McKenzie Middle School Celebrates Football Season with Banquet

McKENZIE (November 15) — The McKenzie Middle School football team celebrated a winning season Saturday with a banquet at Bethel University's Vera Low Center.

Players, managers and coaches enjoyed Chick-fil-A and Block City Pizza, then Head Coach Paul Carroll thanked everyone for being part of the program.

Carroll noted the high school's successful run, and said "You guys should be the ones to continue that." He encouraged the eighth grade players to try out for the high school team. "That's the only way the success continues."

Certificates were presented to each player and manager, and each eighth grader was given a trophy.

Four awards were presented, though Carroll noted that football is the ultimate team sport and that each award winner's performance was backed by the team's effort.

Dierks Ghyers was named Defensive MVP.

Jake Ghyers was named Top Back.

Fisher Allen was the Top Lineman.

Seth Stafford earned the title of Offensive MVP.

After the banquet, the team walked over to Walter Butler Stadium to watch the Bethel Wildcat football game.

Eighth grade Rebel players were Jackson Barden, Seth Stafford, Lane Brown, Jaibreon Horton, Dierks Ghyers, Cooper Jones, Kamden Lee, Tyler Davis, Zayden Webb, Ryan McCann, Jake Ghyers, McCoy Merrick, Jeremy Sims, Leighem Broyles, Parker Standridge, Fisher Allen, Case Wall, Riley Crafton, Andrew Arnold, Brenton Hickerson and Reid Warman.

Seventh grade players were Kendon Coleman, Harley Davidson, Davon Webb, Mahkyn Gilbert, Mason Davidson, Thomas Howard, Navadius Owens, Deacon Barden, Khalil Robinson, Johnny Vasquez, Kaiden Wallace, Jonah Henson, Brantley Evans, Graham Seavers, Rex Thompson, Reed Gaskins, Owen Epperson, Cooper Cunningham, Kingston Gibbs, Daniel Carroll, Jordan Graham, Armani Seats and Jaydin Belk.

Managers were Chris Chunn, Tino Piro, King Howard and Jaxon Hochreiter.