Knights garner six all-conference awards
Published 7:36 am Thursday, December 1, 2016
- LYLA WOOD Buckingham County High School senior Sean Ayers, in photo at below, was named to the 2016 All-Courthouse Conference 37 first team as a defensive lineman. Junior Brycen Newby, No. 64 in photo above, made the first team as an offensive lineman, and junior Bryce Leake, No. 53 in photo above, made the cut as a linebacker. The Knights also had two players named to the all-conference second team and one Buckingham player received honorable mention.
n many ways, it was a difficult season for the 2016 Buckingham County High School varsity football team, which went 2-8, but having six of its players receive all-conference recognition — including three on the first team — gave fans and Knights Head Coach Joshua Wallace reason to cheer.
“It’s always a good thing,” he said of the honors. “You’ve got guys that are recognized by other coaches and can represent the program in a positive way, and they deserve it.”
The All-Courthouse Conference 37 first team included Buckingham senior Sean Ayers, as a defensive lineman, junior Brycen Newby, as an offensive lineman, and junior Bryce Leake, as a linebacker.
Ayers recorded 46 total tackles, including 23 solo and 23 assisted. He had 19 tackles for losses, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five quarterback hurries.
“His stats speak for themselves,” Wallace said. “He’s probably one of the best defensive linemen I’ve coached.”
The coach also pointed out that Buckingham is the only team in Courthouse Conference 37 from the James River District. The other four teams are in the Dogwood District.
“When we go in there to vote … they all (played) each other,” Wallace said. “We only played a couple teams in that district, so the other coaches were able to speak up and say, ‘Yeah, we did play against him, and he’s just as good as anybody else in our conference.’”
Newby earned this description on the offensive line, despite being new in that role.
The quality of his performance “with his first year playing it, I think, helped him out a lot,” Wallace said. “He’s just a solid guy, dependable guy.”
Leake produced 85 total tackles this season, including 51 solo and 34 assisted. He had three tackles for losses and one pass break-up.
“I think that what made him stand out was he was always around the ball,” Wallace said, describing Leake’s strong instincts.
Knights senior defensive back Daquarious Holman and senior linebacker Ray Monroe made the all-conference second team.
Buckingham senior Jarvis Bowles received honorable mention as an all-purpose defensive player.
