ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM: Fairview's Gonzalez named Overall MVP; Whatley, Foster, Akin, Redding earn other top honors
Dec. 16—Eric Gonzalez put a bow on his impressive career with a tremendous senior season.
In fact, his valuable contributions on both sides of the ball led Cullman County's football coaches to award the Fairview standout a deserving title: Overall MVP on this year's All-County Team.
Gonzalez (31 tackles and two interceptions) jumped out on film defensively — just ask opposing coaches — and spearheaded a stingy unit that allowed just 10.6 points per game.
He also helped fortify an offensive line that paved the road for more than 3,600 rushing yards.
Good Hope's Colten Whatley (Offensive MVP), Fairview's Cale Foster (Defensive MVP), Hanceville's Eli Akin (Lineman of the Year) and Fairview's George Redding (Coach of the Year), meanwhile, took home the other top honors.
Fairview led the way with nine first-team selections, including Jayden Pineda (OL), Cade Yeager (DB), Isaac Elrod (DB), Jameson Goble (P), Carson Jones (RB), Jake Harper (RB), Blake Rickard (DE), Kolt Redding (K) and Jace Stevens (DB).
West Point was next in line with eight picks — Parker Marks (WR), Gus McKenney (OL), JD Cochran (LB), Garit Roberson (RB), Sylar Philyaw (DL), Jacob Bencze (DB), Hunter Hensley (QB) and Eli Sims (ATH).
Good Hope — Landon Bagwell (LB), Tyler Cone (WR), Hank Hudson (DB), Tucker Malin (WR), Guillermo Alday (OL) and Callahan Lindsey (LB) — had six selections as did Hanceville — JT Davis (WR), LJ Smith (LB), Eli Clements (DL), Marquies Leeth (ATH), Hunter Black (QB) and Jayden Smith (OL) — and Vinemont — Dawson Wilhite (TE), Diego Rodriguez (RB), Kyler Pugh (TE), Isaiah Pair (DL), Rylan McRae (OL) and Xavier Sellers (DB).
Holly Pond secured five first-team picks in Sawyer Olinger (QB), Boston Gibbs (RB), Jayden Holloway (DB), Diego Arreguin (OL/DL) and John Garcia (DB). Cold Springs rounded out the first team with four choices — Matt Williams (RB/LB), Josh Winfrey (FB/DE), Trey Bailey (OL/DL) and Clayton Terry (TE/DB).
The All-County Team is handpicked by Cullman County's seven football coaches.
All-State will be announced by the Alabama Sports Writers Association later this month.
All-Area, which is selected by The Times and includes Addison/Cullman, will be unveiled in January.
See below for this year's All-County Football Team, including honorable mentions.
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Overall MVP
Name: Eric Gonzalez
School: Fairview
Class: Senior
Highlights: Had 31 tackles, two interceptions and 0.5 sacks. Anchored an offensive line that helped the Aggies rush for 3,653 yards this season.
Coach Speak: "It's been an honor to have Eric as part of the program. He has accomplished so much and made such an impact on those around him. I have watched him overcome so much on and off the field. He showed great passion for his position and his role. He wanted to be great to help our team. I believe Eric's future is so bright. We can't wait to see what he does next." — George Redding
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Offensive MVP
Name: Colten Whatley
School: Good Hope
Class: Senior
Highlights: Completed 94 of 178 passes for 1,355 yards and 17 touchdowns. Had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Coach Speak: "Colten is one of the toughest players I've ever coached. He took shots this year that would have taken most players out of the game, but he got right back up and finished the game. He did a great job leading our team through some tough situations and took his role as quarterback to heart. He spends a great deal of time in the film room studying the game so that he can go out and perform on the field. I appreciate the four years he's given to our program and the leadership he has shown throughout his career." — Alan Scott
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Defensive MVP
Name: Cale Foster
School: Fairview
Class: Senior
Highlights: Had 38.5 tackles for a defense that allowed just 10.6 points per game.
Coach Speak: "Cale has been a tremendous asset to our program. He's a three-year starter we have watched grow and develop and make a huge impact on our success over the years. He is a hard worker and very disciplined. He is so deserving of all his accomplishments. I can't wait to see what all he goes on to accomplish as well." — George Redding
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Lineman of the Year
Name: Eli Akin
School: Hanceville
Class: Junior
Highlights: Had 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 0.5 sacks.
Coach Speak: "Eli is a great young man who works extremely hard. He has a high motor that gives opposing offenses a lot of trouble. Offensively, he did an incredible job at the center position. He is a leader and pushes his teammates to match his intensity." — Ryan Brewer
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Coach of the Year
Name: George Redding
School: Fairview
Highlights: Led the Aggies to a 9-2 record and their fifth straight playoff appearance.
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First Team
Cold Springs
Matt Williams (RB/LB)
Josh Winfrey (FB/DE)
Trey Bailey (OL/DL)
Clayton Terry (TE/DB)
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Fairview
Jayden Pineda (OL)
Cade Yeager (DB)
Isaac Elrod (DB)
Jameson Goble (P)
Carson Jones (RB)
Jake Harper (RB)
Blake Rickard (DE)
Kolt Redding (K)
Jace Stevens (DB)
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Good Hope
Landon Bagwell (LB)
Tyler Cone (WR)
Hank Hudson (DB)
Tucker Malin (WR)
Guillermo Alday (OL)
Callahan Lindsey (LB)
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Hanceville
JT Davis (WR)
LJ Smith (LB)
Eli Clements (DL)
Marquies Leeth (ATH)
Hunter Black (QB)
Jayden Smith (OL)
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Holly Pond
Sawyer Olinger (QB)
Boston Gibbs (RB)
Jayden Holloway (DB)
Diego Arreguin (OL/DL)
John Garcia (DB)
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Vinemont
Dawson Wilhite (TE)
Diego Rodriguez (RB)
Kyler Pugh (TE)
Isaiah Pair (DL)
Rylan McRae (OL)
Xavier Sellers (DB)
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West Point
Parker Marks (WR)
Gus McKenney (OL)
JD Cochran (LB)
Garit Roberson (RB)
Sylar Philyaw (DL)
Jacob Bencze (DB)
Hunter Hensley (QB)
Eli Sims (ATH)
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Honorable Mention
Cold Springs
Bennett Phillips
Brady Phillips
Samuel Turner
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Fairview
Ashton McLeskey
Kaleb Carr
Zane Boyll
Miles McLeroy
Zayden Cruce
Andrew Latham
Jacob Mayo
Avery Latham
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Good Hope
Zakry Keller
Carter Rutherford
Houston Walton
Jet Swann
Tyler Byrd
Zeb Smith
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Hanceville
Keiton Whatley
Jake Cornelius
Brady Creek
Bear Busby
Ashton Hurst
Drake Bentley
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Holly Pond
Xander Grazer
Kyrian Grazer
Brayden Ivey
Zayne Faulkner
Brody Howard
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Vinemont
Rush Sandlin
Kayden Henderson
Nic Jankowski
Josh Rhodes
Brandon Johnson
Dalton Bryan
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West Point
Ollie Howell
Omar Segundo
Chance Aldridge
Mikhail Dujoud
Brayden Monfort
Noah Laney
Dawson Smith
Nick Lee
Blayne Jones
