Marion's Kirkendoll Claims Class 2A Mr. Football Award Over Teammate

Riddle, McClain, Davenport All Take Home Runner-Up Plaques

Monday, November 28, 2016
Larry Fleming

Marion's Alex Kirkendoll

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four Chattanooga-area football players went to Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday vying for prestigious Tennessee Titans Mr. Football awards.

One team – Marion County – had a sure bet.

The Warriors had two players competing for the same Division I Class 2A Lineman of the Year trophy: Alex Kirkendoll and Hunter McClain.

McCallie quarterback Robert Riddle was up for Division II-2A Back of the Year and Sequatchie County’s Hunter Davenport had a chance to win the Division I Class 3A Back of the Year plaque.

Kirkendoll and McClain, key players in the Warriors’ drive to a third straight state championship game later in the week at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, were guaranteed of giving Sequatchie County its first Mr.

Football winner.

The only question was: would it be Kirkendoll or McClain?

Envelope, please.

And the winner is … Alex Kirkendoll

“This is an amazing feeling,” Kirkendoll said after the ceremonial luncheon. “My heart was racing on stage, but I’m proud to say I can take this award back to my county. I think there’s a special place for it in our trophy case where we can show it off.”

Riddle was the Blue Tornado’s ace quarterback who threw for 3,008 yards, completing 72 percent of his passes, and 25 touchdowns while rushing for seven more. He finished runner-up to Montgomery Bell Academy’s Ty Chandler, who won the same award in 2015.

“It was definitely an honor to be recognized as one of the finalists,” Riddle said. “Ty is a great athlete and I didn’t have much doubt that he wouldn’t win Mr. Football.”

Kirkendoll becomes the third Marion County player to win Mr. Football honors, joining Jason Muir (1994, lineman) and Eric Westmoreland (1995, back).

“There are a lot of things going on this week, with Mr. Football and the championship game,” said Kirkendoll, who has made 126 tackles, 18 for loss, five sacks and five caused fumbles through 14 games. “That means some distractions, but we have to keep our heads right for the ultimate goal we’re going after, and that’s the big gold ball (state championship trophy).

“As for today, Hunter and I don’t care which of us wins Mr. Football. It’s more of an individual award and the gold ball is more about the team. I’d rather win the state championship because that has been our team goal since I was a freshman. A state championship is the experience of a lifetime.”

The Warriors came up short of their “every season” goal of capturing a state title the past two years, losing 34-7 to Peabody in 2014. A year ago, Marion lost 40-35 to Trezevant and that one still stings.

“We’ve been chasing those five points all year,” said Kirkendoll, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound tight end/linebacker who was a semifinalist last year. “This team is comfortable where we are right now and we’re hoping everything falls into place on Saturday. There are a lot of reasons we can win, but like I said, we have to have our heads straight and find those five points.”

Warriors coach Joey Mathis was beaming while his players were being interviewed in the Nissan Stadium press box on a rainy morning, and rightfully so.

One other school – Knoxville Catholic – managed to get two players nominated for the same award. Amari Rodgers beat out teammate Chase Kuerschen for the Class 4A Back of the Year.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Alex and Hunter and our program,” Mathis said. “They represent everything that’s right about football. They’re setting a good example for the rest of us.

“In my mind, these two guys have handled all this beautifully. Both of them were standing next of each other and they hugged. They’ve had a blast today with all this and touring the stadium.”

While he didn’t win, McClain took home a runner-up plaque and was happy to be a part of the whole experience.

“Not many kids get the chance to be here,” he said. “To me, it wasn’t so much about Alex and me, but our success reflects on the whole team. We wouldn’t have been able to do the things we did without the other players.”

McClain rushed for 1,086 yards on 130 carries, caught 16 passes for 286 yards and had a combined 20 touchdowns. He was the team’s third-leading tackler behind Kirkendoll and Hunter Zeman (103 stops) with 94 tackles, including 11 for loss. He also registered seven sacks and 14 pressures.

Marion County marched through four straight playoff opponents en route to Saturday’s title game, which starts at 11 a.m. CT, including a 35-21 semifinal victory over Austin-East.

The Warriors’ average margin of victory in the postseason has been 33 points and the cumulative domination is clear as Marion outscored those four teams 181-50.

Saturday’s challenge comes from Trezevant, a team that entered the playoffs with a 5-5 record. The Bears were 4-5 after a 7-0 loss to Mitchell, but used a 54-0 rout of Hillcrest in the final regular season game as a springboard to the repeat championship showdown.

Trezevant’s Cordarrian Richardson was named the Class 2A Back of the Year at Monday’s luncheon.

In 2015, Trezevant rode a seven-game winning streak into the title game.

Marion County is 38-5 over the past three years. The Warriors’ only loss this year was a 24-17 setback against bitter rival South Pittsburg on Sept. 9, but since have won 10 straight.

“Every year we set our expectations high as a program, although we never look that far ahead,” said Mathis, about to put a wrap on his third year with the Warriors. “Our motto is ‘win the day.’ Getting to the championship game is not new to our guys. The seniors have been there now three years in a row. The first year they were wide-eyed sophomores and got back last year as juniors. They’re confident as seniors and they’re letting the younger guys know come Friday that this will be a business trip. “

The Warriors have appeared in eight championship games and won four titles, the last coming in 1995 when they pasted Humboldt 28-7. The other titles came in 1994, 1992 and 1990.

Riddle spearheaded the Blue Tornado offense en route to a 6-4 mark in the regular season. McCallie defeated Father Ryan 49-14 in the quarterfinals, but lost to nemesis Brentwood Academy 37-29 in the semifinals.

The Eagles also beat the Tornado 42-32 during the season.

“Robert is a great leader and a great individual,” McCallie coach Ralph Potter said. “He is certainly somebody to build a program around and has the respect of all the players and coaches.

“He’s always calm, never gets rattled and spins the ball well and with accuracy.”

Riddle in the last few days has received a college scholarship offer from Mercer, a member of the Southern Conference. He’s also “talking” with Richmond, Wyoming and Colorado State.

“I’m going to take my time,” Riddle said of his college choice. “I loved it down at Mercer, but I want to keep my options open for a while.”

McCallie has had five previous Mr. Football winners, including quarterback B.J. Coleman twice in 2005 and 2006. Lee Hitt (back of year) and Ayanga Okpokowuruk (lineman) each won their awards in 2004.

The Indians’ Davenport, a linebacker/fullback, made 111.5 tackles with three interceptions and three caused fumbles. He also scored 27 total touchdowns and has 162 points, rushed for 1,158 yards and 23 TDs and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

The Indians won their first 13 games this season before losing to Alcoa 24-0 in the semifinals. Then, a few days later, Alcoa's Tykee Kellogg edged Davenport for the Mr. Football award.

The complete list of Mr. Football winners:

Class 1A

Back of the Year – Preston Rice, Wayne County

Lineman of the Year – Josh Silvey, Greenback

Class 2A

Back of the Year – Cordarrian Richardson, Trezevant

Lineman of the Year – Alex Kirkendoll, Marion County

Class 3A

Back of the Year – Tykee Kellogg, Alcoa

Lineman of the Year – Jacob Phillips, East Nashville

Class 4A

Back of the Year – Amari Rodgers, Knox Catholic