All-WKC First-Team Offense
The All-WKC First Team and honorable mention football players were honored at Wednesday’s annual banquet at the Murray State University Curris Center.
Also recognized were the coach of the year and WKC’s district champions.
WKC teams won 10 playoff games this season, and Murray advanced to the Class 3A state championship game.
“I want each one of you athletes to understand how special this honor is to represent West Kentucky as one of the best in our area. We’re a big portion of the state as land goes, and it’s special to represent that area,” said WKC President and Paducah Tilghman head coach Sean Thompson.
“I think that together, if we continue to work the way you guys have worked, we will continue to put this part of the state on the map. Getting you guys seen by coaches at the next level, having opportunities to continue to play football because you deserve it, and just being productive men in society and coming back and making this area great.”
The four WKC district champions were Mayfield (2A), Murray (3A), Paducah Tilghman (4A), and McCracken County (6A).
First Team All-WKC Offense
QB – Wyatt Robbins – Murray – The senior quarterback threw for 3,199 yards and 35 touchdowns in helping lead the Tigers to the Class 3A state championship game.
RB – Markezz Hightower – Madisonville-North Hopkins – The Maroon senior ran for 1,554 yards and 25 touchdowns this season and added 13 catches for 159 yards. He had three games where he topped 200 yards and scored four touchdowns. Hightower is a repeat All-WKC First Team selection.
RB – James Bradley, Jr. – Hopkinsville – Bradley, Jr. rushed for 25 touchdowns, caught six TDs, had two returns on special teams, and added a pick-six. The senior back also ran for 11 two-point conversions.
WR – Avery Thompson – Paducah Tilghman – One of two sophomores on the team, Thompson caught 70 passes for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns.
WR – Caden Howard – Crittenden County – The school’s all-time leading receiver, the senior caught 58 passes for 1,065 yards and 19 touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury.
WR – Isaiah Martin – Murray – The senior hauled in 63 passes for 1,270 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Tigers.
OL – Ryan Walls – Murray – Part of an offense that averaged 42.7 points, 188 rushing yards, and 225 passing yards a game.
OL – Jarvis Strickland – Paducah Tilghman – The University of Louisville signee was part of an offense that put up 42 points, 243 passing yards, and 397 yards of offense a night.
OL – Ben Myers – Paducah Tilghman – The senior teamed with Strickland to open holes that resulted in 153 rushing yards a game and 29 rushing touchdowns.
OL – Kadence Price – Madisonville-North Hopkins – The junior is a repeat first-team selection. He was part of a Maroon line that helped the offense average 40 points a game and 249 rushing yards.
OL – Quin Baggett – Trigg County – The senior lineman was part of an O-line that helped the Wildcats average 30 points and 205 rushing yards a night.
K – Sutton Richey – Caldwell County – The senior was 42 of 44 on PATs and made four of six field goals. It’s the second straight first-team selection for Richey.
First Team All-WKC Defense
DL – DeJean Harvey – Madisonville-North Hopkins – The senior registered 55 tackles and eight sacks.
DL – Hunter Ditto – Graves County – The senior led the Eagles in solo tackles (64), total tackles (113), tackles for loss (12), and sacks (7).
DL – Kam Wilson – Caldwell County – The junior registered 80 tackles for the Tigers, along with 14 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown.
DL – Brayden Winchester – Calloway County – The junior recorded 14.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss while adding two fumble recoveries.
LB – Kirk LaGrange – Madisonville-North Hopkins – The senior led the Maroons in tackles (125), tackles for loss (18), and was third with six sacks.
LB – Logan Smith – Calloway County – The senior led the Lakers in solo tackles (21) and total tackles (82) while recording two takeaways.
LB – Jack Roach – Caldwell County – The senior led Caldwell County with 93 tackles and had eight behind the line of scrimmage.
DB – Malik Kirby – Mayfield – The senior had 28 tackles (four for loss) to go with four interceptions and one fumble recovery.
DB – Hank James – Paducah Tilghman – The senior was third on the team in tackles (85) and registered 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.
DB – Mak Hoover – Mayfield – The senior had 37 tackles and four tackles for loss with an interception.
DB – Willem McPeake – Union County – The senior picked off seven passes and returned one for a touchdown. He also had 69 tackles and one fumble recovery.
P – Brock Wilson – McCracken County
Coach of the Year – Melvin Cunningham – Murray – Led Murray to a 14-1 record and the school’s first state championship appearance since 1994.
