Area football players see DII All-State honors
Last week, multiple local athletes earned Division II All-State honors in football.
Concord Christian freshman Kohbe Ward totaled a 61% completion percentage for 1,848 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
“High football intelligence to pick up the offense,” said CCS coach Steve Matthews. “That was a huge advantage. To have that many touchdowns and that few interceptions, especially as a young guy, is outstanding. Hopefully his best football is ahead of him.”
CCS sophomore Lyric Jackson was named All-State as a defensive lineman with 58 tackles and five sacks. Like Ward, Dasani Moulden earned All-State as a freshman defensive back. He totaled 53 tackles and four interceptions, one of which went for a 108-yard pick-six.
“He did an outstanding job for us,” said Matthews. “Having a guy like him in man-to-man coverage, it allows you to load the box on defense. For his size, he’s a great tackler and very aggressive. A very bright future.”
The same could be said of multiple Christian Academy of Knoxville selections, including kicker Bennett Jelks.
He punted 22 times, averaging 41.2 yards per punt with seven inside the 10-yard-line. He also registered 14 touchbacks on 39 kickoffs and hit 36 of 42 extra points.
“Bennett was our punter, placekicker and starting free safety,” said CAK coach Chad Speck. “He really didn’t punt much before this year either but did a great job.”
CAK running back Ryan Gibson got All-State with 1,525 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Notably, he did not fumble this past season.
“Ryan was the absolute workhorse of our offense,” said Speck. “Everything flowed through him. A big, bruising back who got better as the game went on. Guys would rally to tackle him, but after four quarters of getting pounded, they definitely were not as interested.”
The same could be said of CAK defensive lineman Collin Crider, who totaled 89 tackles with a fumble recovery and 8 QB hurries with one pass breakup. He led all of East Tennessee in tackles for loss and tied for second in sacks.
“Collin was a major problem for opposing offenses,” summarized Speck. “He’s one that coaches would call a game wrecker and was a great leader for us with incredible production.”
Warriors DB Gabe Linkous earned similar recognition with 69 total tackles on defense, three for loss, and eight pass breakups and two picks. He was the only player in the Warriors’ region to be ranked in the top 10 of eight different statistical categories.
“He was our iron man,” said Speck. “He was named All-State as a defensive back, but he played every snap for us on offense at wide receiver and returned kicks on special teams. Just an all-around really good athlete who was the source of explosive plays for us.”
Another explosive athlete is Shavar Young, who earned All-State in Division II-AA as a senior defensive back. He made 50 tackles with two forced fumbles and a 108-yard pick-6 on defense.
“I’ve been able to watch him grow from his freshman year to senior year,” said former Webb head coach Don Mahoney of Young. “Even with the frustrating season we had, his attitude and leadership stayed strong. Then as a player, obviously he was electric. He could ignite us in so many ways, just a Swiss Army knife.”
Tyreek King and Chaston Smith both delivered in Division II-AAA for Catholic, as they both earned All-State. King, a Tennessee signee, registered 1,055 yards this past season with 12 total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Smith — a Notre Dame signee — snagged three interceptions to go with 37 total tackles and nine pass breakups.
“Obviously Tyreek has been here four years, and he’s a kid that has the chance to go the distance anytime he touches the ball,” said Catholic coach Philip Shadowens. “Really explosive on offense for us, but his maturity and accountability off the field have been major too.
“And Chas, like Tyreek, practiced like he was a freshman. Neither practices like a 4-star athlete. They set the tempo and tone in practicing hard every day, and that really helped us from a leadership standpoint.”
