2019 UNION COUNTY FOOTBALL DREAM TEAM
Fifty-one days have passed since we last saw a snap from a high school football game. If I need to remind you, those snaps came from Weddington's second consecutive state championship game and victory against Lee County on December 14.
Since that game, local papers, organizations, and websites have doled out postseason individual and team awards. Tonight, in this post, we unveil our first-ever Dream Team, the team I would take into battle or at least put up against any other all-star football team in the state. Below, my top-45 players filling out my offensive and defensive roster.
Eleven schools in the county currently play varsity football. I have chosen at least one player from each school, and on each squad (offense & defense), I have selected my top freshman.
I based my selections on what I evaluated personally during the 2019 season, along with game film and stats provided by each school. Unfortunately, I did not receive complete stats from all teams. Stats weighed heavily on selections, but I don't think the list below will rankle too many folks.
Is it the perfect team? In my mind, no doubt about it. With this squad, we'll take on all comers. Bring it on.
Dream Team Head Coach- Andy Capone, Weddington (16-0, State Champion)
Offensive MVP & Captain- Will Shipley, Weddington
Defensive MVP & Captain- Alec Mock, Weddington
DREAM TEAM- OFFENSE
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL | CLASS | NUMBERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Bennett | QB | Monroe | Senior | 2416 Passing YDS/ 26 TDs/ 6 INTs/ 59.2 COMP %/ 110.0 QBR |
| Sully McDermott | QB | Marvin Ridge | Junior | 2367 Passing YDS/ 25 TDs/ 6 INTs/ 67.3 COMP %/ 108.9 QBR |
| Isaac King | RB | Union Academy | Senior | 145 CAR for 1766 YDS/ 12.2 YPC/ 21 TDs |
| Will Shipley | RB | Weddington | Junior | 188 CAR for 2066 YDS/ 11.0 YPC/ 31 TDs |
| Sametrious Drakeford | RB | Parkwood | Senior | 202 CAR for 912 YDS/ 4.5 YPC/ 7 TD |
| Brandon Perry | RB | Porter Ridge | Junior | 160 CAR for 1081 YDS/ 6.8 YPC/ 16 TDs |
| Gavin Blackwell | WR | Sun Valley | Junior | 67 REC for 1008 YDS/ 15.0 YPC/ 9 TDs |
| Shaleak Knotts | WR | Monroe | Sophomore | 59 REC for 1006 YDS/ 17.1 YPC/ 14 TDs |
| Ian Hutter | WR | Marvin Ridge | Junior | Team leading 55 REC for 641 YDS/ 11.7 YPC/ 4 TDs |
| Salen Streater | WR | Monroe | Senior | 37 REC for 836 YDS/ 22.6 YPC/ 12 TDs |
| Austin Cain | TE | Parkwood | Senior | 20 REC 204 YDS/ 10.2 YPC/ 1 TD |
| Aiden Twombley | TE | Marvin Ridge | Senior | 18 REC for 161 YDS/ 8.9 YPC |
| Michael Gonzalez | OL | Sun Valley | Junior | Leader of offensive line that helped Spartans to gain 3441 offensive yards & 16 TDs |
| Phifer Griffin | OL | Union Academy | Senior | 54 Pancake Blocks & led O-Line responsible for over 2800 rBlocushing yds & 30 TDs |
| Matt Isom | OL | Parkwood | Senior | 40 Pancake Blocks and anchored O-Line resulting in over 1900 rushing yds & 27 TDs |
| Lucas Rogers | OL | Weddington | Senior | Anchored offensive line leading a Weddington offense to 5870 YDS & 88 TDs |
| Sean Simelane | OL | Porter Ridge | Senior | Senior leader on a Pirate offensive line that helped churn out 4051 yards & 41 TDs |
| Josiah Snapper | OL | Marvin Ridge | Senior | Leader on a line that saw the offense gain 3806 and score 29 TDs |
| Alex McLaughlin | OL | Weddington | Junior | Junior on line that propelled offense to gain 5870 yards and 88 TDs |
| Ian Williams | K | Weddington | Senior | 101 TBs/ 88 for 92 XP/ 6 for 15 FG |
| Caden Noonkester | K | Marvin Ridge | Junior | 42 for 42 XP/ 5 for 8 FG |
| Jadus Davis | ATH- RB/WR | Metrolina Christian | Senior | 114 CAR for 1004 YDS/8.8 YPC/12 R TDs/39 REC for 754 YDS/19.3 YPC/6 REC TDs |
| Carson Black | QB | Sun Valley | Freshman | The regular season leader in passing yards with 2,251 yds |
DREAM TEAM- DEFENSE
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL | CLASS | NUMBERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Burns | DL | Parkwood | Junior | Team leading 104 Total Tackles/ 16 Ts for loss/ 5 Sacks/ 1 INT |
| Carson Carpenter | DL | Metrolina Christian | Senior | 95 Total Tackles/ 14 Ts for loss/ 4 Sacks |
| Derek Young | DL | Union Academy | Senior | Team Leading 186 Total Tackles/ 19 Ts for loss/ Team leading 7 sacks/ |
| Joe Zovstoski | DL | Weddington | Junior | 67 Total Tackles/ 13 T's for loss/ Team leading 9.5 Sacks/ 4 forced fumbles |
| Daniel Morrison | DL | Parkwood | Senior | 99 Total Tackles/ Team Leading 21 T's for loss/ Team leading 8 Sacks |
| Ty Nicholas | DL | Piedmont | Junior | Team Leading 77 Total Tackles & 26.5 T's for loss & 8.5 Sacks |
| Romel Wright | DL | Forest Hills | Junior | Team leading 116 Total Tackles & 7 sacks/ 2 FF |
| Trey Alsbrooks | LB | Weddington | Senior | 108 Total Tackles/ 14 T's for loss/ 9 Sacks |
| Jeb Despard | LB | Marvin Ridge | Senior | 97 Total Tackles, 11 TFL |
| Connor Henderson | LB | Porter Ridge | Senior | Team leading 132 Total Tackles |
| Alec Mock | LB | Weddington | Senior | Team leading 160.5 Total Tackles/ 12.5 T's for loss/ 2.5 Sacks/ 4 INTs |
| Dylan Burdette | LB | Porter Ridge | Senior | 91 Total tackles, 4 TFL |
| Andreau Rastia | LB | Cuthbertson | Junior | Team leading 102 Total tackles/ 2 INTs |
| Tanner Blackwell | LB | Marvin Ridge | Junior | Team leading 99 Total tackles, 7 TFL |
| Makiya Evans | DB | Parkwood | Junior | 82 Total Tackles/ 3 Ts for loss/ Team leading 4 INTs |
| Nick Horstkamp | DB | Porter Ridge | Senior | Team leading 4 INTs |
| Tommy Miller | DB | Metrolina Christian | Sophomore | 90 Total Tackles/ 3 INTs/ 3 Fumble Recoveries |
| Malik Mustapha | DB | Weddington | Senior | 68 Total Tackles/ Team leading 15 T's for loss/ Team leading 5 INTs |
| Bryson Parker | DB | Weddington | Junior | 44 Total Tackles/ 4 INTs |
| Luke Roffler | DB | Metrolina Christian | Senior | 42 Total Tackles/ 3 INTs |
| Jack Makarewicz | DB | Marvin Ridge | Senior | 67 Total Tackles / 1 INT |
| Connor Bradley | LB | Union Academy | Freshman | 60 Total tackles, 5 TFL/ 6 Sacks |
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