2016 All-County Football Team
Published 5:50 am Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Defense
DL, Ty Lett, TRM
DL, Trentez Johnson, TRM
DL, Rickey Samuel, WSN
DL, Trae Lee, Escambia Academy
LB, J.T. Gantt, WSN
LB, Aaron Morton, Flomaton
LB, Jaylan Brown, Escambia County
DB, JoJo Booker, TRM
DB, Fred Flavors, Escambia County
DB, Henry Davison, TRM
DB, Kainoa Gumapec, Escambia County
Defensive MVP, JoJo Booker, TRM
T.R. Miller senior, JoJo Booker was everywhere on the field. Literally everywhere.
Booker played wide receiver on offense, kicked punts, returned punts, etc. Whenever the Tigers needed a playmaker it was No. 14 who was usually the one to get the job done.
Where Booker arguably shined the most was on defense.
The Tigers entered the season young, with little experience in the secondary. Booker led the group with nine interceptions, including returning an interception for a touchdown against cross-town rival W.S. Neal on Oct. 28. Twice Booker recorded the hat trick in interceptions (Sept. 9 against Hillcrest Evergreen and WSN).
From causing havoc with a hit (26 solo tackles), his hands, or leadership (team captain) on and off the field, Booker made quite an impact for the TRM Tigers, who stayed in the Class 3A top-ten for the whole season.
Offense
QB, Caleb Winton, TRM
HB, Michael Campbell, TRM
HB, Louie Turner, Escambia Academy
WR, JoJo Booker, TRM
WR, Patrick McGhee, Escambia Academy
TE, Tyrese Nicholson, TRM
OL, Aaron Nicholson, TRM
OL, Preston Townson, TRM
OL, Willie English, WSN
OL, Ryan Gagliano, Flomaton
OL, Cameron Armentor, Escambia Academy
Offensive MVP, Michael Campbell, TRM
No player was named player of the week as many times as Michael Campbell this season. The reason? Due to a stellar seven-game stretch in which Campbell rushed for 942 yards and 16 touchdowns. During which over the seven-game stretch, Campbell averaged 135 yards and two touchdowns.
Campbell had his best game on homecoming night versus region rival Flomaton on Oct. 7.
The 220 pound junior was a work horse with 26 carries and 253 yards yards. He finished the night with three touchdowns.
The best may be yet to come for Campbell, who will be a senior next year. “Soup,” as he’s known to teammates and coaches, may be handing out ladles to opponents next season on not just the offensive side of the ball but as well on the defensive side at linebacker.
Special Teams
K, Matthew Morgan, TRM
P, JoJo Booker, TRM
Honorable Mention
DB, Joshua Jolly, TRM
OL, Chris Nobles, TRM
OL, Josh McMillan, WSN
HB, Kris Brown, Escambia Academy
LB, Casey Steadham, Flomaton
DB, Da’Shun Odom, Flomaton
ATH, Devon Robinson, Escambia County
Coach of the Year
Hugh Fountain, Escambia Academy
Escambia Academy head football coach Hugh Fountain is the 2016 All-County Coach of the Year.
Fountain helped lead the Cougars to their second state championship game in three years. He also eclipsed the 200-win mark in the state semifinals. EA finished at 8-5 on the season.
The head coach said the award’s credit goes to the players.
“To me, it goes to the players because they make the season,” Fountain said. “Even though we didn’t win a state championship, but we played in it, that was an accomplishment with our guys.”
Fountain said the EA culture is one where a lot of the coaches take pride in being able to coach high-caliber athletes.
“This award, to me, is about these guys and the assistant coaches,” he said. “They’ve been with us for a couple of years.”
Throughout the season, Fountain, along with assistant coaches John Gartman, Cale Thompson, Jeff Price, Marquino Siler, Marty Long, Joey Quimby and JP Sawyer, helped players improve in their respective positions.
Fountain said the coaches always stress to the players that it’s the end of the season that matters.
“One thing that we’ve done with the players is that we’re not afraid to change,” he said. “We’re not afraid to move people around.”
Fountain said the players are willing to play in different positions if need be.
By the numbers:
TRM, 11 selections (Booker selected to offense, defense and special team)
WSN, 3 selections
EA, 6 selections
FHS, 2 selections
ECHS, 1 selection
***Brewton Standard Sports Editor Corey Williams and Atmore Advance Editor Andrew Garner compiled the 2016 Escambia County All-County Football Team. Area coaches nominated top performing athletes by providing statistics. For stats of county selections pick up an issue of The Brewton Standard.***