Sunday, May 1, 2011
Player: Jacob Huesman
The senior quarterback carried Baylor to the state championship game with his arm and legs. He accounted for 2,828 yards of offense as the Red Raiders put together their first 10-win season since 1991. A commitment to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he completed 74 percent of his passes for 1,078 yards and seven touchdowns while running for 1,750 yards and 25 scores.
Huesman was Tennessee's Division II-AA Mr. Football back of the year.
"Being the first back from Baylor to win the award is something to be really proud of, but it was really more of a team accomplishment," he said.
"Anything Jacob gets as far as awards, he has earned. He was the perfect model for a transfer on how to fit in and earn respect. He came in and worked hard, bonded with his teammates," Red Raiders coach Phil Massey said. "There was no way we could have anticipated what he has meant to our program."
Coach: Bill Price
Price's Signal Mountain team got to the state championship game faster than any new school in TSSAA history and rebounded from a 21-7 deficit for a 56-28 win in the Class 2A final. The Eagles posted a 14-0 record this season, making them 24-2 in the program's two varsity seasons.
"Winning the state is huge - for the kids, the community, the assistant coaches and me. These kids committed to being in the weight room and doing all the little things that make for a team's success," Price said. "You have to have great players to win a state
championship. I have coached some great teams, and what it always comes down to is having the good athletes, but more importantly having the good kids."
Cedric Edwards
SODDY-DAISY
Junior running back
He ran for 2,074 yards in 289 attempts, a per-carry average of 7.2 yards, and scored
19 touchdowns.
John Evans
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN
Junior lineman
He graded out at 90 percent and made the blocking assignment calls on every play of an undefeated season.
Randall Freeman
OOLTEWAH
Senior running back
He rushed for 1,028 yards and 10 TDs and contributed 85 tackles, including eight lost yardage hits.
Barrett Gouger
BAYLOR
Junior lineman
The left tackle graded out 84 percent for the year and was creditedwith 24 pancake blocks.
Keenan Hale
MCCALLIE
Senior receiver
In nine games the Syracuse commitment caught 50 passes, averaging 16.2 yards per catch, with six TDs.
DeHart Hubbard
CENTRAL
Senior athlete
He played several positions and finished with 240 passing yards, 585 rushing yards and 360 receiving yards.
Vincente Jordan
BOYD-BUCHANAN
Senior lineman
He graded at 85 percent with 15 pancake blocks. Part time on defense, he had 32 tackles and aninterception.
Arturo Rocha
MCCALLIE
Junior kicker
He kicked three field goals and converted 28 of 31 extra-point tries to finish with 37 points.
Brandon Walters
HOWARD
Sophomore lineman
He graded out better than 90 percent and had 28 blocks. He had two lost yardage hits on defense.width="150" />
Hogan Whitmire
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN
Senior quarterback
He passed for 2,499 yards and 30 touchdowns with just four interceptions for the state champions.
Raynard Williamson
TYNER
Junior lineman
The two-way lineman had 25 pancake blocks and graded out at 86 percent for the season.
Beau Simmons
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN
Junior receiver
He had 66 catches for 1,036 yards and nine TDs, played linebacker, kicked and returned punts and kickoffs.
SECOND TEAM
CHASE BEARD Baylor Junior Lineman
KEVIN CARTER Central Senior Lineman
JOSEPH DERRICK Brainerd Senior Receiver
DANE DEWET Signal Mountain Junior Kicker
DONNIE GARNER Signal Mountain Senior Running back
WILLIAM HUGHES Brainerd Senior Athlete
NIQUIA MCDUFFIE Red Bank Junior Quarterback
JON PATTON Signal Mountain Junior Receiver
CHASE REED Boyd-Buchanan Junior Running back
JOSH THOMPSON Soddy-Daisy Senior Lineman
ANTONIO WOODALL Howard Junior Lineman
GARRETT VINEYARD Red Bank Senior Lineman
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN (14-0)
The second-year program was undefeated, averaged better than a point per minute and won the Class 2A state title.
2 BAYLOR (10-2)
The Red Raiders made it to the Division II-AA state final and secured the school's first 10-win season since 1991.
3 BOYD-BUCHANAN (10-5)
The Buccaneers had a five game win streak to reach the Class 2A state semifinals before
falling to Signal Mountain.