Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford and Union County high schools had 15 football players receive Class 1A All-State recognition, including six who earned first-team honors.
Tornadoes running back Manny Covey and quarterback Amari Jones were first-team picks on offense.
Covey, a junior who made the team as a utility player, rushed for 558 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries, while catching 27 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones, a senior who’s going to FIU, completed 148 of 262 passes for 2,287 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 371 yards and seven touchdowns on 67 carries.
Tigers kicker Jonathan Edwards was a first-team pick after connecting on 58 of 62 extra-point attempts as well as successfully connecting on all five of his field-goal attempts.
On defense, Union had two named to the first team: defensive back Daylyn Diston and linebacker Curran Webb.
Diston, a junior, made 36 tackles (22 solo) and six interceptions. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, while his season stats also included a forced fumble and six pass deflections.
Webb, a senior, made 99 tackles (52 solo and 31 for loss), 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Bradford linebacker Sincere Hankerson was a first-team pick also. The senior, who’s going to Lenoir-Rhyne University, made 52 tackles (27 solo).
The Tornadoes had three earn second-team defensive honors: linebacker Trent Hankerson and defensive backs Chalil Cummings and Jontez Williams.
Hankerson, a senior, made 51 tackles and had two forced fumbles and an interception.
Cummings, a sophomore, made 64 tackles (42 solo) and had two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Williams, a senior who’s going to Iowa State University, made the team as a utility player. He made 27 tackles (12 solo) and had three interceptions.
Tigers senior Trevor Holtzendorf was a second-team pick at linebacker after making 104 tackles (55 solo and 13.5 for loss) and five sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Union placed two offensive players on the second team: junior running back Rayvon Durant and senior lineman Alex Dure. Durant rushed for 1,344 yards and 15 touchdowns on 112 carries.
The Tigers also had three juniors earn honorable mention: quarterback A.J. Cortese, defensive lineman Dayviontae “Bubba” Thompson and offensive lineman Mikah Wilson.
Cortese, who missed five games due to injury, completed 20 of 35 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 465 yards and eight touchdowns on 33 carries.
Thompson made 58 tackles (28 solo and 22 for loss) and 10 sacks. He also forced two fumbles.
