2012 All-County Football Team: Offense
The very first West Alabama Watchman All-County Team consists of the best of Marengo County’s best from the season that was in 2012. Four of Marengo’s seven high school teams made the playoffs and a fifth narrowly missed the postseason dance at 6-4. That gave us plenty of talent from which to choose.
Presented here are those whose performances make them without a doubt All-County.
QB – Tucker Jones, Sr. – Demopolis – There are a handful of impressive quarterbacks in Marengo County. But, there is only one who threw for 1,376 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns. It was a no-brainer that this spot go to the kid who came back better than ever in 2012 after suffering a broken leg in his junior year.
RB – Jakoby Aldridge, Jr. – Sweet Water – Only 5-6 and 155 pounds, Aldridge played well beyond his stature this year, leading the county in rushing with 1,627 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground for the Class 2A semi-finalist Bulldogs. His 200-carry total also means he scored a touchdown on one out of every 10 rushing attempts.
RB – Marquise Shelton, Sr. – Linden – It is hard to argue with success. Shelton had 1,381 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground this season in only 10 games.
RB – Roderick Davis, Jr. – Demopolis – It is hard being the lead back in an option offense, but Davis stepped into the role admirably in 2012. He finished the year with 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season as a starting running back at the 5A level.
RB – Deion Waters, Sr. – Sweet Water – The proverbial thunder to Jakoby Aldridge’s lightning, Waters proved an absolute bull for Sweet Water in 2012, rushing for 1,305 yards and 15 touchdowns on 171 carries.
WR – Rodney Harper, Sr. – Demopolis – The county’s best deep threat, Harper had 25 catches for 432 yards and six scores this season
WR – Brock Montgomery, Sr. – Demopolis – Montgomery finished the year near the top in receiving yards (373) and touchdowns (5) in the county despite playing only nine games.
TE – Shade Pritchett, So. – Marengo Academy – A true tight end with wide receiver ability, Pritchett led the entire county in both receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2012, finishing with 40 catches for 514 yards and seven scores.
OL – Tyler Davis, Sr. – Linden – At 6-2, 325 pounds, Davis gave Linden a physical force behind which to run in 2012.
OL – Derrick Tucker, Sr. – Sweet Water – The best offensive lineman on a team that rushed for 4,500 yards, Derek Tucker’s 6-1, 260-pound frame belongs on the All-County Team because it could have started up front for any team in the county.
OL – Jorian Lewis, So. – A.L. Johnson – He is 6-3 and 315 pounds. It makes perfect sense to run behind him and ALJ often did.
OL – Joseph Sammons, Jr. – Marengo Academy – The Longhorns’ best offensive lineman, Sammons proved critical to Marengo Academy’s ground game – an attack good enough to get MA to the state semi-finals.
OL – Korey James, Jr. – Demopolis – The immovable object in the Tigers’ offensive line, James used his 290-pound frame to help key a wildly effective Demopolis ground game.
ATH – Brett Davis, Sr. – Sweet Water – His numbers may lack the punch of some of his counterparts, but Brett Davis got it done as a quarterback and safety, even filling in as a part-time punter this season. And here’s a number no one else can touch: 44. That’s the number of win Davis, who also has a 32 on the ACT, has in his career as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.
ATH – Hayden Huckabee, Fr. – Marengo Academy – The only freshman on our All-County squad, Huckabee played well beyond his years in 2012. After starting the season as the Longhorn quarterback, Huckabee shifted to running back and proved the most potent big play threat in the Longhorn offense. He racked up 1,135 yards on the ground to go along with 13 touchdowns in addition to his passing, receiving and defensive numbers. Rumble Young Man. Rumble.
ATH – Jamal Lewis, Sr. – Linden – Lewis snagged a couple of interceptions on defense, but it is his playmaking ability on offense and special teams that puts him on our list. That ability netted him more than 10 yards per touch on plays from scrimmage. Not bad for a kid who is only 5-5 and 129 pounds.
ATH – Castillo Huggins, Sr. – A.L. Johnson – Huggins did plenty of work on the defensive side of the ball with 84 tackles in 2012, but it was an offensive contribution of 21 total touchdowns that landed him a spot on our team.
K – Brant Lewis, Jr. – Marengo Academy – The most effective kicker around, Lewis had the highest extra point percentage in the county in addition to being the only place kicker to hit more than one field goal this season.
The West Alabama Watchman All-County defense will be posted Monday, Dec. 10.