CELINA-Clay County High School senior quarterback Jake Ashlock and junior defensive force Dalton Goad were recognized as two of the top three players in their league when the 2019 All-Region 4-A awards were released here last week and they highlight a total of eight Bulldogs garnering all-conference honors.

Ashlock, who accounted for a total of 21 touchdowns this season, received the distinction of Region 4-A Offensive MVP, after passing for 925 yards (11 TDs) and rushing for another 452 yards (10 TDs).

He also became the second-leading passer of all-time by finishing up his career with a total of 3,175 yards (39 TDs)—which ranks second behind Steven Arms’ 3,858 yards (46 TDs).

Goad, who was named to the 2019 preseason and 2018 All-State team, won the Defensive MVP for the second year in a row, following another impressive campaign where he recorded 10 sacks and 39 tackles (8 TFLs).

He also holds his school’s single-season sack record with 20 in 2018 and, with his senior season still ahead of him, Goad continues to build on the all-time career-mark he set last season with a current total of 36 sacks.

THE MOST VALUABLE-Senior Jake Ashlock (left) and junior Dalton Goad (right) were named Region 4-A’s offensive and defensive MVPs respectively. (photos courtesy cchsmedia.zenfolio.com)

Joining the two superlatives on the All-Region team were Ashlock’s classmates Will Ogletree, Wyatt Burks, and Wesley Walker, along with sophomores Wade Coons and Carson Sharp and freshman Alec Kerr.

Ogletree finished as both the Dawgs’ leading rusher and leading receiver this season with 604 yards (6 TDs) on the ground and 283 more yards (TD) through the air on 22 catches.  He also wrapped up his injury-shortened career with just shy of 1,000 yards rushing.

Burks and Walker were staples on the defensive side of the ball for Clay County this past season, along with the underclassmen honorees—though they all played both ways.

Burks was the Dawgs’ leading tackler with 66 stops (3 TFLs, 2 FF, 2 RF) and had a pair of interceptions—one of which he returned for a touchdown.  He was also his team’s second-leading receiver with 15 receptions for 189 yards (3 TDs).

Walker, who selflessly played fullback on offense and recorded his first-career touchdown in his final season, moved from linebacker to the defensive line this season—where he shined with 32 tackles (6 TFLs) and three sacks.

The senior was bookended up front by Goad and Coons to complete the all-conference defensive line, which produced over 120 tackles combined.

Coons’ 52 stops (8 TFLs) and two sacks (FF, 3 RF) were far from his only contributions, because he also anchored the offensive line throughout the season on the other side of the ball.

Sharp led Clay County’s ball-hocking defensive backfield that produced a total of 20 interceptions with six of his own—one of which was of the pick-six variety.  He also had 28 tackles and was the Dawgs’ second-leading rusher with 468 yards (4 TDs).

Kerr made a huge impact in his debut by becoming his team’s second-leading tackler with 54 stops and he also had a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.  Besides his defensive prowess, Kerr was also Clay County’s big-play threat with 308 yards rushing, 170 yards receiving, and seven total touchdowns—not to mention several explosive punt and kickoff returns.

Joining Ashlock and Goad as league superlatives were Monterey’s Jordan Key (Overall MVP), Gordonsville’s Hunter Clemons (OL of the Year), Monterey’s Carter Charlton (DL of the Year), Jo Byrns’ Ryan Dowlen and Monterey’s Mason Bowman (Tie-Back of the Year), Monterey’s Rene Telon (Special Teams POY), Gordonsville’s Sky Washer (Skill POY), and Monterey’s Scott Hughes and Gordonsville’s Scott Clemons (Tie-Coach of the Year).