An amazing football season came to an end in spectacular fashion as the Plymouth Vikings held on to top Murphy 20-15 to finish the year with a 15-1 record and their second NCHSAA 1-A state championship in five years.
For that effort, Plymouth coach Robert Cody was awarded his seventh Washington Daily News Coach of the Year award, while Vikings middle linebacker Markey Brooks was tabbed the top defensive player.
In Washington, senior quarterback Jimmy Williams had a season for the ages as he rushed for over 1,000 yards and led the Pam Pack to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1956, which led to him being named the WDN Offensive Player of the Year.
This year the area featured tons of talented players, especially at the running back spot where seemingly every team had at least one star back. Those talented players made the 2012 season a great one and the Washington Daily News has taken time out to highlight the athletes that made this year so enjoyable with its All-Area team.

QUARTERBACK
MATT WISNIEWSKI,
RIVERSIDE
In his second year as starting quarterback for the Knights senior Matt Wisniewski built on his solid junior season by completing 55 percent of his passes for 1,821 yards. Wisniewski, who threw 10 TD passes on the year, led Riverside to a third place finish in a tough Four Rivers Conference.

RUNNING BACK
QUADRE PETTIFORD, PLYMOUTH
Equipped with very good speed and instincts, Plymouth’s Quadre Pettiford averaged a whopping 12.9 yards per carry to lead the team with 1,201 yards and 21 touchdowns. A two-time WDN All-Area first-teamer, Pettiford was a key element in Plymouth’s potent rushing attack.

MARKEL SPENCER, WASHINGTON
The future looks bright at Washington and Markel Spencer is a big reason why. The sophomore RB had a brilliant season as he rushed for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing some time due to injury. The blazing fast back also displayed the necessary toughness that is needed at his position and it will be fun to see his career continues to develop.

ROKEEM MILLER, SOUTHSIDE
A two-time WDN All-Area first-teamer, Southside senior Rokeem Miller turned in another excellent season as he routinely led the Seahawks in rushing. With good size and speed, Miller was a threat to break one loose every time he touched the ball and provided plenty of big runs for Southside.

OFFENSIVE LINE
BILL ANDERSON, PLYMOUTH
While the Plymouth backfield was no doubt talented, the Vikings offensive line was easily one of the best around and senior Bill Anderson was a big reason why. Standing at 6-4, 335 pounds, Anderson helped pave the way for the Vikes to have three 1,000-yard rushers this season.

DYLAN CUTLER, WASHINGTON
While he isn’t the typical mammoth offensive lineman, at 6-0, 230 Washington’s Dylan Cutler was quick and athletic and always got the job done. Cutler’s blocking allowed the Pam Pack to boast two 1,000-yard rushers and make it all the way to the third round of the playoffs.

DASHON JAMES, RIVERSIDE
Quick and aggressive, Riverside senior Dashon James was easily one of the best lineman around and a key element in the Knights attack. James not only helped RB Jadarian Brown rush for over 1,000 yards, but his fleet feet helped Riverside become of the better screen teams in the area.

DALE RUSS, NORTHSIDE
Like Washington’s Cutler, Northside’s Dale Russ may not be one of the biggest lineman in the area but he is definitely one of the toughest. Russ played with plenty of intensity and always blocked hard until the whistle blew.

HAYDEN BOGART, SOUTHSIDE
Though he missed some time with a broken ankle, Southside’s Hayden Bogart still managed to have a great season. The two-time WDN All-Area first-teamer returned from his a broken ankle midway through the season and when he came back the Seahawks running game was taken to another level.

WIDE RECEIVER, RYAN WAGNER, RIVERSIDE
At 6-1, 165 pounds senior Ryan Wagner presented a big target for Wisniewski, who looked his way often as Wagner finished the year with 39 receptions for 533 yards and five touchdowns.

TIGHT END
DEANDRE PHELPS, PLYMOUTH
A tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend and there’s no doubt DeAndre Phelps and Plymouth QB Sharmontez Ferebee hit it off this season. The 6-1 185-pound Phelps pulled in 37 passes for 750 yards and seven TDs and made defenses reconsider loading up the box against the Vikings’ talented running backs.

ATHLETE
STEVIE GREEN, WASHINGTON
It was a breakout season for Washington junior Stevie Green as he was a threat to score whether he lined up as an RB or a WR. Green proved to be a touchdown machine as he caught 19 passes for 493 yards and 11 TDs, while rushing for 871 yards and nine scores.

DEFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE LINE
JAQUAN DURHAM, SOUTH CREEK
Easily one of the most dominant players in the area, South Creek senior Jaquan Durham dominated offenses whether he lined up on the D-line or at the MLB spot. At 6-3, 225-pounds, Durham is a giant who is freakishly fast as evident by his 108 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and three sacks this season.

BAYLONE GUILFORD, WASHINGTON
A defensive coach’s dream, the 6-1, 305-pound Baylone Guilford sports the body of a college defensive tackle and has the speed to go along with his size. Guilford did a tremendous job against the run this season as he racked up 75 tackles to help lead a sturdy Pam Pack defense.

WILLIAM HOLLINGSWORKTH, PLYMOUTH
Perhaps the biggest breakout star of the 2012 season, Plymouth DT William Hollingsworth was a dominant force up front for an epic Vikings defense. The 5-9, 225-pound sophomore was no doubt one of the strongest players on the team and did a great job disrupting opposing offenses. If he can continue to develop at the rate he has so far, it will be scary to think of what he can do next season.

LAVERN RANDOLPH, SOUTH CREEK
Quick and athletic, South Creek junior defensive end Lavern Randolph was second on the team in tackles with 80. The 6-0 165-pounder showed a knack for getting to the QB as he led the Cougars with seven sacks this season.

LINEBACKERS
JAQUEZ COLUMBUS, WASHINGTON
Every good defense has a hard-hitting linebacker at the center of it and Washington’s MLB Jaquez Columbus played that role perfectly for the Pam Pack. Columbus displayed an excellent nose for the ball as he racked up 146 tackles and seven sacks and delivered big time hits when he got to the ball carrier.

DANIEL EVERETTE, RIVERSIDE
Though he missed a big chunk of the season due to a knee injury, Riverside LB Daniel Everett was incredible when he was able to get on the field. Standing at 6-2, 245 pounds, the Knights junior has great size and speed and will be a terror next season as a senior.

KEIMON BLOUNT, PLYMOUTH
Strong and dependable, Plymouth linebacker Keimon Blount wrapped up his tremendous high school career in style as he racked up 13 tackles during the state title game en route to being named the game’s top defensive player. Blount’s ability to bring down running backs was critical and helped the team compile a 15-1 record and its second state championship in five years.

SECONDARY
CORNER
KENDRICK PITT, PLYMOUTH
The Four Rivers Conference Player of the Year, Plymouth CB Kendrick Pitt was everything a coach could ask for. Pitt always displayed a good attitude and an infectious love for the game on both sides of the ball. At 6-2, 190 pounds Pitt was a big corner who could take away a team’s top receiver and also lend a big hand in run support.

DONOVAN BROWN, RIVERISDE
Athletic with good hands, Riverside’s Donovan Brown might be the best cover corner in the area. Brown showed the ability to hang with just about any receiver he faced and led the Knights with three interceptions this season.

SAFETY
ADRIAN MOORE, PLYMOUTH
A phenomenal athlete, Plymouth safety Adrian Moore has the speed to cover sideline to sideline, the hands to pull in interceptions, and at 6-2, 170 pounds, has the size to deliver hits when he gets to the ball. Moore’s game took a huge leap this season and if he can continue to progress the sky is the limit for him next season.

ROSS BYRD, RIVERSIDE
A talented junior who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, Ross Byrd excelled at the safety spot for the Knights. With 50 tackles and two interceptions, Byrd was in the midst of a stellar season before he was injured in Week 8.

SPECIAL TEAMS
PUNTER
JACK RODMAN, WASHINGTON
Every defense loves to have a good punter, and this year the Pam Pack defense was thankful to have strong-legged senior Jack Rodman. Rodman, who was named third-team all-state by NCPreps.com, averaged 42 yards per punt for Washington and made the WDN All-Area first-team for the second straight season.

KICKER
WILL CUTLER, WASHINGTON
Washington was strong in the special teams department this season and Will Cutler was a big part of that as the dependable kicker accounted for 41 points this season and did a nice job on kickoffs.

RETURNER
LEVERN RANDOLPH, SOUTH CREEK
A real weapon for the Cougars, Levern Randolph averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return this year and was able to break free for a 96-yard touchdown.

SECOND TEAM
QUARTERBACK
SHARMONTZ FEREBEE, PLYMOUTH

RUNNING BACK
JADARIAN BROWN, RIVERSIDE
CARL MCCRAY, PLYMOUTH
ANTONIO WOODS, NORTHSIDE

OFFENSIVE LINE
ZACK SAWYER, PLYMOUTH
DEON PEEL, RIVERSIDE
MONTGOMERY MCCLURE, WASHINGTON
DALE RUSS, NORTHSIDE
ZACK SINGLETARY, PLYMOUTH

WIDE RECEIVER
RYAN BYRD, RIVERSIDE

TIGHT END
JACK RODMAN, WASHINGTON

ATHLETE
DONSHAE MILLER, SOUTHSIDE

DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
CEDRIC MCABE, SOUTHSIDE
TREVON WALLACE, WASHINGTON
DWIGHT MATTOCKS, SOUTHSIDE
DEON LANIER, NORTHSIDE

LINEBACKERS
KARIM TOPPING, WASHINGTON
HAYDEN BOGART, SOUTHSIDE
MARIO MOORE, RIVERSIDE

SECONDARY
CORNER
MALIK WEBB, PLYMOUTH
DEVONTE CORPEW, WASHINGTON

SAFETY
ZACK PELT, SOUTH CREEK
COLE KELLUM, SOUTHSIDE

SPECIAL TEAMS
PUNTER
DEANDRE PHELPS, PLYMOUTH

KICKER
KYLE WHITE, SOUTHSIDE

RETURNER
D.J. BELL, WASHINGTON

HONORABLE MENTION
NORTHSIDE
Noel Howson
Edrice Adebayo
Kentrell Washington
Rockne Butler
Malik Slade
Kysheem Mackey
Dazuan Jones
Waylon Hodges

PLYMOUTH
Demarkius Price
Devonte Spruill
Bryant Wilkins-Robinson
William Pledger
Lazarus Barrow
Trey Cherry
Trevon Lee

RIVERSIDE
Kyle Leggett
Clay Wagner
Iran James
D.J. Beach
Clay Jordan

SOUTH CREEK
Troy Everett
Rondrell Andrews
Romalik Parker
Maleek Gilbert
Brandon Battle
Keshon Ampley

SOUTHSIDE
Darrius Whitley
Jake Ayers
Isaiah Moore
Isaac Harrell
Austin Main
Aaron Redmond
Andrew Jones
Chris Godley
Johnnie Pender
Matt Boyd

WASHINGTON
Stephon Moore
Marquest Jackson
Tarahje Burke
Daniel Maultsby
Quashon Davis
Jamond Ebron
Cory Grady
Chris Bohn
Mathew Wescott
Brandon Young
Justin Balance
Trey Spruill
Patrick Thompson