Six Tigers have earned All-WKC distinction for their performances on the gridiron this past season.
However, Caldwell County did not place anyone on the overall first team or the small school first team in voting by WKC coaches.
Four CCHS seniors — Gavin Agnew, Nate Dyer, Daniel Faughn and Jaquan Glover — are joined by junior Brandon Sigler and sophomore Aggie Capps as All-WKC recipients.
Sigler led the team in rushing with 515 yards and had a team-high 36 receptions in 2009. He also led the team in scoring with 11 touchdowns and 68 points.
Glover was second in rushing with 407 yards and four TDs. He also caught 19 passes for 116 yards.
Capps was the team’s leading tackler this season with 113 stops.
Agnew was third in tackles with 79.
Dyer and Faughn were three-year starters on the offensive line and also saw extensive action on the defensive line.
Faughn was fifth in the team in tackles with 67.
Here is the All-WKC Overall First Team, which includes players in Class A through Class 6A:
Offensive Players
Receivers:
Xavier Shelton, Mayfield, Sr.
Chris Allen, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Offensive Linemen:
Anthony Topps, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Lonnie Martin, Murray, Sr.
Grant Williams, Calloway Co., Sr.
Jantzen Jones, Mayfield, Sr.
Jacob Porter, Lone Oak, Sr.
Quarterback:
Antonio Andrews, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Running Backs:
Tyreese Murrell, Mayfield, Sr.
Brandon Wicks, Murray, Sr.
VaShaun Banks, Christian Co., Sr.
Defensive Players
Defensive Linemen:
Malcomb McDuffen, Christian Co., Sr.
Chandler Thacker, Lone Oak, Sr.
Aaron Berry, Crittenden Co., Sr.
Hunter Kingston, Mayfield, Jr.
Linebackers:
Chayton Thacker, Lone Oak, Sr.
Devin Smith, Murray, Sr.
Derrion Crank, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Joseph Weigold, Hopkinsville, Sr.
Defensive Backs:
Breeon Moreno, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Tre Powell, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Matt Starks, Lone Oak, Sr.
Placekicker:
Jordan Benton, Murray, Sr.
Punter:
Tra Tharp, Heath, Sr.
Here is the All-WKC Small School First Team, which includes players in Class A through Class 3A:
Offensive Players
Receivers:
Xavier Shelton, Mayfield, Sr.
Chris Allen, Ft. Campbell,Sr.
Offensive Linemen:
Anthony Topps, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Lonnie Martin, Murray, Sr.
Jantzen Jones, Mayfield, Sr.
Robert Olive, Murray, Jr.
Ryan Buchannon, Ballard Mem., Sr.
Quarterback:
Antonio Andrews, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Running Backs:
Tyreese Murrell, Mayfield, Sr.
Brandon Wicks, Murray, Sr.
Jaquise Lockett, Fulton City, Sr.
Defensive Players
Defensive Linemen:
Robert Olive, Murray, Jr.
Dillon Clark, Crittenden Co., Sr.
Aaron Berry, Crittenden Co., Sr.
Hunter Kingston, Mayfield, Jr.
Linebackers:
Dakota Janakowski, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Matt Shultz, Mayfield, Sr.
Devin Smith, Murray, Sr.
Derrion Crank, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Defensive Backs:
Breeon Moreno, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Tre Powell, Ft. Campbell, Sr.
Tra Tharp, Heath, Sr.
Placekicker:
Jordan Benton, Murray, Sr.
Punter:
Tra Tharp, Heath, Sr.
All-WKC performers will be honored at the WKC Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 13. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the Curris Center on the campus of Murray State University.
All senior players on the overall squad are automatically eligible to represent the WKC in the annual all-star game against Southern Illinois next June.
A committee will meet in February to finalize the WKC Senior All-Star squad. It’s possible some of Caldwell’s players could be added at that time.
••• 2009 season •••
The Tigers finished 2009 with a 4-7 record, but were on the wrong end of lopsided scores only twice.
A 56-19 loss at Lone Oak on Sept. 18 and last week’s 56-7 playoff setback at Ft. Campbell were the only games that weren’t competitive.
“Those were the only two,” noted Tiger head coach David Barnes. “I felt like our kids had a lot of chances to fold up and didn’t.
“Even the Lone Oak game was close in the second quarter and our kids played hard in the second half.
“After getting beat 30-29 (by Trigg) and 7-6 (by Heath) our kids could have folded. But we went down and played Murray to 6-0 at halftime. I think that says a lot about our kids.”
Caldwell finished the regular season with wins over Reidland and Mayfield before running into Ft. Campbell’s juggernaut in the playoffs.
Looking ahead, Caldwell will have to replace almost all of its offensive line next year.
“We’re going to lose a lot of experience with Nate Dyer, Tanner Kilgore, Daniel Faughn and Warren Cooper,” said Barnes. “We also lose Jaquan in the backfield and Austin Phelps did a good job at receiver for us this year.
“The main thing we have to do is get back in the weight room and work harder, especially those sophomore kids. They’re going to have to step in and play a lot next season. Some of them are going to have to go both ways. Hopefully we can rotate some people in so they don’t have to play the whole game.”
••• 2009 records •••
Sigler quietly broke the career receptions record at CCHS with his two catches against Mayfield in the regular season finale.
Sigler now has 94 catches, breaking Eric Faughn’s one-year-old mark of 91.
Sigler’s 36 receptions this year is tied for 10th on the single-season list.
He is ninth on the career receiving yardage list with 832 yards.
Sigler also has a strong chance to become just the ninth Tiger with 2,000 career rushing yards next season. He currently has 1,654 yards on the ground.
Junior Blake Hodges finished with 1,390 yards passing this season — good enough for sixth on the single-season passing chart. Only Will Barnes (three times), Stewart Childress and Bradley Stallins have thrown for more yards in a season.
Baxter Boyd’s 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown at Lone Oak was the fifth-longest fumble return in CCHS history.
Boyd’s seven sacks this season were just one short of the single-season record.
Phelps twice had 143 receiving yards (against Union and Trigg) this season, which is tied for seventh-most all-time.
••• 2010 CCHS schedule •••
The Tigers’ 2010 football schedule will be virtually identical to its 2009 slate. However, big changes could be coming in 2011.
First, a look at 2010.
There are no bowl dates planned for next year.
Calloway County will stay on the Tiger schedule for at least one more year, with the Tigers traveling to Murray to face the Lakers in the regular season opener next season. That game will be played in week zero on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association football schedule.
By playing in week zero, the Tigers will only be allowed one scrimmage, just like this past season. Caldwell is tentatively set to return Butler County’s visit here as the only preseason outing.
After opening the regular season at Calloway, the Tigers will play their home opener the following week against Hopkins County Central.
The next week will be an open date, followed by a trip to Union County the following week.
Caldwell then has home dates against Lone Oak and Crittenden County before entering the district portion of the schedule.
The Tigers will visit Trigg, then host Murray the next week. Caldwell travels to Heath in week eight before hosting Reidland in the final district contest.
The regular season concludes with a trip to Mayfield, which the Tigers have beaten the last two years.
Almost all of Caldwell’s current contracts will be up after next season.
Several factors could drastically change the 2011 docket.
“We’ve got Calloway on a one-year contract for next season, then we’ll talk to them after that to see if they want to go another two years,” said Barnes.
The new South Warren school in Bowling Green is expected to join Calloway’s Class 3A district at some point. Indications are that South Warren will only play a JV schedule next season before fielding a varsity team in 2011.
“They’ll have to redistrict after the 2010 season and we’ll have to wait to see how that goes,” said Barnes. “We also have to wait and see what happens with the McCracken County schools. If they consolidate, we’ll lose Lone Oak, Reidland and Heath.”
The new McCracken school is expected to open in 2011.
With Reidland and Heath gone due to consolidation that would leave the Class 2A 1st District with just three teams — Caldwell, Murray and Trigg — barring additions due to redistricting.
