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Commonwealth Journal All-County Football Team
Powell, Wilson selected best in the county

CJ Staff Report
Commonwealth Journal

Somerset — The sports staff of The Commonwealth Journal have tallied the votes, and it’s time to unveil the CJ’s 2011 All-County Football Team.

The 2011 season was one that saw two of our schools bring home some impressive hardware, as both Southwestern and Somerset claimed regional titles this past season.

The Southwestern Warriors struggled out of the gate mightily, going 1-3 in their first four games before Andy Stephens took over the reigns of the program as Southwestern’s new head coach.

All Stephens did at that juncture was win his first nine games, winning the blue and orange’s first ever regional crown, before falling to Anderson County in the Class 5 A semi state round.

Somerset meanwhile, despite a killer non-district schedule, was in the hunt once again for a state title, as Robbie Lucas led the Briar Jumpers to a regional title, before falling to Covington Holy Cross in the 3 A semi finals.

Finally, Johnny Hines and the Pulaski County Maroons were in unfamiliar territory in 2011, struggling to a 3-8 mark.

Coming in to the season, PC had posted a 21-6 record in 2009 and 2010, that included two district championships and a regional title, but this season with a ton of new faces, Hines and company suffered through a losing season, however, that did not mean PC didn’t have an abundance of talented football players on its roster.

With that being said, it’s time to unveil The Commonwealth Journal’s 2011 All-County Football Team.

Our Co-Players of the Year for this past season is an award shared by two worthy individuals — Southwestern’s Dustin Powell and Somerset’s Storm Wilson.

Powell, to put it mildly, had a monster senior year leading the state in Class 5 A in yards rushing and in rushing touchdowns.

The senior tailback amassed 2,571 yards on the ground, averaging 6.5 yards per carry on his way to scoring 32 TD’s.

Powell also hauled in 14 receptions for 312 yards and four more scores, in helping the Warriors to their first ever regional crown.

Wilson meanwhile, made the AP’s First Team All-State squad this season as a defensive back, after garnering Second Team All-State selections in both ‘09 and ‘10 as a receiver.

In 2011, Wilson led the Jumpers with 51 catches for 702 yards and 12 TD’s.

Defensively, the SHS senior led his club with 6 interceptions, returning one of those back for a score.

Our Offensive Player of the Year Award — much like the Player of the Year — is shared this season by Somerset quarterback Alex Lange and Southwestern tight end Alan Williams.

Lange had a banner season for Somerset, completing 89 of 171 attempts for 1,177 yards and 13 TD’s.

Lange also led the Briar Jumpers on the ground, rushing for 1,096 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Williams meanwhile was once again Southwestern’s leading receiver during a special year for the Warriors.

Williams led his club with 36 receptions for 800 yards and 10 TD’s, averaging over 22 yards per reception.

Williams’ TD catch in overtime of the regional championship game against Harlan County that gave Southwestern its first regional crown, is arguably the best catch in the 19-year history of the Warrior football program.

Our Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2011 season goes to Somerset’s Trey Slaughter.

Slaughter missed the first four games of the year for the purple and gold, yet still recorded 137 tackles to lead the Jumpers in that category.

Now, for those who made our squad on offense:

Our running backs are Pulaski County’s Tyler Goins and Somerset’s Tevin Slaughter.

Goins — a junior who came out for the first time during his high school career — shined as brightly as any Maroon player in 2011.

Goins led Pulaski County with 1,263 yards rushing, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, on his way to scoring 12 touchdowns.

Goins also was PC’s leading receiver, hauling in 28 catches for 379 yards and 4 TD’s.

Tevin Slaughter rushed for 317 yards this season and 3 TD’s, but his main value to Somerset from his fullback position was the blocking he did, allowing Lange and company to run up high yardage totals on a weekly basis.

Three wide receivers make up our club, and they are Southwestern’s Latrell Wilson, Somerset’s Cam Cheuvront, and Aaron Hall from Pulaski County.

Wilson caught 21 balls for 435 yards this past season and hauled in 4 TD’s, on his way to averaging over 20 yards per receptions.

Chevront gave Lange another reliable target in the Somerset offense, as the sophomore tallied 25 catches for 256 yards and a score.

Hall meanwhile was arguably the winner of the ‘tough luck’ award this season.

The PC junior had touchdowns called back on kickoff returns, punt returns, and in pass receptions, yet he kept a positive attitude and gave coach Hines and company all he had, night in and night out.

Hall caught 18 balls for 235 yards this year and scored 1 TD. He also returned 14 kickoffs, averaging 20.6 yards per return, and took one of those to the house as well.

Our kicker on this year’s team goes to Pulaski County’s Drew Patton.

The Maroon senior leaves PC as the holder of many school kicking records.

Just a few of the records Patton leaves with is most touchbacks in a single game (4), Most PAT’s scored in a single game (9), Most PAT points scored in a career, and the most PAT’s scored in a row without a miss.

Also, in 2011 Patton was recognized as the Kicking Champion in the prestigious Chris Sailer Kicking Camp, and he was also the winner at that same camp as The Last Man Standing.

Patton was also nominated to represent Kentucky in the annual Border Bowl against Tennessee.

Rounding out our squad are the guys that never get too much attention or accolades unless they’re called for a holding penalty, and that’s the big guys up front.

This season, all three schools had some outstanding play on the line of scrimmage on the offensive end.

Our Offensive Line members on our team are Christian Childers and Tyler Dodson of Southwestern, Pulaski County’s dynamic duo of Tyler Abney and Tanner Burnett, and Somerset’s Jarred Price and Taylor Speaks.

Five players make up our defensive line; they are Justin Cornett and Robbie Hudson from Pulaski County, Bridge Smith and Kagen Skidmore from Somerset, and Southwestern’s Robbie Lewis.

Cornett had an outstanding senior year, and it was on both sides of the football.

Playing as PC’s quarterback in the shotgun in goal line situations, the 5-foot-11, 266 pound senior carried the ball 11 times, scoring 8 touchdowns.

For good measure, Cornett also completed his only pass attempt for the year — a 40-yard touchdown pass at South Laurel.

Defensively, PC’s nose guard recorded 86 tackles, with 7 of those going for a loss.

Hudson meanwhile really came on as the ‘11 season progressed.

The PC senior defensive end tallied 40 tackles on the season, with 8 going for a loss, and he also added 3 quarterback sacks.

Smith meanwhile registered 72 tackles for the Jumpers, recovering two fumbles.

Skidmore had 36 tackles for the year, as Somerset’s defensive line dominated almost every team the Jumpers went up against.

Robbie Lewis tallied 51 tackles for the Warriors, had 24 assists, and notched 3 quarterback sacks.

Our linebackers are Macauley Kirk and Dalton Wilson from Southwestern, Curtis Spears from Pulaski County, and Somerset’s Andy Manning.

Kirk recorded 55 tackles with 11 assists, and recovered a total of 3 fumbles.

Wilson tallied a total of 71 tackles with 19 assists, had 1 sack, and came up with 2 fumble recoveries.

Curtis Spears was a real bright spot for the Maroons, notching a total of 83 tackles with 4 quarterback sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Manning meanwhile had 87 tackles this year for Somerset.

Cody and Justin Epperson make our team as corner backs, as both Southwestern seniors were mainstays on the Warriors defense.

Cody Epperson had 37 tackles and 16 assists, to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery.

Justin Epperson notched 44 tackles, recorded 16 assists, while coming up with 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Finally, the last three spots on our team goes to some outstanding safeties — Tyler Megargel from Somerset, Pulaski County’s Tyler Jackson, and Southwestern’s Logan Starnes.

Megargel accounted for 57 tackles for the Jumpers, while finishing second on his club behind Wilson with 5 interceptions.

Jackson had a stellar senior year for the Maroons, notching 55 tackles with 2 interceptions.

Starnes meanwhile could have made our team about anywhere, as he was arguably the most versatile player in the county.

Starnes shared time at the quarterback position for the Warriors, served as Southwestern’s punter, and also played at a high level in the Southwestern secondary.

Starnes had 28 tackles and 4 assists defensively, to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery.

Through the air, Starnes threw for 876 yards and 9 TD’s, while rushing for another 335 yards and 5 TD’s.

Starnes averaged just over 30 yards per kick for Southwestern, with a long punt of 50 yards.

Showing just how versatile an athlete he is, Starnes also returned 3 punts this season as well.

Congratulations to this talented array of football players for an outstanding 2011 season.