Heritage earns respect on 6-AAAA All-Region team
Heritage head football coach E.K. Slaughter isn’t ashamed to say he was wrong about his players, especially when it comes to Corbee Wilson.
He’s also thankful for pleasant surprises like Luke Grant.
Wilson, a senior quarterback, who recently became the fifth 5,000 yard passer Slaughter said he’s coached, is not only one of several Generals named to the Region 6-AAAA team. He also shares Region Co-Player of the Year honors with junior Markeith Montgomery off of the Ridgeland Region championship team.
“I told the story before Stephens County, that it was only three years ago in the fourth week of the season that Corbee had an opportunity...I wanted a 6-foot-3 freshman to win the job. I didn’t want the 140-pound, 5-foot-8 sophomore to win the position.”
“He went 5-for-5 in that first drive and put the yards in and he’s never looked back,” he said. “All he needed was an opportunity, and he took it.”
Wilson, who is 6-foot-175-pounds, led the Generals to their first-ever post season appearance that ended in the second round of the state playoffs by completing 174 of 312 passes for 2,840 total yards.
Grant, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound junior, was named special teams Player of the Year. Grant is a starter as a receiver and as a defensive back for the Generals.
Slaughter said he was accountable for scoring touchdowns seven different ways, and his biggest attribute was his courage.
“He’s not scared,” he said. “He has got guts. He has got grit. He’s just the kind of kid you love to coach.”
Also taking another top honors for Heritage were Ryan Carter, who was named first team receiver and second team defensive back; Zach Scott, first team OL; Tanner Nance, first team DL and second team punter.
Trent Kiniry was named honorable
mention at receiver; Zach Goins, second team DL; ZaineBurton, named first team LB; Jeffrey Curtis, named honorable mention LB; Hank Weldon, named honorable mention LB; Blake Bryan, named honorable mention DB and Alex Ahlyege, named second team kicker.
Montgomery was Region Defensive Player of the Year, while Ridgeland junior running back Jalyn Shelton was named Region Offensive Player of the Year.
On offense, he ran 81 times for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns, caught three passes for 68 yards and completed his only pass attempt of the season for a 35-yard touchdown.
On defense, he totaled 84 tackles and assisted on 22 more. He forced three fumbles, recovered two, broke up eight passes and picked off two more.