2024 NwGaFootball Large School Ballot
Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis (Carrollton): 2645 total yards with 38 TDs
Jaedon Harmon LB (Rome): #13 overall ranked LB in the country. Region 5-5A POY
Tae Harris ATH (Cedartown): 1001 total yards on 66 touches with 16 TDs. 63 TT with 4 TFL and a 42 yd FR for TD.
Javen Parker RB (East Paulding): 1194 yards with 10 TDs
Mason Bryant QB (Paulding Co): 2676 yards passing with 15 TDs
Tripp Nix QB (Dawson Co): 2651 Total yards with 19 TDs
Demarcus Gardner ATH (Cedartown): 30 catches for 551 yards with 8 TDs. 4 INTs (3 returned for TDs from 34,95,97)
Dashaun Williams RB (Hiram): 1318 yards with 14 TDs
Braylon Pritchett LB (Ridgeland): 122 TT 12 TFL
Michael Gibbons RB/LB (Cedartown): 102 TT 10 TFL 7.5 sacks INT. 63 carries for 367 yds 5 TDs
NwGaFootball POY history
The POY award is selected by 1/3 fan vote, 1/3 panel vote (made up of various coaches and media personalities from around the NW/W Ga Area), and 1/3 NwGaFootball staff vote.
Season 1 we had 300 fans participate in the voting. This past season, Season 6, we had close to 13000 votes.
Season 1 (2018)
Winner: Jamious Griffin (Rome Wolves)
Counting the post season, Griffin rushed for 2815 yards with 40 TDs in 2018. He had multiple TDs in 11 of the 14 games the Wolves played, including a 3 game stretch where he had 450 yards rushing and 13 TDs.
Season 2 (2019)
Winner: Jahmyr Gibbs (Dalton Catamounts)
Gibbs rushed for 2554 yards with 40 TDs in the Catamounts 11 games in 2019. He averaged close to 11 ypc on the year and had crazy 420 yard/ 8 TD performance in the season opener vs Ringgold.
Season 3 (2020)
Winner: Luke Holloway (Fannin Co Rebels)
The Rebel QB accounted for 2739 total yards with 35 TDs leading the Rebels to their best season ever with an undefeated regular season and a trip to the 3rd Rd of the Playoffs. Had 353 total yards with 4 TDs in what was considered the Region Title game at Pepperell.
Season 4 (2021)
Winner: Clay Hyatt (Haralson Co Rebels)
Hyatt is arguably the best two way player we have seen the last 6 years. He accounted for 2500 total yards with 44 TDs and averaged over 12 TT per game with 14 sacks on defense leading the Rebels to their 1st ever Region Title.
Season 5 (2022)
Winner: Seth Griffin (North Murray Mountaineers)
Griffin put up some Xbox type numbers in 2022. He had 3548 total yards with 40 TDs on his way to be named 1st Team All State.
Season 6 (2023)
Winner: Toby Maddux (Trion Bulldogs)
Maddux accounted for 2484 total yards with 40 TDs in helping the Bulldogs go undefeated in the regular season and capture their 1st Region Title since 2003. Had a huge game in the Region Championship vs Darlington accounting for 350 yards and 5 TDs.
Runner Ups:
We’ve had a great list of runner ups as well. Including Trion’s Rob Brown who lost by just a few % points in 2021.
Season 1: Markus Smith (Rockmart)
Season 2: Ladd McConkey (N. Murray)
Season 3: Javin Whatley (Rockmart)
Season 4: Rob Brown (Trion)
Season 5: Chris Roper (Adairsville)
Season 6: Reece Fountain (Rome)