The Shadow
The Virginian Review All-Area Football team is headlined by Alleghany’s Seth Bradley and Covington’s Troy Helton as Co-Offensive Players of the Year, while Bath County’s Derek Brinkley is the All-Area Defensive Player of the Year.
Bradley led the area in total offense with 2,837 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns – 18 passing and 12 rushing.
Bradley completed 54 percent (175 of 322) of his passes for 2,251 yards, with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 586 yards on 146 carries.
The junior southpaw was named second team All-Blue Ridge District.
Helton was the area’s leading rusher with 1,454 yards and 20 touchdowns on 210 attempts, averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
The sophomore also led the area in scoring with 142 total points. Helton scored 23 touchdowns on the year and added two two-point conversions.
He was named first team All-Pioneer District and All-Region C as a return specialist. Helton was named to the second team All-Group A team as a return specialist.
Brinkley was the Pioneer District’s and Region C’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a first team All-Group A performer in his senior season.
The Bath County senior terrorized opposing quarterbacks from his defensive end position, registering 14 sacks on the season.
Joining Bradley and Helton on offense are running back Dillon Fry, receivers Lucas Kirby and Taylor Carter, along with tight end Aaron Newmarker.
Anchoring down the line are Jason Waller, Christian Riley, Dustin Via, Connor Simpson and Mikeal Thrasher.
Fry had another solid offensive year as a senior for Coach Will Fields.
The senior totaled 1,392 yard of total offense on the season. Fry rushed for 868 yards and nine touchdowns on 178 carries, while hauling in 42 passes for another 524 yards and three scores.
Fry was named first team All-Pioneer District as a running back and defensive back. He was a first team All-Region C pick as a defensive back and a second team All-Region C pick as a running back. Fry was named a second team All-Group a defensive back.
Kirby and Carter were Bradley’s top two targets this past season.
Kirby caught 45 passes for 696 yards and nine touchdowns this past season, averaging 15.5 yards a reception. Kirby was a first team All-Blue Ridge District selection as a wide receiver.
Carter hauled in 39 passes this past season for an area-high 715 yards and scored six touchdowns. He averaged 18.3 yards per reception and was named to the second team All-Blue Ridge District offense as a wide receiver.
Newmarker was a first team All-Pioneer District selection at tight end this past season.
The Bath County junior caught 23 passes for 160 yards this season. He was named to the second team All-Region C offense.
Waller and Riley were both first team All-Pioneer district selection as offensive lineman, while Waller was named second team All-Region C and Riley was named to the Region C Honorable Mention List.
Simpson was a first team All-Blue Ridge District lineman, while Via was named to the second team. Thrasher was second team All-Pioneer District lineman this past season.
Alleghany’s Tanner Seay serves as kicker this season after booting four field goals and 37 PATs.
Joining Brinkley on the defensive side of the ball are lineman Harvey Wolfe, Kyle Greene and Darrion Quarles.
Linebackers are Josh Crouse, Dariene Hepler, Rob Carpenter and Josh Laprade, while Dillon Fry, Xavier Smothers and Brandon Phillips hold down the defensive secondary.
Wolfe was an first team All-Pioneer District performer and was named second team All-Region C defensively.
Wolfe registered nine sacks this past season for Coach Fields’ defense.
Quarles was named to the second team All-Blue Ridge District defense, while Greene was a second team All-Pioneer District performer after registering 62 tackles and six sacks from his defensive end position.
Crouse was a first team All-Pioneer District performer as a linebacker and was named to the Region C Honorable Mention list. Crouse was third on the Chargers in tackles.
Hepler was a second team All-Pioneer District performer as a linebacker this past season after registering 12 tackles for loss from his linebacker position.
Carpenter was a first team All-Blue Ridge District selection as linebacker his senior season, while Laprade was a second team All-Pioneer District selection. He led Covington with 78 tackles and had 12 tackles for loss.
Smothers was a first team All-Pioneer District defensive back this past season and was named second team All-Region C defensive back after breaking up 13 passes and recording one interception this past season.
Phillips was a second team All-Pioneer District selection at defensive back this past season after leading the Cougars in interceptions with five and added 45 tackles from his cornerback position.
