Fourteen Gilmer Bobcats have been recognized for their play on the gridiron this season.
Region 6-4A football coaches’ ballots were cast Nov. 14 and five Bobcats were recognized at multiple positions as four landed on the first team, seven received second-team honors and nine garnered an honorable mention.
Head coach Kevin Saunders shared the coach of the year award with Ridgeland’s Kip Klein.
“This means a lot to this football program and what these kids have gone through in the past to recognize how well they’ve done this year,” Saunders said. “To make first or second team in this region after losing 30 (straight) games is something to be pretty excited about.”
First team selections included offensive lineman Will Bradburn, linebacker Gray McClure, safety Spenser Smith and punter Seth Darling.
Earning a spot on the second team were running back Kobe Stonecipher, receiver Braden Jenkins, offensive lineman Dawson Stephens, defensive lineman Ashton White, linebacker Cameron Weaver, corner back Kanaan Walker and kicker Adolfo Bautista.
Offensive linemen Luke Morgan and Dylan Shope received an honorable mention, as did Smith at quarterback and running backs White and McClure. Linebackers Jenkins and Kyle Allison, as well as defensive lineman Bradburn and cornerback Stonecipher were honorable mentions.
McClure made 75 total tackles on the season, including 10 for a loss and broke up a pass. Smith was there for 35 stops, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in eight games.
For second teamers, Stonecipher rushed for 755 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 attempts. He also caught eight passes for 195 yards and two more touchdowns.
Jenkins was there for 12 receptions and 162 yards and two touchdowns. Bautista converted 21-of-24 extra points and made all five field goal attempts.
Defensively, White made 75 total tackles, eight for losses and 2 1/2 sacks. Weaver led GHS with 95 tackles, including six for losses. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, broke up a pass and recorded 1 1/2 sacks.
Walker made 59 tackles on the season, broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles, one of which he returned 60 yards for a touchdown.
For honorable mentions, Smith completed 19 of 54 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 27 carries for 98 yards and six more scores.
White rushed 109 times for 481 yards and four touchdowns, while McClure ran for 504 yards and three touchdowns on 89 attempts. McClure also caught two passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Bradburn led GHS with 12 tackles for a loss. He had 2 1/2 sacks, 50 total tackles and recovered a fumble. Allison missed three games and recorded 45 tackles, six for a loss and sacked the quarterback twice to go with a fumble recovery and forced fumble.
Jenkins had 41 tackles, five for losses and a sack. He broke up two passes and recovered a fumble.
Stonecipher recorded 35 tackles, an interception and one pass breakup.
All-region linemen Bradburn, Stephens, Morgan and Shope paved the way for an offense that rushed for 2,166 yards, 21 touchdowns and averaged 5.42 yards per carry.
Gilmer’s 20.3 points per game are its most since the 2014 season.
Saunders shared his award with the entire program and school system.
“I have a great staff,” he said. “You can’t win this award without a great coaching staff. You’re not successful if you don’t have good players and good coaches. I feel very fortunate with the coaches we do have and to have the support of the administration.
“This is a total program award. With all that has gone on and all these kids have been through, this is top to bottom from the superintendent (Dr. Shanna Downs) on down to the middle school. We’ve revamped this whole program, and I think it’s going to pay off in the long run for everybody.”
All-Region Superlatives
Terrance Roberts, Sr. Ridgeland
Player of the Year
C.J. Streicher, Sr. Pickens
Offensive Player of the Year
Lane Phillips, Sr. Heritage
Defensive Player of the Year
Aiden Sanchez, Sr. Pickens
Kobe McCallister, Sr. Heritage
Co-Linemen of the Year
Sam Randolph, Sr. Heritage
Athlete of the Year
Kevin Saunders, Gilmer
Kip Kline, Ridgeland
Co-Coaches of the Year
First Team Offense
QB Nick Hanson, Jr. Heritage
RB Jamario Clements, Jr. LaFayette
RB Jordan Blackwell, Sr. Ridgeland
ATH Matthew Redmond, Jr. Northwest
ATH Jaylon Ramsey, So. LaFayette
WR Alex Snelgrove, Sr. Pickens
WR Dylan Lowe, Jr. Hertiage
WR Torrance Roberts, Sr. Ridgeland
WR Mykel Hand, Jr. Pickens
TE Bryson Lofton, Jr. Southeast
OL Will Bradburn, So. Gilmer
OL Derek Gibson, Sr. Heritage
OL Kobe McCallister, Jr. Heritage
OL Logan Godfrey, Sr. Ridgeland
OL Tommy Lamb, Jr. Ridgeland
OL Matthew Wallin, Sr. LaFayette
K Conner Middleton, Sr. Ridgeland
First Team Defense
DL Dallas McHale, Sr. Pickens
DL Clayton Holland, Sr. Pickens
DL Zach Costlow, Jr. Northwest
DL Jeremiah Turner, Jr. Ridgeland
DL Matthew Jackson, Sr. Heritage
LB Gray McClure, So. Gilmer
LB Jordan McCamish, Jr. Northwest
LB Zach Brown, Jr. Heritage
LB Henry Vassel, Sr. Southeast
LB Jonathan Washburn, Jr. Heritage
DB Spenser Smith, Jr. Gilmer
DB Cade Kiniry, Jr. Heritage
DB Julian Brooks, Sr. Ridgeland
DB King Mason, Sr. Ridgeland
P Seth Darling, So. Gilmer
Second Team Offense
QB Owen Brooker, Fr. Northwest
QB Adam Sowder, Sr. Southeast
RB Kobe Stonecipher, So. Gilmer
RB Jarod Whitmore, Jr. Pickens
ATH Alex Snelgrove, Sr. Pickens
WR Braden Jenkins, Jr. Gilmer
WR Ethan Hill, Sr. Southeast
WR Dylan Bryan, Jr. Heritage
OL Dawson Stephens, Jr. Gilmer
OL Jacob Klein, So. Ridgeland
OL Jordon Bradley, Sr. LaFayette
OL Josh Cook, Sr. Pickens
OL Jesse Fisher, Sr. Heritage
OL Jeb Brooker, Sr. Northwest
K Adolfo Bautista, Jr. Gilmer
Second Team Defense
DL Ashton White, Jr. Gilmer
DL David Patterson, Jr. LaFayette
DL Pete Padgett, Sr. Heritage
DL Dakota Hickman, Sr. Northwest
DL Ashton Turner, So. Ridgeland
LB Cameron Weaver, Jr. Gilmer
LB T.C. Jarrett, Sr. Pickens
LB Tanner Counts, Sr. Ridgeland
LB Colby Ramsey, Sr. Northwest
LB Maddox Rose, Sr. Heritage
DB Kanaan Walker, Jr. Gilmer
DB Jacob Sanders, Sr. Northwest
DB Drake Bing, Sr. Pickens
DB Caden Swope, Fr. Heritage
P Bradley Cass, Fr. Heritage
Gilmer’s Honorable Mentions: S. Smith (QB), White (RB), McClure (RB), Luke Morgan (OL), Dylan Shope (OL), Bradburn (DL), Allison (LB), Jenkins (LB) and Stonecipher (DB).