A big tip of the hat to Mike London and the Salisbury Post for allowing us to post this article.

All-County Football: Four winning teams, just one three-peater

No one would have blamed South Rowan's Patrick Edwards if he'd fallen asleep at the recent All-Rowan County photo shoot.

No big deal. All-county pictures are old hat -- or maybe that's old helmet -- for Edwards.

Edwards owns one of the faces in the all-county picture that the average football fan might not recognize, but he's also the only member of the 2003 team who can brag that he's a three-peater.

In 2001 and 2002, Edwards was the all-county punter.

West's Brent Patterson averaged 41.6 yards per boot to displace Edwards as the punter this season, but Edwards simply traded spaces with Patterson, last season's all-county placekicker.

Edwards' right leg worked overtime this season, as South broke the school scoring record with 32.2 points per game.

For his career, Edwards booted 65 PATs (37 of them this year) and 13 field goals. He also launched 108 punts over the past three seasons, quite a workload.

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Speaking of workloads, grinding out this season's all-county picks forced the coaches and Post sportswriters to build up a pretty good sweat.

Picking an offensive player of the year was particularly grueling.

West back Joe Jackson got the nod as a salute to a marvelous career that included 44 TDs and breaking Rowan's career rushing record. He's West's first offensive player of the year since 1983.

But South QB Hoke Shirley could just as easily have been the man. South made the offensive switch from wishbone to triple-option this summer, and Shirley made the Raiders roll in record-setting fashion.

South didn't throw often, but Shirley put up the No. 3 total offense season in South history (1,685 yards rushing and passing) and the No. 20 season in county history. Hoke was no slow-poke. He accounted for 27 TDs -- 18 rushing and nine passing.

And how about North's junior QBSakelo Lilly, who piled up stats even better than Shirley's? North coach Avery Cutshaw was squirming like bacon in a frying pan when it appeared that Lilly, who lost the player of the year debate to Jackson and the quarterback vote to Shirley, might be left off the team.

Fortunately, there's always one designated "utility" player on offense and defense. Usually, that spot goes to a kick returner or an overlooked lineman. This year it goes to Lilly, more of a leading man than an extra. All Lilly did was put up the No. 5 total offense season in county history with 2,524 yards. He was also player of the year in his league.

Lilly tore an ACL in the first game of the young basketball season, but if he can come back at close to 100 percent, he'll challenge Mario Sturdivant's county record for career total offense. Sturdivant, a legendary North QB, racked up 7,473 yards. Lilly is already fifth in county history with 4,920.

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The county had four winning teams for the first time since 1995 and for only the fourth time in history. West (3-0) was the unofficial Rowan County champion, but Salisbury, South and North matched the Falcons' seven wins. That logjam was unprecedented. This is the first four-way tie for the county high in wins.

The 29-man all-county team reflects that balance. South and West placed eight apiece on the squad, while North and Salisbury have six each. The Hornets have their largest representation since 1995.

Winless East has only one all-countian -- Ben Weisensel. The last time East had just one selection was in 1987.

The all-county team includes 19 seniors, nine juniors and one sophomore. The solitary soph is North's Lamont Savage, the county's leading receiver with 47 catches.

Joining Edwards and Patterson as repeaters from 2002 are Salisbury running back Tyris Davidson and linebacker Don Ambers, the defensive player of the year; North offensive lineman Ronald Foxx and Lilly; East's Weisensel; and West's Jackson and offensive lineman Charlie Aldridge.

South, Salisbury and North will have three returning all-county players apiece next season. Lilly and Davidson will have a chance to match Edwards' three-peat.

OFFENSE

QB -- Shirley and Lilly. Most years, West's Bryan Aycoth would've made it. Aycoth completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,222 yards, fourth-highest total in school history.

RB -- Jackson. South's Antonio McDaniel, who rushed for a county-leading 1,382 yards -- the second-highest total in school history. North's Mark Sturgis Jr. had 1,275 in his first season as a running back. Davidson pounded out 816 yards.

WR -- Savage. West's Michael Mott, who scored TDs on six of his 20 catches.

TE -- Hornet Levar Hamilton had only five catches, but three were for scores. Hamilton nosed out West's Tim Gibson, a powerful blocker.

OL -- South's 280-pound junior Zach Williams and 240-pound senior Andrew Moyer paved the way for 3,313 rushing yards. Aldridge was a leader for West. Foxx and Weisensel are Shrine Bowlers.

PK: Edwards.

DEFENSE

DL -- West's Antuane Gray, a four-year starter who was runner-up for player of the year, is joined by steady teammate Kevin Nason. Jason Stanley was a force every Friday for South. North's Jamel Hayes had four fumble recoveries, despite a torn knee ligament. Salisbury's J.J. Gwyn shifted from linebacker to nose and made 64 tackles.

LB -- Ambers was a beast with 139 tackles. Sam Wilson topped West with 133. Like Wilson, Salisbury's Harry Howard and South's Daniel Crosby are juniors who will only get better. Crosby might the first player ever to survive two concussions and make all-county.

DB -- Salisbury's Brandon Cathcart was a vicious hitter. West's Brett Fields had two punt returns for TDs. North's Chris Oakman made five picks. South's Keith Fuller scored TDs every way known to man -- on rushes, receptions, laterals, kickoff returns, punt returns and fumble returns -- and had to make the team somewhere.

P:Patterson.

Near misses included South DB Heath Houston, Salisbury DBRyan Folks, North LBAntione Alexander and North OL Anthony Barnhardt.

Also just missing was North's Clark Poole. Poole sacrificed a certain place on the all-county OL when injuries forced him to move to defense.

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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com.