| Another Warbritton on elite player list | | Posted: Thursday, November 8, 2012 7:00 pm
| By MIKE HUTCHENS
Messenger Sports Editor
Huntingdon’s Jacob Warbritton has followed in the footsteps of his brother, Tyler.
And for the Mustangs, that’s a good thing.
The younger Warbritton — just as his older sibling was a year ago — was named a finalist for the Tennessee Titans Class 1A’s Mr. Football Back of the Year Award today.
Standout Covington running back Johnston White was chosen among the best three backs in Class 2A, while both Powers Spencer and teammate Chase Hensley of University School of Jackson were named finalists for Back and Lineman of the Year respectively, in Division II-A.
The awards are based on regular season play and the winners will announced at a luncheon at the Embassy Suites & Hotel Conference Center in Murfreesboro on Nov. 26. Class A is made up of 1A and 2A playoff teams, the Double-A winner chosen from 3A and 4A postseason clubs and the Triple-A honoree picked from schools that were divided into 5A and 6A for the playoffs.
This marks the 28th year for the awards to be given to the best high school players in Tennessee.
Warbritton, who’ll lead the fourth-ranked Mustangs into a second-round playoff showdown at eighth-ranked Union City Friday, is the triggerman in Huntingdon’s throwback single-wing offense.
He rushed for 1,962 yards and 26 touchdowns while also throwing for 545 yards and eight more scores for the Ponies in an 8-2 regular season.
Last season, older sibling Tyler was a finalist after directing Huntingdon to just the third unbeaten regular season in school history — gaining 853 yards on the ground and 388 through the air with a combined 22 TDs.
Joining Jacob in the Back of the Year competition was South Pittsburg running back Demetric Johnson and Grace Christian Academy running back Will McKamey.
Johnson ran for 1,551 yards and 25 touchdowns during the season while averaging a whopping 14.6 yards-per-carry.
McKamey’s story received statewide attention when he collapsed in Rams’ regular season finale with a ruptured blood vessel in his brain after scoring his fourth touchdown of the contest against South Pittsburg.
McKamey was hospitalized and since been released and is continuing his recovery at home.
During the season, he piled up 2,028 all-purpose yards, running for 1,427 yards and 22 touchdowns and catching passes for 601 yards and six more scores.
White’s seasonal numbers in a year in which Covington went unbeaten and was ranked No. 2 in Class 4A made his a deserving candidate in 2A.
The speedy senior running back rushed for 1,909 yards — an average of 9.5 yards-per-carry — while scoring 27 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 2,100 yards as a junior when Covington advanced to the state semifinals.
A two-way starter, he made 51 tackles, had five sacks, five fumble recoveries and one interception in the Charger secondary this season.
White’s competition for Back of the Year accolades include last year’s winner, QB Charlie High of Knoxville Christian Academy (CAK), the defending 3A state champion, and Giles County signal-caller Al Cobb, who led his team to a perfect regular season and No. 1 spot in the final AP Class 4A poll.
High, a six-foot senior, completed 76 percent of his aerials for 3,447 yards and 39 touchdowns while being intercepted just six times during the 10-game season. He also rushed for 278 yards and three more scores.
Cobb, meanwhile, was intercepted just one time while throwing for 2,058 yards and 25 TDs. He ran for another 16 scores and 677 yards.
Finalists were chosen by a panel of sports writers representing all geographical regions of the state and after a vote of coaches and other members of the media. Academics and character were also taken into consideration when determining the finalists.
Sports editor Mike Hutchens can be contacted by email at mhutch@ucmessenger.com. Published in The Messenger 11.8.12 | | | | |
