Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 26, 2013
Trent Taylor, Straughn – 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Football Team Coach of the Year
Straughn head football coach Trent Taylor is this year’s 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Football Team Coach of the Year.
Taylor, who along with his assistant coaches and players, trekked to the Tigers’ second straight state semifinal appearance this season.
Taylor said it’s an “honor” to receive the award.
“While it may have my name on the thing it’s because of the work the kids put in and other coaches put in to allow the success we had this year,” he said. “Last year, I’m not too stupid to realize that any successes we had was based on the fact that we have really good people to work with.”
Straughn’s assistant coaches were named the coaches of the year on last year’s team.
This season, Taylor wrapped up his 24th season.
Folks have said that Taylor helps bring out the best in players.
When asked how he does it, Taylor said the kids really buy into the system that’s in place. Additionally, it also helps that they came from a good community as well.
“I think it’s the fact that our kids work extremely hard,” he said. “They have a ot of confidence in the coaches. That says a lot these days.
“Now a days, there’s so much negative out there,” he said. “To be in a community where I feel like the kids go home and are encouraged to do the things the coaches are asking them to do is pretty special. It goes a long way and adds to their success.”
Michael McCalman, Andalusia – 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Football Team Offensive Player of the Year
Michael McCalman was just trying to have fun on the gridiron this season.
The Andalusia senior quarterback proved it out on the gridiron, rushing for 1,046 yards on 149 carries and scored 11 touchdowns, while passing for 682 yards and five touchdowns in the air.
McCalman’s play on the field earned him the 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Football Team Offensive Player of the Year award.
“It’s a great honor,” McCalman said. “There are a lot of good guys in the county, a lot of excellent player in the county. It’s a great honor to be selected as this.”
McCalman said he knew he had to step up his passing game when AHS assistant coach Randy Bryant brought in his new schemes.
“We worked on that a whole lot more,” he said.
McCalman came in handy for the Bulldogs this season, especially when they needed a first down.
In those situations, McCalman said he just tried to do his best, and “just not give up until the player is over.”
A big chuck of his success on the ground came from a good offensive line, McCalman said.
“They did well the whole year,” he said. “They left a lot of big holes and did a good job of staying on blocks, which made it easy to break runs off.”
McCalman is the son of David and Stacie McCalman of Andalusia.
Montel Lee, Andalusia; and Johnny Owens, Straughn – 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Andalusia senior Montel Lee and Straughn senior Johnny Owens — both linebackers — have been selected as the 2013 Class 3A-4A All-County Co-Defensie Players of the Year.
Lee, more of an impact player for AHS, had 96 tackles — eight of which were for a loss — and numerous quarterback hurries.
Owens compiled a healthy does of 162 tackles this season for the Tigers in a 165-pound frame.
Owens said he wasn’t keeping tabs on how many tackles he had this season.
“I hadn’t really been worrried about it, honestly,” Owens said. “I honestly didn’t even know that I was playing as good as my statistics showed, really. I was just out there playing.”
For Lee, he was excited to get this honor.
“It’s a great opportunity,” he said.
Lee said moving to linebacker from defensive end was a great move for him.
“I felt like moving to linebacker, it was going to make me have more open and dynamic plays,” he said. “I just stepped up to the challenge. I wanted to face the challenge for my self.”
Lee is the son of Willie and Laura Lee of Andalusia; and Owens is the son of Manuel and Sherri Owens of the Straughn Community.
2013 Class 3A-4A All County Football Team
QB: Rollin Kinsaul, Straughn; 133 carries, 859 yards, 14 touchdowns; 83-152, 1,143 yards, 12 TDs
RB: Devin Scott, SHS; Ta Bonham, Opp
RB: Derrick Dorsey, Andalusia; Onterrio Jones, Opp
OL: Ashton Mayhall, SHS; Jacob Johnson, Opp
OL: Dalton Watson, SHS; Zack Riley, SHS
OL: Conner Livings, SHS; Ashton/Colton Elmore, AHS
OL: Landon Hughes, Opp; Chandler Jones, AHS
OL: Austin Leverington, AHS
WR: Justin Adkins, Opp; Keith Edgar, SHS
WR: Brice Scott, SHS; Will Harrison, AHS
WR: Devante Jackson, AHS
ATH: Daryl George, SHS
ATH: Orlando Lacey, Opp
DEFENSE
LB: Daniel Henderson, AHS; Austin Bozeman, SHS
LB: Nick Stepp, SHS; Steven Twitty, SHS
LB: Ty White, Opp; Quantavise Stoudemire, Opp; Brandon Williams, Opp
DL: Derek Savage, Opp
DL: Jeffrey Fraze, SHS
DL: Jaquain Wade, Opp
DB: Jud Rogers, AHS; Brennan Head, SHS
DB: Chase Helms, AHS
DB: Taylor Messick, SHS
DB: Ethan Davis, Opp
P: Jon Spivey, SHS
COY: Trent Taylor, SHS
OPOY: Michael McCalman, AHS
DPOYs: Montel Lee, AHS and Johnny Owens, SHS