Picayune and Gautier bolster All-Region 4-5A team
The strongest region the Coast has seen in recent memory lived up to the hype. Picayune and Gautier represented the south half of the state’s two best 5A teams and the Maroon Tide went on to achieve the first 15-0 season in South Mississippi history.
Picayune led the way in the coaches choice All-Region 4-5A team with 16 selections while Gautier is right behind with 15.
East Central is represented by 12 athletes and Vancleave by seven to round out the district’s playoff teams.
Coach of the year
Cody Stogner, Picayune
Stogner carried the torch with last year’s title victory, but he set a new precedent by going back-to-back this time around and led the Maroon Tide to the Coast’s first undefeated championship season since 1987.
Players of the year
Dante Dowdell, Picayune
Kaden Irving, Gautier
5A Mr. Football and Oregon commit Dante Dowdell and Ole Miss baseball commit Kaden Irving share the honors this year after the two wowed fans every week with highlight plays. Dowdell finished his career with 1,975 rushing yards and 28 scores. Irving threw for over 3,000 yards and joined rare company in eclipsing 10,000 career yards.
Offensive Player of the Year
John Peterson, Vancleave
Peterson’s first season as the starting running back saw him log a whopping 2,616 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. The senior is the statewide rushing champ, according to MaxPreps.com, leading Mississippi in both yards and rushing scores.
Defensive Player of the Year
Zavion Coleman, Picayune
A participant in the upcoming MS-AL All Star game, Coleman had a breakout season his final year with 62 stops from his position on the interior defensive line. He also had 10 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks.
All-Region First Team Offense
- QB Deuce Knight, George County
- RB Darnell Smith, Picayune
- RB Eli Smith, East Central
- RB Sam Harris, West Harrison
- WR Dillon Alfred, Gautier
- WR AJ Phillips, Gautier
- WR Kelvin Beavers, Gautier
- TE Gavin Trochessett, East Central
- OL Casey Tynes, George County
- OL Alan Grimme, Vancleave
- OL Dalton Graham, East Central
- OL Hayden Wells, Picayune
- OL Bracken Bertan, West Harrison
- OL Anderson Polk, Pearl River Central
- OL Nate Richardson, Long Beach
- OL Alwayne McDonald, Gautier
- K Brody Marshall, Pearl River Central
- ATH Darrell Smith, Picayune
First Team All-Region Defense
- DL Angel McGee, Gautier
- DL Jamonte Waller, Picayune
- DL JB McWilliams, Picayune
- DL Gabe Miller, East Central
- LB Amarion Tyson, Picayune
- LB TJ Dunsford, East Central
- LB Jarred Huff, East Central
- LB Monyeh Boykin, Gautier
- DB Kohl Bradley, George County
- DB Chris Davis, Picayune
- DB Dominic Smith, Gautier
- DB Torrance Skidmore, West Harrison
- P Gavin Garza, Pearl River Central
- RET Tristen Williams, Pearl River Central
- LS Abram Parker, West Harrison
All-Region Second Team
- QB Andrew Marble, East Central
- QB Brady Robertson, Picayune
- QB Hunter Parker, Vancleave
- RB Grey Bradley, East Central
- RB Marcus Cunningham, Gautier
- WR Asher Henley, Vancleave
- WR Brenn Moody, George County
- OL Brandon Davis, Gautier
- OL Willie Casey, Gautier
- OL Quinton Haynes, Picayune
- OL Donell Lewis, Picayune
- OL Tyrone McPherson, West Harrison
- DL Tyron Coleman, George County
- DL Tyneke Davis, George County
- DL Tyler Killingsworth, East Central
- DL Javonte Robinson, Gautier
- DL Evan Turan, West Harrison
- LB Ethan Davis, Vancleave
- LB Brady Dowdy, Vancleave
- LB River Felts, East Central
- LB Xzavier Hye, Gautier
- LB Landon Moran, West Harrison
- LB Brason Owenby, East Central
- LB Mekhi Redmond, Gautier
- LB Tyran Warren, Picayune
- DB Jessiah Contee, Picayune
- DB Aiden Hood, Vancleave
- DB Damarius McGee, Picayune
- DB Niquis Ratcliff, Picayune
- DB Carson Ryder, East Central
- DB Jeremyah Ulrich, West Harrison
- ATH Andre Windham, Long Beach
- K Morgan Craft, Picayune
