ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM: Dixon named Overall MVP; Quick, Green, Scott secure county’s other top accolades

Published 7:00 am Saturday, December 15, 2018

Cullman County’s seven football coaches convened and decided on this year’s top award with relative ease.

The short, take-everything-into-account discussion yielded one deserving recipient: Good Hope’s Matt Dixon.

The senior running back produced 1,288 yards and 18 touchdowns on 164 carries to go along with 20 catches for 380 yards and five additional touchdowns. He also amassed 54 total tackles — six for loss — and snagged two interceptions on defense.

Dixon didn’t play in the fourth quarter of six games this season, making those stats even more impressive.

Put it all together, and it’s no surprise he was selected the Overall MVP of the 2018 All-County Football Team.

Bailey Quick (Offensive MVP), Isaiah Green (Defensive MVP) and Alan Scott (Coach of the Year) completed the Red and White sweep of the remaining All-County honors.

Dixon’s tremendous demeanor and work ethic made him a pleasure to watch on and coach off the field.

He also saved some of his best performances for when it mattered most.

Like hauling in a game-winning, 30-yard touchdown reception against Fayette County in Week 9.

Or delivering 248 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries against St. John Paul II to help propel the Raiders to their first playoff victory since 2006.

The list goes on and on for Dixon.

And for that, Scott is extremely thankful.

“Matt is going to be one of those guys who’s one of the top two players I’ve ever coached,” he said. “Number one, he always shows up for work. Number two, he’s got a great attitude. He gives you everything he’s got to give you. And a lot of the time for him, that’s more than the guy across from him can give. He plays every play as hard as he can. His personality and his ability to lift up the guys around him was phenomenal.”

Quick also played a part in Good Hope’s remarkable season.

The senior quarterback completed 88 of 141 passes for 1,397 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He compiled 755 yards and seven touchdowns (129 carries) on the ground as well.

“Bailey is what I would call a gamer,” Scott said. “He has the ability to make plays and has done so for us for two years. No one can argue that your quarterback is what makes it go. He commands the offense. He’s also got a shooter’s mentality (like a basketball player). He feels like he make the play, regardless of the situation. And the kids believe good things can happen with the ball in his hands.”

The Raiders’ defense, meanwhile, turned in a dazzling campaign, allowing just 16 points per game and pitching three shutouts.

Green spearheaded that unit with a monstrous season.

The senior lineman racked up 65 total tackles — 20 for loss — 13 sacks, seven quarterback pressures and an interception.

“The thing about Isaiah is that he always had himself in position to make a play,” Scott said. “A lot of guys are able to do that, but when he got his hands on you … he was going to get the tackle. He just made plays, made big plays. He also had the two biggest hits of the year on defense. He’s a humble young man and really just a pleasure to coach. To see him be able to turn it up a notch, I was very proud of him.”

Scott, meanwhile, earned recognition from his peers after leading Good Hope to an 11-2 season.

The Raiders reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997, scored an average of 34 points per outing and accumulated double-digit wins for the first time since 2006.

Holly Pond coach Mike Bates showed admiration for both Scott and the job the latter did this fall.

“I think he’s a very impressive man to talk to,” Bates said. “He’s very driven and a man of faith. We had a talk before a game one night, and he became one of my favorites right then. I’d let my kid play for him. As for this year, he never wavered from his path. If you believe in what you’re doing, you try to go straight ahead. That’s what he did at Good Hope, and they had a great season.”

The Raiders led the county with 11 first-team players, including Dixon, Quick, Green, Jackson Hancock (OL), Peyton Hill (OL), Preston Bagwell (WR), Riley Kilpatrick (DL), Colton Bagwell (LB), Dylan McDonald (LB), Matt Schwaiger (DB) and Walter Perez (K).

Holly Pond and West Point were next in line with seven first-team selections apiece.

Tyler Boatright (TE), Kyler Chaney (ATH), Colyn Cofield (DL), Alex Corneglio (DL), Jordan McCormick (LB), Isaac Ludwig (DB) and Jacob Ring (OL) were the Broncos’ honorees, while Rylan Jones (QB), Carson Moon (OL), Kolton Sapp (WR), Hunter Persall (RB), Brayden Martin (DL), Brody Rusk (LB) and Levi Farley (DB) all made the first-team cut for the Warriors.

Fairview had six first-team picks in Dayne Black (QB), Tyvn Ellis (RB), Jared Bachelor (OL), Levi Garner (DL), Donté Dumas (DB) and Devan Jennings (P).

Dakota McGraw (OL), Tyler Brown (OL), Teague Whatley (WR), Dustin Moore (ATH) and Brodie Curvin (DL) represented Vinemont’s five first-teamers.

Cold Springs — Will Swann (OL), Francisco Ayala (TE) and Roberto Ayala (DB) — and Hanceville — RJ Evans (RB), Fred Ellis (WR) and Romael Simmons (LB) — rounded out the first team with three selections apiece.

Persall was last year’s Overall MVP, while Dixon was the Offensive MVP.

Jones, Simmons, Moore, Corneglio, Evans, Bachelor, Hancock, Ring, Boatright, Chaney, Colton Bagwell, Cofield, Kilpatrick and Francisco Ayala were all first-teamers a season ago.

The All-County Team is handpicked by Cullman County’s seven football coaches. All-State will be released by the Alabama Sports Writers Association later this month. All-Area, which is determined by The Times, and is set to include players from Addison and Cullman, will be released after the New Year.

See below for this year’s complete All-County Team, including second-team players and honorable mentions.

Overall MVP: Matt Dixon, Good Hope

Offensive MVP: Bailey Quick, Good Hope

Defensive MVP: Isaiah Green, Good Hope

Coach of the Year: Alan Scott, Good Hope

First Team

Offense

Quarterback: Rylan Jones, West Point; Dayne Black, Fairview

Running Back: Hunter Persall, West Point; RJ Evans, Hanceville; Tyvn Ellis, Fairview

Wide Receiver: Fred Ellis, Hanceville; Kolton Sapp, West Point; Teague Whatley, Vinemont; Preston Bagwell, Good Hope

Offensive Line: Jacob Ring, Holly Pond; Carson Moon, West Point; Dakota McGraw, Vinemont; Jackson Hancock, Good Hope; Peyton Hill, Good Hope; Jared Bachelor, Fairview; Will Swann, Cold Springs, Tyler Brown, Vinemont

Tight End: Francisco Ayala, Cold Springs; Tyler Boatright, Holly Pond

Athlete: Kyler Chaney, Holly Pond; Dustin Moore, Vinemont

Kicker: Walter Perez, Good Hope

Defense

Defensive Line: Riley Kilpatrick, Good Hope; Colyn Cofield, Holly Pond; Brodie Curvin, Vinemont; Brayden Martin, West Point; Levi Garner, Fairview; Alex Corneglio, Holly Pond

Linebacker: Colton Bagwell, Good Hope; Dylan McDonald, Good Hope, Brody Rusk, West Point; Romael Simmons, Hanceville; Jordan McCormick, Holly Pond

Defensive Back: Levi Farley, West Point; Isaac Ludwig, Holly Pond; Roberto Ayala, Cold Springs; Donté Dumas, Fairview; Matt Schwaiger, Good Hope

Punter: Devan Jennings, Fairview

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback: Jack Hill, Vinemont

Running Back: Jeremiah Holmes, Holly Pond; Ayden Alexander, Cold Springs; Dallin Dinkle, Vinemont

Wide Receiver: Mason Black, Fairview; Logan Guthery, Hanceville; Lawson Burgess, Cold Springs

Offensive Line: Logan McKee, Hanceville; Isaac Schwaiger, Holly Pond; Dawson Speegle, Good Hope; Will Bailey, Fairview; Will Akin, Hanceville; Michael Roberts, West Point; Sam Jones, Good Hope

Tight End: Hudson Wood, Vinemont

Athlete: Brody Rowell, Holly Pond; Will Cochran, West Point

Kicker: Daniel Flores-Carreno, Vinemont

Defense

Defensive Line: Tyler Thompson, West Point; Jayden Perkins, Holly Pond; Ethan Rasco, Good Hope; Austin Knight, Good Hope; Colby Jones, West Point; Travis Hopper, Vinemont; Jacob McClendon, Cold Springs

Linebacker: Levi Boatright, Holly Pond; Caleb Smith, West Point; Jake Griggs, Vinemont; Jared Pugh, Good Hope; Dalton Payne, Fairview

Defensive Back: Johnny Quick, Good Hope; Tanner Malin, Good Hope; Rip McBee, Holly Pond; Whitt Laney, West Point; Parker Martin, Fairview

Punter: None

Honorable Mention

Cold Springs: Brodi Williams, Jordan Lacey, Zeke White, Houston McCarn

Fairview: Alex Medina, Eli Speegle, Adam Parker, Tyde Bagwell

Good Hope: Jager Burns, Matt Hancock, Trevor Pace, Doston Putman, Justin Rasco

Hanceville: Tristin Cornelius, Antonio Bautista, Bo Joles

Holly Pond: Caleb Lambert, Andy Garcia, Riley Gillilan, Collin Leathers, Todd Sears, Tyler Simmons

Vinemont: Cam Carter, Anthony Brasher, Mitch Ford

West Point: Cooper Couch, Kobe Bowers, Erik Giggs, Will Brown