Salmen and Pearl River were rewarded for their football seasons with the selection of the all-district team for 9-4A. The teams combined to put 14 players on the first-team all-district.

Salmen’s Jerry Leonard won the district’s Coach of the Year, while Salmen senior wide receiver Isiah Tate was named offensive MVP and senior defensive back David Edgerson was the defensive Most Valuable Player.

Leonard helped guide the Spartans to an undefeated district season (5-0). Salmen finished the season 10-3 overall. Salmen made it to the state semifinals, but suffered a heartbreaking loss to state runner-up Archbishop Shaw, 14-10. The setback snapped a nine-game winning streak.

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Leonard credited his team for the honor.

“It’s an award that speaks volumes for the program, coaching staff and players,” Leonard said. “It’s an honor to be chosen by your peers and represent the district this way.”

Leonard also said it was a great season and is hoping to build on it.

Tate was Salmen’s go-to receiver. During district, he caught 25 passes for 406 yards (16.2 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.

Tate credited his teammates for helping him get the award.

“I give it to my line because without them nothing would be able to happen at all because they’ve gotta block. Second, I give it to the quarterbacks (senior Julien Troullier and sophomore Daniel Sams) because they had to make the reads and the throws,” Tate said

Edgerson had 32 tackles during the district season with 18 solos. He had three stops for loss, broke up three passes, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble. He also registered a sack and an interception.

Edgerson talked about winning the defensive MVP.

“It feels good. God blessed me. I was trying to get all-district, but I never thought I would get defensive MVP. There are a lot of players in the district that could’ve gotten it. My mom (Wendy Stampley) was a big help with all her support. She pushed me and always made sure I gave my all.”

Edgerson added that he feels good about the season.

“We built from the tradition that Salmen had. We tried bring Salmen back to where it was before the storm,” he said.

The rest of Salmen’s first-team all-district offensive players included senior guard Michael Eason and senior tackle Nathan Lee.

During district, Eason posted eight pancake blocks. Pearl River, who went 7-3 and fell to Shaw in the bi-district round, 40-21. The Rebels had four offensive players senior tackle Will Howell, center Justin Piglia, junior running back James Gillum and senior wide receiver Jacob Maxwell make first team.

During district, Gillum ran for 818 yards on 123 carries (6.6 yards per carry) with 18 touchdowns.

Maxwell finished the district season with 10 receptions for 256 yards and three scores.

The first-team quarterback is Franklinton sophomore quarterback Terrance Magee. The non-local running backs are East Jefferson senior Anthony Holmes and Franklinton sophomore Reggie Wilson. Holmes also made it as a first-team kick returner. Holy Cross senior Blake Toups, who was also named as the first-team athlete, second team kick returner and second team defensive back, is the only non-local wide receiver on the first-team. The tight end is Franklinton senior David Hofstetter. Franklinton senior guard Matt Stafford, who made it at guard, is the only non-local lineman on the first-team. Franklinton senior Spencer Jennings is the kicker.

The Salmen first-team defensive players include junior lineman Isame Faciane, sophomore lineman Malcom Pichon, senior linebacker Dedrick Parson and senior punter Victor Arroyo. During district, Faciane tallied 36 tackles, 15 individual stops with six sacks. He had 15 tackles for loss with four quarterback pressures and a forced fumble. Pichon had 25 tackles, 10 soloes and three for loss.

Arroyo averaged 34-yards per punt and eight of his kicks were downed inside the 20-yard line.

Pearl River had two senior defensive players linebacker Stephen Arthur and lineman T.J. Peterson, who were recognized for the first-team.

Overall, Arthur led the Rebels with 105 tackles, 56 solos and he assisted on 55 stops. He posted four sacks. For the season, Peterson registered 43 tackles, 19 solos and he assisted on 21 with three sacks.

Franklinton senior Chazz Tate was the only non-local lineman to be named as a first-team player. The non-local linebackers included Riverdale senior Paul Wallace and Franklinton junior Josh Marks. The non-local defensive backs were all seniors including Riverdale’s Taylor Harper, Franklinton’s BJ Dykes and Holy Cross’ Vic Cross.

Salmen and Pearl River are well-represented on the second team.

Spartans’ sophomore Daniel Sams is the quarterback. The local running backs include Pearl River senior Jeremiah Levy and Salmen junior Jordan Stevenson.

Riverdale senior Ozzie Lennix was the other second-team running back.

Salmen junior George Williams one of the wide receivers. The others were Holy Cross senior Cameron Merrell along with Franklinton juniors LeSean Jackson and DeVonta Flowers. Jackson also made the second-team as a kick returner.

The tight end is Riverdale senior Al Williams. The local tackle is Salmen junior Justin Viger. Franklinton senior Eric Ginn was the other.

The guards are Salmen senior Joe Rudolph and Pearl River junior Mason Lee. The center is Franklinton junior Keenan Wilson. Salmen’s Arroyo is the second-team kicker.

Spartans’ senior Julien Troullier, whose season was cut short by an injury, is one of the athletes. Riverdale senior Antoine Williams garnered the other spot.

Four local players made the second-team defensively including Salmen senior linebacker Cedrick Wilkes and sophomore lineman T.J. Price. Pearl River senior defensive back Cory Jenkins along with punter Maxwell were also named as second-team players.

The remaining linemen are Riverdale senior Gilbert Thomas, junior Travis Briggs and Franklinton junior Ledarius Bickham.

The rest of the linebackers are Franklinton seniors Robert Thomas and Jaspen Robinson, along with East Jefferson senior Wes Ladd. The non-local defensive backs are Holy Cross’ Toups, Riverdale’s Williams and Franklinton junior Jermaine Barnes.