The Shadow
BY ADAM CRAWFORD
Sports Editor
Covington quarterback Troy Helton leads the Virginian Review All-Area Football team as Player of the Year after completing a stellar junior season.
The shifty Helton led the area in scoring with 160 points (25 TDs, five two-point conversions) and in rushing with 2,003 yards and 23 touchdowns on 293 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
He also completed 52 of 131 passes for 926 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, giving him 2,929 yards of total offense for the season.
The junior quarterback posted back-to-back 300-yard rushing games this season, rushing for 314 yards and five touchdowns in a win over James River and the following week going for 318 yards and three scores in Covington’s 21-7 win over Craig County.
Helton was the Pioneer District Offensive Player of the Year and was named second team All-Region C on both offense and defense.
Helton led Covington (9-4) within a game of the state playoffs. The Cougars’ season came to a close in the Eastern Region final against Sussex Central, 88-8.
Helton was also effective on the defensive side of the football where he was an All-District performer. Helton registered 59 tackles, two sacks and had seven interceptions on the season.
Joining Helton on the All-Area offense are Seth Bradley, Casey Walker, Ethan Nicely, Kendall Kessinger, Aaron Newmarker, Mitchell Stinespring, Casey Smith, Lucas Via, Dustin Via, Derek Dressler, Tanner Seay and Brandon Phillips.
Bradley, a second team All-Blue Ridge District performer, led the area in passing with 1,744 yards. He completed 54 percent (143 of 263) of his passes, throwing 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions.
The AHS senior also rushed for 431 yards and seven touchdowns on 97 attempts.
Walker was second in the area in rushing with 596 yards and five scores on 128 carries, averaging 4.7 yards a carry.
Nicely was a first team All-Blue Ridge District selection at wide receiver and a second team All-Region III performer.
Nicely led the area in receiving with 39 grabs for 478 yards and seven touchdowns.
Kessinger was also a first team All-Blue Ridge District selection as a wide receiver after catching 31 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns.
Newmarker is the All-Area football team’s tight end for a second straight season after catching 19 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. Newmarker was a first team All-Pioneer District performer his senior season.
Stinespring, Smith, Lucas Via, Dustin Via and Dressler round out the All-Area offense’s line.
Stinespring was a first team All-Pioneer District and All-Region C selection on both sides of the ball, while Smith was a first team All-Blue Ridge District selection and a second team All-Region III selection. Lucas Via was named first team All-Pioneer District and first team All-Region C as a lineman. Dustin Via was a second team All-Blue Ridge District selection at lineman, while Dressler was a second team All-Pioneer District lineman.
Phillips was named the All-Area team’s return specialist.
He was a second team All-Pioneer District performer.
Joining Helton and Stinespring on the defensive side of the All-Area football team area Connor Simpson, James McCulley, Jackson Hinkle, Ethan Dew, Dariene Hepler, Colton Harris, Christian Woodzell, Xavier Smothers, Dalton Unroe and Ethan Wrights.
Simpson had a solid season from his linebacker position for Coach Jack Baker’s Alleghany Mountaineers.
Simpson was a first team All-Blue Ridge District performer and was a second team All-Region III selection after recording 103 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
McCulley was a first team All-Pioneer District selection as a defensive end after recording 73 tackles this season. He had six tackles for loss and three sacks.
Hinkle was a first team All-Pioneer District selection as a defensive lineman in his senior season. Hinkle had 36 tackles on the season, four tackles for loss.
Dew was a second team All-Blue Ridge District selection as a D-lineman.
Stinespring rounds out the D-line of the All-Area defense.
Stinespring led the area with 116 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Hepler, Harris and Woodzell join Simpson at linebacker.
Hepler was a first team All-Pioneer District selection as a linebacker this past season. He finished the year with 67 tackles, including five tackles for loss. He also pounced on four fumbles.
Harris was a second team All-Pioneer District defensive selection after recording 69 stops with four tackles for loss. Harris was sidelined after six games this season due to a concussion he suffered in the first half of Covington’s regular season win over Bath County.
Woodzell was also a second team All-Pioneer District selection as a linebacker after recording 95 tackles this past season. Eight of those tackles came behind the line of scrimmage and he also recorded three sacks.
Helton, Smothers, and Unroe round out the All-Area defense backfield.
Smothers was a first team All-Pioneer District selection.
He finished the season with 41 tackles and led Bath County with four interceptions.
Unroe was a second team All-Blue Ridge District performer as a defensive back. The AHS junior recorded 65 tackles this season to go along with two interceptions.
Wrights rounds out the All-Area Football team as the punter after being named first team All-Pioneer District. Wrights averaged 36.6 yards a punt this season.
