County players named to AAA all-state team

Faulkner County football players from all five schools have been named to Arkansas Activities Association all-state teams Players were selected by coaches of each conference. From Conway, running back Michael George, quarterback Andrew Hreha, wide receiver and defensive back Will Kennedy and offensive tackle Nate Turner, all seniors, earned honors in 7A. The four Wampus Cats helped lead Conway to an 11-4 record, including a 5-2 record in the 7A Central. The Conway offense led 7A in total yards with 6,086 yards, followed by Bentonville West's 5,093. That was due in large part to George's 2,396 yards rushing, which ranks him third among Arkansas high school running backs. George also accounted for 29 of Conway's 76 total touchdowns on the year. Hreha threw himself into fourth in total yards for quarterbacks at the 7A level, throwing for 2,626 yards. He was efficient in keeping the football with the Wampus Cats with a 25:5 touchdown to interception ratio. George, Hreha and the rest of the Conway offense wouldn't have fared as well if it weren't for the guys on the offensive line blocking, including Turner. On the defensive side, Kennedy finished ninth in the state with 87 total tackles, 61 of those coming in the solo variety. He also deflected 11 passes, intercepted one and recovered three fumbles. The 7-5 Greenbrier Panthers placed four players on the all-state team, including junior quarterback Andrew Johnson, wide receiver and safety Grant Brown, defensive and offensive lineman Joseph Shaw and running back and linebacker Spencer Sutterfield, all seniors. Johnson found himself fourth in 5A in passing yards with 1,805. He trailed Pulaski Academy's Layne Hatcher's 5,779 yards, Alma's Garrison Jenson's 2,430 and Morrilton's Jacolby Criswell's 1,947. Sutterfield ran for 1,078 yards during his senior season after rushing for 407 yards as a junior. He also upped his total touchdowns from eight to 19 touchdowns this season. On defense, Sutterfield finished with 97 tackles and two sacks. Brown caught 46 passes for 484 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Brown finished with 57 total tackles and he forced two fumbles. Shaw and the rest of the Panther offensive line, paved the way for the Greenbrier offense. Shaw also finished 33 tackles, while three came for a loss. Vilonia's lone representative — senior defensive and offensive lineman Wyatt Millikin — made an impact on an Eagle team that forfeited its first game and finished with one official win. Millikin finished the season with 38 tackles, with five tackles for loss. After going 7-0 in the 2-3A conference on the way to a conference title, the Mayflower Eagles were represented by junior running backs Keon and Deon Simmons and Dylan Burnett. Joining George in the top three rushers in the state is the top rusher in the state was Deon Simmons. He rushed for 2,562 rushing yards with 40 touchdowns and was a major key to Mayflower's success. Deon's twin brothe, Keon, was also a driving factor for the Eagles, rushing for 876 yards and 17 touchdowns. Dylan Burnett was somewhat of an unsung hero for Mayflower, according to Eagles coach Todd Langrell. Burnett was in the backfield with the Simmons twins, blocking for them, but he also played a large role on defense, totaling 85 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. As for Conway Christian, the 5-2A runner-ups were represented by senio tackle Nathan Burrow and junior quarterback Jacob Wood. No stats were readily available to the two players, but with the pair's leadership, the Eagles finished with a 6-1 record in the 5-2A with the only loss coming within the final seconds against Hector on Sept. 29. Conway Christian finished with an overall record of 11-2, eventually falling to the state runner-up Mount Ida.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Conway High School Athletics

COUNTY PLAYERS NAMED TO AAA ALL-STATE TEAM

ANDY ROBERTSON

Log Cabin Democrat | 12/23/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Conway Athletics