Tolley (Parry McCluer),
Tight End – Matt McGlothlin, Narrows
Kicker – Matt McGlothlin, Narrows
Kick Returner – Bryton Tolley, Parry McCluer
All-Purpose – Zach Peters, Craig County
Second Team Defense;
Defensive Line – Bradick Wheeler (Parry McCluer), Liam Ralph (Narrows), Ethan Martin (Covington)
Defensive End – Mason McCroskey (Narrows), Matt McGlothlin (Narrows)
Line Backers – Cooper Helvey (Narrows), Jase Barger (Parry McCluer), Xavier Brown (Eastern Montgomery), Braiden Mabe
Defensive Backs – Isaac Gwin (Bath County), Aaron Pruitt (Parry McCluer), Gage Akers (Eastern Montgomery), Bryton Tolley (Eastern Montgomery)
Punter – Andrew Turner, Bath County
Punt Returner – Purcel Turner, Covington
All-Purpose – Alex Drake, Craig County
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.