PIKEVILLE – Pikeville senior quarterback Connor Roberts has been selected as EKB Sports’ Player of the Year, edging out Johnson Central senior Joe Jackson for the honor.
Roberts finished this past season with 2,148 passing yards and 27 touchdowns and he rushed for 1,283 yards and 18 scores in guiding Pikeville to the Class 1A state championship game against Beechwood.
Jackson ran for 2,316 yards and 31 touchdowns and hauled in three touchdown passes as the Golden Eagles reached the Class 4A championship game against Franklin-Simpson.
The only other players to rush for more than 2,000 yards this season were Shelby Valley running back Seth Johnson (2,212 yards, 25 TDs) and Lawrence County Quarterback Noah West (2,068 yards, 31 TDs).
Coach of the Year honors went to Johnson Central’s Jim Matney who guided his Golden Eagles to a fourth straight championship game appearance. Matney is 51-8 over the past four seasons. He beat out Pikeville’s Chris McNamee.
The first-team defense is captained by Johnson Central senior Matt Horn while the second team offense is headed by Belfry quarterback Avery Browning. Chapmanville’s Seth Whitt captains the second team defense.
EKB Sports All-Area Football Teams
Coach of the Year: Jim Matney, Johnson Central
Player of the Year: Connor Roberts, Pikeville
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Daylin Goad, So., Mingo Central
QB – Connor Roberts, Sr., Pikeville (Capt.)
RB – Joe Jackson, Sr. Johnson Central
RB – Seth Johnson, Sr., Shelby Valley
RB – Isaac Dixon, So., Belfry
RB – Nick Collier, Sr., Chapmanville
WR – Drew Hatfield, Jr., Mingo Central
WR – Jackson Hensley, Jr., Pikeville
OL – Dagen Rash, Sr., Belfry
OL – Andrew Clifton, Jr., Johnson Central
OL – Bradyn Hunter, Sr., Pikeville
OL – Matt Compton, Jr., Pikeville
OL – Peyton Blackburn, Jr., Shelby Valley
UTL – Chucky Felder, Sr., Logan
UTL – Noah West, Sr., Lawrence County
UTL – Ryley Preece, Sr., Johnson Central
UTL – Nick Sergent, Sr., Letcher Central
K – Jake Headly, Jr., Johnson Central
FIRST TEAM
DEFENSE
DL – Matt Horn, Sr., Johnson Central (Capt.)
DL – Nate Roberts, Jr., Pike Central
DL – Jacob Baisden, Jr., Belfry
DL – Jesse Sparks, Sr, Pikeville
LB – Hunter McCloud, Jr., Johnson Central
LB – Christian Keeton, Sr., Paintsville
LB – Zackary Ramey, Sr., Phelps
LB – Ashton Blankenship, Sr., Lawrence County
DB – Brett Coleman, So., Belfry
DB – John Phelps, Jr., Paintsville
DB – Jon Collum, Jr., Pikeville
DB – Ethan Varney, Sr., Prestonsburg
UTL – Brock Muncy, Jr., Man
UTL – Shawntez Matthews, Sr., Logan
UTL – Isaiah Hess, Sr., Pike Central
PK – Billy Mitchem, Sr., Mingo Central
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Avery Browning, Sr., Belfry (Capt.)
QB – Jake Hyden, So., Paintsville
RB – Brady Whitaker, Sr., Magoffin County
RB – Devin Johnson, Jr., Johnson Central
RB – Dalton Meade, Jr., Shelby Valley
RB – Hunter Campbell, Jr., Letcher Central
WR – Christian Billiter, Sr., Pikeville
WR – Devin Hatfield, Fr., Mingo Central
WR – Ethan Smith-Mills, Jr., Floyd Central
OL – Jepatha Griffith, So., Letcher Central
OL – Eddie Patrick, Sr., Johnson Central
OL – Austin Lawson, Sr., Belfry
OL – Byron Pierce, Sr., Johnson Central
OL – Cade Slater, Jr., Pikeville
OL – Brayden Keathley, Jr., Shelby Valley
UTL – Dominick Francis, So., Phelps
UTL – Caleb Hager, So., Floyd Central
UTL – Daylon Stafford, Sr., Sheldon Clark
UTL – Josh Whitaker, Sr., Floyd Central
K – Grayson Cook, Jr., Belfry
SECOND TEAM
DEFENSE
DL – Brenden Little, Sr., Floyd Central
DL – Alex Horn, Sr., Johnson Central
DL – Jeremiah Keathley, Sr, Betsy Layne
DL – Evan Adkins, Sr., Johnson Central
LB – Brandon Richmond, Sr., Paintsville
LB – Ezekiel Briggs, Sr., Prestonsburg
LB – Austin Fields, Sr., Belfry
LB – Seth Whitt, Sr., Chapmanville (Capt.)
LB – Parker Brewer, Jr., Tug Valley
DB – Dylan Preston, So., Johnson Central
DB – Kyle Watkins, Sr., Pikeville
DB – Ben Bentley, Jr., Belfry
UTL – Kane Taylor, Sr., East Ridge
UTL – Logan Billiter, Sr., Shelby Valley
UTL – Jordan Bates, Sr., Jenkins
UTL – Brandon Turnmire, Sr., Phelps
PK – Dillon Renninger, Sr., Chapmanville