Lane Ball, a senior, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2014 DeKalb County High School Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. The awards were sponsored by Liberty State Bank.
The MVP trophy was presented to Ball by Coach Steve Trapp. “This young man played a lot of football for us. He has probably played in more football games in the Tiger uniform than anybody in the history of this program as far as appearing in games playing on Friday night. This guy has been in almost every one of them since his freshman year. Maybe not as a starter as a freshman, but he was on the field. He would come in. Very shortly into his freshman year he was a starter. He has been a defensive player of the year. He has been a linebacker of the year. He has been an All-District player, an All-Region Player, and an All-Upper Cumberland Player. He has been an outstanding player for DeKalb County High School Football. Not only that but he has been an outstanding role model. He has been an outstanding team captain. He’s been an outstanding student. He has just been a great young man and I am happy to say that I have been able to be a part of his life as his football coach and I know he is going to have a bright and successful future at whatever he plans to do,” said Coach Trapp.
Ball was named to the 1st Team All-District for the 2014 season and was an All Upper Cumberland Football Honorable Mention on defense for his 120 plus tackles at middle linebacker.
The Tigers finished the season in November with an overall record of 5-6 and another appearance in the state play-offs. It was the fourth consecutive year the Tigers earned a berth in the state play-offs and their sixth appearance in the last seven years. The Tigers lost in the first round of the play-offs at Signal Mountain.
Meanwhile, Brooke Martin, a senior, was named Most Valuable Cheerleader. The presentation was made by Cheer Coaches Amanda Fuller and Sonya House. “She has leadership qualities. When she comes into a room she demands respect and she has been an excellent leader of this squad. I am very proud to have had her here for four years. She is an amazing cheerleader and has an amazing personality and is very deserving of this award,” said Cheer Coach Fuller.
“She really stepped into a leadership role last year when she started working toward being captain. She started taking over a lot of things. She started helping plan pep rallies. It just came natural to her. She is able to demand respect with a smile. And she is able to get respect from everyone. She just has that leadership quality,” added Cheer Coach House.
Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player- Steven Jennings
Offensive Lineman- John Bradford
Offensive Back- Luke Boss
Receiver- Aaron Patterson
Defensive Player- Lance Ball
Defensive Lineman- Joseph Pack
Linebacker- A.J. Mooneyham
Defensive Back- Jonathon Munoz
Special Teams Player-Matthew Poss
Most Improved- Austin Brown
MVP- Lane Ball
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Hunter Stone
Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Best Stunts- Lexie Bates
Most Spirited- Emilee Stephens
Best Jumps- Kaitlyn Roller
Best Dance-Carlee White
Most Improved- Abby Evans
Best Motions- Makayla Redmon
MVC- Brooke Martin
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility)-Rachel Fuson
2014 District 8AA Award Winners from DeKalb County:
Most Outstanding Defensive End: Hunter Stone
Most Outstanding Wide Receiver: Aaron Patterson
Most Outstanding Quarterback: Steven Jennings
Most Outstanding Kicker: Matthew Poss
1st Team All District:
Lance Ball, Lane Ball, Jacob Hale, Jonathon Munoz, and A.J. Mooneyham
2nd Team All District:
John Bradford, Joseph Pack, and Luke Boss
2014 All Upper Cumberland Football Team:
1st Team-Offense
QB-Steven Jennings
(2,052 passing yards, 16 TDs/783 rushing yards, 11 TDs)
2nd Team-Offense
OL- Jacob Hale
WR- Aaron Patterson (40 catches, 719 yards, 4 TDs)
Honorable Mention-Offense:
John Bradford-Lineman Right Guard
Eli Cross-Lineman Left Tackle
Luke Green-Lineman Center
Honorable Mention-Defense:
Lance Ball-Linebacker 90 plus tackles LOB
Lane Ball-Linebacker 120 plus tackles MLB
Joseph Pack-Defense Lineman 30 plus tackles NG
Special Teams:
Matthew Poss-Kicker and Punter 3/5 on Field Goals & average on punts of 40 yards
(TOP PHOTO:DCHS Tiger Football Most Valuable Player Lane Ball and Most Valuable Cheerleader Brooke Martin)
(SECOND PHOTO FROM TOP: Football Winners: (FR) Jonathon Munoz, Lane Ball, Aaron Patterson, Steven Jennings; (BR) A.J. Mooneyham, John Bradford, Matthew Poss, Lance Ball, Luke Boss, Austin Brown, Joseph Pack, Hunter Stone)
(THIRD PHOTO FROM TOP: Hunter Stone received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award. Pictured here with Sarah Edwards, daughter of the late Clay Edwards and Sarah’s mother Tena)
(BOTTOM PHOTO: DCHS Football Cheerleader Award Winners: Seated MaKayla Redmon,Brooke Martin (MVC), Emilee Stephens,Carlee White; Standing Rachel Fuson, Abby Evans, Lexie Bates, and Kaitlyn Roller)
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