2019 Neuse News All-Area Football: Chargers' Webb, Hawks' Collins notch top awards
Michael Webb overcame a midseason concussion and helped lead Ayden-Grifton to its 19th consecutive playoff appearance this past fall. Bud Hardy/Neuse News
A record-setting turnaround, two state runner-up performances, a career-ending injury and many more storylines punctuated the 2019 high school football season.
Winless a year ago, North Lenoir posted a program-best eight victories and returned to the playoffs with second-year head coach Jim Collins.
Along with the Hawks, a total of five teams advanced to the postseason.
Parrott Academy and Bethel Christian Academy each fell in their respective N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I and II 8-man football championship games. APA battled without Trey McLawhorn, who endured a season-ending injury in the state semifinals.
Michael Webb overcame a concussion to help lead Ayden-Grifton to its 19th consecutive postseason berth.
Here is the 2019 Neuse News All-Area Football Team:
Player of the Year - Michael Webb (Senior, Ayden-Griffon)
Michael Webb (Senior, Ayden-Griffon) - Also named to the first team at the “athlete” position, Webb played running back, wide receiver, defensive back and returned kicks and punts. He missed one game due to a concussion, successfully returned and helped the Chargers rebound from an 0-2 start in the highly-competitive and physical Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference. “He’s a great kid who comes to work every day [and is] one of the most versatile players I have coached in 30 years,” said AG head coach Paul Cornwell.
Coach of the Year - Jim Collins (North Lenoir)
Jim Collins (North Lenoir) - A Michigan transplant, Collins said his daughter made a bold statement after the team’s first official practice this past August. She told Collins that the Hawks “were going to surprise some people.” Indeed, North Lenoir started 6-0, earned the support of its community and concluded the year 8-4. Collins attributed the remarkable turnaround to the players buying into his belief, building self confidence and working together as a single unit each time they stepped onto the field.
Offense
Quarterback
Demetri Holmes (Junior, Kinston) - Despite experiencing an injury-riddled season, Holmes threw for 1,256 yards and 16 touchdowns in just eight games for the playoff-qualifying Vikings. He averaged 17.4 yards per completion and had just four passes picked off.
Running backs
Trey McLawhorn (Senior, Parrott Academy) - McLawhorn cranked out 1,690 yards and 22 touchdowns on 214 carries before tearing both meniscus collateral ligaments in his left knee in the state semifinals. He hauled in 27 receptions for 437 yards and four TDs. A multi-sport athlete, McLawhorn was named the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year and earned a spot on the 2019 NCISAA All-State team.
Ny’Jai Koonce (Senior, North Lenoir) - Koonce rushed for a team-high 926 yards and 13 touchdowns on 104 totes. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry for the Hawks, pilled up 3,356 yards rushing as a team. Koonce’s longest run from scrimmage was 53 yards.
Josh Sutton (Junior, Bethel Christian) - Sutton piled up 1,329 yards and 18 touchdowns on 94 carries for the Trojans. Sutton earned NCISAA All-State honors.
Wide receivers
K’hari Pitts (Senior, Kinston) - Pitts reeled in a team-leading 496 yards and nine touchdowns on 23 receptions. The Vikings finished 6-6 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs.
Nick Harrison (Junior, Parrott) - Harrison caught 43 passes for 916 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Patriots. He received Big 8 Conference and NCISAA All-State honors.
Linemen
Chris Russell (Senior, North Lenoir), Nick Mann (Senior, North Lenoir), Shykel Harvey-Grady (Kinston) and Dadrian Howard (Senior, Ayden-Grifton).
Defense
Linemen
Alfonso Boyd (Junior, Ayden-Griffon) - A two-year starter on both offense and defense, Boyd has been described as the Chargers’ “best lineman on both sides of the ball” by AG head coach Paul Cornwell. Boyd posted 27 tackles, nine stops behind the line of scrimmage, five quarterback sacks and three forced fumbles.
Oronde Whitfield (Junior, Kinston) - Collected a team-high 17.5 tackles for loss and 71 total tackles for the Vikings. Also recovered four fumbles and posted 1.5 quarterback sacks.
Michael Johnson (Senior, Greene Central) - Recorded 70 tackles, including 20 behind the line of scrimmage. Led team with 13 quarterback sacks.
Ends
Filipo Sualevai (Senior, North Lenoir) - Led the Hawks in tackles for loss (13), quarterback sacks (three) and recorded 54 tackles. Was just one of three NL players to see time in all 12 games in a record-setting season.
Debo Pigford (Senior, Greene Central) - Pigford recently received a verbal offer from Elizabeth City State University. A multi-sport performer, Pigford had 41 tackles, including eight behind the line of scrimmage. He recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown.
Linebackers
Jeffrey Darden (Senior, Ayden-Griffon) - The 220-pounder registered 55 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. His statsheet included an interception, three forced fumbles and two fumble returns for touchdowns. “[Darden] was the leader of our defense [at] multiple positions and played almost every play of every game,” said AG head coach Paul Cornwell.
Logan Bigler (Junior, North Lenoir) - Emerged as the Hawks’ top tackler with 65 and averaged a second-best six stops per game. Bigler was one of five NL defenders to record a quarterback sack and recorded three interceptions.
Mechaelin Davis (Junior, Kinston) - Led the Vikings with 86 tackles and had 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Defensive backs
Hunter Blythe (Senior, Parrott Academy) - A Big 8 All-Conference selection, Blythe had 70 tackles and six interceptions for the 2019 NCISAA Division I 8-man state runner-up.
Keyshawn Best (Senior, Ayden-Griffon) - One of the team’s most-athletic and spirited players, Best had 23 solo tackles and three interceptions.
Will London (Senior, Kinston) - Played in all 12 games for the Vikings, recovered three fumbles, picked off a pass and tallied 30 tackles.
Return Specialists
Justin Cobb (Sophomore, North Lenoir) - His 97-yard kickoff return capped a thrilling comeback against Eastern Wayne. Averaged 60.17 yards per kickoff return and 23.0 yards per punt return for the Hawks.
Joseph Cobb (Sophomore, South Lenoir) - Was named the special teams player of the year in the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference. Had a pair of touchdown returns, a season-high 200 return yards against Greene Central and averaged more than 20 yards a return. SL head coach Jeremy Joyner said Cobb was a “very good player this year with a world of potential."
Honorable Mention
Ayden-Grifton: Casper Magrane, Marlon Cannon, Quinton Mitchell, Trevor Matthews.
Greene Central: Zakvil Smith, Perry Tingen, Jayden Willis, Cole Dawson.
Kinston: Caleb Gooding, Iverson Ward, Josh Holloway, Kaceion Williams, Jamari Powell, Nick Harvey III, Walt Simmons, Jaylen Cogdell, James Graham, Emari Keller.
North Lenoir: Jaden Fitzpatrick, Tre Olds.
South Lenoir: Koko Missebukpo, Kojo Missebukpo, Jarrett Kennedy, Johnathan Haddock.
Parrott Academy: Wilkes Thomas, Michael Outlaw, Jonah Beaman, Blake Smith, Dylan Faulkner, Weaver Sumrell, Wyatt Powley, Walter Shannon.
