AHSAA | Alabama High School Athletic Association

Football Squads Announced For All-Star Sports Week

      A total of 74 outstanding senior student-athletes from across the state have been named to North-South All-Star football squads for the 18th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week competition in Montgomery July 21-25. The teams were announced by Alvin Briggs, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA).
      All-Star Sports Week, which includes in-state all-star games in baseball, softball, volleyball and boys’ and girls’ basketball and soccer, will also feature the Summer Conference with clinics and professional development sessions for coaches, principals, athletic directors, cheerleader coaches and officials. The volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball and soccer teams were announced previously.
      Also an All-Sports Equipment Expo and other related activities are scheduled throughout the week. Two of the highlights will be the Sportsmanship Banquet, which honors all schools that have not had an ejection or fine during the 2013-14 school year, and the Championship Coaches Awards Banquet, which recognizes coaches whose teams won a state championship during the 2013-14 school year as well as the 2014 Making A Difference Award winners.
      Trent Taylor of Straughn will serve as head coach for the South squad and Keith Etheredge of Leeds will coach the North. The South staged a dramatic comeback in the second half to win last year’s game 22-21. The South holds a 29-23-2 edge in the North-South series which began in 1948. This year’s game will be played July 24 at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.
      Eight players who helped their teams win state championships last December have been selected to play for the North squad in this summer’s game, including Pickens County running back/defensive back Jermarcus Brown. Brown set the AHSAA season record for touchdowns scored (51) in 2013 while rushing for a Super 6 record 329 yards on 26 carries as the Tornadoes (15-0) beat Maplesville 38-18 to win the Class 1A state championship.

      Others selected for the North squad from state championship teams were linebacker Blake Bean, receiver Garrison Latta and kicker Tyler Short of Class 4A champion Oneonta; defensive back DeShun Freeman and defensive lineman Baltazar Rubio of Class 2A champ Tanner; linebacker Taylor Ziak of Class 3A champ Madison Academy; and Brown’s Pickens County teammate, quarterback Devonte’ Simon.
      South players selected who played in state championship games last year include offensive lineman John David Hart of Class 6A runner-up Auburn and wide receiver Damian Mitchell of Class 1A runner-up Maplesville. Also named to the South squad is 2014 Bryant-Jordan state scholar-athlete of the year Jack Stansell (Dothan), who plans to attend Harvard.
      Coaches named to Taylor’s South staff are Adam Winegarden of Fairhope, Phil Lazenby of Bayside Academy, Tom Causey of Demopolis, Randy Ragsdale of Trinity Presbyterian, Mike Battles, Jr., of Tallassee, Norman Dean of Elmore County and Michael Summers of Alabama Christian, who will serve as administrative coach.
      Named to the Etheredge’s North staff are Patrick Plott of Class 1A state champion Pickens County, Kris Herron of Clay Central, Jeff Smith of Walter Wellborn, Ryan Lolley of Gordo, Chris Musso of Locust Fork and Scott Peavey of Madison County. Administrative coaches are Nick Folds and Darby Palmer of Alabama Christian.

      The AHSADCA operates under the auspices of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Membership includes coaches of all AHSAA sports as well as administrators of member schools.

        The rosters: