BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School senior lineman Markus Strong was named the Small-School Defensive Player of the Year as part of the Gainesville Sun’s All-Area football teams.
Strong, who signed with Oklahoma during the Early Signing Day, recorded 55 tackles (21.5 for loss). He had 10.5 sacks, three caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
He was one of three UCHS players receiving first-team defensive honors, joining senior defensive back Daylyn Diston and senior linebacker Dalton Lane. Diston had three interceptions (with one returned for a touchdown), a caused fumble and a fumble recovery to go along with 25 tackles. Lane had 58 tackles (eight for loss).
The Tigers had five offensive players receive first-team honors, including Diston, who caught 43 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns.
First-team offensive honors also went to senior quarterback A.J. Cortese, senior running back Rayvon Durant, junior lineman Tucker Baynard and junior kicker Jonathan Edwards.
Cortese completed 78 of 133 passes for 1,277 yards and seven touchdowns, while also rushing for 647 yards and 10 touchdowns on 71 carries.
Baynard helped pave the way for a rushing attack than averaged 266.5 yards per game (2,931 yards on 396 carries). Durant was the leading rusher with 1,554 yards and 17 touchdowns on 200 carries.
Edwards made 46 of his 47 extra-point attempts and was 4 of 4 on field-goal tries.
Senior linemen Carson Rogers and Mikah Wilson were second-team picks on offense, while senior linebacker Dayviontae “Bubba” Thompson was a second-team pick on defense. Thompson made 58 tackles (eight for loss) and had six sacks.
