Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009

4A all-area football, defense

TOP PLAYER: JUSTIN ANDERSON

SCHOOL: Blythewood

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Defensive Lineman

WHAT HE DID: Shrine Bowl player made 51 total tackles, 13 for losses, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

HIS FIRST TOUCH: “I started playing football in the fifth grade and I just got hooked into it.”

HIS COLLEGE CHOICE: “I committed to Maryland and I’m just really excited about having the opportunity to play Division 1 football.”

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREPS AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL: “The main difference is the strength, the speed and the aggression. In college everybody gets bigger and faster. You may have been the best kid at your high school, but at college you’re playing against the best players from high schools everywhere, so you have to be that much more aggressive.”

THE BEST THING ABOUT FOOTBALL: “I just like the feeling of hitting somebody, taking them down, getting to be aggressive without getting in trouble.”

HOW HE GETS A MENTAL EDGE ON HIS OPPONENTS: “I don’t talk alot, the younger guys do that. I just try to vary my moves, come at them different ways so they don’t know what to expect and psych them out that way.”

HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM: “I wanted to be a gospel singer, like Kirk Franklin. We used to listen to Kirk Franklin on the way to church and I’d be in the backseat singing all the way. But as I got older I realized I really can’t sing like that.”

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Class 4A

DEFENSIVE LINE

Christian McKie, Richland Northeast: Junior had 61 tackles, including 12 for losses and four sack.

Justin Anderson, Blythewood: Shrine Bowl selection. Made 34 solo tackles, 17 assists and 13 for loss. Had two sacks and also blocked a kick.

Curtis Hill, Blythewood: Had 51 total tackles, including 14 for loss and three sacks.

Jimmy Carson, Irmo: Senior finished with 31 tackles and 15 assists. Also recorded three sacks.

LINEBACKERS

Alonzo Greene, Ridge View: Made 149 tackles and four sacks. Also had seven pass deflections.

Marcus Lylerly, Ridge View: Had 107 tackles, including five for loss.

Harrison Oxendine, Richland Northeast: Senior was a big hitter with 97 tackles. North-South all-star selection.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Freddie Durham, Irmo: Senior captain finished with 45 tackles, 16 assists, two interceptions.

D.J. Monroe Dutch Fork: Had 100 total tackles and two interceptions.

David Davis, Ridge View: Had 74 tackjles, three interceptions and nine pass deflections.

Shawn White Richland Northeast: Senior had 56 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass deflections.

PUNTER/Kicker

Aaron Mayes, Blythewood: Made 10 field goals and was 10 of 11 on PATs. Made a career long 59-yarder against Ridge View. Averaged 36.7 yards per punt.

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