Story By Jason Bowen

The Woodville High School football team enjoyed its best season in the 20-season history of the program, and a number of the players that made that happen have been honored for their efforts.

A total of 11 Woodville players have received Class 1A Region 8 honors with one sharing one the region’s top awards.

Woodville won a program-record seven games and was the region runner-up, its best region finish, and hosted its first playoff game.

Junior running back Jonah Sparks was the Class 1A Region 8 Co-Offensive MPV along with Appalachian’s Braden Gilliland. Sparks, who was an ASWA Class 1A second-team all-state selection, rushed for 1,661 yards and 21 touchdowns on 215 carries. He also had 20 catches for 472 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass.

Also making all-region for Woodville were senior wide receiver/defensive back Elijah Sparks, junior quarterback/defensive back Kaden Franklin and offensive/defensive linemen Case Robertson, Eli Maynard and Chase Stewart, sophomore linebacker Caleb Lancaster and sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Jackson Clark. 

All-region honorable mention selections for the Panthers were junior linebacker AJ Vasquez, sophomore wide receiver Bryson Stegeman and sophomore defensive back Aiden Smith.