The following players were selected for the Newton County Appeal’s All-Area Football Team:
Offense
Colby Ferguson, QB, Union
Why’s he’s here: Ferguson, despite missing two games, had 1,062 yards rushing and 801 yards passing, accounting for 20 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. Ferguson helped lead the Yellowjackets back to the playoffs and an 8-5 record.
Lincoln Jordan, RB, NCA
Why he’s here: Jordan, a pre-season Elite 11 pick, led the county in rushing with 1248 yards on 193 carries and eight TDS. On defense, Jordan had 35 tackles from his cornerback position. Jordan was also selected to to play in the MAIS all-star game.
Ethan Gray, RB, Lake
Why he’s here: Gray is a repeat selection to The Newton County Appeal’s all-county team. Gray finished the season with 833 yards and led the county with 80 points, despite hurting his knee against Scott Central.
Zywon Ledbetter, WR, Lake
Why he’s here: Ledbetter turned into a big-time playmaker for the Hornets this season. Ledbetter led the county with more than 800 yards receiving on 36 catches. He also scored 48 points for the Hornets. Ledbetter is also a starter on the Lake basketball team.
Andre Ware, WR, Newton
Why he’s here: Ware had a solid year for the Tigers, who were one of the youngest teams in the state. Are had 481 yards receiving on offense and had 21 tackles on defense.
Lamar Morgan, TE, Newton County
Why he’s here: In his first year at Newton County, Morgan had 15 catches for 253 yards, which was second on the team. Morgan was also a preseason Elite 11 selection for the Cougars.
Jacob Moore, OL, Union
Why he’s here: Moore make the team as a sophomore and comes in 6-foo-1 and 265 pounds. He was a second-team all-state selection at guard and was recently selected to The Meridian Star’s Premier Preps squad as an offensive line. Moore graded out at 89 percent on the season. Moore is also a state champion power lifter for the Yellowjackets as well.
Ethan McDill, OL, NCA
Why he’s here: McDill is one of the county’s most versatile athletes. Despite missing time for an arm injury, McDill made the MAIS all-star game as an offensive lineman. McDill had 48 tackles on defense and two sacks. He also handled the place-kicking duties for the Generals, going 13-for-18 on the season. McDill is also a standout basketball player and has multiple state championships in tennis for the Generals.
Austin Kyzar, OL, Lake
Why he’s here: Kyzar was a Class 2A second-team all-state selection for the Hornets at guard. Hanna said Kyzar was his most consistent offensive lineman this season
Jace Arthur, OL, NCA
Why he’s here: Arthur was also a versatile athlete for Generals, playing several positions on the offensive line and also spending some time at fullback. Arthur also played in the MAIS all-star game for the Generals and finished the year with 41 tackles.
Anthony Smith, OL, Newton
Why he’s here: Smith finally got his chance to start for the Tigers and had a standout season at center for first-year coach Zach Grady. He finished the year with 16 pancake blocks. On defense, he had 23 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Cole Shimfessell, K, Newton County
Why he’s here: Shimfessell was the Cougars’ only pick on the Division 5-4A first team. He had 38 points on the season where the Cougars struggled on offense. He also handled kickoff duties for the Cougars.
Tre Hillie, Athlete, Newton
Why he’s here: Hillie was one of the area’s most dynamic playmakers and the one person all opposing coaches feared from Newton. Despite injuries, Hillie finished with 639 yards rushing and 428 yards passing. Last year, Hillie threw for 1,988 yards and led the team with 618 yards. He was also a Newton County Appeal Elite 11 selection.
Kenyon Clay, Athlete, Union
Why he’s here: Clay emerged on the scene for the Yellowjackets this season as he rushed for 891 yards and eight TDs. Clay also had 42 tackles on defense. Clay had fill in at quarterback and was named Player of the Week after leading the Yellowjackets to a win. Clay is also a standout for the Union basketball team.
Defense
Kemp Alderman, DL, NCA
Why he’s here: Alderman led the Generals on defense with 61 tackles, despite constant double teams. He also had 10 sacks and eight tackles for loss. Alderman is also a standout punter, averaging 37.4 yards a kick for the Generals. In baseball, Alderman is one of the best players in the state and has already committed to Ole Miss. Last year, he was The Meridian Star’s Player of the year in baseball.
Peyton Posey, DL, Union
Why he’s here: Posey was the leader of the Union defense from his defensive end position with teams often running away from him. Despite that, he led the Yellowjackets with 75 tackles.
Tim Norris, DL, Lake
Why he’s here: While not having impressive numbers, Norris drew constant double teams because of his size. Coach Tate Hanna said Norris deserved all-state consideration. He was also a starter on the offensive line for the Hornets.
Jacquan Roberts, DL, Newton
Why he’s here: Roberts was a pre-season Elite 11 selection for the Tigers, despite coming off a knee injury. That injury hampered Roberts during the regular season. Despite the injury, Roberts finished with 57 tackles and 21 tackles for loss, including nine sacks. Roberts is also a standout basketball player for the Tigers.
Miguel Evans, LB, Newton County
Why he’s here: Evans was a solid tackler for the Cougars as he finished the season with 103 total tackles, including 17 tackles for loss.
Aaron Campbell, LB, Lake
Why he’s here: Campbell was a preseason Elite 11 selection by The Newton County Appeal. Campbell, who has several junior college offers, finished the season with 79.5 tackles for the Hornets. Campbell was also selected as a second-team all-state pick at tight end. He also led Division 4-2A in sacks and tackles for loss.
Skylar Porter, LB, Newton County
Why he’s here: Porter put together back-to-back 100-tackle seasons for the Cougars. This past season, Porter led the Cougars with 121 total tackles and seven tackles for loss. Last year, Porter had 104 total tackles to lead the Cougars and was an all-county selection.
Danarrious Hughes, DB, Lake
Why he’s here: Hughes was a Class 2A all-state first-team selection by the Mississippi Association of coaches. Hughes finished the year with eight interceptions. Hughes finished the season with 25 tackles. Hughes is also a standout on the basketball court.
Jaheim Gill, DB, Union
Why he’s here: Gill was an all-purpose player for the Yellowjackets. Gill finished the season with four interceptions and had six catches for 137 yards on offense.
D’Alex Jennings, DB, Lake
Why he’s here: Despite some fumbling issues, Jennings had a solid season for the Hornets and played on both sides of the football. Jennings had 572 yards rushing on offense in part-time duty. He was a full-time starter on defense where he often covered the opposing team’s best receiver. He finished with 25 tackles and three interceptions and was a pre-season Elite 11 selection for The Appeal.
Eli Finnegan, DB, NCA
Why he’s here: Finnegan was the Generals second-leading rusher with 835 yards on 135 carries. On defense, he had 39 tackles and had seven pass deflections.
Seth Prestage, Athlete, Lake
Why he’s here: Prestage has been one of the area’s best tackles the last two years. Despite being hurt for part of the year, Prestage had 71 tackles for the Hornets, a year after recording 91 tackles for the Hornets. He moved to linebacker this past season after playing safety in 2017.
Ethan Plaisance, Punter, Union
Why he’s here: Plaisance was a Class 2A first team all-state selection as a punter for the Yellowjackets. Plaisance had 30 punts for 955 yards and averaged 31.8 yards a punt.
