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Bayside's Best: Football awards honor best players of 2023 season

alec branch, salisbury daily times
·5 min read

It come's as no surprise that many Stephen Decatur Seahawks are featured in this year's All-Bayside Conference Team as the Seahawks went undefeated in their regular season. And four out of the five major awards for this year went to Decatur players and their head coach.

Star quarterback and Vanderbilt commit Brycen Coleman won Offensive Player of the Year, as he led the Seahawks offense with his throwing and running ability. Kicker Brogan Eastlack was named the Special Teams Player of the Year, and Gavin Solito was named the Two-Way Player of the Year, as he stood out for the Seahawks on both sides of the ball as a receiver and a linebacker.

Decatur's Brycen Coleman (9) scambles against Wi-Hi Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at Wicomico County Stadium in Salibury, Maryland. Decatur defeated Wi-Hi 41-10.
Decatur's Brycen Coleman (9) scambles against Wi-Hi Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at Wicomico County Stadium in Salibury, Maryland. Decatur defeated Wi-Hi 41-10.

To round things out, Decatur Head Coach Jake Coleman was named Coach of the Year after leading the Seahawks on their unbeaten campaign, and Kent Island's Guiseppi Mellinger was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Top honors for the 2023 Bayside Conference football season

Coach of the Year: Jake Coleman (Stephen Decatur)

Offensive Player of the Year: Brycen Coleman (Stephen Decatur)

Defensive Player of the Year: Guiseppi Mellinger (Kent Island)

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brogan Eastlack (Stephen Decatur)

Bayside Two-Way Player of the Year: Gavin Solito (Stephen Decatur)

Decatur Head Football Coach Jake Coleman in the game against Bennett Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland. The Seahawks defeated the Clippers 35-0.
Decatur Head Football Coach Jake Coleman in the game against Bennett Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland. The Seahawks defeated the Clippers 35-0.

Here are the All-Bayside Conference teams for the 2023 Football season:

All-Bayside First Team Offense

Bennett's Zakai Smullen (1) in the game against Decatur Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland. The Seahawks defeated the Clippers 35-0.
Bennett's Zakai Smullen (1) in the game against Decatur Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland. The Seahawks defeated the Clippers 35-0.

  • QB: Brycen Coleman (Stephen Decatur)

  • QB: Blake Labelle (Cambridge-South Dorchester)

  • RB: Zymear Smith (North Caroline)

  • RB: Shane Bogardus (Kent Island)

  • RB: John Connolly (Queen Anne's)

  • TE/H back: Jai Roy (Queen Anne's)

  • TE/H back: Tucker Claxton (Kent Island)

  • WR: Trybe Wise (Stephen Decatur)

  • WR: Antonio Blueford (Cambridge-South Dorchester)

  • WR: Zyheem Collick (Snow Hill)

  • WR: Ethan Bradshaw (Stephen Decatur)

  • Offensive Line: Garrett Maloney (Stephen Decatur)

  • Offensive Line: Brady O'Neal (Kent Island)

  • Offensive Line: Zach Blanchard (Queen Anne's)

  • Offensive Line: Henry Plavis (North Caroline)

  • Offensive Line: Seth Jones (Parkside)

  • Offensive Line: Jabez Baptiste (Wicomico)

  • Offensive Utility: Zakai Smullen (James M. Bennett)

  • Kick Return: Jadereon Thompson (Queen Anne's)

  • Punt Return: Careen Bolden (Stephen Decatur)

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All-Bayside First Team Defense

Decatur's Gavin Solito (3) pushes North Caroline's Zymear Smith (1) out of bounds Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland.
Decatur's Gavin Solito (3) pushes North Caroline's Zymear Smith (1) out of bounds Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, in Berlin, Maryland.

  • Linebacker: Gavin Solito (Stephen Decatur)

  • Linebacker: Guiseppi Mellinger (Kent Island)

  • Linebacker: Tommy Morris (North Caroline)

  • Linebacker: Shaheed Armstrong (Parkside)

  • Linebacker: Ethan Bradshaw (Stephen Decatur)

  • Linebacker: Kevin Thomas (Wicomico)

  • Defensive Back: Davin Chandler (Stephen Decatur)

  • Defensive Back: Lloyd Price (Kent Island)

  • Defensive Back: Ziaire Brown (Wicomico)

  • Defensive Back: Darian Belzaire (Cambridge-South Dorchester)

  • Defensive Line: Marvin Foster (Easton)

  • Defensive Line: Owen Plavis (North Caroline)

  • Defensive Line: Henry Plavis (North Caroline)

  • Defensive Line: Brady O'Neal (Kent Island)

  • Defensive Line: Jai Roy (Queen Anne's)

  • Defensive Line: Mike Terrell (Parkside)

  • Defensive Utility: Tucker Claxton (Kent Island)

  • Kicker: Brogan Eastlack (Stephen Decatur)

  • Punter: Jordan Horsey (Easton)

  • Specialist: Kayden Woods (Parkside)

All-Bayside Second Team Offense

Snow Hill's Tyler Reddick (2) celebrates his touchdown against Nandua Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at Kelly Shumate Stadium in Snow Hill, Maryland. Snow Hill defeated Nandua 26-23.
Snow Hill's Tyler Reddick (2) celebrates his touchdown against Nandua Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at Kelly Shumate Stadium in Snow Hill, Maryland. Snow Hill defeated Nandua 26-23.

  • QB: Nasai Bell (North Caroline)

  • QB: Tyler Reddick (Snow Hill)

  • RB: Nasir Holden (Parkside)

  • RB: Tyson Weber (North Caroline)

  • RB: Derrick Mitchell (Colonel Richardson)

  • RB: Jordan Hayman (Wicomico)

  • TE/H-back: Dominque Caven (Colonel Richardson)

  • TE/H-back: Develle Morgan (Washington)

  • WR: Jadereon Thompson (Queen Anne's)

  • WR: Jamereon Stevens (James M. Bennett)

  • WR: Zakhari Baker (Stephen Decatur)

  • WR: Careen Bolden (Stephen Decatur)

  • WR: Colin Mooney (Easton)

  • Offensive Line: Khalil Baston (Easton)

  • Offensive Line: Omarion Travers (Cambridge-South Dorchester)

  • Offensive Line: Chris Rockwell (Colonel Richardson)

  • Offensive Line: Owen Plavis (North Caroline)

  • Offensive Line: Michael Terrell (Parkside)

  • Offensive Line: Jackson Moore (James M. Bennett)

  • Offensive Utility: Takai Hugee (Wicomico)

  • Kick Return: Jamereon Stevens (James M. Bennett)

  • Punt Return: Jayceere Fields (Snow Hill)

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All Bayside Second Team Defense

Wi-Hi's Jabez Baptiste (52) goes against North Caroline's Owen Piavis (50) Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Wicomico County Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. North Caroline defeated Wi-Hi 14-7.
Wi-Hi's Jabez Baptiste (52) goes against North Caroline's Owen Piavis (50) Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Wicomico County Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. North Caroline defeated Wi-Hi 14-7.

  • Linebacker: Amarian Manuel (Stephen Decatur)

  • Linebacker: Christian Dockins (Cambridge)

  • Linebacker: Kyle Dott (Easton)

  • Linebacker: Braden Baum (Parkside)

  • Linebacker: Mikail Ingram (Wicomico)

  • Linebacker: Matt Pecoraro (James M. Bennett)

  • Defensive Back: Carter Dorsey (Queen Anne's)

  • Defensive Back: Tyson Weber (North Caroline)

  • Defensive Back: Zakai Smullen (James M. Bennett)

  • Defensive Line: Careen Bolden (Stephen Decatur)

  • Defensive Line: Kamari Stanley (Cambridge)

  • Defensive Line: Jabez Baptiste (Wicomico)

  • Defensive Line: Austin Holland (Kent Island)

  • Defensive Line: Phil Hutt (Wicomico)

  • Defensive Line: Chris Rockwell (Colonel Richardson)

  • Defensive Utility: Ethan Bradshaw)

  • Kicker: Gianmarco Secondi (James M. Bennett)

  • Punter: Conlan Nagle (Queen Anne's)

  • Specialist: Riley Forrester (James M. Bennett)

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Honorable Mention

  • James M. Bennett: Jorryn Smith, Clement Byrd, Malachi Harrison, Tyler Crabtree, Alex Arellano, Geoff Adams

  • Cambridge: Tay'Mar Alexander, Jaden Ferguson, Kaylon Marine, Gary Spicer, Jackson Stanley

  • Colonel Richardson: Tarron Hammond, Bradley Thomas, Dulio Berduo, Levi Divjak

  • Stephen Decatur: Sully Acker, Eric Briaca, Dalontae Henry, Tre Dorn, Anthony Burke, Brandon Hamm, Reid Phillips, Jamien Purnell, AJ Kolb, Kenai Floyd

  • Easton: Carter Mooney, Tymiere Thomas, Jair Rameriz, Kyree Acree, Sam Noble, Jordan Horsey

  • Kent Island: Aiden Plank, Gavin Henry, Keegan Green, Justin Dillon, Brandon Adler

  • North Caroline: Caden Lopez, Justice Hall, Jack Myers, David, Saathoff, Wyatt Eaton

  • Parkside: Karontez Bratten, Rocco Tully, Tavian Dashiell, Brad Mueller, Cordell Sadberry, Regan Davis, Lukas Washburn, Canaan Mapp, Cameron Johnson, Ethan Waters, Eli Donaldson

  • Snow Hill: Jakhi Boulware, Christian Russell, Justin Shipley, Daijon Johnson, Cameron Jackson, Chase Thomas, Briyyan Brown, Matthew Dimare, Jonathan Merritt,

  • Queen Anne's: DeRodney Smith, Nick Hall, Malone Grace, Dillon Furrow, Jonathan Corona, Kamryn Greene, Athoney Branch, Landon Brown, Will Conley

  • Washington: James Cullen, Gladimir Maindron, J'Kwon Smith, Braden Corbin

  • Wicomico: Jonylson Prucien, Jaden Smalls, Cameron Edwards, Jah'Mir Johnson, Jamaer Willey, Tim Johnson

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: All-Bayside football awards honor top players of the 2023 season