Staff Reports

MONTGOMERY – Three area high school football players have been selected for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football/Player of the Year banquet. The banquet is presented by Alfa and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.

Cherokee County High School’s Jacob Cornejo and Tae Diamond are among the finalists for the Class 4A Back and Lineman of the Year respectively. Piedmont’s Jack Hayes is a finalist for the Class 3A Back of the Year.

Cornejo, a junior running back/linebacker, collected 2,580 yards on 287 carries with 33 touchdowns for the state runner-up Warriors (12-3). On defense, he compiled 133 tackles, including 17 for loss, with two sacks and two interceptions – one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Joining Cornejo as Class 4A Back of the Year finalists is Oneonta junior running back Fluff Bothwell and Randolph senior quarterback Andrew Hunter.

Bothwell ran for 2,916 yards on 233 carries with 40 touchdowns for the Redskins (11-2). Hunter threw for 3,764 yards and 45 touchdowns and ran for 680 yards on 80 carries with seven scores for the Raiders (10-3).

Diamond, a sophomore defensive lineman, posted 98 tackles, including 27 for loss, with 20 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes batted down.

Anniston senior offensive lineman Ryqueze McElderry and Montgomery Academy senior linebacker Jashawn Cooper are the other Class 4A Linemen of the Year finalists.

McElderry, an Alabama commitment, graded out at 97 percent with 65 pancake blocks last season for the Bulldogs (11-1). Cooper compiled 112 total tackles, including 25 for loss, with eight sacks and an interception for the Eagles (5-6).

Hayes set numerous state offensive career records last season for the Bulldogs (12-3). He completed 227-of-373 pass attempts for 3,267 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,592 yards on 219 carries with 23 scores.

Joining Hayes as a finalist for Class 3A Back of the Year is Pick County senior receiver Ian Foster and Mars Hill junior defensive back Damian Thompson.

Foster caught 38 passes for 895 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Bulldogs (8-4). Thompson, who defended the other teams’ top receivers, tallied 23 total tackles with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. On offense, he caught 28 passes for 525 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Panthers (10-2).

Winners, Mr. Football and the Super All-State team will be named at the banquet Thursday, Jan. 12 at the Montgomery Renaissance. The complete list of finalists is listed below.

7A BACK
DB Anquon Fegans, Thompson
QB Peyton Floyd, Hewitt-Trussville
WR Ean Nation, Auburn

7A LINEMAN
OL Bradyn Joiner, Auburn
DL Hunter Osborne, Hewitt-Trussville
DL Peter Woods, Thompson

6A BACK
RB Cole Gamble, Mountain Brook
WR Ryan Williams, Saraland
ATH Earl Woods, Hueytown

6A LINEMAN
DL Kelby Collins, Gardendale
OL Wilkin Formby, Northridge
DL Jaquavious Russaw, Carver-Montgomery

5A BACK
RB Ashton Ashford, Ramsay
RB Cole Blaylock, UMS-Wright
RB Eli Frost, Fairview

5A LINEMAN
DL Zion Grady, Charles Henderson
DL Kavion Henderson, Leeds
DL Yhonzae Pierre, Eufaula

4A BACK
RB Fluff Bothwell, Oneonta
ATH Jacob Cornejo, Cherokee Co.
QB Andrew Hunter, Randolph

4A LINEMAN
LB Jashawn Cooper, Montgomery Academy
DL Tae Diamond, Cherokee Co.
OL Ryqueze McElderry, Anniston

3A BACK
WR Ian Foster, Pike Co.
QB Jack Hayes, Piedmont
DB Damian Thompson, Mars Hill Bible

3A LINEMAN
DL Sterling Dixon, Mobile Christian
OL Koby Keenum, Mars Hill Bible
DL Trent Thomas, Cottage Hill

2A BACK
RB Logan Anderson, Fyffe
ATH Kamore Harris, B.B. Comer
QB Ty’Jarian Williams, Aliceville

2A LINEMAN
DL Keldric Faulk, Highland Home
OL Jamichael Pugh, Clarke Co.
OL Tucker Wilks, Fyffe

1A BACK
ATH Daylon Edmunds, Millry
RB Alvin Henderson, Elba
QB Brayden Huebner, Leroy

1A LINEMAN
DL Bryston Dixon, Leroy
DL Malcolm Pugh, Leroy
LB Korbit Sommerville, Pickens Co.

AISA BACK
RB George Meyers, Lee-Scott
RB Cecil Perry, Patrician
WR Trace Strickland, Clarke Prep

AISA LINEMAN
OL Jack Gibson, Patrician
OL Jake Owens, Chambers Academy
OL Walker Whitehead, Jackson Academy