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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

On Saturday, Dec. 23, the 2017 Alabama Sports Writers Association announced All-State football teams, honorable mentions and coaches, including three Lowndes Academy players from the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA)and two Central High players from the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).

Named AISA first team athlete was senior Jon Johnson of Lowndes Academy at 5’10” 170 pounds.

Named AISA second team offensive lineman was sophomore Chase Little of Lowndes Academy at 6-foot 5, 290 pounds. And named AISA honorable mention defensive lineman was senior Cole Crook, Lowndes Academy at -foot’1, 190 pounds.

Named 2A AHSAA First Team Offense Receiver was senior David Baldwin of Central High, a 5-foot 9, 175-pound senior.  And named 2A AHSAA Honorable mention quarterback was senior Keegan Blackman of Central High School.

Lowndes Academy head football coach Bob Taylor said, “It is a tremendous honor for our program to have three guys selected to the sports writers All-State team.

“This is the third year in a row for us to have a player to be named first team All-State,” Taylor said. David Hussey and Brandon Reid were named in the past.

He said, “It shows how our program continues to grow each year. This is the most players that we have named to this team since I have been here. I am proud of Jon (Johnson), Chase and Cole on a well-deserved honor for them and our school.”

Johnson was selected second team All-State last year.

Central High School head football coach Quinn Hambrite said of his Baldwin and Blackman, “They are well deserved. They worked hard all season to get to that point, and I just hope that this isn’t the end of their journey by them making All-State.

He said, Baldwin had 1,600 all-purpose yards, 17 total touchdowns, three kickoff returns for touchdowns. So, he was probably the best receiver in 2A.”

Hambrite said of Blackman, “I couldn’t have done it without him. Had he gone down at quarterback, we wouldn’t have had the little success that we did. He was pretty much my leader that we needed.”