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Tigers well represented on all area teams
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Dawson County was well represented on the Gainesville Times All-Area football team announced last week.

Two players were picked for second team honors while four others were named honorable mention.

All seven players were underclassman and will return next season for the Tigers.

Named Second Team All-Area team were: Tigers running back Zack Martin and wide receiver Bruce Clark.

Martin completed the season with 1,201 rushing yards. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 17 touchdowns for Head Coach Jeff Lee's 5-5 Tigers.

Clark had a tremendous year for the Tigers. He recorded 53 catches for 637 yards and 10 touchdowns. It was also notable that he only had one drop over the 10-game season.

Joining Martin and Clark on the second team offense were: Bryant Shirreffs (Jefferson), Kanler Coker (Flowery Branch), Jamon Witt (East Hall), Keyontra Harrison and Stephen Mason (Gainesville), Joe Cannon (White County), Josh Cardiello (Buford), Blake Manning (West Hall), Partick McCabe (Gainesville), Kevin Tarr (Flowery Branch) and David Petroni (Buford).

On the honorable mention team for Dawson County were: quarterback Tyler Dominy, defensive back Jackson Putnam, linebacker Cody Smith and defensive lineman Cale Tallant.

Coach-of-the-year honors went to Philip Jones from Banks County. The Leopards finished the season with a 7-4 record. Banks lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Adairsville, 21-3.

Banks won Region 8-AA (A) edging out the Tigers who they defeated 19-13 during the regular season.

Times football player-of-the-year went to Gainesville's Deshaun Watson. Watson completed the year with 3,251 passing yards and an amazing 41 touchdowns. The Red Elephant star also ran for 1,073 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Joining Watson on the first team offense were running backs: Imani Cross (North Hall), Jeremy Haley (Flowery Branch) and Cedric Harris (Johnson). Wide receivers C.J. Curry (Flowery Branch) and Casey Osborne (Flowery Branch), linemen Vadal Alexander (Buford), Austin Allen (Habersham Central), Chase England (Gainesville), Cam Howell (North Hall) and Terry Rowe (Flowery Branch). Named best athlete was Kevin Ellison (Habersham Central).

First defensive honors went to defensive linemen Rick Legrant (Buford), Carson Newman (Jefferson), Lee Cagle (Lumpkin County) and Jonathan Frick (Flowery Branch).

Representing the linebackers were Jacob Allen (Flowery Branch), Dillon Lee (Buford) and Nathan Staub (Buford). In the defensive backfield were C.J. Moore (Buford), Noel Padmore (Flowery Branch), Coleman Cunningham (Habersham Central) and Fred Payne (Gainesville).