#PRZTN Class 2A POTY Finalists

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Warriors of Marion Co. won the 2A championship this year but did they place anybody within our Player of the Year nominations? Find out below with our five finalists. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A POTY Finalists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1422904"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678efca0e8199"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Indians quarterback had to step up this past Fall and become the team's top offensive threat after an early season injury to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497421' first='Isaiah' last='Groves']</strong> and Young delivered with a Mr. Football caliber year. This rising junior signal caller led his team to a 10 win season while providing a dual threat ability from his position that caused a lot of problems for the opposition. Young produced a big offensive year by throwing for 2,007 yards with 23 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions while also carrying the ball for 650 yards and six rushing scores. The great thing about Young is that he is still developing, so I expect an even bigger year from the Indians quarterback during the 2025 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andrew Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fairley ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678efca0e82cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Winning a region title while going deep into the 2A playoffs, Johnson was a major cog in the Bulldogs successful 2024 campaign that placed him among the semifinalists for Mr. Football. His performance and play throughout the season proved to be a big difference maker in his team's success where Johnson brought not just playmaking but strong leadership from his quarterback position. The Bulldogs signal caller had a highly productive junior year where he threw for 2,350 yards with 40 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Johnson will be a top contender for Mr. Football and #PRZTN 2A player of the year for the 2025 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222306"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678efca0e834f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A multi year starter and leader for his Mustangs team, Eubanks put together another productive season where he helped place his squad in the mix for a region title while taking them on a deep run throughout the playoffs. His work on both sides of the ball was critical towards his team's success in 2024 and will be a tough guy to replace going into next season. Eubanks had a big senior year where he produced 1,820 yards rushing with 31 touchdowns while also being a force at safety with 66 tackles, 13 of them for loss and six sacks. If the Mustangs had won their region and gone deeper in the playoffs, Eubanks might have been your 2A Mr. Football winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1562203"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678efca0e83c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peete had a breakthrough junior season where he led his Bulldogs team to the 2A state championship game while also bringing home Mr. Football. It was a banner year for this junior ball carrier where he established himself as the top player from his position within the 2A ranks and someone that can continue working his way into a legit college prospect. It will be tough for Peete to repeat the production from this past season but he has the chops to get it done. He ran for an astonishing 2,235 yards on the year with 31 touchdowns while averaging 11.6 yards per carry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["390722"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678efca0e8443"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pickett led the 2A level in receiving throughout the 2024 season while being his team's most dynamic game changer where he was asked to do a lot within the Warriors offense. Capping off his high school career as a state champion, Pickett had a sensational senior year where he caught 48 passes for 934 yards and 17 touchdowns while also being a force running the ball. The Warriors playmaker carried the rock 94 times for 797 yards and 18 scores, producing a grand total of 35 overall touchdowns. His play was absolutely critical in the team's “Gold Ball” run last Fall and someone that will be hard to replace next Fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Just Missed the Cut ……</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(RB/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1557044' first='Brady' last='Warbritton'] - Huntingdon: </strong>The Mustangs had the best backfield in the 2A ranks with Warbritton leading his team in rushing at 1,927 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was also a key force on the Mustangs defense where Warbritton produced 68 tackles, 6 for loss, two sacks and one interception on the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(RB/LB) Ryan Shaffer - Tellico Plains: </strong>One of the more underrated top performers from the 2A ranks last Fall was this East Tennessee two-way backer. Shaffer became the team's top overall performer where he led the team in rushing at 1,611 yards while scoring 18 touchdowns. He also produced an outstanding number of 143 tackles, 15 for loss, one sack and one interception for his Bears defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1293394' first='Kenderrius' last='Robertson'] - Mitchell: </strong>All this guy does is produce in the opponent's backfield. Robertson had yet another highly productive season where he led the 2A ranks in sacks at 28 total. The Tigers edge rusher was an absolute force that also produced 100 tackles on the season along with 27 for loss, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1310949' first='Daveon' last='Johnson'] - J.C. Merry: </strong>The 2024 season was a breakthrough year for the Cougars where Johnson and their defense led the way. This senior D-lineman had a highly productive senior campaign where he produced 108 total tackles with 26 of them for loss along with 10 sacks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(LB) Ashton Martin - Marion Co.: </strong>The Warriors had one of the top defenses from the 2024 season with Martin being a major reason why. His work off the edge and in the opponent's backfield was superb last Fall where he led the team in sacks at 17 along with producing 54 total tackles, 22 for loss and two forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606080,"width":"290px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/davjohnson.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1606080" style="width:290px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->