Stewarts Creeks’ Cynterius Lyons on Saturday August 1, 2015.
MURFREESBORO — Stewarts Creek senior Cynterius Lyons was named the Region 5-5A Special Teams Player of the Year after tying his school-record 99-yard kickoff return in 2015.
Lyons, an Austin Peay commitment, was one of five Red Hawks who received All-Region 5-5A honors. He also had 26 catches for 370 yards with two touchdowns on offense along with 37 tackles, three interceptions and two defensive scores.
Also being named to the all-region team were Tre Bailiez, Marcus Clemons, Clay Griggs and Malik Reynolds.
Bailiez had 541 yards on 44 carries on offense and 58 tackles with a fumble recovery on defense. Clemons had 48 tackles with three for loss. Reynolds had 64 tackles with three sacks. And Griggs recorded 62 tackles and an interception.
Independence,which won the Class 5A state championship, had a near sweep of the superlatives.
Independence’s Nate Johnson, who was a Mr. Football finalist, was named the Region 5-5A MVP. Independence quarterback Andrew Bunch and Shelbyville quarterback Mason Cunningham were Co-Offensive MVPs. Lincoln County’s Xavier Schlueter was the Defensive MVP.
Independence’s Pete Dorsten was the Offensive Lineman of the Year. Teammate Chris Beavers was the Defensive Lineman of the Year. Independence’s Grayson Pantall was the Kicker of the Year and Independence’s Scott Blade was the Coach of the Year.
Region 5-1A honored: Eight members of MTCS’ football team were named to the All-Region 5-1A team recently. The list includes Joseph Peck, Nick Merritt, Trey Hickey, Tanner Green, Grant Pickard, Brayden Melton, Matt Swift and Sam Mathis.
Green rushed for 1,104 yards and scored 14 total TDs in 2015. Peck threw for 721 yards and rushed for 825 yards with 17 total touchdowns. Hickey had 17 catches for 234 yards and 2 TDs on offense. On defense, he had 37 tackles and five interceptions with eight pass breakups.
Melton had 134 tackles with three sacks. Mathis had 59 tackles and two sacks. Pickard had 45 tackles. Merritt rushed for 201 yards with 3 TDs. He had 36 tackles and three sacks on defense. Swift, a two-way lineman, had 31 tackles.
Tennessee commitment Daniel Bituli, a Nashville Christian senior, was named the Region 5-1A MVP. Jo Byrns’ Mikey Chennault was named the Offensive MVP. Nashville Christian’s Brant Lawless was the Defensive MVP. Trousdale County’s Tanner Lannom was the Special Teams MVP. Monterey’s Spencer Norrod was the Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Jo Byrns’ Jackson Jones was the Defensive MVP. Nashville Christian’s Mareio McGraw was the Skill Player of the year. Jo Byrns’ Parker Baxley was the Back of the Year and Monterey’s Scott Hughes was the Coach of the Year.
NCAA informational meeting: A meeting for all Rutherford County athletes in grades seven through 12 will be Dec. 14 at Blackman High. The meeting will last from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. and is an educational meeting for athletes regarding college educational requirements.
MTSU baseball coach Jim McGuire and Daryl Simpson, MTSU’s associate athletic director for compliance, will speak at the event.
Volleyball clinic set: The fourth annual Alliance VBC volleyball coaches clinic will be from 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Battle Ground Academy’s middle school.
Cost is $50. A walk-up registration fee is $75. Register online at alliancevbc.com.
Lipscomb University coach Brandon Rosenthal, Belmont coach Tony Howell, Tennessee assistant Jen Malcom and Alliance mentor coach John Blair will speak at the clinic. The event is open to the entire coaching community.
Run Taylor run: Central Magnet sophomore cross country runner Taylor Cuneo placed 19th recently at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Cuneo finished in 17:31.7 in the Dec. 5 race.
Sargent signs: Central Magnet senior shortstop Darek Sargent recently signed with Delta State University, a NCAA Division II school located in Cleveland, Miss.
He earned District 8-AA Player of the Year honors this past season after hitting .426 with 43 runs scored, four home runs and 45 RBIs.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.