By DAN BISER

The Whiteville High football team won its first outright conference and county championships since 1992 this fall while breaking an 11-year dominance by the South Columbus Stallions.

Senior Alex Royal, who started both ways at end for the Wolfpack this fall, came across with some clutch performances on both sides of the football. It was Royal’s leaping catch of a 32-yard touchdown pass from Harrison Jordan that provided the winning points for the Wolfpack in their 21-15 Waccamaw Conference-clinching victory over South Columbus. It was Whiteville’s first win over the Stallions since 1994.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Royal led the Wolfpack in pass receptions and caught six TD passes from his tight end position. He was an effective pass rusher on defense in his 48-minute role.

Royal, who also plays basketball and qualified last spring for the state 2A high school track and field meet in the high jump, has been named the 2006 Columbus County Football Player of the Year. He is one of 12 WHS players selected to this year’s All-Columbus County team.

He is the first WHS player to be selected for the Columbus County Football Player of the Year honor since 1993, and the first player from a school other than South Columbus to receive the honor since 1996. (See listing on 2B).

Mark Little, who guided the Wolfpack to a second straight nine-win season as well as the this fall’s conference title, has been named the 2006 Columbus County Football Coach of the Year.

In five seasons as WHS head coach, Little has guided the Wolfpack to a record of 41 wins and 20 losses.

He was also named Columbus County Football Coach of the Year in 2003.

This year’s All-Columbus teams consist of 12 seniors 15 juniors and three sophomores, making it one of the youngest all-county teams ever selected.

Seven players have been selected for the second straight year. These include East Columbus senior offensive lineman Stanley Spaulding, Whiteville senior linebackers Kevin Gamble and John McZeak, West Columbus junior running back Travis Leggett, Whiteville junior running back Jarrod McKinney, South Columbus linebacker Andrae Jacobs and South Columbus defensive lineman Willie James.

Others seniors selected are quarterback Harrison Jordan, offensive lineman Sam Smith, kicker David Hodgson, linebacker Albarin Powell and defensive back Dequan Gaddy of Whiteville; wide receiver Jeffrey Singletary, offensive lineman Barret Worley and linebacker Matt Garrell of South Columbus; offensive lineman Grant Hawkins of East Columbus, offensive lineman Dustin Fuhr of West Columbus.

Other junior selections are running back Alex Williamson and defensive linemen Jolly Jacobs and Kevin Richardson of East Columbus; offensive lineman Lloyd Enzor, kick returner David Mosley and punter Tyson Wilcox of Whiteville; running back Dakota Piver, defensive lineman T.J. Richardson and defensive back Donovan Watts of South Columbus; and wide receiver Tyrale George and linebacker Cortney Hayes of West Columbus.

Sophomores selected are offensive lineman Pat Worley and defensive back Lee Hemingway of South Columbus, and defensive back Demetrice McKelvie of East Columbus.

Travis Leggett and Alex Williamson actually played quarterback for their irrespective teams, but both were team leading rushers from the single-wing formation.

Whiteville posted a 9-3 record this fall while Coach Joey Price’s South Columbus team finished at 8-4. The East Columbus team of Coach Travis Conner closed out a 3-9 while the West Columbus team of Coach Vernon Brigman went 2-10.

All four county teams advanced to the state playoffs, but all four suffered first-round losses.