VALDOSTA —
The All-Region 1-AAAAA football teams were announced Friday afternoon and several local area athletes were honored, along with Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie.
Gillespie was named the the Region 1-AAAAA Coach of the Year after he led the Wildcats to the region championship.
“Well No. 1, that award is the reflection of the success of our football team and our football program,” Gillespie said. “There is a lot more people that go into that than just me, so I think it is an award that reflects the hard work of a lot of people.”
Lowndes’ Josh Clemons was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Colquitt County tightend Ty Flourney-Smith was named the Offensive Player of the Year.
“It means a lot to me,” Clemons said about the honor. “It just a lot about the linebackers that come through Lowndes...I feel like I had an alright year, especially since I moved to safety right before the Valdosta game.”
Altogether, the Valdosta Wildcats placed the most players onto the all-region teams,15. Colquitt County named 13 players to the teams, while Lowndes placed eight.
“That is a huge honor, and we are real excited,” Gillespie said. “Those kids are deserving of those awards. They have done all the things that we have asked them to do from the day that we got there.”
Valdosta quarterback Shleby Wilkes was named to the First Team, along with wide receiver Tyran Watkins and offensive lineman Ronnie Stoney. For Lowndes, running back Mike Moore, who eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark this season, was named First Team all running back, along with offensive lineman Bryce Giddens.
Defensively, Clemons led the way, followed by Lowndes’ Tiquan Lang and defensive lineman James Mathis. For Valdosta, Mike Wakefield and Jaron Jelks were named to the First Team.
Colquitt County quarterback Cole Seagraves led the way on the Second Team, followed by Valdosta’s Jarvis Roberts, Jerald Davis, Demetrius Melvin, Willie Barrett, Chuntony Bryant, Maurice Faron, Terrance Foster and Edra Giddens. For Lowndes, Trevor Scarborough, Ellis Lyles and Jared Davis were named to the Second Team.
Valdosta punter Mac Loudermilk was named the All-Region, while Randy Cook was named Honorable Mention.
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Valdosta Wildcat head coach Rance Gillespie celebrates with a Wildcat fan following Valdosta’s victory over cross-town Rival Lowndes earlier in the season. On Friday, Gillespie was named the Region 1-AAAAA Coach of the Year.
Discussion
Valdosta's Gillespie named Coach of the Year
Lowndes' Josh Clemons named Defensive Player of the Year
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