Crawley: Riggs To Play In All-American Bowl

TSWA All-Star Teams Announced

  • Tuesday, December 11, 2001
  • Stan Crawley iHigh.com correspondent

Red Bank running back Gerald Riggs, who has committed to Tennessee, will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 5 in San Antonio, Texas. Riggs rushed for 1,715 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.

"It's a great honor for Gerald,'' Red Bank coach Tom Weathers said.

Two mid-state players-Hillboro defensive lineman John Henry and Murfreesboro Riverdale running back Ralph King-have also been invited to participate in the game.

Riggs will be in the game with 73 other high school players chosen to participate from a field of 400 nominees. The game at Alamo Stadium will be televised at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

Riggs was featured last week on Fox Sports Net's "Countdown to Signing Day'' recruiting show. The Red Bank standout was part of the new "Bloodlines'' segment. His father, Gerald Riggs, played for the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins.

BLEDSOE'S HALE CONTINUES RECOVERY: Bledsoe County basketball player Christy Hale continues to recover at home after a serious head injury suffered in a game two weeks ago.

Hale collided with a Meigs County basketball player and fell on her back, hitting her head on the hardwood floor. She underwent emergency surgery at Erlanger Medical Center to relieve swelling caused by a blood clot on the left side of her brain.

Hale, who has scored 971 career points as a four-year starter, will miss the remainder of the season.

"But after everything we've been through lately, we're not even worried about that now,'' Christy's father told the Chattanooga paper. "We're just glad she's home and getting better every day.''

AMERICAN GENERAL TO CONTINUE AWARDS: The American General Financial Group announced last week it will continue sponsorship of he Mr. Football high school awards in Tennessee.

The company has been the sole sponsor of the awards since 1985, but had previously announced it would discontinue sponsorship.

"We are very excited about American General's decision to continue their sponsorship and support the Mr. Football awards,'' TSSAA Executive Director Ronnie Carter said. "It is a great moment for our schools.''

BRENTWOOD RANKED NATIONALLY: The Brentwood volleyball team that won the Class AAA state championship finished No. 34 in the national "Fab 50'' rankings. The Lady Bruins were the only team in Tennessee or Georgia on the prestigious list.

MARYVILLE CELEBRATES FOOTBALL TITLE: Maryville's Rebels celebrated their second straight Class 4A state championship last week at the school auditorium. Approximately 350 people attended the afternoon celebration. "It's great to see the people come out and support us," Maryville receiver Brad Merritt told the Knoxville paper. "Every Friday night they are out there behind us. Hillsboro is in Nashville, right in the backyard (of Murfreesboro), but we had more people there than they did. It makes you want to play for your fans."

GLENCLIFF'S OMER WINS AWARD: Glencliff High senior Sena Omer has won the Steve Andrus and Marcus Fentress Award, named for the two former Metro football players who are deceased. It is awarded to the metro player who has overcome the most difficulties and challenges to become a success.

Omer was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and his family moved to Turkey to escape the Saddam Hussein regime. From there, he lived in a concentration camp in tents before he and his six-member family were fortunate enough to become one of the few chosen to immigrate to the U.S. in December, 1993, The Tennessean reported.

''There were about 50,000 of us hoping to get into the U.S.,'' Omer told the Nashville paper. He didn't speak English until moving here. He has gradually picked up the language and now speaks English fluently.

''We are so thankful to be away from an evil regime like Saddam,'' he said. ''There were people all over who got only as far as Germany, Canada, but not here.''

TSWA ALL-STAR TEAMS: The Tennessee Sports Writers Association recently announced its high school football all-star teams.

2001 Class 5A All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year-Ted Gatewood, Ooltewah.

Offense: QB-Austen Everson 6-2, 200 JR, Brentwood; QB-Adam Howard 6-6, 215 SR, Ooltewah; RB-Ralph King, 5-10, 180 SR, Riverdale; RB-Eugene Cousart 6-0, 208 SR, Whitehaven; RB-Abe Felix 5-7, 160 JR, Houston; RB-Patrick Flanagan 5-11, 195 SR, Ooltewah; WR-Taron Henry 6-2, 175 JR, Riverdale; WR-Emmanuel Hassell 6-0, 185 SR, Whitehaven; WR-Bryson Bowling 6-3, 165 SR, Johnson City Science Hill; OL-Will Justice 6-5, 295 SR, Cordova; OL-Matt Parton 6-0, 229 SR, Riverdale; OL-Ryan Jeanette 6-6, 305 SR, Blackman; OL-Howard Hale 6-0, 260 JR, Ooltewah; OL-Edward Belcher 6-1, 270 SR, Riverdale; OL-Marcus Willis 6-0, 225 SR, Jackson Central-Merry; ATH-Reese McMahan 5-11, 175 SR, William Blount; RET-Clayton Cook 6-0, 185 SR, Hendersonville.

Defense: DL-Mike Flatt 6-1, 270 SR, Hendersonville; DL-Travis Talley 6-0, 240 JR, Jackson Central-Merry; DL-Ryan Roller 6-2, 200 SR, Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett; DL-Erik Losey 6-2, 250 SR, Soddy-Daisy; DL-Darnell Holt 6-1, 295 SR Hendersonville; LB-Daniel Brooks 6-3, 220 JR, Jackson Central-Merry; LB-Jacob McMillan 6-1, 195 JR, Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett; LB-Brett Luther 6-1, 210 SR, Dickson County; LB-John Batey 5-11, 185 SR, Riverdale; LB-Tim Dobbins 6-3, 230 SR, Glencliff; LB-Sean Britton 6-2, 205 SR, Gallatin; LB-Zach Sanders 5-11, 210 SR, Ooltewah; LB-Edrell Smith 5-11, 171 SR, Riverdale; DB-Michael Coe 6-1, 180 SR, Cordova; DB-Matt Parker 6-0, 185 SR, Oakland; DB-Jacquez Williams 6-2, 190 JR, Gallatin; PK-James Wilhoit 5-10, 190 SR, Hendersonville; P -Britton Colquitt 6-2, 170 JR, Bearden.

2001 Class 4A All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year -Ron Aydelott, Hillsboro.

Offense: QB-Tim Gray 6-0, 200 SR, Hillsboro; QB-Michael Hassell 5-11, 175 SR, Whites Creek; RB-Jay Walker 5-11, 185 SR, Morristown West; RB-Charles White 5-11, 200 SR, East Ridge; RB-Carl Stewart 6-2, 190 JR, Maryville; RB-T.J. Brock 6-0, 170 JR, Maryville; WR-Chris McClain 5-7, 150 SR, Pearl-Cohn; WR-Zeb Furst 6-1, 175 SR, Carter; WR-Brandon Wright 5-10, 160 SR, Memphis East; TE-Ben Cooper 6-5, 215 SR, Greeneville; OL-Brandon Waters 6-2, 235 JR, Maryville; OL-Tyler Rich 6-0, 230 SR, Red Bank; OL-Chris Tabeling 6-4, 290 SR, Hillsboro; OL-Darrin Hayes 6-0, 280 SR, Pearl-Cohn; OL-Brandon Jenkins 6-5, 275 SR, Memphis East; ATH-Fred Sparkman 6-3, 215 JR, Columbia Central; RET-Andrew Tudor 6-0, 180 SR, Powell.

Defense: DL-Jim Thurman 6-4, 240 SR, Red Bank; DL-Chris Willenborg 6-3, 240 SR, East Ridge; DL-Demetrius Bray 5-11, 294 SR, Jackson North Side; DL-Jason Mullins 6-7, 250 SR, Morristown West; DL-John Henry 6-5, 300 SR, Hillsboro; LB-Colton Baker 6-0, 220 SR, Maryville; LB-Gerald Riggs 6-0, 215 SR, Red Bank; LB-Brandon Reese 6-2, 220 SR, Morristown West; LB-Vince Redd 6-6, 225 JR, Elizabethton; LB-Spencer Mercer, 6-0, 195 JR, Greeneville; LB-Landon Tate 5-10, 185 SR, White House; DB-Chris Russell 6-3, 185 JR, Hillsboro; DB-Ryan Hackler 5-11, 175 SR, Rhea County; DB-Justin Holmes 6-1, 175 JR, Fairley; DB-Chris Hale 5-9, 160 SR, White House; PK-Blake Hollingsworth 6-0, 150 SR, Springfield.

2001 Class 3A All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year-Stanton Stevens, Austin-East.

Offense: QB-Justin Price 5-10, 175 SR, Anderson County; QB-Lee Curry 6-0, 170 SR, Austin-East; RB-Lareko Boykin 5-10, 200 SR, Covington; RB-Jeff Mitchell, 6-0, 170 SR, Fulton; RB-Artis Pitts 5-11, 180 SR, Crockett County; RB-Shawn Ward 5-9, 165 JR, Smith County; WR-Weidrick Pearson 6-0, 190 SR, Westwood; WR-Brian Blair 6-2, 170 SR, Austin-East; WR-Brian Fisk 6-2, 195 JR, Dyer County; TE-Eiland Means 6-5, 250 SR, Trezevant; OL-Willie Henderson 6-5, 275 SR, Ridgeway; OL-Jamie Clemmons 5-11, 215 SR, Portland; OL-Stephen Booker 6-2, 295 SR, Austin-East; OL-Joey Jackson 6-4, 240 SR, Sycamore; OL-Joe Turpin 6-1, 235 SR, Loudon; ATH-Mark Andrews 5-10, 165 SR, Austin-East; RET-Justin Latham 6-0, 195 SR, Seymour.

Defense: DL-Josh England 5-9, 200 SR, Portland; DL-Josh Bolton 6-1, 215 SR, Portland; DL-Wes Procter 6-3, 255 SR, Sycamore; DL-LaRon Harris 6-2, 275 SR, Kingsbury; LB-Zack Jones 6-0, 190 SR, Grundy County; LB-Ruben Mayes 6-2, 240 SR, Ridgeway; LB-Jon Pitts 6-0, 190 SR, Crockett County; LB-Chase McBee 6-4, 230 SR, Rutledge; LB-Ben Thornton 5-10, 170 SR, Portland; LB-Derek Boyd 5-6, 160 SR, Portland; DB-T.T. Harper 5-7, 150 JR, Trousdale County; DB-Bart Browder 5-10, 160 SR, McNairy Central; DB-Jason Trentham 5-10, 180 SR, Gatlinburg-Pittman; DB-Anthony James 6-2, 195 SR, Marshall County; PK-Wesley Satterfield 5-10, 155 JR, Trousdale County; P-Daniel Kinser 6-1, 180 SR, Lenoir City.

2001 Class 2A All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year-David Martin, Goodpasture.

Offense: QB-Michael George 6-3, 183 SR, Alcoa; QB-Ethan Flatt 6-7, 215 SR, David Lipscomb; RB-Courtney McGlone 5-11, 185 SR, Tyner; RB-Rafael Hill 5-9, 165 JR, Westview; RB-Taurus North 5-11, 180 SR, Union City; WR-Ryan McRae 6-4, 165 SR, Alcoa; WR-Ryan Duncan 5-10, 165 SR, Goodpasture; WR-Andrew Dansby 6-7, 240 SR, Harpeth; TE-Justin Harrell 6-4, 280 SR, Westview; OL-Ben Love 6-1, 225 SR, Alcoa; OL-Louis Davis 6-0, 326 SR, Westview; OL-Derrick Roberts 6-2, 285 SR, Meigs County; OL-Bubba Patterson 6-0, 170 SR, Lewis County; OL-Thomas McCroskey 6-1, 245 SR, Sweetwater; ATH-George Evans 5-9, 165 SR, Union City; ATH-John Liles 6-1, 185 JR, Westmoreland; RET-Josh Couch 5-11, 185 SR, Polk County.

Defense: DL-Adam Hutchins 6-1, 220 SR, Marion County; DL-Chase Judkins 6-0, 220 JR, Goodpasture; DL-Quinton Hale 6-3, 290 SR, Tyner; DL-Keanon McKinnie 6-1, 224 SR, Huntingdon; DL-David Hill 6-4, 210 SR, Alcoa; LB-Chase Eakes 5-11, 200 SR, Goodpasture; LB-Travis Davidson 5-11, 210 SR, Westview; LB-Anton Santiago 5-11, 200 JR, David Lipscomb; LB-Adam Wright 5-9, 181 SR, Westview; LB-Zach Harris 6-0, 200 SR, Meigs County; LB-Tommy Cagle 5-8, 165 SR, Lewis County; DB-Marcus Buggs 5-11, 190 JR, Goodpasture; DB-Tyler Gamble 6-1, 195 SR, Humboldt; DB-Marquice Craddock 5-11, 180 JR, Tyner; DB-Adam Hansell 5-11, 160 SR South Greene; DB-Jerome Buchanan 5-9, 185 SR, B.T. Washington; PK-Josh Lankford 6-1, 185 SR, Oliver Springs; P-Phillip Bates 5-9, 155 SR, David Lipscomb.

2001 Class 1A All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year-Scott Smith, Ezell-Harding.

Offense: QB-Will Healy 6-2, 190 JR, Boyd-Buchanan; QB-J.P. Shelly 6-0, 195 SR, Ezell-Harding; RB-Adrian Jamison 5-11, 180 SR, Bruceton Central; RB-Brandon Pate 5-10, 180 SR, Christ Presbyterian; RB-Adam Ragan 5-10, 185 SR, Jackson Christian School; RB-A.J. Jones 6-0, 180 JR, South Pittsburg; WR-Erik Davis 6-3, 190 SR, Ezell-Harding; WR-Matt Hale 6-1, 175 SR, Boyd-Buchanan; WR-Michael Waycaster 6-3, 180 SR, South Fulton; OL-Jake Campbell 6-2, 220 SR, Midway; OL-Keith Buchanan 6-2, 295 SR, Cloudland; OL-Scott Greenwood 5-11, 255 JR, Christ Presbyterian; OL-Josh Shinpaugh 6-4, 310 SR, Copper Basin; OL-Blake Luker 6-5, 300 SR, Collinwood; ATH-Mark Byrd 5-10, 170 SO, Cloudland; ATH-Cody Long 5-11, 175 SR, Greenback; RET-Franklin Payne 5-11, 175 SR, University School of Jackson.

Defense: DL-Kennedy Cooper 6-1, 210 JR, Monterey; DL-Brandon Odom 6-2, 295 SR, Cloudland; DL-William Nelson 6-0, 230 SR, Boyd-Buchanan; LB-Chris Honeycutt 6-1, 220 SR, Oneida; LB-Bubba Austin 6-0, 220 SR, Whitwell; LB-Greg Faye 6-1, 215 SR, University School of Jackson; LB-Patrick Willis 6-1, 195 JR, Bruceton Central; LB-Jonathan Mack 6-2, 240 SR, Bishop Byrne; DB-Patrick Grooms 6-1, 170 SR, Greenfield; DB-Jamie Richardson, 5-10, 185 SR, University School of Jackson; DB-Jon Ward 6-1, 190 JR, Collinwood; DB-Dakota Benefield 5-9, 155 SO, Cloudland; DB-Jacob Victory 6-1, 175 JR, Collinwood; DB-Troy Claiborne 5-10, 170 JR, Gordonsville; PK-Andy Metcalf, 5-11, 150 SR, University School of Jackson; P-Russ DeLoach 6-0, 205 SR, University School of Jackson.

2001 Division II All-State Football Team: Coach of the Year-Ralph Potter, McCallie.

Offense: QB-Michael Saporito 6-4, 220 SR, Notre Dame; QB-Ryan Moore 6-2, 210 SO, McCallie; RB-Justin Mosby 6-0, 210 SR, Christian Brothers; RB-Murray Nicholson 5-10, 175 SR, Father Ryan; RB-Campbell Thomas 5-11, 200 SR, McCallie; WR-Billy May 6-3, 190 SR, Father Ryan; WR-Adarius Bowman 6-4, 210 JR, Notre Dame; WR-David Thompson 6-3, 190 SR, Memphis University School; WR-Todd Soderquist 6-2, 198 SR, Battle Ground Academy; OL-Andrew Wilson 6-4, 235 SR, Montgomery Bell Academy; OL-Chris Bell 6-3, 240 SR, McCallie; OL-Eric Hysinger 6-2, 240 SR, Baylor; OL-Jeremy Thompson 6-3, 265 SR, Father Ryan; OL-Collin Cull 6-4, 235 SR, Christian Brothers; ATH-Willie Idlette 5-11, 180 SR, Baylor.

Defense: DL-John Inman 6-4, 305 JR, Webb School; DL-Will Denbo 5-10, 255 SR, Montgomery Bell Academy; DL-Jason Hall 6-4, 240 SR, McCallie; DL-Austin Bourgeois 6-3, 260 SR, Brentwood Academy; LB-Jonathan Mack 6-2, 240 SR, Bishop Byrne; LB-Harlin Hickerson 6-1, 205 JR, Battle Ground Academy; LB-Keppy Baucom 6-0, 210 SR, McCallie; LB-Ross Rutledge 6-1, 190 SR, Memphis University School; DB-Tyler McCulloch 6-0, 195 SR, Brentwood Academy; DB-Daniel Smith 5-9, 165 SR, Webb School; DB-Trey Clark 6-2, 180 SR, McCallie; DB-Chris Wright 5-11, 175 SR, Baylor; PK-John Vaughn 6-0, 170 JR, Brentwood Academy; P-Cody Bliss 5-11, 180 JR, Brentwood Academy.


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