Parrott’s ‘selfless’ attitude makes him honorary captain

By Steve Williams

Bearden High’s Drew Parrott has been named the honorary captain of The Focus / Coaches’ 2024 All-Knox County football team.

Parrott had been a three-year starter at quarterback for the Bulldogs, but stepped aside this season to allow newcomer D.J. Hunter, a highly touted quarterback, to take the reins at that position.

“Total team guy, selfless in a day and age when everybody is selfish, he is Mr. Selfless,” said Bearden Head Coach Josh Jones. “He will do whatever he can for his team and he doesn’t ever complain or shrug his shoulders or roll his eyes.

“Most people in the situation he was dealt would have transferred and went and played somewhere else. He just kept keeping on and he’s had a phenomenal senior season.”

Parrott also filled in at quarterback when Hunter was injured this season and missed five games.

Drew’s stats included 801 yards passing and seven touchdown passes, 24 carries for 166 yards and four touchdowns and 20 catches for 514 yards and five TDs. That totals over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Coach Jones turned in Parrott as a Player of the Year nominee and an Athlete.

In addition to Drew’s character, a lot of good stats are spread through the first-team positions, starting with All-Knox County quarterback Weston Edmondson of Grace Christian, who passed for 2514 yards and 28 touchdowns during the regular season, which is what the All-Knox County team is based on.

The stats of quarterbacks Amari Lethgo (Halls) and Deuce Rodgers (Powell) were so close they had to share the second team position. Lethgo’s numbers included 2,187 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and 27 TDs total. Rodgers passed for 1,509 yards and 20 touchdowns plus he rushed for 613 yards and eight TDs.

GCA sophomore Terrion Thomas, a RB/WR, is one of three Mr. Football semifinalists on the All-Knox County team, which also includes Catholic junior wide receiver Tyreek King and Powell senior kicker Dylan Stooksbury.

Thomas, by the way, also put his name in the TSSAA record book this season with 53 carries in the Rams’ win over Webb.  He now ranks No. 4 in the state and No. 1 in Knox County.

Thomas averaged over 200 all-purpose yards per game this season and totaled 25 touchdowns.  Lincoln Rich of CAK, who is on the second team, also is known as a “work horse” running back.

Other points of interest by first-team honorees:

Halls’ Drew Ross produced 610 yards and 10 TDs at the tight end position.

Karns center Austin Kirk has four D3 and NAIA offers.

The Beavers’ Brady Kittle, a defensive tackle, intercepted two passes in the season opener.

GCA’s Evan Pritchard, called a “utility type player,” chalked up six interceptions.

Michael Stewart of Hardin Valley (the Defensive Lineman of the Year in Region 2-6A) “is a phenomenal student-athlete who leads by example and has been one of the best football players in Region 2-6A for the past two seasons,” said Coach Tyler Wynn.

HVA punter Nathan Holbrook averaged 44.7 yards this season with a long of 67.

King, Catholic junior and a Tennessee commit, had 45 receptions for 1,002 yards and 13 TDs in the regular season.

Powell Coach Matt Lowe submitted senior Connor Wheeler as a RB/Athlete. He had a total of 1,056 total yards and 15 TDs.

The Panthers’ Cardell Thomas was on the other side with 68 tackles, 44 solo stops, 11 TFL, 11 sacks, 31 QB pressures and two forced fumbles.

West’s Antwain Burdine, a WR/DB/RS, had six INTs in the regular season and is up to nine now. Teammate Jack Keith, an inside linebacker, also intercepted six passes and returned four for TDs.

Carter athlete Jody Scruggs is a fan favorite with his all-out style of play.

Edmondson, Player of the Year, has ‘high potential’

Hughes and Turner are Co-Coaches of the Year

By Steve Williams

Weston Edmondson, Grace Christian Academy quarterback, has been voted The Focus / Coaches’ Knox County Player of the Year.

The award is based on regular season results.

West DB/WR/RS Antwain Burdine and Gibbs QB Warren Axton tied for second, followed by Bearden WR/QB Drew Parrott and Powell QB Deuce Rodgers.

Edmondson, a 6-5, 210-pound senior with a 4.1 GPA, made statistical progress under new head coach Justin Price this year, finishing the 10 games with 2,514 passing yards and 28 touchdowns through the air. Last season, he passed for a little over 2,172 yards and 22 TDs.

Weston received an offer last week from West Georgia, a FCS school, said Price.

“I expect Weston definitely will have some options to play at the next level,” added Price, who had seen him play in 7 on 7 before he started coaching at GCA.

“The thing about Weston is he’s got some intangibles. Weston just has a skill set that I think makes him have such high potential. He’s very tall. He’s got a good arm. He can see the field. His football IQ is very high. He’s a natural and just a great leader.”

With Grace Christian playing two more games in the playoffs this season, Edmondson’s stat totals increased to 3,080 passing yards and 32 touchdowns plus three rushing TDs. The Rams’ season ended with a 55-21 loss at CPA Friday night.

In the balloting for Knox County Coach of the Year, Halls’ Brent Hughes and Gibbs’ Brad Turner tied for the award. West’s Lamar Brown, Farragut’s Geoff Courtney, Bearden’s Josh Jones and Grace Christian’s Price also got votes.

Both Hughes and Turner led their teams to the second round of the TSSAA playoffs before they were eliminated Friday.

Turner guided Gibbs to a 9-1 regular season record and 10-2 overall mark. Hughes’ Red Devils ended up 7-3 and 8-4 for all games.