Meet the 2023 Montgomery Advertiser Class 5A-7A All-Area high school football team.
The Montgomery Advertiser All-Area high school football team for 2023 is split into a "big school" division (AHSAA Class 5A-7A) and a "small school" division (AISA-Class 4A) and honors a player of the year and coach of the year for both divisions.
Here is the big school team:
Player of Year: Malik Blocton, Pike Road
Defensive Line, Sr.
Why Chosen: A true game changer for the Patriots during his four-year tenure. The four-star Auburn commit finished with 60 solo tackles, 50 assisted tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and one interception. Blocton also finished with two touchdowns from an interception and fumble recovery. He'll be most remembered for his contribution towards a Class 6A state title in 2021.
First Team offense
Cason Myers
Pike Road, Fr.
Position: Quarterback
Why Chosen: The freshman sensation turned heads in his first season with Pike Road. Myers finished with 2,140 yards through the air for 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He completed 177 total passes and help lead Pike Road to a semifinal playoff berth.
Ja'Micheal Jones
Pike Road, So.
Position: Running Back
Why Chosen: In his first season, the four-star racked up 1,080 yards and 18 total touchdowns for the Pike Road offense.
Omar Mabson
Auburn, So.
Position: Running Back
Why Chosen: Mabson finished the year with 1,680 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns for the Tigers in 2023.
Trey Berry
Sidney Lanier, Jr.
Position: Running Back
Why Chosen: On offense Berry finished with 1,361 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns. On defense he had 15 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss.
Laquenton Underwood
Carver, Sr.
Position: Wide Receiver
Why Chosen: Underwood led the Wolverines with 51 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Tristian Norman
Carver, Jr.
Position: Wide Receiver
Why Chosen: Norman was the other half of a dynamic WR tandem with Underwood, finishing with 44 receptions for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Kalari Gordon
Carver, Sr.
Position: OL
Why Chosen: Gordon finished with over 55 pancakes for the Carver offense, leading him to be selected for the AHSAA North vs. South All-Star game.
Jonathan Thames
Elmore County, Sr.
Position: OL
Why Chosen: Thames was graded in the 88 percentile for the year, only giving up one sack and finishing with 43 total pancakes.
Clark Barber
Wetumpka, Sr.
Position: OL
Why Chosen: Barber played both the guard and center positions for Wetumpka, showing off his versatility and ability to adjust to different team needs.
Jalen Foster
Auburn, Sr.
Position: OL
Why Chosen: Foster was graded in the 91st percentile, finishing with 82 pancakes on the year.
Terrione Bell
Pike Road, Jr.
Position: OL
Why Chosen: A leader on the Pike Road offensive line, Bell finished with 17 pancakes on the year.
Jordan King
Pike Road, Jr.
Position: Athlete
Why Chosen: A mismatch for opposing defenses all season, King finished with 1,330 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. On defense he finished with 11 solo tackles, 19 assisted tackles, one tackle for loss and three interceptions. Two of his touchdowns this year were from a pick-6.
Cade Everson
Elmore County, Sr.
Position: Athlete
Why Chosen: Everson finished with 1,135 all-purpose yards and 19 rushing touchdowns for the season. He also finished with 125 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.
Towns McGough
Auburn, Sr.
Position: Kicker
Why Chosen: Arguably one of the best kickers in River Region history, McGough finished 19-22 on Field Goals attempted and went perfect for field goals under 56 yards.
First Team Defense
Jaiden Cleveland
Park Crossing, Sr.
Position: DL
Why Chosen: Cleveland finished with 26 solo tackles, 31 assisted tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks to lead the Thunderbirds.
Caleb Pitts
Auburn, Jr.
Position: DL/Edge
Why Chosen: Pitts dominated for the Tigers finishing with 74 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks.
Rashad Walker
Carver, Jr.
Position: DL
Why Chosen: Walker finished with 42 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks for the Wolverines defense.
Jamarion McKinnon
Carver, Sr.
Position: DL
Why Chosen: McKinnon finished with 50 solo tackles, 31 tackles for loss, nine tackles for loss, and nine sacks for the Carver defense.
Mac Ceman
Pike Road, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Why Chosen: Ceman finished with 50 solo tackles, 40 assisted tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks, commanding the middle for Pike Road.
Donjavian Brown
Carver, Jr.
Position: Linebacker
Why Chosen: Brown finished with 91 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and six sacks for the Wolverine defense.
Noah Maye
Carver, Jr.
Position: Linebacker
Why Chosen: Maye finished with 74 solo tackles, 52 assisted tackles, and 20 tackles for loss on the dominant Carver defense.
Ty Hudson
Auburn, Jr.
Position: Linebacker
Why Chosen: Hudson finished with 66 total tackles, 32 assisted tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 16 sacks for the Tigers.
Trey Caver
Pike Road, Sr.
Position: Defensive Back
Why Chosen: Caver finished with 42 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, and four interceptions in the secondary for Pike Road.
Cody Markham
Pike Road, Sr.
Position: Defensive Back
Why Chosen: Markham finished with 40 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, three tackles for loss, and three interceptions in the Pike Road secondary.
Jalyn "Pete" Davis
Auburn, Sr.
Position: Defensive Back
Why Chosen: Davis finished with 46 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions.
Jordan Holmes
Pike Road, So.
Position: Athlete
Why Chosen: Holmes finished with 307 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. On defensive he finished with 28 solo tackles, 26 assisted tackles, two tackles for loss and four interceptions.
Jimmy King
Sidney Lanier, So.
Position: Athlete
Why Chosen: On offense King finished with 860 rushing yards and six touchdowns. On defense he finished with 73 tackles, 22 assisted tackles, and three tackles for loss.
Solomon Beebe
Park Crossing, Sr.
Position: P/ATH
Why Chosen: Beebe finished with 1,074 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns for Park Crossing. On punts he averaged 30.6 yards and had four inside the 20-yard line.
Second Team Offense
QB: Terrell Russell Jr., Carver, Jr.
RB: Jabari Murphy, Elmore County, Sr.
RB: Cj Wilkes, Elmore County, Sr.
WR: Ean Nation, Auburn, Sr.
WR: Jamarcus Howard, Sidney Lanier, Sr.
OL: Thristian Gulludge, Holtville, Sr.
OL: Zion Stevens, Pike Road, Jr.
OL: Jacob Tharpe, Stanhope Elmore, So.
OL: Mason Hussey, Pike Road, Jr.
OL: Griffin McLean, Auburn, Sr.
ATH: Jacques Thompson, Sidney Lanier, Sr.
ATH: Nate Rogers, Wetumpka, Sr.
ATH: Keiland Baker, Holtville, Jr.
Second Team Defense
DL: Rod Favor, Pike Road, Sr.
DL: Fred Lawson, Lanier, Sr.
DL: Ethan Bailey, Wetumpka, Jr.
DL: Donnie Arnold, Stanhope Elmore, Sr.
LB: Conor McPherson, Carver, Sr.
LB: Lacedric Foster, Pike Road, Sr.
LB: Traeveon Wilson, Park Crossing, Sr.
LB: Braylon Outlaw, Pike Road, Sr.
DB: Dashaun Cafee, Stanhope Elmore, Sr.
DB: Carlder Datilus, Park Crossing, Jr.
DB: Josh Whiting, Percy Julian, Jr.
ATH: Jamyran Bell, Carver, Sr.
ATH: Tremarcus Webb, Auburn, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Granger Shook, Pike Road
Why Chosen: In his first year with the Patriots, Shook and his staff won 11 straight game to close out the regular season and claim the region title. In the playoffs, he guided the program all the way to the semifinal round.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: 2023 Montgomery Advertiser Class 5A-7A All-Area high school football
