Class 4A state champion Paducah Tilghman was well-represented on the First Team All Western Kentucky Conference Team honored earlier this month at Marshall County High School.
The Blue Tornado had two offensive players and five defensive players named to the team. In addition, Tilghman’s Sean Thompson was named the coach of the year.
Murray High School’s Jeremiah Johnson, a Nebraska signee, was the only player named to both the offensive and defensive teams.
First Team All WKC Team
QB – Jack James – Paducah Tilghman – James set just about every career passing record in state history after throwing for 4,133 yards and 57 touchdowns in helping lead the Blue Tornado to the Class 4A state championship. James has committed to play football at Troy University.
RB – Markezz Hightower – Madisonville-North Hopkins – The Maroon junior ran for 1,604 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024. He also caught 15 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.
RB – Jarren Johnson – Union County – Johnson became the school’s all-time leading rusher during a senior season that saw him run for 2,682 yards and 44 touchdowns in helping lead the Braves to the Class 3A state championship game. Johnson also threw for 719 yards and seven scores.
WR – Lincoln Acree – Graves County – The senior receiver hauled in 53 passes for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Eagles in 2024.
WR – Jeremiah Jones – Murray – The Nebraska signee led the Tigers with 71 catches for 1,014 yards while bringing down eight TD passes. He also added a pair of rushing touchdowns.
WR – Cooper Falconite – McCracken County – Falconite hauled in 53 passes for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Mustangs.
OL – Ashby Spacek – Mayfield – The senior lineman helped Mayfield average 33.5 points a game along with 368 yards of offense.
OL – Jarvis Strickland – Paducah Tilghman – Strickland was part of an offensive line that helped the Blue Tornado roll up 48 points, 143 rushing yards, and 304 passing yards a game.
OL – Wyatt Medlin – Graves County – Medlin was part of a Graves County line that helped the Eagles score 30 points and average 300 yards of offense a game.
OL – Caiden Broadus – Union County – The senior lineman was part of a unit that helped the Braves average 36.2 points and 281 rushing yards a game.
OL – Kadence Price – Madisonville-North Hopkins – Price was a standout on a Maroon offensive line that helped Madisonville average 37 points and 293 rushing yards a game.
P – Kanyon Johnson – Madisonville-North Hopkins – Johnson is one of the region’s top athletes and averaged over 40 yards a punt for the Maroons.
1st Team All WKC Defense
DL – Tre Jackson – Mayfield – Jackson recorded 62 tackles, six sacks, and 13 tackles for loss in 2024 for the Cardinals.
DL – Nyyon Fitzgerald – Paducah Tilghman – Fitzgerald recorded 11 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks for a defensive unit that allowed just 81 rushing yards a game.
DL – Xsavier Cleary – Paducah Tilghman – Cleary was fifth in total tackles for the Blue Tornado with 59 – 13 were for loss and six were sacks.
DL – Amare Black – Union County – Black led the Braves in tackles (102) while recording 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
LB – Ian Williams – Mayfield – Williams was second on the Cardinals in tackles (95) and registered 15 tackles for loss and two sacks.
LB – Jeremiah Jones – Murray – Already named to the team as a receiver, the two-way star had 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks.
LB – Jimmy Mooney – Paducah Tilghman – Mooney was third on the Blue Tornado in tackles with 73 which included eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
DB – Martels Carter – Paducah Tilghman – The University of Kentucky signee had four tackles for loss, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery on defense. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
DB – Vanzale Hinton – Paducah Tilghman – Hinton had three picks, two fumble recoveries, and two tackles for loss for the Blue Tornado.
DB – Luke Parker – Caldwell County – According to Caldwell County football historian Todd Griffin, Parker tied the school record with nine interceptions – four of those coming in one game which also tied a school record. Parker also had 47 tackles.
DB – Malik Kirby – Mayfield – Kirby picked off six passes in the secondary and returned one for a score. He also had three tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.
K – Sutton Ritchey – Caldwell County – Ritchey was 41 of 46 on PATs for the Tigers as well as connecting on four field goals during the season.
Coach of the Year – Sean Thompson – Thompson led the Blue Tornado to an undefeated season and a Class 4A state championship. It was the school’s first state title in 15 years and the first undefeated season for the Blue Tornado since the 1970s.
