2015 Daily News All-County Football Selections
Published 1:11 pm Thursday, December 24, 2015

HURDLING THE COMPETITION: Lawrence Brown frees himself of a diving Northampton County defender in Southside’s first-round playoff game. He darted his way to the top of most offensive statistical categories in the county.
Another Beaufort County football season is in the books. It was a fruitful, historic season for Southside, which made its first regional final appearance in over a decade. With the exception of a shootout loss to powerhouse East Carteret, the Seahawks steamrolled through most of their regular-season opponents.
That paved the road for an enjoyable playoff run. They pummeled Southeast Halifax, 51-6, in their first-round contest. Northampton County and North Edgecombe proved to be peskier challenges, but Southside’s heart was on full display. The defense played its part, forcing timely turnovers that siphoned away momentum from the opposition, while senior running backs Lawrence Brown and Matt Baxter continued pounding on the ground.
After hosting its first three playoff games, Southside traveled to Plymouth for the 1-A state championship semifinal. The Seahawks came up short in the 17-12 loss, but that will not tarnish the incredible months of football to come out of Chocowinity this season. Their 12-2 finish is one of the best in program history.
Washington entered the season with its trip to last season’s state championship still fresh in its mind. As is the case with any team, there were ups and downs throughout the year. The Pam Pack decimated a formidable Southwest Edgecombe team, 53-13, on the road, only to turn around and get shutout in the second half en route to a 19-12 home loss to Beddingfield.
The boys went on to finish the season with back-to-back wins to earn a share of the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference Championship — along with the aforementioned Beddingfield and Southwest Edgecombe clubs.
They also earned the right to host their first-round playoff bout. Their campaign came to a shocking halt when Northside-Jacksonville came into town and shut them out, 34-0. The team’s seniors have a 7-5 finish and a share of a title to hang their hats on, but the early playoff exit stung.
The result may be a different offensive philosophy at Washington. Coach Sport Sawyer may deviate from the team’s traditional wing-T offense in lieu of a more balanced approach.
Northside’s season got off to a hot start. The Panthers started 2-0 with wins against Creswell and at North Duplin. Problems that plagued them a year before appeared to subside. Quarterback Jackson Midgette and running back James Barrow led a balanced offense and the team’s defense seemed set early on.
They sputtered from there and went on to lose out to finish 2-9. Northside’s campaign was punctuated by a 24-22 loss to a winless Lejeune squad.
The good news is that most of the pieces will return next year. Midgette and Barrow are both looking forward to their senior years. Midgette’s entire receiving corps will return. The group, led by rising senior Chris Slade, hauled in five touchdowns this year.
MAKING THE CUT: Pam Pack running back Clinton Pope makes a cut and darts up the sideline during Washington’s regular-season game against North Johnston.
First Team
JOHNNY SULLIVAN, QB, SR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 29-of-78, 609 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs
LAWRENCE BROWN, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 283 carries, 2,285 yards, 19 TDs
CLINTON POPE, RB, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 181 carries, 1,353 yards, 10 TDs
MATT BAXTER, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 133 carries, 1,244 yards, 20 TDs
JACKSON MIDGETTE, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE
STATS: 41-of-84, 685 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs; 94 carries, 481 yards, 7 TDs
JARQUEZ KEYES, ATH, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 90 carries, 736 yards, 7 TDs; 69 total tackles (40 solo), 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
JAMES BARROW, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE
STATS: 100 carries, 600 yards, 7 TDs; 32 total tackles (9 solo), 1 fumble recovery
CHRIS SLADE, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE
STATS: 634 all-purpose yards, 3 TDs; 19 total tackles (9 solo).
LEXROY BROWN, ILB, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 134 total tackles (60 solo), 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
HUNTER SPARKS, MLB, JR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 107 total tackles (77 solo), 2.5 sacks, 2 fumbles forced
MANUEL MENDOZA, MLB, NORTHSIDE
STATS: 75 total tackles (19 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble forced, 2 fumbles recovered
NIGEL PEELE, OLB, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 84 total tackles (57 solo), 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
TYRECE TAYLOR, OLB, JR., NORTHSIDE
STATS: 74 total tackles (31 solo), 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced
RAE’KWON MORNING, DE, SR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 92 total tackles (60 solo), 7 sacks, 3 fumbles forced, 3 fumbles recoveries
AUSTIN O’NEAL, DE, JR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 99 total tackles (58 solo), 3 sacks
JOE MYERS, CB, JR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 81 tackles (62 solo), 4 INTs, 4 fumbles forced, 5 fumble recoveries
ZIKAJAH CRAWFORD, S, JR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: 32 total tackles (26 solo), 4 INTs
HASAAN CREDLE, S, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: 32 total tackles (13 solo), 3 INTs
NEILL JENNINGS, OL, SR., WASHINGTON
STATS: N/A
DONSHAE TATUM, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE
STATS: N/A
Second Team
SUAE POE, RB, JR., WASHINGTON
JOSH CRANCE, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE
SHAHEIM BREWINGTON, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE
CONNER SAWYER, C, SR., WASHINGTON
CASHMIR BLOUNT, CB, SR., NORTHSIDE
TEDDY MINOR, OL, SO., SOUTHSIDE
BRANDON JACKSON, DL, SR., WASHINGTON
BRANDON SULLIVAN, OLB, SO., SOUTHSIDE
JEREMY MASSEY, DE, SR., SOUTHSIDE
NAZZIR HARDY, DB, SO., WASHINGTON
NICK BAUGHMAN, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE
CAMERON CAHOON, MLB, SO., NORTHSIDE
KYLE HILL, CB, SO., SOUTHSIDE
MARK HALBERT II, LB, SR., WASHINGTON
IKEEM THOMPSON, DE, SR., NORTHSIDE
SHARWAN STATON, ATH, JR., WASHINGTON
AMARI PEELE, ATH, SO., SOUTHSIDE
Honorable Mentions
TRIPP BARFIELD, QB, JR., WASHINGTON
TANNER ALLIGOOD, OLB, SO., NORTHSIDE
DEMITRIUS EBRON, RB, SO., SOUTHSIDE
LOGAN LITTLE, JR, S, WASHINGTON
MATTHEW MARSLENDER, S, SO., NORTHSIDE
DYLAN LEWIS, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE