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Maplesville High School’s Jakavion Jackson was named a 2022 Class 1A All-State performer. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

Chilton County High School’s Demarcus Riddick was selected to the Class 6A First-Team All-State defensive team. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

Isabella High School’s Zac Chapman made the Class 2A Second-Team All-State offensive team. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

August 25 2022 - The Chilton County Tigers play host to cross county rival Jemison from the confines of Tiger Stadium on the campus of Chilton County High School.

DreVon Lee earned a spot on the Class 2A Second-Team All-State offensive team as a wide receiver for Isabella. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

Thorsby High School’s Malachi Allgood and his 158 tackles earned him an honorable mention spot on the Class 2A All-State team. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

Payton Cook earned an honorable mention on the Class 1A All-State team as a defensive back for Maplesville. (FILE | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Seven Chilton County football players were selected to the 2022 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State football teams on Dec. 18. Two players were named All-State first teamers, three to All-State second teams and two received honorable mentions.

Maplesville High School’s Jakavion Jackson was selected to the ASWA Class 1A First-Team All-State defensive team as a defensive back. Jackson made 34 tackles, broke up 11 passes and bagged eight interceptions in his last season for the Red Devils. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown. Jackson was also a key part of the Maplesville backfield at running back and special teams before an ankle injury forced him to play just defense.

“Any time (Jakavion) touched the ball, it did not matter if it was on defense or a punt return, he has that ability to take it to the house at any time,” Maplesville coach Brad Abbott said. “That element was big for us this past year.”

Chilton County High School’s Demarcus Riddick was selected as a ASWA Class 6A First-Team All-State player on defense as a linebacker. Riddick was a do it all type of player for the Tigers much like Jackson was for Maplesville. The junior played wide receiver for the Tigers and returned punts where he took two kicks for a return touchdown this past season.

However, Riddick made his presence felt most on the defensive side of the ball. The University of Georgia commit made 109 tackles in 2022 with 62 of those being solo. He added seven sacks and three interceptions, and took one of those back for a return touchdown.

Isabella High School had two players selected to the ASWA Class 2A Second-Team All-State offensive team. Senior Zac Chapman was selected as a running back and junior DreVon Lee was selected as a wide receiver.

Chapman and Lee were two of the many weapons at the disposal of the Mustangs offense in 2022. Chapman made his impact in both the running and passing game being a viable option of screen plays and small check down throws. The senior piled up 1,414 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, and added 678 receiving yards and seven touchdowns via the air.

“I got to watch him in little league when I first got here (in 2016), and then coached him all the up through junior high and high school. He is special to me because I have gotten to watch him grow,” Isabella coach Tate Leonard said. “He is a very deserving kid in everything he gets and a really hard worker.”

Lee did most of his work at the wide receiver spot, but occasionally got the ball in his hands in the backfield. The junior caught 11 touchdowns in 2022 and compiled 910 receiving yards.  He added three rushing touchdowns, and was the Mustangs main returner and ripped off three return touchdowns this past season.

CCHS got its second player selected when senior Rashard Childers was named an ASWA Class 6A Second-Team All-State running back. Childers was a workhorse for the Tigers throughout 2022 getting over 25 carries in most games, and making the most of those opportunities.

In only 10 games, Childers carried the ball 206 times. That is over a 20 carry per game average.

Childers used those 206 carries to run for 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns to cap his CCHS career.

“I was extremely proud of Rashard … he had a few goals set going into his senior year, and rushing for over 1,000 was one of them,” CCHS coach Marvin Morton said. “He put in the hard work in the weight room for us, he is an unselfish guy, and I am very proud of his work ethic this past season.”

Thorsby High School was represented on the ASWA Class 2A Honorable Mention team with linebacker Malachi Allgood. Allgood was the leading tackler in Chilton County during the 2022 season with 158 stops, and 13 of those were behind the line of scrimmage for a loss.

Maplesville defensive back Payton Cook rounded out the seven players earning an honorable mention on the ASWA Class 1A defensive team. The senior made 39 tackles in 2022 and pulled down six interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. Cook added six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in his last season in a Red Devils uniform.

The ASWA Super All-State teams and Mr. Football of Alabama will be announced on Jan. 12.

2022 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Selections

Class 6A

First-Team All-State, Defense

LB — Demarcus Riddick, Chilton County, Junior

Second-Team All-State, Offense

RB — Rashard Childers, Chilton County, Senior

Class 2A

Second-Team All-State, Offense

RB — Zac Chapman, Isabella, Senior

WR — DreVon Lee, Isabella, Junior

Honorable Mention

LB — Malachi Allgood, Thorsby, Sophomore

Class 1A

First-Team All-State, Defense

DB — Jakavion Jackson, Maplesville, Senior

Honorable Mention

DB — Payton Cook, Maplesville, Senior

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