Area players garner All-State honors

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Dec. 16, 2003
The Mississippi Association of Coaches handed 21 area players an early Christmas gift on Monday.
Numerous players were selected to the MAC's fifth All-State football teams. The players were selected by committee from each class in each region.
Meridian High School punter Andrew Gambrell garnered second-team Class 5A All-State honors.
The Wildcats kicker, who also tallied 52 points on 36 extra-point kicks and six field goals as the team place kicker, was surprised he was picked as a member of the All-State team.
In Class 4A, seven players were selected on the All-State squad.
Louisville's Greg Hathorn and Courtney Coleman were each named to the 4A All-State, first-team defense. Wayne County placed Ced Jones, Jerrel Powe and Steve Gandy on the defensive first team, as well.
Powe, a junior defensive tackle, was also selected as the 4A defensive Player of the Year.
Wayne County running back Michael McLaughan was selected to the first-team, All-State offensive team in Class 4A, AND Quitman back Mike McLendon earned second-team offense honors.
War Eagle head coach Marcus Boyles, who led Wayne County to its second consecutive state title this season, was picked as the 4A Coach of the Year.
Newton High School guard Leroy Bowden was the areas only selection on the Class 2A All-State offensive team. The senior lineman earned first-team honors.
On the defensive side of the 2A All-State squad, Bay Springs defensive end Jason Jones and Enterprise safety Adam Simpson each made the first team.
Philadelphia defensive tackle Anthony Gray and outside linebacker Jamal Peebles were second-team defensive selections, and Enterprise punter Cody Windham made the second team.
Nanih Waiya and Union each placed two players on the Class 1A All-State second team on offense.
Tight end Cody Vandevender and guard Kyle Jones were each named to the second team from Nanih Waiya, and guard Michael Moulds and running back Anthony Johnson each earned second-team honors from Union.
On defense, Union defensive tackle Michael Donald was named to the second team, and Nanih Waiya outside linebacker Chris Parker picked up second-team honors.
South Panola's Peria Jerry earned defensive Player of the Year honors in Class 5A, and Oak Grove quarterback Kyle Sellers was named the 5A offensive Player of the Year.
Oxford Ken Smith was named the 4A offensive Player of the Year for his 877 rushing yard and 10 touchdown performance.
Cleveland running back Ken Cox was named the 3A offensive Player of the Year, and Corinth's Jonathan Celestine earned defensive Player of the Year honors.
Seminary's Jacob Turner was picked as the Class 2A defensive Player of the Year, and Baldwyn's Blake Barnes was named the offensive Player of the Year.
In Class 1A, Ray Brooks' Lavarus Giles earned offensive Player of the Year, and Scott Central's Mitch Bradford was named the defensive Player of the Year.