By BY BRUCE HIXON – sports editor
Five members of the T.R. Miller Tigers and W.S. Neal Blue Eagles football teams were selected to the Mobile Press Register Class 4A-6A Team.
The lone local honoree to make the First Team was W.S. Neal senior Jared Cooper. It was the latest in a growing list of honors for Cooper, who had previously been named the Class 4A Lineman of the Year, the Class 4A All-State First team and the Birmingham News Super All-State Team.
Thomasville quarterback Jake Overstreet was the only other player besides Cooper from Class 4A Region 1 to make the First Team. Jackson wide receiver Demarquis Besteda and Thomasville linebacker Katrell Watters were Second Team selections.
W.S. Neal senior tight end/defensive end Justin Howard, senior quarterback Marquis Barksdale, senior running back Nykeem Barton and defensive lineman senior Jeremy Brazile all received Honorable Mention.
Howard had earlier received Honorable Mention on the Class 4A All-State Team. Howard caught 20 passes for 414 yards and six touchdowns this past season. Barksdale completed 90 of 158 passes for 1,517 yards and 20 touchdowns. Barton led the Blue Eagles ground game with 1,223 yards and 18 touchdowns. Barton also caught an additional 14 balls for 152 yards and another touchdown. Brazile was a key figure in the Blue Eagles defensive run game and pass rush.
T.R. Miller senior running back/linebacker Justin Gomez, senior defensive back Terrence Walker, senior quarterback Baxley Raines, senior wide receiver Brice Martin and senior tight end/defensive lineman Andrew Chavers were Honorable Mention selections.
Gomez and Walker were both Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention choices on the defensive side. Gomez led the Tigers in tackles on defense. He led T.R. Miller's ground game with 810 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns. He also caught 20 balls for 251 yards and two more touchdowns. Walker was second on the Tigers in tackles. Raines completed 97 of 153 passes for 1,471 yards and six touchdowns. Martin hauled in 22 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns. Chavers caught six passes for 108 yards and one touchdown on the offensive side and anchored T.R. Miller's defensive line.