Rivercrest dual threat quarterback Demilon Brown and Osceola head coach Robert Hooks headline this year’s All-Courier football team, as voted on by the sports staffs of the Blytheville Courier News and Osceola Times.
Brown led the Rivercrest Colts to a 3A state championship in his junior campaign, and is the Courier News Player of the Year. The all-stater rushed for 1,271 yards at a 9.2 yards per carry clip and found the end zone 18 times. Brown also passed for 656 yards with 10 touchdowns. Brown was awarded the 3A state finals MVP and all-conference.
On the defensive side of the ball, Brown had a total of 58 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Meanwhile, in his first season under helm at Osceola High School, Hooks turned the Seminoles around from a 2-11 season to a season where they were one play away from making the 3A state title game to face his alma mater and Mississippi County rival the Rivercrest Colts and finished with an 11-3 record.
Below is the rest of the All-CN team.
— Larry Clark, Blytheville: One of the top linemen in the state, Clark has received looks from several Division I programs. Clark is an all-stater, all-conference first team and was awarded the 5A-East outstanding offensive lineman of the year.
— Cory Chunn, Blytheville: A three-sport athlete at BHS, Chunn was also named to the all-state team, the all-conference first team and was awarded by the 5A-East coaches as the most outstanding defensive back of the year.
— CaDarius Young, Gosnell: Young carried the ball for 853 yards at a 7.4 per carry clip. CaDarius rushed for 12 touchdowns on the season. On the other side of the ball, the junior all-state safety had a total of 38 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
— Brett Barbaree, Gosnell: Barbaree filled in as a backup quarterback for the Pirates in his sophomore season, while also leading the team in tackles with 121. The all-state defender also sacked the quarterback nine times and recovered two fumbles.
— Kentavious Robinson, Rivercrest: Robinson’s junior season was plagued with an injury but he still received all-state honors after rushing for 1,029 yards, in which he found the end zone 16 times.
— Dylan Trapp, Rivercrest: Trapp, standing at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, was a threat to opposing running backs as he racked up 46 tackles and was named to the all-state team.
— DJ Flie, Osceola: Flie led the Seminoles to a final four appearance and nearly the 3A state finals after an impressive season under center.
— Derrell Brown, Osceola: Brown was a force to be reckoned with as he racked up 2,000 all-purpose yards in his all-state senior campaign. He was also a finalist for the Hooten’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Defensively, Brown had 93 total tackles and wrapped up the quarterback three times and recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass.
— Robert White, Osceola: White’s all-state defensive play helped the Seminoles as he led the team with 129 total tackles. White also recovered a fumble and had an interception on the season. White was a finalist for the Hooten’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
— JD Winda, Rivercrest: Winda was a big reason why the Colts won the 3A state title. The sophomore all-conference running back/ defensive end had 1,762 all-purpose yards, while also having 80 tackles on the season. Winda also wrapped up the quarterback one time.
— Layne Sims, Manila: Sims’ play for the Manila Lions earned him all-conference in junior season.
— Rowdy Rosebrock, Manila: Rosebrock’s play for the Manila Lions earned him all-conference in his senior season.
— JyDarian Young, Gosnell: Young’s play on both sides of the ball helped him achieve all-conference in his sophomore season for the Pirates. Young rushed for 1,027 yards and co-lead the team in rushing touchdowns with 12. Defensively, Young collected 103 total tackles and recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass.
— Trajan Donnerson, Gosnell: Like several of his teammates Donnerson played both sides of the ball well for the Pirates.
— Cameron Morris, Gosnell: Morris was named all-conference after his defensive play for the Pirates. He racked up 73 total tackles, four sacks and four fumble recoveries. One fumble recovery Morris returned 73 yards for a touchdown against the Pocahontas Redskins.
— Fred DeBose, Gosnell: The talented lineman was all-conference.
— Devin Burks, Gosnell: Burks’ play on both sides of the ball landed him on the All-CN team as he rushed for 419 yards and had a total of 120 tackles, which was a tackle away from tying Barbaree who had a team high 121 tackles.
— Terry Thurman, Gosnell: Thurman’s ability to find the opposing quarterbacks helped him to receive all-conference honors as he sacked the quarterback a team-high 13 times and had 90 total tackles at the end of season.
— Brandon Partee, Gosnell: Partee had an outstanding all-conference senior season behind center. He is a dual-threat quarterback, passing for 677 yards and rushing for 400 yards. He accounted for 13 Pirate touchdowns on the season, throwing for eight and rushing for five.
— Hunter Jolly, Gosnell: Jolly’s defensive play helped him receive all-conference as he had 103 total tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery during his senior season.
— BJ Holton, Blytheville: Holton’s receiving abilities helped the Chickasaws in his senior season. Holton was named all-conference.
— Kadren Hunt, Blytheville: Hunt returned several kicks back in his senior season for the Chickasaws and was named all-conference. He was a dynamic playmaker for the Chicks.
— Ladarius Allen, Blytheville: Allen received all-conference honors in his junior season with the Chickasaws.
— Corey Weatherspoon, Blytheville: Weatherspoon received all-conference honors in his junior season with the Chickasaws. He was the Chicks’ biggest threat at receiver.
— Josh Clay, Blytheville: Clay received all-conference honors in his junior season with the Chickasaws, helping Clark anchoring a solid line.
— Tyrone Pope, Blytheville: Pope received all-conference honors in his junior season with the Chickasaws.