2016 EndZone Postseason Awards: Coach and Team of the Year Revealed

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — For the fifth consecutive year, the sports team at WCBI has compiled its list of the best players from the viewing area in Mississippi and Alabama in high school football.

Below are the finalists and winner of the 2016 End Zone Defensive Player of the Year award and the 2016 All-End Zone Second Team

(Stats and information are provided by the schools and MaxPreps)

2016 WCBI END ZONE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kylin Hill, Columbus High School
– It was yet another monstrous year on the ground for Columbus High running back Kylin Hill. The Mississippi State commit was lethal for the Falcons’ offense, averaging 9.9 yards per carry to go along with 159 yards per game rushing.

In his final year at Columbus High, Hill finished with 1,750 yards rushing at 24 touchdowns on the ground. He totaled over 2,000 all-purpose yards during his senior campaign. Kylin also helped lead the Falcons to back to back playoff appearances, something the school hasn’t done in 15 years.

Hill finishes his career at Columbus with 3,777 rushing yards to go along with 54 total touchdowns. All of that adds up to being our WCBI EndZone Offensive Player of the Year for 2016!

FINALISTS for 2016 WCBI EndZone Offensive Player of the Year
Marcus Murphy, West Point
Joel Wilkinson, East Union
Jacob Carter, Pontotoc
Kyziah Pruitt, Noxubee
Taemaus Glass & Chris Smith, Nanih Waiya

2016 WCBI END ZONE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Willie Gay, Starkville High School
– He is one of the most highly coveted prospects not just in Mississippi but the entire country and for good reason. Willie Gay emerged on the scene at Starkville High as a sophomore, being an important piece to a defense that took the Jackets all the way to the 6A North Half Final. One year later, he was leading the Jackets to a State Championship while also leading the middle of the defense.

If the numbers don’t jump off the page, then it’s his presence when he’s on the field. In terms of value, Gay became invaluable as the Jackets had a late surge to make a run at a playoff spot in the final weeks of the regular season.

Gay finishes his Starkville High career with over 200 total tackles and 7 interceptions. For his work on defense, Willie Gay is our 2016 EndZone Defensive Player of the Year!

FINALISTS for 2016 WCBI EndZone Defensive Player of the Year
Terrence Cherry, West Point
Brandon Hale, Pontotoc
Atarius Moore, Calhoun City
Kalmorris Robinson, Noxubee
Tice Bowdry, Baldwyn

2016 WCBI END ZONE COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Carter, Pontotoc High School

– Coach Carter has built back a once proud program to its rightful place among the best football schools in the state.

When arriving at Pontotoc in 2015, Jeff Carter brought a mindset of toughness and resiliency that was put on display for fans to see at The Hollow this season as the Warriors enjoyed their best season in a quarter of a century. Behind a talented offense and a rugged defense, them grapes surged through the postseason and stunned the 2-time defending State Champions en-route to their first apperance in the north half final in 14 years.

For his work, Jeff Carter is our 2016 EndZone Coach of the Year!

FINALISTS for 2016 WCBI EndZone Coach of the Year
Chris Chambless, West Point
Perry Liles, Calhoun City
Michael Fair, Lafayette
Trent Hammond, Tupelo
Ryan Keeton, Nanih Waiya

2016 WCBI END ZONE TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Calhoun City Wildcats

-Our Team of the Year embodies more than just winning over losing. It also means overcoming adversity, pushing through a tough time. If there was ever a team that did just that, it would be the Calhoun City Wildcats.

After the 2014 season coming to an end to Bassfield in the State Championship, then sophomore Tripp Macon declared that Calhoun City would return to Davis Wade Stadium in 2016 and win the State Title. Two years later, Tripp’s dream came true with him looking down from heaven as the Wildcats played with pride and passion for their lost friend who wore No. 68. It would be City’s first State Title in 27 years.

Calhoun City finished the 2016 season with a 15-1 record as they averaged 37 points per game while surrendering just over 8 points per game. Only two teams managed to score more than 8 points on Calhoun City since the month of October and they won every game by double digits during that stretch. For their work and accomplishments, Calhoun City is our 2016 EndZone Team of the Year!

2016 WCBI ALL-ENDZONE FIRST TEAM
(Revealed Friday, December 9th)

2016 All-EndZone – SECOND TEAM
QB – Clark Mills, North Pontotoc
QB – Spencer Unruh, Caledonia
QB – Maliek Stallings, Noxubee
RB – Dontae Gray, Heritage Academy
RB – Jamarcus Quarles, Lafayette
RB – Taemaus Glass, Nanih Waiya
RB – Jessie Nabors, Calhoun City
WR – Kymbotric Mason, Noxubee
WR – Austin Morphis, Pontotoc
WR – Felix Hayes, Baldwyn
WR – Brandon Washington, Vardaman
WR – Marcus Farmer, West Lowndes
WR – Mike McCloud, Columbus
OL – Joey Claybrook, Starkville
OL – Torin Hamilton, Starkville Academy
OL – LaQuinston Sharp, Columbus
OL – Stuart Coggins, Smithville
OL – Logan Sneed, Heritage Academy
OL – AJ Johnson, East Webster
OL – Hunter Ray, Baldwyn
OL – Cole Smith, Pontotoc
ATH – Ha’Kee Rainey, Amory
ATH – Wesley Grier, Smithville
ATH – Demarrio Edwards, West Point
ATH – Zach Thomas, Pickens County (AL)
ATH – Miller Hancock, East Webster
ATH – Monterio Hunt, Walnut
ATH – Jamar Richardson, Aliceville (AL)
ATH – Ovurton Gates, Baldwyn
K/P – Joshua Smith, Tupelo
KR/PR – Joshua Little, Noxubee
KR/PR – Brandon Fields, North Pontotoc

DL – Jaylon Simpson, North Pontotoc
DL – Doug Tanner, Lafayette
DL – Nelson Jordan, Starkville
DL – Charles Moore, Louisville
DL – McKenzie Richardson, Tupelo
DL – Cole Morgan, East Webster
LB – Tanner Bullock, Houston
LB – Luke Wilson, East Webster
LB – Peter Gray, Tupelo
LB – Quentin Wilfawn, Oxford
LB – Jimmy Morris, Noxubee
LB – Xavier Fair, West Point
LB – Nathan Hester, South Pontotoc
LB – Claude Herard, Eupora
LB – Jalen Holland, Amory
LB – Albert Wells, Aliceville (AL)
LB – Chris Lockhart, Smithville
DB – Quez Akins, Starkville
DB – Rasson Carr, West Point
DB – Treshon Cooper, Calhoun City
DB – Trevor Morgan, Pontotoc
DB – DQ Thomas, Oxford
DB – Tyrese Quinn, Calhoun City
DB – Terrance Edgestone, Falkner
K/P – Jose Garcia, West Point
K/P – London Jordan, Pontotoc

2016 All-End Zone – THIRD TEAM
QB – Austin King, Itawamba AHS
QB – John Swinney, Baldwyn
QB – Z Gates, Amory
RB – Shawn Dalton Weatherbee, Thrasher
RB – Logan Pettigo, Mantachie
RB – Jaley Adams, Kossuth
RB – Eddie Ivy, South Pontotoc
RB – JJ Jernighan, Amory
RB – Jaquerrious Williams, Tupelo
RB – Johndrix Robinson, Baldwyn
WR – Jason Brownlee, West Point
WR – Shye Link, East Webster
WR – Jerrell Miller, North Pontotoc
WR – Jeremy Tate, New Hope
WR – Austin Telano, Choctaw County
WR – Beau Lee, Kossuth
OL – Jakoby Jones, Starkville
OL – T.C. Doss, Baldwyn
OL – Isaiah Hill, Booneville
OL – Cortavious Ivy, Amory
OL – Chad Pease, Louisville
OL – Brady Jones, Nanih Waiya
OL – Mac Newell, Oak Hill Academy
ATH – Keonte Daniels, Noxapater
ATH – Woody Vowell, Choctaw County
ATH – Pervis Frazier, Louisville
ATH – Jojo Gray, Calhoun City
ATH – Donte Freeman, Tupelo
K/P – Logan Rainwater, South Pontotoc
K/P – Caleb Comer, Caledonia
KR/PR – Kendall Coleman, French Camp
KR/PR – Jordan Lipsey, New Albany

DL – Miles Smith, Noxubee
DL – Daqwavius Huddleston, Shannon
DL – Daniel Smith, Smithville
DL – Everitt Cunningham, West Point
DL – Tice Bowdry, Baldwyn
DL – Tyler Bell, Eupora
DL – Braden Estes, Noxapater
LB – Tyler Roberts, Saltillo
LB – Kody White, Caledonia
LB – Corley Hooper, North Pontotoc
LB – Anfernee Campbell, Calhoun City
LB – Carson Cryder, Mooreville
LB – Aaron Witt, French Camp
LB – Jared Roberts, Hatley
LB – Walt Maddox, Bruce
LB – Jacob Buchannan, Okolona
DB – Bryce Stanton, Nanih Waiya
DB – Tyrese Bell, Booneville
DB – Jaylon Jernigan, Hatley
DB – Derrick Beckom, Columbus
DB – Chris Olton, Winona
DB – Jay Shinn, New Hope
DB – Isaac Patterson, East Webster
K/P – Robbie Langley, Lafayette
K/P – Chris Taylor, Columbus

2016 All-End Zone – HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterbacks
Clayton Knight, West Point
Ben Cumberland, Nanih Waiya
CJ Gholar, Columbus
Coleton Ausbern, Nettleton
Trae Owen, Vardaman
J.R. McClure, Oxford
Will Ard, Lafayette
Tyler Anderson, Heritage Academy
Charlie Brand, East Webster
Noah Methvin, Starkville Academy
Cade Spratlin, Bruce
Jatyler Moore, Winona
Koy Chapman, Gordo (AL)

Running Backs
Kendre Conner, Columbus
Hiram Wadlington, Oxford
Dalton Dempsey, Starkville Academy
Monzavier Latham, Amory
DJ Ringo, Winona
Jalon Clark, Baldwyn
Ty’Quintin Ramsey, Noxubee
Jalen Cobbs, Corinth
Andre Lane, West Point
Keegan Huddleston, Shannon
Qua Evans, East Webster
Vincent McIntosh, Shannon
Josh Metcalf, Hatley
Cam’Ron Harrington, Louisville
Ethan Sparks, Belmont
Chris Townsel, Choctaw County
Keshun Parker, Calhoun City
Edwin Herard, Eupora
Jakerrius Oliver, Noxubee
Zion Ford, Caledonia
Chris Calvert, West Point
Tony Deloach, New Hope
Tyreke Metcalfe, Sulligent (AL)
Isaac Whittle, Lamar County (AL)

Offensive Line
Micah McKinney, Baldwyn
John Isaac Dale, Amory
La’Anthony Robertson, Noxapater
Marquavious Baskin, Winona
Drew Fulcher, Nanih Waiya
LaDerrick Despenza, Hamilton

Athletes/Receivers
TJ Stephens, New Hope
Brandon Turnage, Lafayette
Quinshawn Lucious, West Lowndes
Austin Watkins, Tupelo
Pat Jackson, Columbus
Andrew Peugh, Mooreville
Dustin Moffett, Smithville
Eli Acker, Heritage Academy
Essie Davis, Gordo (AL)

Defensive Line
Chris Blair, Columbus
Tae Hampton, West Point
Charles Gillespie, Columbus
Dillon Carrell, Starkville Academy

Linebackers
Brandon Curry, Lafayette
Hayden Harris, Pontotoc
James Bennett, Amory
Spencer Carden, East Webster
Dillon Woods, Lafayette
Depodray Coburn, Noxapater
Tanner Hendrix, Pontotoc
Daniel Longmire, Caledonia
Troy Bone, South Pontotoc
Chet Moffett, Smithville
Hayes Wilson, Pontotoc
Armani Johnson, Lafayette
Michael Williams, Amory
Diesel Howell, Tupelo
Jamarcus Smith, Saltillo
Mason Foster, Booneville
Colton Wooten, East Union
John Mark Jolly, TCPS
Anthony Armstrong, Itawamba AHS
Brody Underwood, Thrasher
Peyton Reeves, Belmont
Connor Hood, Eupora
Joseph White, Lamar County (AL)

Defensive Backs
Xavier Martin, Lafayette
Kenneth Bell, Shannon
Jarius Crump, Booneville
Dallas Wooten, East Union
Contavious Walker, Shannon
Isaac Eiland, Nanih Waiya
Malik Miller, Noxapater
Dusty Roberts, Kossuth
Brinten Morgan, New Site
Trent Hall, Bruce
Julian Mitchell, Amory
Rob Pillow, TCPS
Omar Freeman, Smithville
Martavius Rockette, Water Valley
Darius Bryant, East Webster
Jesse Boydstun, Winston Academy
James Peavy, Oak Hill Academy
Caleb Bonner, Pickens County (AL)