The DeKalb County High School Football team announced their award for Most Valuable Player for 2014 during their annual football banquet last Saturday evening. Senior wide receiver and linebacker Lane Ball was honored with the award at the event, which was held at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. The awards were sponsored by Liberty State Bank.

Head Coach Steve Trapp presented the MVP trophy to Ball and addressed the crowd. "This young man played a lot of football for us. He has probably played in more football games in the Tiger uniform than anybody in the history of this program as far as appearing in games playing on Friday night. This guy has been in almost every one of them since his freshman year. Maybe not as a starter as a freshman, but he was on the field."

Trapp continued, "Very shortly into his freshman year he was a starter. He has been a defensive player of the year. He has been a linebacker of the year. He has been an All-District player, an All-Region Player, and an All-Upper Cumberland Player. He has been an outstanding player for DeKalb County High School Football. Not only that but he has been an outstanding role model."

"He has been an outstanding team captain. He’s been an outstanding student. He has just been a great young man and I am happy to say that I have been able to be a part of his life as his football coach, and I know he is going to have a bright and successful future at whatever he plans to do."

Ball was also named to the First Team All-District for the 2014 season, and was an All Upper Cumberland Football Honorable Mention on defense for his 120 plus tackles at middle linebacker.

The Tigers finished the season with an overall record of 5-6, with a fourth consecutive appearance in the state play-offs.

Also honored that evening was Brooke Martin, who was named Most Valuable Cheerleader. The award was presented to Martin, a senior, by Cheer Coaches Amanda Fuller and Sonya House.

"She has leadership qualities," said Coach Fuller. "When she comes into a room she demands respect and she has been an excellent leader of this squad. I am very proud to have had her here for four years. She is an amazing cheerleader and has an amazing personality and is very deserving of this award."

"She really stepped into a leadership role last year when she started working toward being captain" Coach House added. "She started taking over a lot of things. She started helping plan pep rallies. It just came natural to her. She is able to demand respect with a smile. And she is able to get respect from everyone. She just has that leadership quality."

Other football awards presented that night were Best Offensive Player- Steven Jennings, Best Offensive Lineman- John Bradford, Best Offensive Back- Luke Boss, Best Receiver- Aaron Patterson, Best Defensive Player- Lance Ball, Best Defensive Lineman- Joseph Pack, Best Linebacker- A.J. Mooneyham, Best Defensive Back- Jonathon Munoz, Best Special Teams Player - Matthew Poss, Most Improved- Austin Brown, and the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award - Hunter Stone.

Additional cheer awards were Best Stunts - Lexie Bates, Most Spirited - Emilee Stephens, Best Jumps - Kaitlyn Roller, Best Dance-Carlee White, Most Improved- Abby Evans, Best Motions - Makayla Redmon, and the DEAR award (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility) - Rachel Fuson.

The 2014 District 8AA Award Winners from DeKalb County were Most Outstanding Defensive End - Hunter Stone, Most Outstanding Wide Receiver - Aaron Patterson, Most Outstanding Quarterback - Steven Jennings, and Most Outstanding Kicker - Matthew Poss.

The First Team All District were Lance Ball, Lane Ball, Jacob Hale, Jonathon Munoz, and A.J. Mooneyham.

Second Team All District were John Bradford, Joseph Pack, and Luke Boss.

The 2014 All Upper Cumberland Football Team were: First Team-Offense - QB - Steven Jennings (2,052 passing yards, 16 TDs/783 rushing yards, 11 TDs). Second Team-Offense – OL - Jacob Hale, and WR - Aaron Patterson (40 catches, 719 yards, 4 TDs).

Honorable Mention Offense were John Bradford - Lineman Right Guard, Eli Cross - Lineman Left Tackle, and Luke Green - Lineman Center.

Honorable Mention Defense were Lance Ball - Linebacker (90 plus tackles LOB), Lane Ball -Linebacker (120 plus tackles MLB), and Joseph Pack-Defense Lineman (30 plus tackles NG).

Special Teams were Matthew Poss - Kicker and Punter (3/5 on Field Goals & average on punts of 40 yards)