All-Observer high school football teams

The 2014 All-Observer high school football teams:

First-Team Offense

QB: JAMES SMITH, MALLARD CREEK, 5-11, 175, JR: MECKA 4A Offensive Player of the Year completed 198 of 331 passes for 3,357 yards and 35 TDs. He ran 148 times for 1,350 yards and 25 TDs. He set school records for total yards, passing yards, passing TDs and total TDs (60). Named overall N.C. 4AA championship game MVP. Smith has led Mavericks to back-to-back state titles and is 26-1 as a starter.

RB: BISHOP FORD, HOUGH, 5-6, 180, SR: Ran 297 times for 2,252 yards and 28 TDs. Ford set a school season rushing record, helping Hough win its first playoff game and reach the N.C. 4AA quarterfinals.

RB: ROCKY REID, CONCORD, 6-0, 218, SR: Tennessee recruit rushed 300 times for 2,734 yards and 38 TDs while sitting out the fourth quarter of more than half of the Spiders’ 13 games. Reid is a two-time All-Observer selection and was a 2013 Associated Press all-state pick.

WR: J.T. CAUTHEN, CUTHBERTSON, 6-2, 205, SOPH: All-Southern Carolina 3A pick has eight Division I scholarship offers, including Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Clemson, Charlotte and N.C. State. He broke the school record for receptions in a season with 104 for a total of 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns.

WR: MYLES DORN, VANCE, 6-3, 195, JR: 75 catches for 1,274 yards and 18 touchdowns, setting three school records. Dorn, who helped Vance to its first Western Regional championship since 2010, started at DB with five interceptions, two defensive TDs and 75 tackles.

TE: HANK TUIPULOTU, FORT MILL NATION FORD, 6-3, 225, JR: Caught 105 passes for 1,332 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games. He also had two two-point conversions.

OL: BRIAN CHAFFIN, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN, 6-3, 280, SR: Four-year starter and Under Armour All-American is ranked as high as the No. 2 center nationally. He graded out at 96 percent for the season. All-state pick committed to Stanford.

OL: MASON VEAL, ARDREY KELL, 6-6, 290, SR: Shrine Bowl offensive tackle is two-time all-conference pick. Finished year grading out highest in school history for an OT (77 percent). Had 39 knockdowns. Has committed to North Carolina.

OL: RANDY SUYDAM, MALLARD CREEK, 6-3, 245, SR: Committed to Charlotte; All-MECKA 4A pick was the only returning OL from 2013 state champ and was a dominant member of an OL that paved the way for more than 3,000 yards on the ground, and allowed James Smith to throw for more than 3,300 yards. On defense, Suydam had 30 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.

OL: HARRISON CARLSON, LAKE NORMAN, 6-3, 260, SR: Did not allow a sack in 2014 and had more than 60 pancake blocks. This season, Carlson faced five Division I scholarship players. Two-time all-conference pick in North Piedmont 3A/4A.

OL: ALEX GOURLEY, SOUTH IREDELL, 6-1, 284, JR: Has college interest from Brigham Young, Clemson, Davidson, Duke and East Carolina. Gourley is a three-time all-conference and two-time all-county selection.

KR: JARET ANDERSON, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC, 5-10, 170, JR: In first season of varsity football, Anderson rushed for 2,067 yards and averaged 35.3 yards per kickoff return. He scored 32 touchdowns (27 rushing, four kickoff returns, one receiving). He was Western offensive MVP in the N.C. 4A champonship game.

SPEC: JOSH LADOWSKI, LAKE NORMAN, 5-9, 180, SR: QB set N.C. public-school record for offensive yards in a season (5,644). He passed for 43 touchdowns and rushed for 33. Ladowski, a Shrine Bowl pick, was named N.C. player of the year by USA Today and Gatorade.

K: KEITH DUNCAN, WEDDINGTON, 5-11, 150, JR: Set Union County record with 17 field goals. He had 74 touchbacks on kickoffs and was 62-of-64 on his extra-point tries.

Observer Offensive Player of the Year: James Smith, Mallard Creek

Observer Coaches of the Year: Mike Palmieri, Mallard Creek and the late Mo Collins, West Charlotte

Second-Team Offense

QB: Austin Kendall, Cuthbertson, 6-3, 205, Jr.

RB: Josh Allen, Victory Christian, 6-0, 198, Sr.

RB: Elijah Deveaux, Charlotte Christian, 6-1, 220, Jr.

WR: Wally Wilmore, York, S.C., 6-0, 160, Soph.

WR: Corey Joyner, Lake Norman, 7-0, 175, Jr.

TE: Jordan Helms, Fort Mill Nation Ford, 6-1, 210, Jr.

OL: Philip Walton, Charlotte Christian, 6-7, 280, Sr.

OL: Chris Webb, Concord, 6-3, 265, Sr.

OL: Ryan Enniss, York, S.C., 6-4, 270, Jr.

OL: Cody Kluttz, Butler, 6-1, 270, Sr.

OL: Grant Dixon, Providence, 6-4, 275, Sr.

KR: Vernon Grier, Mallard Creek, 5-11, 175, Sr.

SPEC: Chazz Surratt, East Lincoln, 6-2, 205, Jr.

K: JD Dellinger, Charlotte Country Day, 6-2, 175, Jr.

Third-Team Offense

QB: Anthony Ratliff-Williams, Butler, 6-2, 210, Sr.

RB: Cody Reece, Mount Pleasant, 5-10, 180, Jr.

RB: Donnovan Spencer, Vance, 5-10, 175, Jr.

WR: Conner O’Donnell, Concord First Assembly, 6-0, 178, Jr.

WR: Brian Muckelvene, Cuthbertson, 5-10, 160, Sr.

TE: Dylan Galbo, Lake Norman, 6-0, 205, Sr.

OL: Taleni Suhren, Ardrey Kell, 6-5, 275, Jr.

OL: Bryan Binford, Rock Hill South Pointe, 5-11, 285, Sr.

OL: Dejour Simpson, Mallard Creek, 6-3, 290, Jr.

OL: Austin Lee, Lake Norman, 6-3, 275, Jr.

OL: Matt Kowalewski, Charlotte Catholic, 6-3, 270, Sr.

KR: Moe Neal, Forestview, 5-11, 165, Jr.

SPEC: Nate Mullen, Hickory Ridge, 5-8, 165, Sr.

K: Jonathan Doerer, South Meck, 6-3, 170, Soph.

First-Team Defense

DL CHRISTIAN COLON, INDEPENDENCE, 6-3, 315, Jr: Has SEC and ACC offers. Had 101 tackles, four for a loss, plus three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries against constant double teams. All-Southwestern 4A pick.

DL EMMANUEL OLENGA, OLYMPIC, 6-5, 245, Sr.: Runs a 4.72 40-yard dash and was team MVP. Had 16.5 sacks, 105 tackles, five forced fumbles, and 14 Division I offers.

DL TWAZANGA MUGALA, ARDREY KELL, 6-4, 215, DE : Purdue commit is a two-time all-conference pick. Set a school record for sacks (16), plus 109 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. Also had 29 QB pressures and two forced fumbles.

DL LANCE MOORE, WEDDINGTON, 6-2, 210, JR: Southern Carolina 3A defensive player of the year had 104 tackles and Union County-record 25 sacks for N.C. 3AA finalist. Also had 49 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, 56 QB pressures and a defensive touchdown.

LB TYHEIM BREMBY, MALLARD CREEK, 5-10, 200, SR: MECKA 4A defensive player of the year had 141 tackles, 20 for a loss, plus five pass break-ups and three sacks. One of few returning starters on defense on the 2013 N.C. 4AA champs and helped much younger Mavericks team repeat in 2014.

LB MONTAVIS ROGERS, FORESTVIEW, 5-10, 195, SR: Big South 2A/3A defensive player of the year had 132 tackles, 14 of them for a loss, plus two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Four-year starter netted 520 yards rushing and 10 scores.

LB ERIC HEATH, MONROE, 5-9, 185, SR: 185 total tackles and more than 300 the past two seasons. Heath had 29 tackles for a loss and is the Rocky River 2A defensive player of the year. Carries a 3.9 GPA.

DB TANNER MUSE, SOUTH POINT, 6-4, 218, SR: Runs a 4.37 laser-timed 40 and has committed to Clemson. Had 109 tackles, eight pass break-ups, two interceptions and four tackles for a loss. Also had a kickoff return for a score, 1,185 yards rushing and averaged 13.94 yards per carry.

DB JAIRE ALEXANDER, ROCKY RIVER, 5-11, 170, SR: Louisville commit was 2013 AP all-state pick. Won Southwestern 4A defensive player of the year. Had 36 tackles, four interceptions and 15 pass break-ups. Averaged 32 yards per punt return, 19 yards per kick return and had 76 catches for 1,229 yards and 20 touchdowns as a WR.

DB STEPHEN GRIFFIN, SOUTH MECKLENBURG, 6-3, 190, SR: SoMeck 8 4A defensive player of the year and Charlotte Touchdown Club defensive player of the year has committed to Tennessee. Had 80 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass break-ups. Had 19 catches for 400 yards and seven scores.

DB AMARI HENDERSON, MALLARD CREEK, 6-1, 185, SR: Wake Forest recruit had nine interceptions, 25 tackles and 29 pass break-ups. Blocked two punts three extra-point attempts. Was defensive MVP of the N.C. 4AA championship game.

PR: DUPREE HART, ROCK HILL NORTHWESTERN, 5-8, 160, SR: After a record-breaking season as a WR as a junior, Hart spent much of 2014 at QB and rushed for 1,470 yards and 25 TDs and threw for 2,294 yards and 24 scores. He caught 17 passes and scored twice. He had eight punt returns and scored twice. He also averaged more than 30 yards per kick return.

P: AJ ELAM, SOUTH MECKLENBURG, 6-0, 180, JR: All-SoMeck 8 4A pick had 24 punts for a school-record 46-yard average. He had a long of 74. Also had 15 catches for 209 yards and two scores. Elam is a two-year starter.

2014 All-Observer Defensive Player of the Year: Amari Henderson, Mallard Creek

Second-Team Defense

DL: Luc Greene, York, 6-1, 188, Sr.

DL: Jarrell Bright, Mallard Creek, 6-2, 235, Sr.

DL: Zach Gilbert, South Mecklenburg, 6-3, 245, Jr.

DL: Connor Gerlits, Cuthbertson, 6-1, 210, Sr.

LB: Josh Brown, Mallard Creek, 6-4, 200, Jr.

LB: Jarett Schott, Lake Norman, 5-10, 230, Jr.

LB: Jack Fording, SouthLake Christian, 6-0, 215, Jr.

DB: Corey Bell, Hough, 5-9, 185, Sr.

DB: Marveon Mobley, Rock Hill South Pointe, 6-2, 182, Sr.

DB: Van Smith, Hough, 5-11, 185, Sr.

DB: Clifton Duck, Butler, 5-9, 175, Sr.

PR: Daveon Perry, A.L. Brown, 5-10, 175, Sr.

P: Austin Parker, Mount Pleasant, 6-2, 170, Sr.

Third-Team Defense

DL: Brandon Fisher, Rock Hill South Pointe, 6-0, 225, Sr.

DL: Jaqueis Alsbrooks, Monroe, 6-3, 214, Jr.

DL: Jalen Cousar, Butler, 6-1, 300, Sr.

DL: Alec Hanff, Charlotte Latin, 6-3, 225, Sr.

LB: Thaddeus Moss, Victory Christian, 6-3 1/2, 238, Jr.

LB: Grant Bushinski, SouthLake Christian, 6-1, 225, Sr.

LB: Will Sapyta, Ardrey Kell, 6-1, 215, Sr.

DB: Adonis Alexander, Independence, 6-3, 185, Sr.

DB: Sam Krehnbrink, East Lincoln, 6-2, 165, Sr.

DB: Anthony Butler, Vance, 6-2, 190, Jr.

DB: Chris Trevisan, Weddington, 6-2, 170, Sr.

PR: Daurice Simpson, York, 5-11, 180, Sr.

P: Jonathan McDavid, Ardrey Kell, 5-8, 165, Jr.

This story was originally published December 24, 2014 at 5:44 PM with the headline "All-Observer high school football teams."