Good Hope’s Matt Dixon (top left) was named The Times’ 2018 All-Area Player of the Year, Addison’s Zayne Guthrie (top right) was named Offensive Player of the Year, Good Hope’s Isaiah Green (bottom left) was named Defensive Player of the Year and Good Hope’s Alan Scott (bottom right) was named Coach of the Year.

What more could one ask from Matt Dixon this past season?

The incredible highlights and tremendous leadership qualities … second to none.

The praiseworthy performances and remarkable two-way abilities … off the charts.

Not to mention an ever-growing stack of deserving awards following his sensational senior campaign.

The Good Hope standout claimed All-County (Overall MVP) and All-State (Class 4A first-team athlete) accolades in December after helping the Raiders achieve their best season in more than a decade.

He was also named WBRC FOX 6’s Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year.

But wait, there’s more.

Dixon captains The Times’ 2018 All-Area Football Team as the overall Player of the Year, while Addison’s Zayne Guthrie (Offensive Player of the Year), Good Hope’s Isaiah Green (Defensive Player of the Year) and Good Hope’s Alan Scott (Coach of the Year) round out the other top prizes.

Dixon collected 1,288 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in addition to 20 catches for 380 yards and five scores.

He also racked up 54 tackles — six for loss — eight pass breakups and an interception on defense.

The bruising back saved his best for last, though.

In a 62-28 first-round playoff win against St. John Paul II? 25 carries for 248 yards and four touchdowns.

In a 27-12 second-round victory versus No. 2 Jacksonville? 25 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

In a 29-8 quarterfinal loss to Oneonta? 16 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.

As previously stated, second to none and off the charts.

“Matt Dixon is a phenomenal person, teammate and football player,” Scott said. “His effort and enthusiasm make those around him want to be better. His God-given talent makes his team believe that anything is possible when he’s on the field. Many people told me when I came to Good Hope that Matt was a great running back and an even better person. They were right. The first game that I coached him was a spring jamboree at Winston County when he was still an eighth-grader. The game was tied with under 10 seconds to play. We called a timeout, and I told him to ‘get the ball in the end zone … no matter what.’ He took the handoff, made the first tackler miss, and then proceeded to twist and turn all the way down the field (50 yards) and score with no time on the clock to win the game.

“I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to coach Matt, and I cannot tell you how many of those types of plays he made over the last four years. But I will always remember him most for who he is much more than for what he did on the field. He’s a winner, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him.”

Guthrie is the Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight season.

The senior quarterback threw for 926 yards and seven touchdowns, ran for 1,207 yards and 19 touchdowns, and even corralled 54 tackles — six for loss — and an interception on defense.

Guthrie also nabbed All-State honors (Class 2A first-team athlete) for his superlative efforts.

The Bulldogs finished with a 10-3 record and snagged a postseason berth for the ninth consecutive year.

Green, meanwhile, turned in a fantastic senior campaign of his own en route to earning Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

The defensive lineman, who took home All-County (Defensive MVP) and All-State (Class 4A first-team defensive lineman) accolades came away with 65 tackles — 20 for loss — 13 sacks and seven quarterback pressures.

He spearheaded a fabulous Good Hope unit that pitched three shutouts and yielded just 16 points per game.

Scott guided the Raiders to an 11-2 record, the program’s best showing since 2006, to win Coach of the Year.

Good Hope also reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013, won its first postseason outing since 2006 and carved out a coveted spot in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997.

The Raiders’ 442 points this season were also their most since 1997 (470).

Good Hope’s Bailey Quick grabbed the lone first-team spot at quarterback, while West Point’s Hunter Persall and Fairview’s Tyvn Ellis garnered top billing at running back.

West Point’s Kolton Sapp, Vinemont’s Dustin Moore and Hanceville’s Fred Ellis were the first-team picks at wide receiver, while Addison’s Hayden Ray, Good Hope’s Jackson Hancock, Holly Pond’s Jacob Ring, Fairview’s Jared Bachelor and West Point’s Carson Moon comprised the first-team offensive line.

Holly Pond’s Kyler Chaney, Cullman’s Jayden Sullins and Fairview’s Dayne Black received first-team spots as athletes, while Good Hope’s Walter Perez and Cullman’s Luke Andrews captured first-team honors as kicker and punter, respectively.

Cold Springs’ Francisco Ayala made the first-team cut as a tight end.

Addison’s Jeb Robinson, Holly Pond’s Colyn Cofield, Good Hope’s Riley Kilpatrick and West Point’s Brayden Martin made up the first-team defensive line. Cullman’s Dylon Wallace, Good Hope’s Dylan McDonald and Addison’s Matthew Harris notched first-team nods at linebacker, and Addison’s Luke Chambers, Good Hope’s Preston Bagwell, Cullman’s Seth Gable and Holly Pond’s Isaac Ludwig cracked the first team at defensive back.

The All-Area Team, which also includes a second team and honorable mentions, was handpicked by myself after reviewing the 2018 season and relying on the valuable input of numerous local football coaches. However, with a limited number of spots and a wealth of talented players, it’s possible some deserving candidates were left out.

See below for The Times’ complete All-Area Teams:

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The Times’ 2018 All-Area Football Team

Overall Player of the Year: Matt Dixon, Good Hope

Offensive Player of the Year: Zayne Guthrie, Addison

Defensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Green, Good Hope

Coach of the Year: Alan Scott, Good Hope

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First Team

Offense

QB: Bailey Quick, Good Hope

RB: Hunter Persall, West Point

RB: Tyvn Ellis, Fairview

WR: Kolton Sapp, West Point

WR: Dustin Moore, Vinemont

WR: Fred Ellis, Hanceville

OL: Hayden Ray, Addison

OL: Jackson Hancock, Good Hope

OL: Jacob Ring, Holly Pond

OL: Jared Bachelor, Fairview

OL: Carson Moon, West Point

TE: Francisco Ayala, Cold Springs

ATH: Kyler Chaney, Holly Pond

ATH: Jayden Sullins, Cullman

ATH: Dayne Black, Fairview

K: Walter Perez, Good Hope

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Defense

DL: Jeb Robinson, Addison

DL: Colyn Cofield, Holly Pond

DL: Riley Kilpatrick, Good Hope

DL: Brayden Martin, West Point

LB: Dylon Wallace, Cullman

LB: Dylan McDonald, Good Hope

LB: Matthew Harris, Addison

DB: Luke Chambers, Addison

DB: Preston Bagwell, Good Hope

DB: Seth Gable, Cullman

DB: Isaac Ludwig, Holly Pond

P: Luke Andrews, Cullman

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Second Team

Offense

QB: Rylan Jones, West Point

RB: RJ Evans, Hanceville

RB: Jeremiah Holmes, Holly Pond

WR: Teague Whatley, Vinemont

WR: Alex Corneglio, Holly Pond

WR: Mason Black, Fairview

OL: Dakota McGraw, Vinemont

OL: Will Swann, Cold Springs

OL: Peyton Hill, Good Hope

OL: Luke Waldrep, Addison

OL: Tyler Brown, Vinemont

TE: Tyler Boatright, Holly Pond

ATH: Ezra Burks, Cullman

ATH: Roberto Ayala, Cold Springs

ATH: Gage Gilliland, Addison

K: Daniel Flores, Vinemont

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Defense

DL: Levi Garner, Fairview

DL: Brodie Curvin, Vinemont

DL: Holden Atchison, Cullman

DL: Tim Trussell, Addison

LB: Colton Bagwell, Good Hope

LB: Jordan McCormick, Holly Pond

LB: Brody Rusk, West Point

DB: Levi Farley, West Point

DB: Donté Dumas, Fairview

DB: Matt Schwaiger, Good Hope

DB: Romael Simmons, Hanceville

P: Devan Jennings, Fairview

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Honorable Mention

Addison: Caleb Crider, Weston Smith, Grant Rice, Logan Wilkins, Brett Smith

Cold Springs: Lawson Burgess, Ayden Alexander, Jacob McClendon

Cullman: Max Dueland, Bailey Hayes, Carter Borden, Peyton Colvard, Canaan Lipsey, Jordan Ray

Fairview: Will Bailey, Parker Martin, Dalton Payne

Good Hope: Sam Jones, Dawson Speegle, Ethan Rasco, Austin Knight, Jared Pugh, Tanner Malin, Matt Hancock

Hanceville: Will Akin, Logan McKee, Logan Guthery, Bo Joles

Holly Pond: Brody Rowell, Isaac Schwaiger, Rip McBee, Levi Boatright, Tyler Simmons, Jayden Perkins

Vinemont: Hudson Wood, Dallin Dinkle, Jack Hill, Jake Griggs, Travis Hopper

West Point: Tyler Thompson, Michael Roberts, Colby Jones, Whitt Laney, Will Cochran