By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
The Alabama Sports Writers Association released the annual All-State Football Teams early Saturday morning. Fifteen athletes from the WEIS coverage area were honored, including four first-team selections, seven second team honorees, and four honorable mention players.
Leading the area is Class 3A state semifinalist Piedmont (13-1). The Bulldogs have three first-team selections in senior wide receiver Rollie Pinto, senior offensive lineman Kaden Doyle, and junior linebacker Bentley Chandler.
Pinto, a Jacksonville State signee, eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark with 60 catches and 17 touchdowns. Doyle graded at 90 percent for the season with 15 pancakes and 19 knockdowns. Chandler posted over 90 solo tackles, including seven for loss with a sack and three interceptions.
The Bulldogs also have a second-team choice in junior linebacker Chase Kirkpatrick. He also had over 90 tackles, including 12 for loss with a pair of sacks and three interceptions.
Class 4A Cherokee County (7-4) has a first-team selection in senior offensive lineman Asa Holbert
Holbert, a Western Kentucky signee, had 44 pancake blocks with no pressures allowed and gave up just one sack. He had a 98 percent run block efficiency and was 99 percent efficient when the Warrior backs ran behind him.
The Warriors also have two second-team honorees in senior running back Keyshawn Woods and senior offensive lineman Ben Moseley.
Woods ran for 2,255 yards on 278 carries with 22 touchdowns. Moseley, a Duke signee at tight end, had 19 catches for 260 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 12 pancakes and 15 knockdowns this season for the Warriors. He graded at 98 percent in run block efficiency and at 92 percent as an open field blocker.
Class 3A Collinsville (8-3) has a first-team choice in junior wide receiver Gavin Lang. He caught 55 passes for 1,221 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Panthers also earned an honorable mention in junior quarterback Mason McAteer. He completed 162-of-242 pass attempts for 2,906 yards and 30 touchdowns and also rushed for 933 yards on 141 carries with 13 scores.
In Class 2A, Cedar Bluff senior offensive lineman Hudson Smith earned a spot on the second team. Smith graded at 96 percent and allowed just one sack with 32 knockdowns and 18 pancake blocks for the Tigers (3-7).
The Sand Rock Wildcats (3-8) have an honorable mention in sophomore wide receiver Ryker Woodall. He led the Wildcats with 65 catches for 751 yards and nine touchdowns.
Class 1A Spring Garden (6-5) has two second-team selections in junior defensive lineman Bryant Williams and athlete Brady Ruark.
Williams posted 90 tackles with four sacks. Ruark ran for 1,250 yards on 174 carries with 17 touchdowns. He also connected on 49-of-81 pass attempts for 827 yards and five touchdowns. As a defensive back, Ruark had 32 tackles with a pair of interceptions.
The Gaylesville Trojans (3-7) have a pair of honorable mention players in junior defensive back Jack Sentell and junior athlete Aydn Heinrich.
Sentell posted 54 tackles with an interception. Heinrich ran for 1,013 yards and 10 touchdowns on 132 carries. He also caught 10 passes for 137 yards and two scores. On defense, Heinrich had 81 tackles with an interception.
The complete ASWA All-State Teams can be found on the WEIS radio website, weisradio.com.
Finalists for back and lineman of the year are scheduled to be released on Dec. 27. Mr. Football, Super All-State, and back/linemen winners are scheduled to be named Jan. 20 at a banquet in Montgomery.
