Buckingham County High School’s varsity football team drew 16 All-James River District (JRD) selections after its outstanding 2019 regular season, including 11 on the first team, and Knights senior Walter Edwards was named the district Offensive Player of the Year and the district Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

“It’s good to see this group get recognized for their accomplishments on the field,” Buckingham Head Coach Seth Wilkerson said.

The Knights went 10-2 overall this season, including 7-1 in the district, second only to Goochland High School (12-2, 8-0 JRD).

Buckingham players making the first team included Edwards, as both a running back and linebacker, senior Cole Edmondston, as both a tight end and defensive end, senior Garrett Hafley, as both a center and defensive lineman, junior Xavier Copeland, as both a defensive back and punt returner, junior quarterback Gerry “Tae” Toney, junior offensive all-purpose player Xavian Gough and junior kicker Wesley Snoddy.

Knights making the second team were Gough, as a defensive all-purpose player, Snoddy, as a punter, sophomore defensive lineman Dontrell Gough, senior defensive back Nathan Brickhill and junior defensive back Demetrius Davis.

Edwards was outstanding on both sides of the ball for the Knights throughout the year, explaining his Player of the Year honors. He finished the season with 116 carries for 1,420 yards and 14 touchdowns, and on defense, he ended up with 84 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss in yardage and four sacks.

“That’s a great accomplishment for him,” Wilkerson said of the dual Player of the Year accolades for Edwards. “I’m not sure if that’s ever happened where one player got both, but all the coaches in the James River District voted for him, and each of those (honors), I’m happy for him that he was able to get (those).”

Edward said earning both Player of the Year awards “meant a lot to me, and also it hasn’t been done yet, so that kind of made me feel good also, but without my offensive line and defensive line, I’m pretty much nothing. So I just thank my offensive line and defensive line for everything they did up front. That way I could be able to do what I did running the ball or making tackles on defense.”

Stats for other Buckingham first-team selections are as follows: Edmondston finished the season with 41 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss and one sack. Toney had 125 carries for 1,212 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he was also 12-for-32 passing for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Xavian Gough ended up with 44 carries for 441 yards and seven touchdowns. Snoddy was 35-for-41 on extra points, and he went 2-for-3 on field goals, making one as long as 36 yards.

“We had five seniors this year, and they’ve been with the program since they were in eighth grade, and I’d like to thank them for their leadership throughout the year,” Wilkerson said. “And I was pleased just how they were able to get recognized.”