Published December 20, 2008 09:49 pm -
Thomas named 1-AA Player of the Year
By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON —Region 1-AA recently released the All-Region team, which was voted on by the coaches, and several players from the Tiftarea were honored.
Fitzgerald’s Jemea Thomas was named the Region Player of the Year.
The Georgia Tech verbal commit ended the season with 518 yards rushing, and 360 yards in kick returns and a total of 10 total touchdowns. Defensively, Thomas had 140 total tackles, and four interceptions, and also blocked three kicks on special teams.
In addition to Thomas, Trenton Pruitt was named the All Purpose Player of the Year.
For the year, Pruitt ended with 670 rushing yards, 512 yards receiving, and 204 yards in returns with 20 total touchdowns.
The junior had 1,386 total yards on 155 touches — an average of 8.9 yards per attempt.
Fitzgerald’s Nick Williams was named the first-team fullback, after rushing for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Juwan Alexander was named to the first-team at runningback after rushing for 704 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Cook High’s Shannon Brown was also named a first-team running back by the coaches.
R.J. Taylor was a first-team selection at tight end after collecting 12 passes for 286 yards and five touchdowns. The Hurricane tight end also graded out at 91 percent as a blocker in the Wing-T offense.
Along the offensive line, Fitzgerald’s Alan Sandiford and Nick Starkey and Cook’s Jamar Payne were first-team selections.
Fitzgerald’s Mauro Meza was named the first-team kicker.
The senior hit on all three field goal attempts, and 57-of-60 extra points for the season.
Defensively, Fitzgerald’s Willie Coney was named to the first-team as a defensive tackle, and C’reon Arnold from Cook was named as an ouside linebacker.
Arnold finished the year with 81 tackles, and 12 sacks for the Hornets.