Staff and wire report
RALEIGH ó West Rowan and Butler finished the season as unbeaten state champions.
It’s no surprise then that they would have significant representation on the 2009 Associated Press all-state high school football team for North Carolina.
Both schools had four players selected to the 27-member team, which was released Wednesday after voting from 17 media members from across the state.
“This should move us into company with some of the other elite programs in the state,” West Rowan coach Scott Young said.
West ó which captured its second 3A title in a row and has won 30 consecutive games ó had three players make the team for the second straight year in running back K.P. Parks, offensive lineman Timmy Pangburn and defensive lineman Chris Smith. Defensive lineman Eli Goodson joined his teammates on the squad.
All four West Rowan players are seniors.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to repeat on one of these teams because people will have a breakout year,” Young said. “The attention you draw from other teams, sometimes it’s hard to repeat what you did as a junior.”
Butler ó which won the 4AA championship ó had quarterback Christian LeMay, receiver Anthony Short, offensive lineman Kendall Lamm and defensive back Nate Charest make the team.
It marked the first time that two schools have had four players chosen since Independence and New Bern did it in 2002.
Newton-Conover, which edged Salisbury in a 2AA semifinal, had two players chosen in defensive lineman Jordan Gibbs and defensive back Ty Brown. It was the only other school with multiple picks.
Parks, who has committed to Virginia, ran for a state-record 3,794 yards and 59 touchdowns this year.
Pangburn was a key figure on an offensive line that created running room for Parks, and Smith joined Parks at the Shrine Bowl. Goodson was a disruptive force at nose guard.
LeMay, a junior, threw for nearly 3,300 yards and 44 touchdowns with just two interceptions for Butler, helping lead the Bulldogs to a 48-17 win against Fayetteville Britt in the 4AA final. Short was his top target. Charest was a two-way starter and a Shrine Bowl pick.
Burnsville Mountain Heritage’s Casey Randolph joined Parks in the backfield after running for 3,055 yards, while South Johnston’s Dee Williams and Jones County’s Thomas Fryar made the team at receiver. The AP added a third receiver this season due to an increase in passing offenses.
Charlotte Providence’s Braxton Deaver was picked at tight end, while Raleigh Athens Drive’s Rob Crisp, Independence’s Ryan Thompson and Lake Norman’s Kane Sherrill joined Pangburn and Lamm on the offensive line.
Defensively, New Hanover County’s Everette Israel joined Smith, Gibbs and Goodson on the line, while Asheville Reynolds’ Patrick Blalock, Anson County’s Stephone Anthony, and Hibriten’s Darius Lipford were chosen at linebacker.
In the secondary, Charest and Brown were joined by Northern Guilford’s Keenan Allen, an Alabama recruit who accounted for 53 touchdowns as a two-way performer while tallying 145 tackles and eight interceptions. Winston-Salem Reynolds’ Vance Matthews was the other defensive back chosen.
Greenville Rose’s Warren Harvey made the team as a kicker after converting 14 field goals this year, while Wilmington Hoggard’s Will Bauman was chosen as punter after averaging 45 yards per kick.
Southwest Onslow’s Jamaal Williams was picked at kick returner after tying a state record with seven punt returns for touchdowns. Havelock’s Danny Webster Jr. rounded out the team at athlete after throwing for 2,700 yards, running for nearly 1,500 and tallying six interceptions on defense.