Dent, Knighton earn statewide superlative awards

Palm Beach Central’s Akeem Dent and Deerfield Beach’s Jaylan Knighton were named offensive and defensive most valuable players in Class 8A by FloridaHSFootball.com, which released statewide superlative awards and AllState teams for large schools and small schools late Monday night.

Dent and Knighton, who were the Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach County Class 8A-6A defensive player of the year and the Broward County Class 8A-6A offensive player of the year, respectively, were not the only local superlative winners.

In Class 5A, Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Nik Scalzo was named offensive MVP, kicker Daton Montiel was named special teams MVP and coach Matt DuBuc was named coach of the year. American Heritage linebacker and Sun Sentinel Broward County Class 5A-1A defensive player of the year Dorian Jones was named defensive MVP.

In Class 4A, Glades Central quarterback and Palm Beach County Class 5A-1A offensive player of the year Davius Richard was named the overall player of the year.

In Class 3A, King’s Academy’s Justin Wake was named overall player of the year. Lions coach Keith Allen was named coach of the year, and King’s Academy was named team of the year.

Chaminade-Madonna defensive back Te’Cory Couch was named defensive MVP in Class 3A, and Cardinal Newman kicker Jack Gabbe was named special teams MVP.