Ridgeland takes home three top awards
The Region 6-AAAA champion Ridgeland Panthers were well-represented in voting for league awards, which were decided on by the region coaches this past Thursday.
Junior Markeith Montgomery shared Region Co-Player of the Year honors with Heritage senior quarterback Corbee Wilson. Montgomery was also the Region Defensive Player of the Year, while junior running back Jalyn Shelton was named Region Offensive Player of the Year. The Panthers also had the Region Coach of the Year in Wesley Tankersley.
Montgomery, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back, shined on both sides of the ball for the Panthers in 2016.
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.
Then on defense, he totaled 84 tackles and assisted 22 more. He forced three fumbles, recovered two, broke up eight passes and picked off two more.
Shelton, a 6-0, 220-pound running back, led the Panthers with 181 carries for 1,432 yards and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. He was 5 of 9 through the air for 240 yards, connecting for touchdowns on three of his five completions, and caught eight passes for 72 yards.
Tankersley, in his second year at Ridgeland, improved the team from 4-7 in 2015 to 9-2 this past season. The Panthers won the Region 6-AAAA title and beat St. Pius X in the first round of the playoffs.
Northwest junior quarterback Luke Shiflett was named as the Region Athlete of the Year and Heritage junior Luke Grant was awarded Region Special Teams Player of the Year.
First team offensive honors went to senior running back Grayson Moore, senior tight end Luke Edwards and senior offensive linemen Will Hodges and Christian Gentry.
Senior defensive lineman Skye Wilson, junior linebacker Eli Foshay and sophomore defensive back Stephon Walker were first team defensive picks.
Ridgeland had a second team player in sophomore defensive back A’zavier Blackwell and Honorable Mention selections in sophomore offensive lineman Fred Norman, senior receiver Markeion Jones, junior linebacker Tim Bowman, senior defensive back C.J. Shackleford and sophomore defensive back Jordan Hughley.
LaFayette’s only first team pick came on defense where senior KaDarrin Ramsey was selected as a defensive back.
Second team picks included sophomore running back Colton Lane, senior lineman Jake Russell, sophomore lineman Jack Martin, junior linebacker Jonah Hobbs and senior defensive back Logan Teasley.
Honorable Mention picks included senior defensive end Bryson Smith, junior running back Dakota Cathey, sophomore linebacker Andrew Pendergrass, junior lineman Cody Deal and freshman kicker Max Studdard.