The 2015 DCHS Tiger football Most Valuable Player was announced Saturday night at the annual football banquet, held at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center and sponsored by Liberty State Bank.
The coveted award went to senior A.J. Mooneyham this year.
In presenting the trophy, Coach Steve Trapp said Mooneyham had been a solid player in several positions during his high-school career. "He started out as a running back, then moved around and did a lot of different things for us, but for his career he rushed the football 108 times for 540 yards and 11 touchdowns,” Trapp shared. “Keep in mind he got moved around a lot. He wasn't solely a running back for his whole career. He had 39 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns, return yardage. He had 13 punting and kickoff returns for 266 yards. He did a lot of different things for us in his career. He had 209 total tackles, including 19 for a loss, one safety, seven interceptions, five deflected passes, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four blocked extra points or field goals.”
Mooneyham was also named Second Team All-District in 8AA, was selected by his team as DeKalb County High School Defensive Back of the Year. He was named First Team All-District in 8 AA, and was named DCHS Linebacker of the Year in 2014. In 2015 he had 11 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 57 times for 239 yards and seven touchdowns. He received All Upper Cumberland Second Team Defensive Back, All Region Most Outstanding Defensive Back and First Team All-Region for Region 4AAA as well.
Senior Carlee White took the Most Valuable Cheerleader Award at the banquet. Cheer Coaches Amanda Fuller and Sonya House presented the award.
"She was an All American for two years,” Fuller said of White. “She received the highest score for two years. She helped us plan every single pep rally. She has a true gift for choreography, putting together dances and putting things to music. Cheerleading is her life. She has done this competitively. She knows what she is doing and works as hard as everyone else. She did something this year that has never been done before. She was nominated for the TSSAA All State Cheerleading Team. You have to be selected to even try out for this team. She was selected to try out and was one of only eighteen cheerleaders in the state of Tennessee chosen to cheer for the Tennessee East-West game. She is extremely talented. She is driven. She has great determination and work ethic. She is just a wonderful example of what a cheerleader should be.”
Receiving additional cheer awards were:
Best Stunts- Lexie Bates
Most Spirited- Hannah Walker
Best Jumps- Kaitlyn Roller
Best Dance-Rachel Fuson
Most Improved- Shaunta Koegler
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility)-Taylor Marshall
Other football award winners were:
Offensive Player- Steven Jennings
Offensive Lineman- Luke Green
Offensive Back- Christian Pruitt
Receiver- Isaiah Jones
Defensive Player- Jesse Smith
Defensive Lineman- Tayvian Nokes
Linebacker- Jordan Whitehead
Defensive Back- Riley Sexton
Special Teams Player-Matthew Poss
Most Improved- Braxton Linder
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Eli Cross
Regional award winners:
Offensive MVP: Steven Jennings
Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Eli Cross
Outstanding Defensive Back: A.J. Mooneyham
Outstanding Tight End: Christian Pruitt
Outstanding Punter: Matthew Poss
All Region First Team:
Riley Sexton
Jordan Whitehead
Jesse Smith
Luke Green
Tayvian Nokes
All Region Second Team:
Isaiah Jones
Gage Delape
Devin Zaderiko
The 2015 season saw the Tigers finish with a 7-4 overall record. DeKalb appeared in the state playoffs for the fifth consecutive time, and for the seventh time in eight years.
