Stallions dominate |
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By DAN BISER The South Columbus Stallions, the first Columbus County high school squad to reach the state football finals in 20 years, have had 17 of their players selected to The News Reporter’s 2007 All-Columbus County Football Team. Coach Joey Price’s South Columbus team ran to 15 straight wins before falling to Lincolnton in the state 2A championship game on Dec. 8 at N.C. State University’s Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. It was the best football season in South Columbus’ 16-year history. Heading the list is SCHS senior linebacker Andrae Jacobs stood solid as the hub of the SCHS defense and is a three-time selection to the all-county team. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Jacobs, who has also been a bruising ball-carrier on offense, has been named the 2007 Columbus County Player of the Year after leading a Stallion defense that recorded eight shutouts and held four other opponents to a touchdown or less. West Columbus back Travis Leggett has become only the second player in 16 years to be selected to the all-county team for four seasons. Leggett had a strong senior season for WCHS even though the Vikings finished with an 0-11 mark. Jeremy Fonvielle, who played at South Columbus from 1995 through 1998 is the only other four-time all-county player. Leggett is one of two WCHS players selected to the all-county team. Whiteville High senior back Jarrod McKinney joins Jacobs as a three-time selection even though he sat out half the past season with an ankle injury. McKinney provided much of the Wolfpack rushing efficiency and bounced back with a strong game against North Brunswick after missing six weeks of action. McKinney is one of eight Whiteville players selected to the all-county team as the Wolfpack finished with a 6-6 record Senior players earning All-Columbus honors for the second year are offensive lineman Lloyd Enzor of Whiteville, wide receiver Dakota Piver of South Columbus, defensive lineman T.J. Richardson of South Columbus, punter Alex Williamson of East Columbus, and defensive backs Donovan Watts and Lee Hemingway of South Columbus and David Mosley of Whiteville. Junior players selected for the second year are offensive lineman Pat Worley of South Columbus and defensive back Demetrius McKelvie of East Columbus. Last year, Piver and Williamson were named to the All-Columbus team as running backs and Mosley as a kick returner. This season, Williamson became adept at the quick kick from the ECHS shotgun formation. Senior players being selected to the all-county team for the first time are South Columbus running back Justin Smith, (who rushed for over 1,500 yards), South Columbus offensive linemen Jason Harper, Colby Wright, Steven Beck and Dusty Duncan; Whiteville offensive linemen Zack Williams and Bradley Lee; Whiteville kicker Zach Stanley; East Columbus defensive linemen Gerard Bullock and Petey Graham,; South Columbus defensive linemen Kevin Clay and Michael Hansen; West Columbus defensive lineman Tyre Lennon; Whiteville linebackers Josh Lennon and George Spearman; and East Columbus linebacker Greg Dudley. The lone first-time juniors selected is Justin Duncan, South Columbus’ record-shattering quarterback (more than 1,700 yards passing) and South Columbus running back Rashawn Grate (over 1,000 yards rushing). Sophomores selected are the South Columbus duo of tight end Ethan Farmer and Jonathan Buffkin. Heading the list of 2007 All-Columbus honorable mentions (see page 2-B) is South Columbus fullback Buster James, who made the All-County first team in each of the last two years. James turned in another strong season in 2007, but battled injuries while playing an important back-up role much of the time. Joey Price has been named the Columbus County Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his 11 seasons as South Columbus head coach. Price has guided the Stallions to nine Waccamaw Conference championships and an overall record of 119 wins and 25 losses.
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