With honors: 14 local football players land on All-State list

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Dec. 20—Every year local football players deliver remarkable seasons on the gridiron, and every year a select few are honored receiving spots on the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State football teams.

This year 14 players from The Decatur Daily's coverage area made it onto the All-State team, with another five receiving honorable mentions.

Hartselle led the way with four All-State selections, while Priceville finished with three. West Morgan and Falkville each had two.

Here's who made the cut:

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Class 7A

Austin's Caleb Caudle was named to the second team as a defensive back. The senior was a lockdown corner for the Black Bears, finishing with 58 tackles and four interceptions.

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Class 6A

Hartselle produced four All-State selections this year and one honorable mention after a 10-2 season. That included two selections and an honorable mention choice off a defense that allowed just 10 points per game.

Senior Nolan Carroll was named to the first team as an offensive lineman after grading at 90% for the season with 35 pancake blocks.

Seniors Hayden Gray and Cole Miles were named to the first team as a linebacker and defensive back respectively. Gray finished the season with 117 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and a pick-six, while Miles had 55 tackles to go with four tackles for loss, three interceptions and a sack.

Senior Cain Falciani was selected as a second-team receiver after catching 46 passes for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Senior Chris Hutson was named an honorable-mention defensive back with 78 tackles and three interceptions.

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Class 5A

Priceville improved from 2-8 last year in its first season in Class 5A to 8-4 this year and because of this, head coach Seth Parker was named the Class 5A Coach of the Year.

The Bulldogs also produced three All-State players and one honorable mention.

Senior Cole Oliver was a first-team offensive lineman after grading at 85% for the season with 36 pancake blocks, while junior Jack Eubanks was a first-team defensive back with 101.5 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and an interception.

Senior Sheldon Graham was a first-team athlete; passing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also rushing for 667 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense and finishing with 94 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble on defense.

Junior Urijah Burnham was an honorable-mention receiver after catching 42 passes for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Brewer senior Hunter Knighten was a second-team selection at punter after averaging 43 yards per punt and downing six inside the 20-yard line.

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Class 4A

West Morgan produced two first-team All-State players after finishing with an 11-1 record that included going 10-0 and winning the Class 4A, Region 7 championship for the third year in a row.

Senior running back MaCarri Johnson was chosen after rushing for 1,807 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 159 yards, had a passing touchdown and a punt-return touchdown.

Senior Keithan Deloney was selected as linebacker with 108 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks and a pick-six.

Hatton junior Daniel Taylor Jr. was a second-team selection at defensive back with 107 tackles,16 tackles for loss, five sacks and three interceptions.

East Lawrence junior Cayne McClure was named an honorable-mention defensive back with 123 tackles, three interceptions, two tackles for loss and two sacks.

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Class 3A

Elkmont senior Cooper Wales was named an honorable-mention receiver after catching 65 passes for 1,018 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

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Class 2A

Falkville had two first-team All-State selections this year.

Senior Houston Jackson was selected as a defensive lineman with 86 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and two sacks. Senior Eli Harris was chosen as a defensive back with 79 tackles and eight interceptions.

Tanner freshman Tyrone Douglas was an honorable-mention defensive lineman with 63 tackles, 20 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2

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