2019 All-Area Offensive teams
First team
Tre Lawing
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Sophomore
POSITION: Quarterback
ALL-STAR STUFF: Passed for 1,235 yards (64 of 129) and threw 20 touchdowns to lead the Raiders to their fourth state football title. … Also rushed for 1,079 yards on 127 attempts and 19 additional touchdowns, giving him 2,314 all-purpose yards and 39 TDs on the season. … An all-region and all-Dogwood District selection.
KJ Vaughan
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,760 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry on 277 total attempts while fumbling the ball just once. … Was named the Region 3C player of the year and a first team all-state and all-Seminole District honoree. … Rushed for a season-high 223 yards against LCA and then scored six TDs against Spotswood the next week to help HHS win its third straight Region 3C title. … Finished his high school career with more than 3,300 rushing yards.
Keenan Cupit
SCHOOL: Jefferson Forest
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,500 yards, scored 18 touchdowns and averaged roughly nine yards per carry. … Has served as the highlight of Jefferson Forest’s wishbone offense throughout his career. … Will play at UCF after being recruited as a linebacker after receiving interest from Virginia, Duke, Marshall, Liberty and Appalachian State, among others. … Received first team all-Region 4D and all-Seminole accolades.
Cristian Ferguson
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,706 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns. … Scored twice and churned up 117 rushing yards in the Class 2 state title game. … Took home all-Dogwood and all-Region 2C honors.
Daelyn Miller
SCHOOL: Gretna
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Was named the Dogwood District and Region 2C player of the year for a stellar season in which he rushed for 1,667 yards, scored 27 touchdowns and averaged 11.6 yards per tote, while fumbling just once. … Longest TD of the season was a 95-yarder.
Kyron Thomas
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver
ALL-STAR STUFF: Heritage’s leader in receiving with 45 catches for 893 yards and eight touchdowns. … Averaged 19.8 yards per catch and earned first team all-Region 3C and all-Seminole nods to go along with three all-state honors: second team receiver, second team defensive back and first team punt returner. … Played in 44 straight games for the Pioneers and didn’t miss a game in his last three years of high school.
Tyler Rose
SCHOOL: Liberty Christian
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver
ALL-STAR STUFF: Hauled in 52 catches for 729 yards (14 ypc) and scored seven touchdowns while showcasing some of the best receiver skills in the state. … Signed to play at William & Mary next season. … Named first team all-Seminole and all-Region 3C. … Played in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game.
Tyler Gilliam
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver and kick returner
ALL-STAR STUFF: In first year playing varsity football, Gilliam proved invaluable to the Raiders, posting 513 receiving yards off 27 catches (19 yards per catch) and scoring eight touchdowns. … Scored once in the state title game and earned all-Dogwood and all-Region 2C honors. … Averaged 22 yards per return (on 18 chances) and his longest was an 85-yarder. … Also returned one kick for a touchdown.
Shante’ Giles
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Center
ALL-STAR STUFF: Received first team all-state, all-Region 3C and all-Seminole accolades. … An integral part of a Pioneers offense that averaged 7.3 yards per play and 37.6 points per game.
BJ Wheat
SCHOOL: E.C. Glass
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: The second team all-state honoree in Class 4 used his 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame to clear the way for a Glass offense that averaged 40.9 points per game and reeled off eight straight victories to start the season. … Was a first team Region 4D and Seminole selection.
Mike Williams
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: Took home first team honors in Region 3C and in the Seminole. … Provided the toughness that Heritage needed on its offensive line.
Holden Ayers
SCHOOL: E.C. Glass
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: Signed to play at Richmond next season. … Played on both sides of the ball and was a four-year letterman at Amherst and E.C. Glass. … First team all-Seminole and all-Region 4D.
Zach Rice
SCHOOL: Liberty Christian
YEAR: Sophomore
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: The 6-foot-5, 285-pound sophomore already holds six FBS offers. … Received first team all-Region 3C honors and was a second team Seminole selection.
Samuele Bianco
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Junior
POSITION: Kicker
ALL-STAR STUFF: Drilled 66 of 67 extra-point attempts, including four in the Class 2 state championship game. … Was 4 for 4 on field goals and longest was a 38-yarder.
DreSean Kendrick
POSITION: All-Purpose
Second team
QB — Josh Nelson (LCA, Sr.): Led the Lynchburg area with 1,658 passing yards and completed 130 of 232 passes while throwing 19 touchdowns. … Received second team all-Seminole and all-Region 3C honors.
RB — Jorden Berger (Gretna, Sr.): Amassed 1,303 rushing yards and scored 16 touchdowns for the Hawks, averaging 7.45 yards per carry and 100 yards per game. … Is a Morgan State recruit.
RB — Jordan Young (William Campbell, Jr.): Ran for 1,202 yards, 21 touchdowns and averaged 8.3 yards per carry. … Entered the VHSL record book with seven TDs in a game in October and rushed for 400 yards in that game. … A first team all-Region 1B and all-Dogwood selection.
RB — Ty Foster (E.C. Glass, Sr.): Averaged 8.3 yards per carry and churned up 900 yards on 109 attempts while scoring 14 touchdowns.
WR — Brian Trent (Heritage, Sr.): Averaged 17.1 yards per reception while serving as Heritage’s second-leading receiver with 359 yards on 21 catches and four TDs. … A second team all-state selection at defensive back.
WR — Danteas Braxton (Jeff. Forest, Sr.): Showcased some of the best hands in the area early in the season before Forest switched back to the wishbone. … Averaged an eye-popping 32.6 yards per catch, reeling in 16 passes for 532 yards and seven scores.
WR — Zach Thompson (Brookville, Sr.): Brookville’s leading receiver with 364 yards off 19 receptions, an average of 19.1 yards per catch. … Scored six touchdowns and his longest was a 67-yarder. … Was a second team Region 3C WR and first team all-Seminole.
TE — Dillon Stowers (LCA, So.): Posted 191 yards off 17 catches and scored twice. … Was a first team all-Seminole selection, second team in Region 3C.
OL — Nate Caldwell (Rustburg, Sr.): Served as one of the area’s best lineman and provided invaluable play for the Red Devils. … Was a second team Region 3C selection and first team all-Seminole.
OL — Justice Wright (Appomattox, Sr.): Overcame an early-season injury to serve as the heartbeat of the Raiders offensive line, garnering first team all-Region 2C and all-Dogwood accolades, including district offensive lineman of the year.
OL — Corlyn Witcher (Gretna, Sr.): In addition to his defensive accolades, Witcher picked up first team OL honors in Region 2C and the Dogwood, helping a high-powered offense that averaged 402.69 yards per game.
OL — Jake Frett (Brokville, Sr.): Earned second team honors in both the Seminole District and Region 3C.
K — Tyler Garrett (E.C. Glass, Jr.): Made 54 of 61 PATs (88.5%) and 5 of 6 field goal attempts (longest was a 46-yarder). … Was the Seminole’s first-team kicker and earned second team all-region 4D honors.
KR — Lawrence Brown (Amherst, So.): Averaged 24.3 yards per return, corralled 12 returns for 291 yards (longest 87 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. … Received both first team all-Seminole and all-Region 4D honors.
AP — Jermiah Smith (William Campbell, Jr.): The Generals quarterback rushed for 978 yards and six scores and passed for 963 yards and tossed seven TDs.
Honorable mention
Kameron Burns (Heritage), George Brown (Nelson), Quoterris Craighead (E.C. Glass), Landon Tucker (Rustburg), Jared Glinski (Brookville), Carrington Harvey (E.C. Glass), Jacob Hackworth (JF), Tyler Page (E.C. Glass), Aubrey Franklin (JF), Markevus Graves (E.C. Glass), Ryan North (Brookville), Brice Wilson (Nelson), Dyson Yuille (JF), Karson Adcock (Heritage).
Coach of the Year
Doug Smith
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Eighth
ALL-STAR STUFF: Winning one state championship is difficult enough; winning four in five years is almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what Appomattox accomplished under Smith’s leadership in December, claiming a decisive 42-21 victory over Stuarts Draft for the Class 2 title. The Raiders rallied to win 12 straight games and have now posted a 67-5 record since the start of the 2015 season.
First team
Tre Lawing
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Sophomore
POSITION: Quarterback
ALL-STAR STUFF: Passed for 1,235 yards (64 of 129) and threw 20 touchdowns to lead the Raiders to their fourth state football title. … Also rushed for 1,079 yards on 127 attempts and 19 additional touchdowns, giving him 2,314 all-purpose yards and 39 TDs on the season. … An all-region and all-Dogwood District selection.
KJ Vaughan
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,760 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry on 277 total attempts while fumbling the ball just once. … Was named the Region 3C player of the year and a first team all-state and all-Seminole District honoree. … Rushed for a season-high 223 yards against LCA and then scored six TDs against Spotswood the next week to help HHS win its third straight Region 3C title. … Finished his high school career with more than 3,300 rushing yards.
Keenan Cupit
SCHOOL: Jefferson Forest
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,500 yards, scored 18 touchdowns and averaged roughly nine yards per carry. … Has served as the highlight of Jefferson Forest’s wishbone offense throughout his career. … Will play at UCF after being recruited as a linebacker after receiving interest from Virginia, Duke, Marshall, Liberty and Appalachian State, among others. … Received first team all-Region 4D and all-Seminole accolades.
Cristian Ferguson
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Rushed for 1,706 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns. … Scored twice and churned up 117 rushing yards in the Class 2 state title game. … Took home all-Dogwood and all-Region 2C honors.
Daelyn Miller
SCHOOL: Gretna
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Running back
ALL-STAR STUFF: Was named the Dogwood District and Region 2C player of the year for a stellar season in which he rushed for 1,667 yards, scored 27 touchdowns and averaged 11.6 yards per tote, while fumbling just once. … Longest TD of the season was a 95-yarder.
Kyron Thomas
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver
ALL-STAR STUFF: Heritage’s leader in receiving with 45 catches for 893 yards and eight touchdowns. … Averaged 19.8 yards per catch and earned first team all-Region 3C and all-Seminole nods to go along with three all-state honors: second team receiver, second team defensive back and first team punt returner. … Played in 44 straight games for the Pioneers and didn’t miss a game in his last three years of high school.
Tyler Rose
SCHOOL: Liberty Christian
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver
ALL-STAR STUFF: Hauled in 52 catches for 729 yards (14 ypc) and scored seven touchdowns while showcasing some of the best receiver skills in the state. … Signed to play at William & Mary next season. … Named first team all-Seminole and all-Region 3C. … Played in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game.
Tyler Gilliam
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Wide receiver and kick returner
ALL-STAR STUFF: In first year playing varsity football, Gilliam proved invaluable to the Raiders, posting 513 receiving yards off 27 catches (19 yards per catch) and scoring eight touchdowns. … Scored once in the state title game and earned all-Dogwood and all-Region 2C honors. … Averaged 22 yards per return (on 18 chances) and his longest was an 85-yarder. … Also returned one kick for a touchdown.
Shante’ Giles
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Center
ALL-STAR STUFF: Received first team all-state, all-Region 3C and all-Seminole accolades. … An integral part of a Pioneers offense that averaged 7.3 yards per play and 37.6 points per game.
BJ Wheat
SCHOOL: E.C. Glass
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: The second team all-state honoree in Class 4 used his 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame to clear the way for a Glass offense that averaged 40.9 points per game and reeled off eight straight victories to start the season. … Was a first team Region 4D and Seminole selection.
Mike Williams
SCHOOL: Heritage
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: Took home first team honors in Region 3C and in the Seminole. … Provided the toughness that Heritage needed on its offensive line.
Holden Ayers
SCHOOL: E.C. Glass
YEAR: Senior
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: Signed to play at Richmond next season. … Played on both sides of the ball and was a four-year letterman at Amherst and E.C. Glass. … First team all-Seminole and all-Region 4D.
Zach Rice
SCHOOL: Liberty Christian
YEAR: Sophomore
POSITION: Offensive line
ALL-STAR STUFF: The 6-foot-5, 285-pound sophomore already holds six FBS offers. … Received first team all-Region 3C honors and was a second team Seminole selection.
Samuele Bianco
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Junior
POSITION: Kicker
ALL-STAR STUFF: Drilled 66 of 67 extra-point attempts, including four in the Class 2 state championship game. … Was 4 for 4 on field goals and longest was a 38-yarder.
DreSean Kendrick
POSITION: All-Purpose
Second team
QB — Josh Nelson (LCA, Sr.): Led the Lynchburg area with 1,658 passing yards and completed 130 of 232 passes while throwing 19 touchdowns. … Received second team all-Seminole and all-Region 3C honors.
RB — Jorden Berger (Gretna, Sr.): Amassed 1,303 rushing yards and scored 16 touchdowns for the Hawks, averaging 7.45 yards per carry and 100 yards per game. … Is a Morgan State recruit.
RB — Jordan Young (William Campbell, Jr.): Ran for 1,202 yards, 21 touchdowns and averaged 8.3 yards per carry. … Entered the VHSL record book with seven TDs in a game in October and rushed for 400 yards in that game. … A first team all-Region 1B and all-Dogwood selection.
RB — Ty Foster (E.C. Glass, Sr.): Averaged 8.3 yards per carry and churned up 900 yards on 109 attempts while scoring 14 touchdowns.
WR — Brian Trent (Heritage, Sr.): Averaged 17.1 yards per reception while serving as Heritage’s second-leading receiver with 359 yards on 21 catches and four TDs. … A second team all-state selection at defensive back.
WR — Danteas Braxton (Jeff. Forest, Sr.): Showcased some of the best hands in the area early in the season before Forest switched back to the wishbone. … Averaged an eye-popping 32.6 yards per catch, reeling in 16 passes for 532 yards and seven scores.
WR — Zach Thompson (Brookville, Sr.): Brookville’s leading receiver with 364 yards off 19 receptions, an average of 19.1 yards per catch. … Scored six touchdowns and his longest was a 67-yarder. … Was a second team Region 3C WR and first team all-Seminole.
TE — Dillon Stowers (LCA, So.): Posted 191 yards off 17 catches and scored twice. … Was a first team all-Seminole selection, second team in Region 3C.
OL — Nate Caldwell (Rustburg, Sr.): Served as one of the area’s best lineman and provided invaluable play for the Red Devils. … Was a second team Region 3C selection and first team all-Seminole.
OL — Justice Wright (Appomattox, Sr.): Overcame an early-season injury to serve as the heartbeat of the Raiders offensive line, garnering first team all-Region 2C and all-Dogwood accolades, including district offensive lineman of the year.
OL — Corlyn Witcher (Gretna, Sr.): In addition to his defensive accolades, Witcher picked up first team OL honors in Region 2C and the Dogwood, helping a high-powered offense that averaged 402.69 yards per game.
OL — Jake Frett (Brokville, Sr.): Earned second team honors in both the Seminole District and Region 3C.
K — Tyler Garrett (E.C. Glass, Jr.): Made 54 of 61 PATs (88.5%) and 5 of 6 field goal attempts (longest was a 46-yarder). … Was the Seminole’s first-team kicker and earned second team all-region 4D honors.
KR — Lawrence Brown (Amherst, So.): Averaged 24.3 yards per return, corralled 12 returns for 291 yards (longest 87 yards) and returned two kicks for touchdowns. … Received both first team all-Seminole and all-Region 4D honors.
AP — Jermiah Smith (William Campbell, Jr.): The Generals quarterback rushed for 978 yards and six scores and passed for 963 yards and tossed seven TDs.
Honorable mention
Kameron Burns (Heritage), George Brown (Nelson), Quoterris Craighead (E.C. Glass), Landon Tucker (Rustburg), Jared Glinski (Brookville), Carrington Harvey (E.C. Glass), Jacob Hackworth (JF), Tyler Page (E.C. Glass), Aubrey Franklin (JF), Markevus Graves (E.C. Glass), Ryan North (Brookville), Brice Wilson (Nelson), Dyson Yuille (JF), Karson Adcock (Heritage).
Coach of the Year
Doug Smith
SCHOOL: Appomattox
YEAR: Eighth
ALL-STAR STUFF: Winning one state championship is difficult enough; winning four in five years is almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what Appomattox accomplished under Smith’s leadership in December, claiming a decisive 42-21 victory over Stuarts Draft for the Class 2 title. The Raiders rallied to win 12 straight games and have now posted a 67-5 record since the start of the 2015 season.
