COVINGTON, Ga. —With the 2020 prep soccer season firmly in our rearview mirror, it’s time for The Covington Information employees to have a look again on the most impactful gamers from our space.
Within the context of a pandemic, merely finishing a season ought to be seen as successful. Even nonetheless, there are at all times people who discover methods to rise above and past the decision of obligation within the face of adversity. Final season was no exception.
These listed under confirmed up every Friday night time and earned the precise to be positioned among the many Newton County’s elite.
It’s an honor to current to you the 2020 All-Covington Information Soccer Group.
MVP: Nyland Inexperienced (Newton)
Was there something Inexperienced couldn’t do on a soccer subject in 2020?
As a senior, he racked up 457 receiving yards on 25 catches and located the tip zone 4 occasions as a receiver. He was additionally productive on the opposite facet of the sector, recording 47 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 5 interceptions — together with a pick-six — whereas garnering nationwide consideration as a cornerback.
Inexperienced was additionally a deadly weapon for the Rams on particular groups. His seemingly easy stride and elusiveness made him a nightmare for opposing punt and kickoff groups. He picked up large chunks of yards on returns time and time once more, together with his electrical 97-yard kickoff return for a landing towards rival Alcovy.
No different participant within the space had an even bigger affect on his workforce’s success than Inexperienced final season. He really earned the title of Most Worthwhile Participant in our space every Friday night time.
Offensive POTY: Dayton Inexperienced (Eastside)
5 days earlier than the 2020 season started, Eastside senior quarterback Jaylen Woods suffered a leg harm in apply that threatened to sideline him for practically two months.
In stepped Inexperienced.
After rising as one of many Eagles’ prime wideouts in 2019, Inexperienced transitioned to a brand new position below middle because the workforce’s emergency quarterback. There have been some rising pains at first, however it didn’t take very lengthy for him to regulate to the lifetime of a gunslinger.
Inexperienced began the primary seven video games of the season, throwing for 787 yards and 9 touchdowns whereas tossing only one interception. He was additionally a menace on his legs, choosing up 137 yards on the bottom from the quarterback place.
Woods returned from harm for Eastside’s eighth sport of the season, however Inexperienced’s contributions didn’t cease. He shifted again out to receiver and reeled in 21 receptions — second-most on the workforce — for 258 yards and two touchdowns in six video games.
When adversity struck, Inexperienced didn’t hesitate to do something he might to carry his workforce success. In consequence, the Eagles gained 10 video games and returned to the state quarterfinals for the second time in three years.
Defensive POTY: Justin Benton (Newton)
The freshman phenom lived as much as the hype throughout his sophomore marketing campaign final fall.
Coming off a season through which he was named the All-Covington Information Freshman of the 12 months, Benton added extra muscle within the winter and summer time. He additionally took on extra of a vocal management position in apply, reaching outdoors his consolation zone to guide his teammates with phrases and instruction along with his actions.
These steps of maturation translated to continued on-field success.
Benton closed out the 12 months with 93 complete tackles. The defensive lineman led the workforce in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (24.5) and QB hurries (22), tied First Group All-Space defensive again Darius Inexperienced for solo tackles (55) and added an interception for good measure.
With presents from the likes of Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and Arizona State on the desk, Benton has already begun to mild up recruiting boards. As he continues to pile on muscle and hammer down his approach, he might show to be one of many prime faculty soccer recruits within the state — if not the nation.
Newcomer of the 12 months: Ashton Evans (Alcovy)
Evans was tabbed the beginning quarterback for the Tigers of their last sport of 2019. Coming into his sophomore season poised to earn the full-time beginning position, he didn’t disappoint.
With Evans below middle, the Tigers averaged 20.6 factors per sport — a big uptick from 14.5 PPG in 2019 and seven.75 PPG in 2018. He proved to be a flexible menace, conserving defenders on edge along with his shiftiness within the backfield in addition to his highly effective arm.
Alcovy was struck with adversity and scheduling points as a result of pandemic, however Evans’ management as a sophomore quarterback helped information the workforce to their first postseason look since 2013.
Coach of the 12 months: Troy Hoff (Eastside)
The departure of a four-year starter at quarterback. A big harm to the novel quarterback introduced in to take the reins of the offense. A better classification and harder area to navigate than in years previous.
It’s a mixture that will spell a setback for a lot of packages. However not for Eastside.
As a substitute, in his sixth season calling the photographs, head coach Troy Hoff led the Eagles to a 10-win season and a visit again to the state quarterfinals for the second time in three years.
It might be argued that the 2020 season was Hoff’s most spectacular from a training standpoint — much more so than the 2018 marketing campaign that noticed the Eagles coast into the quarterfinals at 12-0.
Hoff proved that he and his employees excel at using the expertise they’ve and transferring puzzle items round to search out the precise match.
First Group Offense
QB Logan Cross (Social Circle)
RB Dallas Johnson (Eastside)
RB Tristan Mayweather (Alcovy)
WR KJ Reid (Social Circle)
WR Mathias Top (Alcovy)
WR Saabir Berrian (Eastside)
OL Dana Campbell (Alcovy)
OL James Amos (Eastside)
OL Keyshawn Blackstock
(Newton)
OL Jaylen Farmer (Eastside)
OL Jackson Austin (Social Circle)
First Group Protection
DL MJ Stroud (Alcovy)
DL Seth Martin (Eastside)
DL Christian Benson (Eastside)
LB Nolan McCamy (Newton)
LB Grayson Malcom (Eastside)
LB Justin Buchanan (Alcovy)
LB Tucker Cleary (Social Circle)
DB Mason Moore (Social Circle)
DB Darius Inexperienced (Newton)
DB Nijay Willis (Newton)
DB Devin Brown (Eastside)
Second Group Offense
QB Jevarra Martin Jr. (Newton)
RB Kenai Grier (Eastside)
RB Honest Johnson (Eastside)
WR Jamel Johnson (Alcovy)
WR Cole Shannon (Eastside)
WR Eric Taylor (Social Circle)
OL Sean Poe (Social Circle)
OL Marcus Metcalf (Eastside)
OL Oro Avery (Newton)
OL Elijah Zollicofer (Newton)
OL Jaden Thrower (Alcovy)
Second Group Protection
DL Malachai Arnett (Newton)
DL Sambo Button (Eastside)
DL Trey Douglas (Social Circle)
LB Levi Adcox (Alcovy)
LB Hint Nicholson (Eastside)
LB Jehden Robinson (Newton)
LB Armani Russ (Alcovy)
DB Nick Benton (Eastside)
DB Audavion Collins (Newton)
DB Phillip Baynes Jr.
(Social Circle)
DB Caleb Brown (Alcovy)
Particular Groups
Okay Jaydon Fain (Eastside)
P Braxton Crawford (Alcovy)
Honorable Mentions:
Dawson Blake (Alcovy), Isaiah Kairy (Alcovy), Danny Moore (Alcovy), Raymir Brown (Alcovy), Jaylen Woods (Eastside), Kevin Napier (Eastside), Rodney Williams (Eastside), Tahjae Mullix (Newton), Jaden Blackwell (Newton), AJ Greene (Newton), Amarion Russell (Social Circle)
