The Region 7-3A all-region football teams were unveiled last week, and 12 Gilmer High Bobcats were recognized.
Selections were determined by coaches’ votes, and three Bobcats made the first team, six were selected to the second team and four received an honorable mention.
GHS first-team players included defensive tackle Tyler Gatlin, offensive lineman Dawson Stephens and punter Seth Darling.
Gatlin posted 46 total tackles on the season, which included two for a loss. Stephens was a dependable three-year starter for the Bobcats. His selection to the first team came after he earned a spot on the second team last season.
Darling punted 30 times on the year and netted a 37.1 average, and his spot on the first team marks his second in a row.
Landing on the second team were wingback Kobe Stonecipher, receiver Will Kiker, offensive lineman Hershel DeFoor, defensive lineman Ashton White, linebacker Kyle Allison and defensive back Braden Jenkins.
Stonecipher was the Bobcats’ leading rusher with 958 yards on 150 carries. He reached the end zone nine times and had a season long rush of 63 yards. He also caught four passes for 66 yards.
Kiker hauled in three passes for 28 yards. Fellow sophomore Hershel DeFoor earned his spot as a first-year starter on Gilmer’s line.
White was Gilmer’s top tackler with 60. He recorded three quarterback sacks and broke up two passes. Allison was there for 55 total stops, which included four for a loss. He notched three quarterback sacks and a pass breakup.
Jenkins made 35 tackles on the season, one for a loss and two quarterback sacks. He also intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and broke up three more.
For Stonecipher and White, it was their second consecutive selection to the second team while Allison and Jenkins were honorable mentions a season ago.
GHS honorable mentions this season were defensive backs Kanaan Walker and Hunter Watkins, offensive lineman Tony Olea and quarterback Darling.
Walker made the second team a year ago. He was second on the team with 12 pass breakups and recorded 40 tackles. Watkins posted 50 tackles, intercepted one pass and was there for eight pass breakups.
Olea earned his honorable mention as a first-year varsity starter for GHS. Darling took over the starting quarterback role late in the season and completed 14 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown.
North Hall running back Clark Howell was voted region player of the year. Teammate Jeremiah Telander was named the region’s top defensive player.
White County’s J. Ben Hayes and Darius Cannon were named offensive player of the year and athlete of the year, respectively. Cherokee Bluff’s Eli Little was voted special teams player of the year, and teammate Mateo Guevara was the region’s top lineman.