Winners announced for ASWA back and lineman of year
Published 11:14 pm Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The 14 winners of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s annual high school football Back and Lineman of the Year awards were announced this morning and will be honored by the ASWA at its annual Player of the Year banquet Dec. 18 at the “Birmingham News.” In a change of format, the ASWA released its Back and Lineman of the year award prior to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Super Six Championships, which begin this afternoon in Birmingham, and will announce its Mr. Football Award winner at the banquet, hosted by the News.
Leroy quarterback Clint Moseley, whose teams won Class 2A state titles in 2006 and 2007, was not only the lone repeat winner, but one of two unanimous selections by the ASWA panel, made up of voters who participated in the weekly high school football poll.
Leeds defensive end Randon Carnathan was the other unanimous selection as Class 3A Lineman of the Year and also will lead his team in a state title bid as the Green Wave face defending champion Cordova at 3 p.m. today. And he’ll be going against the Class 3A Back of the Year in the Blue Devils’ Tim Simon – a finalist in 2007.
The closest voting came in the AISA Back of the Year as Bessemer Academy quarterback Garrett Pinciotti edged out Pike Liberal Arts running back Jerel Foster by a 177-172 margin. Nine points proved to be the difference for the Class 6A Back of the Year as Gadsden City defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick beat Tuscaloosa County quarterback Brett Booth, 159-150.
Other award winners include: Class 6A lineman: Quinton Dial, Clay-Chalkville; Class 5A lineman: Leland Baker, Erwin; Class 5A back: Tyler Caldwell, Cullman; Class 4A lineman: Tana Patrick, North Jackson; Class 4A back: Nolen Smith, Oneonta; Class 2A lineman: Amos Draper, Tanner; Class 1A lineman: Maurice Tate, Linden; Class 1A back: Demont Buice, Gaston; AISA lineman: Harris Gaston, Bessemer Academy.
All 14 winners in each class as well as the two finalists at each spot automatically earn spots on the ASWA All-State team in their respective divisions when the teams are announced later this month.