Just how good was the 2022 season of Mason Avery of West Lincoln? He set a new school and county record for rushing with 2622 yards, scoring 37 touchdowns running the ball, accounting for 228 of his team's 444 total points. The record-setting season also gsve him the career record for rushing for Lincoln County--4720 yards.
He scored one touchdown on defense, was in on 105 tackles, 86 of them solo tackles: nine of those tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. It's not surprising then that Avery was named co-winner of the Catawba Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year award and also named the Defensive Player of the Year.
It's also not a surprise that Chris Culliver of Maiden High School was the other co-winner of the Offensive Player of the Year. Culliver, who'll play at UNC next Fall, caught 80 passes for the Blue Devils this season, 26 of them for touchdowns including his team's only score in the loss to Reidsville last Friday.
Culliver was also named a co-winner of the Specialist of the Year award, along with Alan Bahena-Soto, who handled kicking for Bunker Hill.
Avery, by the way, hasn't yet made a decision where he'll go to school next Fall. He was visiting another college on Tuesday.
Joining Avery on the All-Conference selections announced this week are
teammates Jaylen Winnex, who came close to the prestigious thousand-yard season with 952 yards rushing; Curtis Goins, Caleb Sain, Nate Rye, Zander Harrelson, and Patrick Goins. The Rebels' JJ Ponder and Ben Sain got honorable mentions.
For conference champions Maiden, in addition to Culliver, running back Chris Gibbs, quarterback Wesley Thompson, Jacob Sigmon, DJ Spring, Jackson Hensley, Alex Hill, and Korbyn Lawing were named All-Conference. Josh Stover and Raheim Misher were honorable mentions.
Lincolnton's All-Conference selections were Andrew Phelps, who was on the receiving end of 49 of quarteback Andre Bost's 114 completed passes. Phelps also had six interceptions on defense for the Wolves. Bost, who passed for 1183 yards and ran for 533, was also named All-Conference, as were LHS players Kharmoni Heath, Keondre Smith, Easton Dellinger and Teeghan Strutt. Peyton Rangel and Camden Wray were honorable mentions.
Bunker Hill quarterback Redek Robinson, who led the Bears to a second place finish in the league, was one of eight Bunker Hill players named All-Conferencce. Others were receiver Elijah Boston, kicker Alan Bahena=Soto, Xavier McCleave, Tristan Haddock, Walter McGill, Cole Lineberger and Saeed Nasher. Jaylin Willis and Jason Willis, Jr. received honorable mentions.
From Bandys, All-Conference choices were Nolan Jones, Logan Williams, Camden Mongene, Andrew McCrary and Moses Anderson. Honorable mentions were Justin Oplinger and Will Nix.
From Newton-Conover, Ben Watson, Jayce Harrison-Young, Jordan Lineberger, and Trevaris Stinson were chosen; honorable mentions to Rakim Moore and Dorray Allred.
East Burke's All-Conference selections were Luke Wilson, Jake Hodges & Ben Mast; HM: Jacob Dellinger & Levi Coble.
West Caldwell's two All-Conference choices were Jaylen Patterson and Mason Anthony; HM: Chris Gibbs & Edward Gibson.
Maiden Coach Will Byrne was named the Coach of the Year.
