Albany Herald

2011 All-Area/All-Metro Football Team

The Herald releases its 2011 All-Area and All-Metro football teams as voted on by The Herald sports staff.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Players who made the All-Area team AND the All-Metro teams are listed twice, but their stats are not repeated.

All-AREA

Quarterbacks:

Antwan Buggs, Junior, Seminole County

Why he’s here: Rushed for 761 yards on 150 carries (5.07yards per carry) and scored 13 touchdowns. He also completed 23 of 53 passes for 736 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bryce Benton, Junior, Americus-Sumter

Why he’s here: Completed 71 percent of his passes and threw for 2,013 yards and nine TDs. He also rushed for 300 yards and was named First-Team Quarterback on the All-Region 1-AAA Team.

Jacori Taylor, Junior, Early County

Why he’s here: Completed 80 of 187 passes for 1,171 yards and eight TDs, and rushed for 624 yards on 174 yards (17.1 yards per carry) anda TD.

Running backs:

Barren Rambo, Senior, Seminole County

Why he’s here: Rushed for 901 yards on 118 carries (7.64 average) and scored 16 touchdowns. He was also one of the top linebackers in the region, and often was a lead blocker for Seminole’s devastating ground attack.

Ladonis Bryant, Junior, Early County

Why he’s here: Rushed for 523 yards and ran for five TDs ,and also caught 24 passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns.

Terry Lewis, Senior, Bainbridge

Why he’s here: Gained 1,066 yards and scored 12 touchdowns to help lead Bainbridge back to the Class AAAA playoffs.

Offensive line:

Hakeem Porter, Junior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Graded out at 89 percent for the season and had a staggering 32 pancake blocks.

Roscoe Byrd, Senior, Albany High

Why he’s here: Started both ways and was the co-captain of the team. He graded out at 95 percent for the season and had 14 pancake blocks.

Devin Swann, Junior, Westover

Why he’s here: Was the anchor of Westover’s line and graded at 94 percent for the season.

Daven Gibson, Senior, Worth County

Why he’s here: He is a two-time All-Area player who had another big season for the Rams. He graded out at 84 percent for the season and had 26 pancake blocks.

Martinez Wilcher, Senior, Worth County

Why he’s here: Was the lead blocker for Worth County, grading out at 82 percent for the season, and he had an amazing 44 pancakes for the year while allowing just two sacks.

Freddie Pate, Senior, Mitchell County

Why he’s here: A four-year starter at center who graded out at 92 percent for the season and had six pancake blocks. He was even more important as the leader of the line, and often checked off plays at the line of scrimmage to set up big plays for the offense.

Receiver:

Josh Cabrera, Sophomore, Lee County

Why he’s here: Made 69 receptions for 954 yards, and scored 13 touchdowns.

Terevious Hudson, Junior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Caught 68 passes for 916 yards and nine touchdowns.

Kenneth Williams, Junior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Made 83 receptions for 943 yards and scored11 touchdowns.

Yancey Burns, Senior, Mitchell County

Why he’s here: Became the go-to guy for Mitchell, catching 44 passes for 817 yards (18.6 yards per catch) and he scored 14 touchdowns, including a 97-yarder.

Defensive linemen:

Chris Green, Senior, Westover

Why he’s here: Was the Region 1-AAA Defensive Player of the Year. He made 87 tackles, including 16 for losses and six sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble.

Jontavious Morris, Senior, Albany High

Why he’s here: Was named the Region 1-AA Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He started both ways and rarely came out of the game. He made 58 tackles, including 21 for losses and 14 sacks.

Samaii Wilburn, Senior, Bainbridge

Why he’s here: Was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Region 1-AAAA. Wilburn made 57 tackles, including 36 solos and had seven for losses. He had three sacks and 17 hurries, and created a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Region 1-AAAA.

Daryl McGhee, Junior, Bainbridge

Why he’s here: Made 68 tackles, including 46 solo tackles and had 10 tackles for losses, four sack sand 13 hurries. He created a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception.

Shykeith Johnson, Senior, Americus-Sumter

Why he’s here: Made 97 tackles, including 25 for losses, and had 12 sacks.

Desmond Wright, Senior, Seminole County

Why he’s here: Made 65 tackles, including 45 solos and four for losses. He also had eight sacks.

Clarence Taylor, Junior, Early County

Why he’s here: Was the anchor of one of the toughest teams to run on in SW Georgia. He made 66 tackles and had one sack.

Linebackers:

Don Mills, Junior, Westover

Why he’s here: Made 118 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble. He is a first team All-Area player for the second consecutive year.

Thomas Wright, Senior, Lee County

Why he’s here: Made 112 tackles, including 18 for losses, and also rushed for five touchdowns and six two-point conversions as a runningback.

T.T. Barber, Senior, Miller County

Why he’s here: Had 82 tackles, including 11 for losses and six sacks. He forced four fumbles and made three fumble recoveries.

Andrew Ingram, Senior, Seminole County

Why he’s here: Made 78 tackles, including eight for losses and five sacks. He forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery.

Dontavious Bell, Senior, Americus-Sumter

Why he’s here: Made 57 tackles and had six sacks. He also caused three fumbles, had three fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

Denzel Jackson, Junior, Pelham

Why he’s here: Made 95 tackles and had two sacks to lead Pelham’s defense.

Defensive backs:

Dee Virgin, Senior, Seminole County

Why he’s here: Was one of the most talented players in the area on either side of the ball. Teams rarely threw in his direction because of his blanket coverage. He had four interceptions and made 49 tackles, including two sacks. He also forced two fumbles, and he caught 11 passes for 359 yards, averaging 32.6 per catch, and five TDs and rushed for 377 yards and nine TDs.

Martinez Reese, Senior, Americus-Sumter

Why he’s here: Made six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and he also had a punt return for a touchdown. He finished the season with 85 tackles.

Rodney Glenn, Senior, Bainbridge

Why he’s here: Six interceptions and had 72 tackles, including 54 solos. He blocked two kicks, made two fumble recoveries and created a fumble.

Andrico Carter, Junior, Albany

Why he’s here: Led Region 1-AA with eight interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and made 54 tackles.

Kicker:

Trey Puckett, Senior, Deerfield

Why he’s here: Scored 77 points and returns as the All-Area kicker after making 9 of 13 field goals, including two 42-yarders and a career-high 43-yarder while connecting on 50 of 52 extra points.

Kick returner:

Elliot Martin, Senior, Albany

Why he’s here: Had five interceptions as a defensive back, including one for a TD return and also ran back two punts for touchdowns. He also made 36 tackles.

Utility player:

Jonathan Thomas, Sophomore, Americus-Sumter

Why he’s here: Rushed for more than 600 yards and caught passes for more than 600 yards and was Americus-Sumter’s leading rusher and leading receiver. He also had two interceptions as a defensive back.

All-METRO

Quarterback:

Charles Stafford, Sophomore, Monroe

Why he’s here: Led the Tornadoes to the GHSA Class AAA Sweet 16. He completed 198-of-283 passes for 2,564 yards and 23 touchdowns as asophomore. He was the Offensive Player of the Year for Region 1-AAA.

Matt Mears, junior, Lee County

Why he’s here: Ran Lee County’s spread offense and passed for 2,338 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior.

Running back:

Dalviness Greene, Junior, Westover

Why he’s here: Rushed for more than 200 yards twice and finished the season with 1,089 yards on 163 carries despite injuries. He scored10 touchdowns.

Quentin Heard, Senior, Deerfield-Windsor

Why he’s here: Helped lead DWS to the GISA Class A state semifinals. He rushed for 1,324 yards and five touchdowns, and also started at linebacker. He was an All-State player.

J.T. Edore, Sophomore, Westwood

Why he’s here: Rushed for 1,254 yards on 148 carries (8.47 yards per carry) and scored 29 touchdowns while leading Westwood to the GISA Class A state title for the second year in a row.

Ellis Anderson, Senior, Worth County

Why he’s here: Led Region 1-AAA in rushing, gaining 1,310 yards on 264 carries and scored 14 TDs.

Offensive linemen:

Ryne Strickland, Senior, Lee County

Why he’s here: A two-year starter who led the offensive line and had 39 pancake blocks.

Hakeem Porter, Junior, Monroe

Roscoe Byrd, Senior, Albany High

Devin Swann, Junior, Westover

Daven Gibson, Senior, Worth County

Martinez Wilcher, Senior, Worth County

Receiver:

Caleb Morrell, Senior, Westwood

Why he’s here: Made 37 receptions for 623 yards and scored 13 TDs. He also kicked and played defense for the state champs.

Josh Cabrera, Sophomore, Lee County

Terevious Hudson, Junior, Monroe

Kenneth Williams, Junior, Monroe

Yancey Burns, Senior, Mitchell County

Tight end:

Rantiez Williams, Junior, Albany High

Why he’s here: Made 29 receptions for 401 yards and caught seven TDs, and was Albany’s go-to-guy in clutch situations, as well as a solid blocker.

Defensive linemen

Vantrel McMillan, Senior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Made 76 tackles, including 11 for losses, and had 10 sacks. He also recovered afumble and had an interception return for a TD.

Dantavious Jones, Senior, Worth County

Why he’s here: Is a two-time All-Area player who was the player every coach in Region 1-AAA knew they had to stop when they played Worth. Jones led the region in sacks with 12 and made 65 tackles, including 21 for losses. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles.

Dekoven Ware, Senior, Terrell County

Why he’s here: Led team with 57 tackles, 34 solo, had six sacks and three fumble recoveries. He also played tight end — despite playing with a broken finger for most of the year — and kicked for the Greenwave.

Matt Miller, Senior, Deerfield

Why he’s here: Was the anchor for DWS’ defensive line and made 75 tackles, including 39 initial hits. He had two sacks and was a First Team GISA Class AAA All-State player.

Chris Green, Senior, Westover

Jontavious Morris, Senior, Albany

Linebackers

Anthony Smith, Junior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Made 101 tackles, including eight for losses, and also had a fumble recovery.

Calvin Jackson, Senior, Albany

Why he’s here: Made 58 tackles, including 10 for losses and six sacks.

Daniel Hays, Senior, Westwood

Why he’s here: Made 61 tackles, including eight for losses, and also had four sacks. He had two fumble recoveries and an interception and gained 573 yards. He also scored 16 TDs as Westwood’s fullback.

Jontae Moore, Senior, Mitchell County

Why he’s here: Made 58 tackles, forced three fumbles and recovered one.

Don Mills, Junior, Westover

Thomas Wright, Senior, Lee County

Andrew Ingram, Senior, Seminole

Defensive backs

Lavantae Robinson, Junior, Worth

Why he’s here: Had six interceptions and made 52 tackles, including five for losses.

Marlin Hall, Junior, Worth County

Why he’s here: Had three picks and made 58 tackles, including three for losses.

Kh’Ron McLain, Junior, Deerfield

Why he’s here: Rushed for 427 yards on 56 carries (7.62 percarry) and seven touchdowns. Caught 18 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns. He also had seven interceptions as a defensive back and was named to the GISA All-State team.

Andrico Carter, Junior, Albany High

Kicker

Trey Puckett, Senior, Deerfield

Kick returner

Elliot Martin, Senior, Albany High

Utility players

Savon Farley, Senior, Worth County

Why he’s here: Was an electric QB who also was one of the top return men in the area. He passed for 670 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 373 yards, and three touchdowns.

Devine Noel, Senior, Monroe

Why he’s here: Combined to gain more than 700 yards and was a key defensive back and leader for Monroe.