3 top teams place trios on first team

Class 8A state champion Sanford Seminole is joined by state semifinalist Apopka and up-and-coming West Orange with three selections each on the 2020 Orlando Sentinel Varsity football all-area first team.

Seminole, led by offensive player of the year Timmy McClain at quarterback, capped a 12-0 season by winning 38-10 over Kissimmee Osceola (9-3) in an all-Central Florida state final last month. The ‘Noles rallied past Apopka (8-4) for a 28-24 win one week earlier.

Football all-area team selections were made by the Orlando Sentinel Varsity staff in consultation with area coaches from Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties.

Offense

QB| TIMMY MCCLAIN Seminole OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 190.

Buzz: USF signee finished 119-of191 passing for 1,698 yards with 17 TDs and 2 INTs. He rushed 109 times for 565 yards and 11 scores.

RB | DUKE WALKER

Lake Minneola

Year: Senior. Size: 5-10, 200. Buzz: Walker eclipsed 100 yards in a game in nine outings and rushed 240 times for 1,649 yards and 21 TDs for Class 6A state runners-up.

RB | ANTHONY WILLIAMS Lake Brantley

Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 205.

Buzz: The UCF signee averaged 143 yards on the ground per game while carrying the ball 236 times for 1,434 yards and 15 touchdowns.

WR| JAYDEN GIBSON

West Orange

Year: Junior. Size: 6-5, 180.

Buzz: The deep threat averaged 24 yards per reception on 32 catches for 774 yards and scored a team-high nine touchdowns for the Warriors.

WR| TOMMI HILL Edgewater

IRONMAN PLAYER OF YEAR Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 190.

Buzz: Hill had 48 catches for 841 yards and 5 TDs, returned one of two INTs for a score, and tallied 638 yards and four scores on special teams.

WR| JIMMY HORN JR. Seminole

Year: Senior. Size: 5-9, 165.

Buzz: He compiled 1,268 allpurpose yards and 13 TDs, including three scores by rush and one via punt return, and finished with 50 catches for 822 yards.

TE| ROCCO UNDERWOOD Lake Mary

Year: Senior. Size: 6-4, 212. Buzz: A UF signee as a long snapper, Underwood demanded attention from opposing teams while making 32 catches for 466 yards and 6 TDs.

OL| RACHARD CALLOWAY Jones

Year: Senior. Size: 6-0, 240.

Buzz: The first-year varsity player subbed in at center in the second game and cemented his spot as the starter for a team that beat six area opponents.

OL| XAVIER CASTILLO Osceola

Year: Senior. Size: 6-5, 330.

Buzz: The Vanderbilt signee was a cornerstone on the offensive line for a state runner-up team that averaged more than 170 yards rushing per game.

OL| JAVONTE GARDNER Jones

Year: Senior. Size: 6-5, 290.

Buzz: Described as the rock of Tigers’ offensive line, the three-year starter moved to guard and helped Jones average 200 yards rushing per game.

OL| KYJUAN PHILLIPS

Dr. Phillips

Year: Senior. Size: 6-4, 285.

Buzz: A three-year starter at left tackle, he signed with East Carolina after paving way for the Panthers to average 317 yards of offense in the regular season.

OL | CHARLIE ROLENC Bishop Moore

Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 280.

Buzz: He recorded 4 sacks on defense and rarely left the field as a starting tackle on both sides of the ball for the Hornets, who averaged 414 yards per game.

UT | J AQUAN LOWMAN Apopka

Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 180.

Buzz: He rushed 191 times for 1,204 yards and 16 TDs, completed 57% of passes for 610 yards and 5 TDs, and saw time at defensive back and on special teams.

UT | DANNY STUTSMAN Foundation Academy

Year: Senior. Size: 6-4, 220.

Buzz: He scored 17 TDs in seven games, including two on INTs, while accounting for 566 yards rushing and 462 yards receiving while also tallying 67 tackles and 5 sacks.

Defense

DL| GERALD GREAVES

Dr. Phillips

Year: Senior. Size: 6-3, 255. Buzz: The first-year varsity player totaled 57 tackles and led the Panthers in tackles-for-loss (19) and sacks (11) with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

DL| SHAMBRE JACKSON Boone DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR Year: Senior. Size: 6-4, 255. Buzz: He tallied 49 tackles (30 solo), had team-highs in TFL (15) and sacks (9), forced three fumbles, recovered two fumbles and blocked a kick.

DL| JOSHUA LYLES Seminole

Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 275. Buzz: He anchored the unbeaten Class 8A state championship defense while leading the team with 80 tackles (6.5 for loss) and recording 7.5 sacks.

DL| JOHN WALKER Osceola

Year: Sophomore. Size: 6-3, 285. Buzz: An imposing presence, Walker came away with 64 tackles (38 solo) while leading the state runner-up Kowboys with 15 tacklefor-loss and 10 sacks.

LB | DRAKE HARWELL

Lake Minneola

Year: Junior. Size: 6-1, 215.

Buzz: The leading tackler for the state runner-up Hawks, Harwell was credited with 114 stops (47 solo), 22 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and three fumble recoveries.

LB | TRAVION BARNES Apopka

Year: Junior. Size: 6-0, 210.

Buzz: He tallied 91 tackles (62 solo), including nine tackles-forloss, and intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble for the Class 8A state semifinalist.

LB | JAHSHARI JONES West Orange Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 180.

Buzz: He led the Warriors with 12 sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries while tying for fourth on the team with 67 tackles (43 solo).

LB | TIMAR ROGERS DeLand

Year: Senior. Size: 6-2, 200.

Buzz: He had a team-high 15 tackles-for-loss and 7 sacks for the Bulldogs while tallying 49 tackles and accounting for three forced turnovers.

LB | DESHAWN TROUTMAN Edgewater

Year: Senior. Size: 6-1, 205. Buzz: The Miami signee led the Eagles with 110 tackles (72 solo), including eight for a loss, and finished with two forced fumbles and an interception.

DB| NIKAI MARTINEZ Apopka

Year: Junior. Size: 5-11, 175.

Buzz: Ranked fourth on the team with 47 tackles (32 solo), Martinez came up huge in the playoffs with four interceptions and a blocked field goal.

DB| MATTHEW MCDOOM West Orange

Year: Junior. Size: 5-8, 155.

Buzz: He registered 67 tackles (42 solo), 5 INTs and 762 all-purpose yards while scoring 5 TDs, kicking a 32-yard field goal, and going 9-for-9 on PATs.

DB | DAKOTA MITCHELL Winter Park

Year: Senior. Size: 6-0, 185. Buzz: He accumulated 37 tackles, 4 INTs, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 7 TDs, including 2 on defense, and averaged 38.5 yards as punter.

DB | JACOREY THOMAS Boone

Year: Junior. Size: 6-1, 190.

Buzz: He led the Braves with 985 all-purpose yards, ranked second with 60 tackles and scored 10 TDs, including two on special teams, and forced three turnovers.

K/P | JACK WALKER

Lake Nona

Year: Junior. Size: 6-1, 165.

Buzz: The Lions’ starting punter went 5-for-5 on field goal tries, with a long of 41 yards, and converted on 22 of 24 of his extra-point attempts last season.