Thursday night five senior football players and three senior cheerleaders spent their last moments as members of Georgiana High School's fall athletes at the GHS Varsity Football Banquet.

Senior football players Tyrell Rudolph, David Campbell, Jerome Mixon, Stewart "Buck" Crittendon and Caleb Hartin were presented their jerseys from the season by Coach Keith York and members of the Panther coaching staff.

"These seniors were in the sixth grade when I got here," said York. "I remember vividly watching them in P.E. and then seeing them grow as athletes. I have memories from each of these kids. I remember when Caleb intercepted a pass against McKenzie that he returned for a touchdown. We had one running play we'd run that was called 25 Power and its main blocker was Jerome. He got pretty good at putting his opponents on their backsides."

York provided memories from each of his seniors.

"I remember watching Buck as a junior have a stop at the goalline against Leroy. That kept them from tying us. David Campbell was probably the most consistent kicker and punter we've ever had. His two points against Leroy last year were the reason we won that game. And Tyrell had a huge catch in the first half of the Luverne game with about six defenders around him."

But, the night was geared to the seniors and their accomplishments, but York also had a message for the parents and the underclassmen.

"We finished this season 5-5 and that's not what we shoot for," said York. "We are already hitting the weightroom and working hard to improve and have gotten a lot better. We are getting ready for spring training and already this is one of the strongest teams that I have had. We were beaten five times this season. But

for those five times we were in the game until the very last. But, we want to win a state championship and that's what our goal is going to be for next season."

Rachel Burleson also recognized her senior cheerleaders during Thursday's banquet. Lakesha Crittendon, Courtney Rudolph and Moneattie Pryor were all presented with trophies for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

"I just want to say how proud of I am these programs," said Roland Pettie, principal of the Georgiana High School. "You don't know what it does to know that we have a topnotch program and that the kids that we are putting on the field, whether it be the field or the sidelines or in the band are the kids that we want to put out there. That's good because we put class kids out there."

For the underclassmen, they will have a shot at winning the Battle of Butler County Trophy this spring when they go toe-to-toe with Greenville High School for four quarters.

The Battle of Butler County is set for May 13.