Scottsboro players collect all-region honors
Four Wildcats receive region awards
Story By Jason Bowen
It was a historic season for the Scottsboro High School Football program, and a number of players that contributed to the Wildcats’ success have been recognized by the head coaches in Class 5A Region 8.
Scottsboro had four award winners and eight first-team Class 5A All-Region 8 selections while seven more Wildcats were second-team all-region and four were honorable mention.
Scottsboro went 9-5 in head coach Tyler Vann’s second season, winning its second consecutive region championship and advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time since 1997.
Scottsboro senior running back Jacobi Edmondson was named the Class 5A Region 8 MVP. Edmondson accumulated 1,841 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this past season. The three-year starter averaged 141.6 rushing yards per game and 7.6 yards per carry, and was also a factor in the passing game with 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns on a team-high 33 receptions.
Scottsboro senior offensive/defensive lineman Taygan Harris was named the Class 5A Region 8 Lineman of the Year. The UNA signee helped the Scottsboro offense average 31.3 points per game and amass 4,356 total yards (2,708 rushing yards and 1,648 passing yards). On defense, Harris recorded 57 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss, five quarterback sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries.
Conner Vaden, the Class 5A Region 8 Athlete of the Year, also made a lot of contributions on both offense and defense for the Wildcats. Vaden finished with 34 catches for 546 receiving yards and four touchdowns on offense while posting with 36 tackles and 11 pass break-ups while tying Scottsboro’s single-season interception record with 10.
Scottsboro senior kicker/punter Cole Raeuchle was the Class 5A Region 8 Co-Specialist of the Year. Raeuchle punted 27 times for the Wildcats this past season, averaging 39.8 yards per punt and pinning six inside the 20-yard line. He handled all of Scottsboro’s kicking duties, making 7-of-8 field-goal attempts with a long of 36 yards, was 51-of-52 on extra-point attempts and recording 47 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs.
Scottsboro’s first-team all-region selections were senior tight end Cooper Harding, senior athlete Jayden Gilbert, senior offensive lineman Travon Phillips, senior linebacker Lawson Lee, senior Cohen Thompson, junior safety Kasch Matayo, junior defensive end Eli Worthy and junior safety Jake Turner.
Second-team all-region selections were senior cornerback Quincie Franklin, junior linebacker Urijah Biddle, junior tight end Theron Miles, junior defensive tackle Aiden Rains, junior safety Kade Matayo, junior defensive back Ty Fowler and sophomore Zay Simpson.
Scottsboro’s all-region honorable mentions were senior offensive linemen Storm Blankenship and Ayden Mashburn, senior wide receiver Antonio Brocks and sophomore quarterback Colton Harding.
