The 2022 All-Huntsville Region Football Team honors standouts from Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan counties.

The team is compiled through nominations from area coaches and AL.com staff insights.

AL.com names a Player of the Year, Offensive and Defensive MVPs, Coach of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Individual award winners are listed separate from the first team but are considered first-team selections.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Carson Creehan, Madison Academy, Sr., 6-4, 205

Completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 2,662 yards and 27 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Averaged 9.1 yards per carry and scored seven rushing touchdowns. Named Class 3A honorable mention All-State.

RB: Drake Franklin, Arab, Sr, 5-9, 195

Ran for 1,868 yards and 32 touchdowns for the No. 5 scoring offense in Class 5A. Averaged 143.7 yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry. Named second-team All-State.

RB: Mason Cartee, Priceville, Sr., 5-10, 185

Ran for 1,662 yards and 23 touchdowns. Averaged 138.5 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry. Three of his six catches went for TDs. Averaged 23.1 yards per kick return. Averaged five tackles per game and picked off three passes. Named Class 4A second-team All-State at running back. First-team All-State and All-Huntsville Region in 2021.

RB: Ken Cherry, Madison Academy, Jr., 6-0, 185

Ran for 1,605 yards and 25 touchdowns. Averaged 133.8 yards per game and 10.6 yards per carry. Also played outside linebacker. Bounced back from a broken leg suffered last season. Named Class 3A first-team All-State.

WR: Nic Strong, Randolph, Sr., 5-10, 190

Caught 74 passes for 1,261 yards and 18 touchdowns for the No. 3 scoring offense in Class 4A. Averaged 105.1 yards per game and 17 yards per catch. Ran for 851 yard and 20 TDs. Averaged 8.4 yards per carry. Set program record for all-purpose yards. Picked off two passes. Named second-team All-State at athlete. First-team All-Huntsville Region and second-team All-State in 2021.

WR: Owen Lockette, Westminster Christian, Sr., 5-9, 179

Caught 69 passes for 1,083 yards and 21 touchdowns for the No. 2 scoring offense in Class 4A. Averaged 15.7 yards per catch and 98.5 yards per game. Averaged 24.3 yards per kick return. Named first-team All-State.

WR: Grayson Davenport, Randolph, Sr., 6-0, 180

Caught 90 passes for 1,328 yards and 15 touchdowns. Averaged 14.8 yards per catch and 102.2 yards per game. Set program records for catches and receiving yards. Averaged 3.1 tackles per game. Named Class 4A second-team All-State.

OL: Maddox Sunderman, Bob Jones, Sr., 6-4, 290

Played all positions on the line. Graded 88%, recorded 68 pancake blocks, didn’t allow a sack and had no bad snaps. Selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Named Class 7A first-team All-State. First-team All-State and All-Huntsville region in 2021. First-team All-Huntsville Region as a defensive lineman in 2020. Signed with Jacksonville State.

OL: Reid Ellis, Hartselle, Sr., 6-2, 270

Started at left tackle. Graded 89.4%, didn’t give up a sack and recorded 51 knockdowns for the No. 4 scoring offense in Class 6A. Named second-team All-State.

OL: Reese Baker, Madison Academy, Jr. 6-5, 265

Graded 90% or better each game. The Mustangs, who averaged a Class 3A-best 47.3 points, ran the majority of their offense behind him. Three-year starter. Named Class 3A first-team All-State.

OL: Eli Bice, West Morgan, Sr. 6-2, 260

Graded 90% and recorded more than 50 pancake blocks while paving the way for 3,200 rushing yards and the No. 4 scoring offense in Class 4A. Named second-team All-State.

OL: Blaxton Royster, Priceville, Sr., 5-11, 260

Graded 97%, recorded 63 pancake blocks and was the leader of an offensive line that produced 4,000 rushing yards. Didn’t allow a sack. Named Class 4A first-team All-State.

K: Jose Arreguin, Boaz, So., 5-9, 160

Made 7 of 8 field goals with a long kick of 50 yards. Converted 33 of 34 extra-point tries. Set program records for field goals made and longest field goal. Averaged 34.7 yards per punt. Named Class 5A first-team All-state at kicker.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Will Caneer, Arab, Sr., 6-3, 225

Recorded 24 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. Averaged 8.1 stops per game. Named Class 5A second-team All-State and was selected to play in the AHSAA North-South Game. Was also a tight end and kicker.

DL: KD Long, Grissom, Sr., 5-11, 240

Averaged 10 tackles per game, recorded 23 stops in the backfield, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown. Threw a TD pass.

DL: Austin Melson, Falkville, Sr., 6-3, 290

Recorded 23 tackles for a loss, and averaged 4 stops per game. Also played on the offensive line and had 45 pancake blocks. Named Class 2A second-team All-State at offensive line.

DL: Christian Kemp, Bob Jones, Sr., 6-2, 240

Averaged 7.5 tackles per game. Recorded 11 tackles for a loss and eight sacks.

LB: Malachi Jones, Sparkman, Sr., 5-11, 205

Averaged 15.7 tackles per game, with 20 tackles for a loss and six sacks for the No. 5 scoring defense in Class 7A. Picked off a pass. Selected to play in the AHSAA North-South Game. Named Class 7A second-team All-State. First-team All-Huntsville Region in 2021.

LB: Josh Roe, Arab, Sr., 6-0, 175

Averaged 13.1 tackles. Recorded seven stops for a loss, four sacks, and two interceptions. Named Class 5A second-team All-State.

LB: Ty Jones, West Morgan, So., 6-0, 184

Averaged 11.2 tackles per game and was leading tackler for the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in Class 4A. Recorded six stops behind the line of scrimmage, three sacks and three interceptions. Named honorable mention All-State.

LB: Jake Langlois, Priceville, Sr., 6-1, 190

Averaged 12.1 tackles per game with 5.5 stops for a loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, two recoveries and an interception. Named Class 4A first-team All-State. First-team All-Huntsville Region in 2021.

DB: Luke Gilbert, Pisgah, So., 6-0, 170

Picked off three passes, averaged 4.8 tackles per game and recorded seven stops for a loss for the Class 2A semifinalist. Caught 36 passes for 837 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ran for 372 yards, averaged 7 yards per carry and scored three TDs. Returned a punt for a score. Started at quarterback for two games and threw a pair of TD passes. Named first-team All-State at receiver.

DB: Brandon Fussell, Guntersville, Sr., 6-1, 170

Had six interceptions and averaged 3.6 tackles for the No. 5 scoring defense in Class 5A. Caught 31 passes for 427 yards and five touchdowns. Averaged 27.5 yards per punt return. Named first-team All-State at athlete. In 2021, was first-team All-Huntsville Region as an athlete and second-team All-State as a receiver.

DB: Connor Goodson, Randolph, Sr., 5-10, 180

Set a program record with five interceptions. Averaged 7.9 tackles per game and made eight stops in the backfield. Caught 36 passes for 633 yards and six touchdowns. Returned a kick for a TD.

DB: Jayden Gilbert, Clements, Jr., 5-10, 1704

Picked off four passes and averaged seven tackles. Ran for 897 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Caught 26 passes for 586 yards and eight TDs. Returned two kicks for scores. Named Class 3A second-team All-State at athlete.

P: Spencer Strickland, Arab, Sr., 6-3, 200

Averaged 44.7 yards per punt. Caught 34 passes for 651 yards and nine touchdowns.

FIRST TEAM ATHLETES

Ri Fletcher, Hartselle, Jr. 5-9, 170

Ran for 1,306 yards and 18 touchdowns. Averaged 100.5 yards per game and 8.4 yards per carry. Averaged 21.5 yards per catch and had three TD receptions. Returned two punts and one kickoff for scores. Named Class 6A first-team All-State at athlete. First-team All-Huntsville Region running back in 2021.

Rayshawn Hardy, Bob Jones, Sr., 6-2, 200

Ran for 1,370 yards and 16 touchdowns. Averaged 124.5 yards per game and 7.4 yards per carry. Passed for 1,640 yards and 10 TDs. Caught a touchdown pass. Picked off a pass. Named Class 7A second-team All-State as an athlete. First-team All-State and All-Huntsville Region as an athlete in 2021.

Evan Taylor, Guntersville, Sr., 5-10, 170

Picked off four passes, returned two fumbles for touchdowns and averaged 2.8 tackles. Averaged 33.5 yards per punt return and took four back for TDs. Also scored TDs via three receptions and two kick returns. Averaged 43 yards per punt and was named Class 5A first-team All-State at punter.

Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan, Jr., 5-7, 160

Ran for 1,457 yards and 17 touchdowns. Averaged 121.4 yards per game and 8 yards per carry. Caught 30 passes and had four receiving TDs Returned two punts and one kickoff for scores. Named Class 4A second-team All-State at running back.

HUNTSVILLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Hunter, QB, Randolph, Sr., 6-1, 175

Hunter amassed 52 touchdowns while leading the Raiders to the best season in program history — 10-3 and a trip to the Class 4A quarterfinals.

He completed 72.1% of his passes for 3,877 yards and 45 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Hunter also ran for 765 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry, and scored seven rushing TDs as the Raiders averaged 42.8 points per game. He set program records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions and completion percentage.

His 529 yards of total offense (426 passing, 103 rushing) in a 53-20 win over Westminster Christian rank 21st in AHSAA history. And his 85.7% completion percentage (24 of 28) in a 52-14 win over North Jackson ranks ninth.

Hunter was named a Class 4A Back of the Year finalist and first-team All-State. In 2021, he was the All-Huntsville Region first-team quarterback after scoring 47 touchdowns — 33 passing and 14 rushing.

Past Player of the Year winners

2021: Brayden Kyle, QB, Decatur Heritage

2020: Avery Seaton, QB, Madison Academy

2019: Seth Brown, QB, St. John Paul II

2018: Lee Witherspoon, RB/DB, North Jackson

2017: Asa Martin, RB, Austin

2016: LaBryan Ray, DL, James Clemens

2015: Kaleb Barker, QB/DB, Priceville

2014: Kerryon Johnson, RB/DB, Madison Academy

OFFENSIVE MVP

Brandon Musch, QB, Westminster Christian, Jr., 5-9, 185

Musch left his name in a few more places in the AHSAA record book: his 58 touchdowns accounted for were the 10th-most in a season in state history; he had a pair of games in which he accounted for nine TDs, which tied for second-most in state history; his 37 completions against Central-Florence were fourth-most in state history, and he had the 11th- and 12th-highest total offensive performances (577 vs. Central-Florence, 572 vs. Madison County).

For the season, he completed 59.5% of his passes for 2,403 yards and 32 touchdowns with six interceptions. He ran for 1,395 yards and 26 TDs, averaged 7.9 yards per carry and was named Class 4A first-team All-State at athlete.

Going into his senior season, Musch will have the opportunity to further ascend in several AHSAA career categories: his 10,030 yards of total offense are currently ninth, his 131 TDs accounted for are 10th, his 560 completions are 12th and his 80 TD passes are tied for 18th.

Past Offensive MVPs

2021: Will Stokes, RB, Madison Academy

2020: Brayden Kyle, QB, Decatur Heritage

2019: Jerry Burton, RB, Priceville

2018: Ian Thies, QB, Westminster Christian

2017: Demontrez Brown, WR, Bob Jones

2016: DK Billingsley, RB, Scottsboro

2015: Jordan Bentley, RB, Guntersville

2014: Austin Stiefel, RB, Fyffe*

2013: Malik Miller, RB, Madison Academy

2012: Jordan Chunn, RB, Madison County

*Players from 10 Tennessee Valley counties were eligible.

DEFENSIVE MVP

Isaiah Warnick, DB/WR, Falkville, Sr., 6-2, 175

Warnick was the definition of a ball hawk, picking off 12 passes and returning three for touchdowns — the latter total is tied for second-most in a season in AHSAA history. His 103-yard pick six against Tanner is tied for the seventh-longest interception return in state history. He averaged nearly 10 tackles per game and recorded seven stops for a loss. Warnick picked off a season-high three passes in a 28-6 win against Red Bay — a game in which he also caught seven passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns.

On offense, he finished with 54 catches for 1,217 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had a rushing TD and returned a kick for a score. In a 40-34 loss to Lexington, he had 303 yards receiving — fourth-most in AHSAA history — and four touchdowns — tied for 12th-most in state history.

Warnick was named Class 2A first-team All-State at defensive back.

Past Defensive MVPs

2021: Deuce Spurlock, LB, Madison Academy

2020: KaRon White, DL, Sparkman

2019: Jackson Bratton, LB, Muscle Shoals*

2018: Daevion Davis, DL, James Clemens

2017: Malik Langham, DE, Lee-Huntsville

2016: Josh Marsh, LB, Decatur

2015: Kyriq McDonald, DB, James Clemens

2014: Keaton Anderson, LB, Florence*

2013: Waid Miller, LB, Hartselle

2012: Drew Davis, LB, Bob Jones

*Players from 10 Tennessee Valley counties were eligible.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Cole Porter, DB, Grissom, Jr., 5-10, 165

A first-year starer, Porter picked off eight passes, returned one for a touchdown, broke up another 16 passes and averaged 3.3 tackles per game. He also had one TD catch and returned a kick for a score. Porter was a Class 7A honorable mention All-State selection.

Past Newcomer of the Year winners

2021: Raygan Edmondson, WR, Douglas

2020: Cole McCarty, QB, Guntersville

COACH OF THE YEAR

Lee Ozmint, Arab

When Ozmint arrived at Arab in 2019, he inherited a program that had gone 3-17 over the prior two seasons. He guided the Knights to a winning record that season, to playoff berths in 2020 and 2021, and now, to the best season in the history of a program that began play in 1922. Arab went 11-2 and reached the Class 5A quarterfinals, where it lost in double overtime to eventual state runner-up Pleasant Grove.

The Knights recorded double-digit wins for the first time, set a program record by scoring 513 points, won a playoff game for the first time since 2010, claimed their first region title since 1993 and finished ranked No. 7, their best showing in the polls since being seventh in 1971, according to AHSFHS.org.

Ozmint was named 5A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Past Coach of the Year winners

2021: Chris Foster, Priceville

2020: Shelby Davis, West Limestone

2019: Scott Sharp, Madison County

2018: David Lloyd, St. John Paul II

2017: Laron White, Sparkman

2016: Jeremy Perkins, Austin

2015: Nick Flanagan, Randolph

2014: Michael Statom, Deshler*

2013: Patrick Nix, Scottsboro

2012: Scott Peavey, Madison County

*Coaches from 10 Tennessee Valley counties were eligible.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jack Smith, Hartselle

RB: Julyon Jordon, Guntersville

RB: Easton Smith, West Limestone

RB: Legion McCrary, Pisgah

WR: Jayden Brown, Decatur

WR: Eli Tidwell, Hartselle

WR: Matthew Rozier, Sparkman

OL: J.D. Martin, Pisgah

OL: Colton Stinson, Hartselle

OL: George Jennings, Randolph

OL: John David Hall, Arab

OL: Jamarri Malone, Tanner

K: Steven Taylor, St. John Paul II

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Jalin Edwards, Grissom

DL: Austin Burger, Scottsboro

DL: Achilles Woods, Austin

DL: Lorenzo Ochoa, Falkville

LB: Druce Clarke, Austin

LB: Malik Woods, Huntsville

LB: Jonathan Monroe, Bob Jones

LB: Paxtin Dupper, Decatur

DB: Jakob Kirby, Pisgah

DB: Jyron McDaniel, Decatur

DB: Jamal Mayers, James Clemens

DB: ZJ Matthews, Decatur

P: Colin Patterson, West Limestone

SECOND TEAM ATHLETES

Mario Brewer, Madison Academy

Caden Burnett, Falkville

Drew Puccio, Arab

Gio Lopez, James Clemens

HONORABLE MENTION

QB: De’Air Young, Austin; Josh Ward, Sparkman; Ellis Dickman, Decatur; Aidan Cox, Arab; Mason Holcomb, Pisgah; Karl Parham, Tanner; Kaleb Robinson, Gage Taylor, Danville; Whitesburg Christian; Bo Solley, Decatur Heritage

RB: Carlin Long, Huntsville; Armond Caldwell, Hazel Green; Jonathan Fountaine, Douglas; Keelan Alvarez, Scottsboro

WR: Jay’shon Ridgle, Athens; Huck Hensley, Huntsville; Ty Doughty, James Clemens; Izayah Fletcher, Hartselle; Gavin Smart, Boaz; Thomas Harmon, Whitesburg Christian

OL: Steven Crigger, Grissom; Marvin Lee, Sparkman; Nathan Sayle, Buckhorn; Shane McNatt, Hazel Green; McCormick Langford, Guntersville; Will Pacello, St. John Paul II; AJ Grant, Pisgah;

K: Van Reid, Buckhorn

LB: Martin McDonald, Grissom; Camren Watkins, Sparkman; Jaycob Calloway, Douglas; Druw Smith, Scottsboro; Preston Moore, West Limestone; Zeke Carwile, Westminster Christian

ATH: Alex Mason, East Limestone; Savarius Evans, Decatur Heritage; Ace Weaver, Woodville; Paul Andrzejewski, St. John Paul II; Caiden Hawkins, Pisgah; Jaxon Thomas, Decatur Heritage