PRZTN D2-Class AA POTY/Positional Awards

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The 2025 season proved to be the year of the BGA Wildcats as they took home the D2-Class AA state title and now have earned to most honors by Prep Redzone Tennessee. Find out below who took home our overall, offensive, defensive players of the year as well as all our positional awards. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D2-Class AA Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["914547"],"_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-69a08df72e65e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nobody in the state over the past two years has been more productive than Marable and it's only fitting he leaves his high school career as Mr. Football and our Prep Redzone Tennessee D2-Class AA player of the year. This future Ivy League quarterback had a sensational senior campaign where he threw for 3,900 yards and 57 touchdowns while also producing 636 yards rushing and another 15 scores. Marable generated 72 total touchdowns as a senior, which has to be a season record (Our record books haven't been updated yet). It was a banner year for Marable and one that will go down as one of the best individual season performances of all-time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D2-Class AA Offensive POTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1537396"],"_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-69a08df72e6f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I don't know if you can make a bigger impression as a freshman than what Porter did last year during the Wildcats title run. This 6'2 pass catcher immediately made his presence known early in the season and continued to get better as the year went on. Porter ended his freshman campaign by producing 78 receptions for 1,547 yards and a staggering 27 touchdowns. Those are some silly numbers, especially for a freshman. It's going to be hard to replicate this kind of year from Porter but the dude is talented with a strong competitive nature, so I wouldn't put it past him to do it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D2-Class AA Defensive POTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1608580"],"_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-69a08df72e782"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Signed to play his college ball at The Citadel, Crider had a strong final season at CAK and a player of the year caliber football year. A high motor guy with active hands, Crider was a problem to deal with coming off the edge last Fall where he generated 70 total tackles with 25 of them for loss along with 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes defended and 9.5 sacks on the season. The Warriors outgoing senior is a max effort guy that competes hard while showing athletic, pass rushing upside for the next level. Crider may prove to be a steal for “The Citadel” but he will definitely go down as one of the best to come out of the CAK football program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line Unit of the Year&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BGA Wildcats &nbsp; </strong>(Notable Players: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='866788' first='Nate' last='Fleming']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1647074' first='Myles' last='Sawyers']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='423394' first='Koehn' last='Dial']</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The Wildcats had one of the best offensive units in the state for the 2025 season and that statement wouldn't be true without the play from the five men up front. The offensive line did just about anything it wanted last Fall as they dominated the line of scrimmage, moving guys off the ball in the run game or protecting Marable. The work up front was a key factor in the Wildcats title run, especially in the championship game where they handled FRA with ease as their offense produced 61 points. Two key seniors that had banner years in Fleming and Sawyers signed with college programs (Vanderbilt/Lindsey Wilson) with an underclassmen in Dial sitting as one of the best in the state for the TN2028 class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2103311,"width":"263px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.0947795235681703","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/147-Koehn-Dial.png?w=751" alt="" class="wp-image-2103311" style="aspect-ratio:1.0947795235681703;width:263px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D2-Class AA Coach of the Year&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bobby Bentley - BGA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Coach Bentley takes home the D2-Class AA coach of the year honors for back to back years after achieving a state title last season during his third year on the job with Battle Ground Academy. The Wildcats earned their first state championship since 2003 with a lot of credit going to Coach Bentley and his staff for developing their roster and putting the right players in place to succeed. Coach Bentley has also done a great job of building the Cats roster since his arrival and forming BGA into a potential yearly contending title program with staying power.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D2-Class AA Positional Awards</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(QB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='795241' first='Isaiah' last='Batten'] - Pope Prep: </strong>His lone season with the Knights proved to be his best high school season yet as Batten threw for 2,816 yards and 21 touchdowns while having a completion percentage of 64 percent. Batten ended up signing with Presbyterian, which I think his strong senior year helped make that happen.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(RB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='2136012' first='J.V.' last='Stinson'] - GCA ‘29: </strong>Stepping into a starting role just after the beginning of the season, Stinson went on a tear the rest of the 2025 season by running for 1,479 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. The Rams ball carrier did this as a freshman, which speaks well to his future and what the Rams could have in the backfield next Fall with the return of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933067' first='Terrion' last='Thomas']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2139678,"width":"236px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.7353566990654842","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/jvstinson.jpg?w=754" alt="" class="wp-image-2139678" style="aspect-ratio:0.7353566990654842;width:236px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(WR POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1030085' first='Max' last='Curry'] - BGA ‘28: </strong>If his teammate didn't have such an over the top season, Curry would be our offensive player of the year. The Wildcats receiver had a standout sophomore year as he produced 57 receptions for 1,404 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 24.6 yards per catch. This is a dynamic, big play guy that should only get better as he continues to grow and mature.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(OL POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='866788' first='Nate' last='Fleming'] - BGA: </strong>Headed to Vanderbilt for college, Fleming was the best two-way lineman from the D2-Class AA ranks last year that was a critical piece up front in the O-line for one of the best offenses in the state. The Wildcats outgoing senior showed up big every time he stepped onto the field. Fleming even dealt with injuries but still performed at a high level with efficient, technique sound game play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DL POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] - FRA ‘27: </strong>Neal could have been considered for offensive lineman of the year as well. That's how good the Panthers big man was for the 2025 season. His work on both sides of the line was critical towards the team's success but he was a big time disruptor on defense where he generated 65 tackles with 14 of them for loss along with 2 forced fumbles, 8 sacks and 1 touchdown on the year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(LB POTY) Garrett Moser - Silverdale: </strong>This Chattanooga area linebacker finished his high school career in a big way by leading the D2-Class AA ranks in tackles while also being a disruptor against the pass. Moser finished his senior year with 159 total tackles with 13.5 of them for loss along with 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 6 sacks for his Seahawks defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='2054772' first='Evan' last='Kellum'] - BGA ‘28: </strong>Stepping into a starting role last year as a sophomore, Kellum flashed early and remained strong throughout the year as he produced 50 tackles with 5 of them for loss along with 1 fumble recovery and 6 interceptions. The Wildcats junior might fit best in college at linebacker but his ball skills and instincts were excellent last Fall in the team's secondary.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(ATH POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1908180' first='Jace' last='Ballard'] - GCA: </strong>Ballard did a little bit of everything for his Rams squad last year. He led his team in receiving last year (71 rec. for 1,120 yds &amp; 12 TD's) along with making his mark in the backfield (86 carr. for 688 yds &amp; 17 TD's) while sharing carries with Stinson. The future VMI pass catcher also played a key role in the Rams secondary as the team's top defensive back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1911152,"width":"372px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Photo-Sep-26-2025-10-15-47-PM.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1911152" style="width:372px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] (Photo: Shayne Pickering Prep Redzone)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->