By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Jacksonville senior-running back/linebacker, Justin Jones, and junior-quarterback, Ryan Black, both earned a spot among the best of the best as District 14-4A released its all-district football team late last week.
Jones, along with Lindale’s Matt Broussard, have been named Co-Most Valuable Players based on a recent vote by the league’s head coaches.
Jones, a mainstay and leading tackler for the Tribe for the past three seasons, became a two-way starter in mid-season, getting the call at running back where he anchored Jacksonville’s “Power Pack” set. He ended the season with 265 yards rushing on 39 carries (6.8 yards per carry) while scoring five times.
“Justin (Jones) did an absolute fantastic job for us this year on both sides of the ball,” Jacksonville head coach Steve Wells said. “He’s one of those kids that has the potential to play at the next level next year. His motor just never stops running; an unbelievable football player and a good kid to boot..”
The 6-foot, 2-inch, 170-pound lefty-throwing Black shares Offensive Player of the Year honors with wideout Trey Metoyer of White-house.
Black threw for 1,953 yards (132-of-261, 17 touchdowns, 6 interceptions) this year and also rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
The Indians placed a pair offensive players — Tevin Garland (Jr., RB) and LeVante Franklin (Sr., WR) — on the all-district first team while also having JaColby Scott (Jr., DE) and Duke Hamilton (Sr., CB) from the defensive side to earn first-team recognition as well.
Second-team choices from Jacksonville include, Chris Hall (Sr.,WR), Tedrick Tilley (Jr., OT), Brody Finch (Sr., LB), Stacy Whitaker (Sr., CB), Ty Sneed (Jr., S) and Jeff Landrum (Sr.,P).
Nine Indians were also pegged for the Honorable Mention squad.
Those choices are, Adrian Munoz, Justin Davis, Hunter Priest, Cody Bolton, Corey Hamlett, Brandon Orr, Zach Woodson, Iran lara and Tradarreon Moreland.
The Fightin’ Indians finished the year with a 7-4 overall worksheet, finishing second in the loop standings behind Lindale.
Jacksonville fell, 22-10, to Texarkana Texas High in a bi-district playoff game played on Nov. 14 at Stephen F. Austin State University State University in Nacogdoches.
District 14-4A All-Dis-trict Football Team
Most Valuable Players — Justin Jones, Sr., Jacksonville; Matt Broussard, Sr., Lindale
Offensive Players of the Year — Ryan Black, Jr., Jacksonville; Trey Metoyer, Sr., Whitehouse
Defensive Player of the Year — Jacob Merrriman, Sr., Lindale (Unanimous)
Offensive Newcomer of the Year — LaDarius Anthony, Soph., Kilgore (unanimous)
Defensive Newcomer of the Year — Demarcus Brown, Soph., Henderson
Offensive Lineman of the Year — Shadow Stokes, Sr., Kilgore
Defensive Lineman of the Year — Keith Moore, Sr., Lindale
Kick/Punt Returner of the Year — Trey Metoyer, Sr., Whitehouse
Coach of the Year — Mike Meador, Lindale
First Team Offense
QB — Tyrell Jenkins, Sr., Henderson (unanimous)
RB — Tevin Garland, Jr., Jacksonville; Keandre Ross, Sr., Lindale
FB — Kyron Reese, Sr., Henderson (unanimous)
TE — LaBreyant Johnson, Sr., Nacogdoches (unanimous)
WR — LaVante Franklin, Sr., Jacksonville; Skip Caldwell, Sr., Whitehouse; Lamarcuse Brown, Soph., Henderson
C — Jacob Guin, Sr., Henderson; Scott Sanders, Jr., Whitehouse
OG — Jacob Alford, Sr., Henderson; Ethan Perkins, Jr., Nacogdoches
OT — Blayne Cole, Sr., Kilgore; Tyler Ragan, Sr., Lindale
PK — Ryan Bustin, Sr., Kilgore
First Team Defense
DT — Josh Davis, Jr., Nacogdoches; Corey Fletcher, Jr., Henderson (both unanimous)
DE — Imari Pollard, Sr., Henderson (unanimous); Jacolby Scott, Jr., Jacksonville
ILB — Cord Fletcher, Jr., Henderson; Adam Greer, Sr., Lindale
OLB — Cody Dobiyanski, Sr., Lindale; Logan Taylor, Sr., Whitehouse (both unanimous)
CB — Duke Hamilton, Sr., Jacksonville; Zack McCoy, Sr., Lindale
S — Trey Vallier, Jr., Henderson; Quincy Aldridge, Jr., Whitehouse
P — Taylor Burns, Sr., Whitehouse
Second Team
(Jacksonville selections only)
WR — Chris Hall, Sr.
OT — Tedrick Tilley, Jr.
ILB — Brody Finch, Sr.
CB — Stacy Whitaker, Sr.
S — Ty Sneed, Jr.
P — Jeff Landrum, Sr.
Honorable Mention (Jacksonville selections only)
Adrian Munoz, Justin Davis, Brandon Orr, Corey Hamlett, Hunter Priest, Cody Bolton, Tradarreon Moreland, Iran Lara and Zach Woodson
