2018 Football Finalists

Q’nairies Anderson

The Blue Jays have been on the rise and Anderson has helped navigate that rising tide as an explosive runner. The junior finished the season with 2,265 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards per carry. Those numbers earned him recognition at the all-state, all-region and all-conference levels.

Preston Burroughs

Offensive lineman don’t often get the glory, but Burroughs was key to the Mules’ offensive success, even as the team dealt with multiple injuries. The senior helped block his team to 180.7 rushing yards per game and nearly 2,000 passing yards on the season. Poplar Bluff gave up just 11 sacks all season, and Burroughs played 560 snaps without a holding flag.

Cooper Callis

The Indians gunslinger used his intelligence and athleticism to steer Jackson’s high-scoring attack. Callis completed 280 of 425 passes for 3,807 yards and 56 touchdowns, while tossing just 12 interceptions. He earned the Carr Trophy as the SEMO Conference’s top offensive player, and has more than a dozen college options.

Charles Golliday

Golliday was the spark of the Tigers’ offense, offering a dual threat under center. The senior completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 1,771 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions through the air. He also ran for nearly 600 yards and 15 TDs. The effort earned him a Class 2 Third Team All-State spot and All-Region Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

Aaron Harris

The workhorse running back carried the football 212 times for 1,627 yards and 21 touchdowns, as he set the Tigers record for career rushing yards. The driving force behind Central’s offense, Harris earned a Class 4 All-State nod, along with selections to the all-region, all-district and all-conference teams.

Jordan Kent

Kent was part of a high-powered Indians machine, but it was clear during his brief injury absence that it worked much better with the wide receiver punishing opposing defenses. He earned a plethora of postseason honors after being the No. 1 weapon for Jackson, making 81 catches for 1,307 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Patrick Maddox

A much improved Indians side had Maddox leading the charge. Incredibly efficient through the air, he passed for 1,708 yards and 18 TDs while rushing for 950 yards and another 15 TDs, all while playing a key role on the defensive side of the ball as well. He was the SEMO Conference South Offensive Player of the Year and will continue his career at Southeast Missouri State.

Luke Marcum

Even in an offense that didn’t throw the ball around, Marcum made his presence felt as a wide receiver. The athletic wideout finished with 920 receiving yards and touchdowns on 27 catches. Every time he touched the ball, he was a threat to take it to the house, finishing with 34 yards per catch, five TDs of 40 yards or more and a bevy of postseason honors.

Tray Stevenson

Continuing the tradition of high-production rushers, Stevenson was Southeast Missouri’s leading rusher. His numbers were unmatched, rushing 272 times for 2,537 yards and 40 TDs. Stevenson’s performance earned him the title of Class 3 All-Region Co-Offensive Player of the Year, along with first-team nods at the all-state, all-districts and all-conference levels.

Ian Torrey

Torrey might be harder to pigeonhole than any other player in the area, and his coach called him “the only player in the state who could play every position.” Torrey made his impact felt offensively at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, racking up 1,503 total yards of offense and 18 total touchdowns. The versatile Bulldog has received more than half a dozen Division I offers.

Tanner Dunivan

A two-time Semoball Awards finalist, Dunivan was at it again for a defense that played a critical role in Poplar Bluff’s SEMO Conference-winning campaign. The senior racked up 98 stops as an outside linebacker for the Mules, including 16 tackles for a loss and three sacks to set the tone on that side of the ball.

Tyreke Jamison

A first-time Semoball Awards nominee on a revamped Sikeston football team, the junior was one of the area’s top play-making defensive linemen. Jamison racked up 90 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss and six sacks for the Bulldogs.

Trevon Lemons

The inside linebacker was a stalwart in the middle of the defense for an improved Indians squad. He racked up 83 stops, including an area-high 34 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks. He was a Derland Moore finalist, the SEMO Conference South Lineman of the Year and Class 3 All-Region Defender of the Year.

Julian McBride

On a young team, McBride made it clear he was going to make an impact immediately. As a defensive lineman, he posted 92 tackles, a team-high 24 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries, all while playing on both sides of the ball. He earned postseason honors at every level, including all-state, for an impressive start to his varsity career.

Jay Moore

The defensive back made plays all over the field for the Indians, finishing with 48 tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups. His performance in the Indians secondary earned him a Class 1 First Team All-State selection.

Matt Nussbaum

Nussbaum closed out his career with a bang, leading the Tigers defense both mentally and physically, posting a team-high 125 tackles along with 16 tackles for a loss, nine sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. He earned first-team all-state and all-district honors, and was an academic all-state pick.

Jeremy Tucker

Tucker has been the heart and soul of the Blue Jays defense. The linebacker capped off his career with 143 tackles and 28 tackles for a loss and was the Derland Moore winner as the top defensive player in the SEMO Conference, along with all-state honors. Tucker signed to continue his career at Southeast Missouri State.

Cole Welker

No defensive back in the area put up better numbers than the Indians senior. Welker snagged a whopping 10 interceptions, plus 13 pass breakups, while also pitching in with 68 tackles. The ball-hawking cornerback was a first-team pick at both the all-region and all-conference levels.

Jackson Wilson

A 2017 Semoball Awards finalist on the offensive side, the defensive lineman made 65 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and 12 sacks for the Green Wave. A critical leader in the trenches for Malden, Wilson was the Class 2 All-Region Lineman of the Year, SEMO Conference East Lineman of the Year and earned recognition at every level, including all-state.

Ivory Winters

The reigning Semoball Awards Football Defense Player of the Year, Winters followed that up with another big season. The defensive lineman finished with 114 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks as a key playmaker for the Indians. Winters was a first-team all-state pick.