Lions dominate all-district football selections

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions dominated District 8-2A Division II during the season and were rewarded with 20 players earning places on the all-district team.

The Lions collected 24 spots, including five of six superlative awards, and had three players honored for both offense and defense.

The all-district team was selected by vote of district coaches after the regular season.

“There’s always a few, being biased and seeing them in practice every day, that you feel should have had a little higher reward or got an award that they didn’t,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “Overall though, I felt we were well-represented in the district.”

Albany went 4-0 in winning the district title, outscoring opponents 235-16. The Lions finished a 13-1 season last week with a loss in the state semifinals.

Senior running back-linebacker Jaheim Newton was named District MVP despite missing two district games with an injury. Newton finished the season with 1,628 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in 12 games, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. He also caught four passes for 31 yards. On defense, he recorded 23.5 tackles with six for loss and recovered six fumbles.

Junior quarterback Cole Chapman was voted Offensive MVP after accounting for more than 3,000 yards and 41 touchdowns. He completed 134 of 224 passes for 2,314 yards with 32 TDs and rushed for 745 yards and nine scores.

Senior linebacker Brooks Neece was selected Defensive MVP, leading a unit that held opponents to  165.4 total yards and 8.9 points per game. He recorded 72 tackles with 16.5 for loss, recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass, and had three pass breakups.

Sophomore Zane Waggoner earned Newcomer of the Year for his play on the defensive line and special teams. On defense, he had 20 tackles  with five for loss and a sack, and recovered a fumble. He averaged 34.2 yards per punt with eight downed inside the 20 and averaged 41.4 yards on kickoffs with one touchback.

The Albany coaching staff of Faith, Rod Britting, David Fairchild, Jimmy Fuentes, and Ryder Peacock was named Staff of the year.

Named to the first-team offense were Coy Lefevre at running back, Cooper Fairchild and London Fuentes at wide receiver, Bryce Asher at center alongside offensive linemen Monte Cauble and Coy Knight, tight end Adam Hill, and Luke Ivy as a utility player.

First-team defensive selections were Ryan Mark and Rylan Roberson on the defensive line, Lefevre at linebacker, Ivy at cornerback, Robert Bailey at safety, and Taren Farmer as a utility player.

Earning spots on the second team were Ty Everitt on offensive line, Keatin Russell at wide receiver, Lanxton Vier­tel on defensive line, Samuel Rosas at defensive end/outside linebacker, Koy Cauble at linebacker, and Hill at safety.