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« Wednesday, December 25, 2013 « 5C
ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR RASHAWN SHAW
All-Area First Team
All-Area First Team
Patrick Bethel
Sean Bowens
Ascarra Morris
Aaron Parker
Matt Celidonio
William Daceus
Mike Perceval
Jason Rivas
Chris Favoroso
Anthony Gamble
Nico Sawtelle
Hunter Sciscente
Tyler Horstman
Antonio Jones-Davis
Khalil Shaheed
Nate Simmons
Blake Lucky
Kody Stripling
PATRICK BETHEL
ASCARRA MORRIS
Vero Beach sophomore defensive lineman Stats: 62 tackles, 12 TFL, 6 sacks in 11 games
SEAN BOWENS
Treasure Coast senior defensive end/linebacker Stats: 103 tackles, 20 TFL, 20 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries in nine games
MATT CELIDONIO
John Carroll senior defensive lineman Stats: 71 tackles, 26 TFL, 9 sacks, 2 recoveries, 1 INT in 11 games
CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Fort Pierce Central defensive end Rashawn Shaw is the 2013 All-Area Defensive Football Player of the Year.
The sack-master Central’s Rashawn Shaw was a disruptive force with 16 sacks and played big in the big games
WILLIAM DACEUS
Fort Pierce Central senior linebacker Stats: 101 tackles, 24 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs in 11 games
CHRIS FAVOROSO
Jensen Beach junior defensive end Stats: 59 tackles, 20 TFL, 20 sacks in nine games
ANTHONY GAMBLE
Fort Pierce Central senior linebacker Stats: 79 tackles, 24 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT in 12 games
TYLER HORSTMAN
Vero Beach junior defensive end/linebacker Stats: 101 tackles, 11 TFL, 10 sacks in nine games
ANTONIO JONES-DAVIS
Vero Beach junior linebacker Stats: 96 tackles, 9 TFL, 7 sacks, 1 fumble recovery in 11 games
BLAKE LUCKY
South Fork junior linebacker Stats: 161 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT in 10 games
By Laurel Pfahler
Defensive Player of the Year
laurel.pfahler@scripps.com 772-978-2282
FORT PIERCE — Rashawn Shaw set out to prove he could be unstoppable this season. Consider that goal accomplished. The Fort Pierce Central senior defensive end wreaked havoc on opposing offenses by consistently exploding into the backfield and putting pressure on quarterbacks. More importantly, Shaw played his best in the biggest games. Finishing the season with 90 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, Shaw led the Cobras defensively to a fifth consecutive district title, third consecutive regional final and 10-2 record despite playing one of the state’s toughest schedules. “I wanted people to see I could be unblockable,” Shaw said. “I wanted to show how much my hard work had paid off on the field with explosion and speed. “I wanted to prove I’m a big challenge.” The Louisville commitment already had stood out the previous two years when he recorded 14 sacks as both a sophomore and junior. Still, Shaw said he wanted to be more of a leader and a player his teammates could count on in key situations in his final high school season. Shaw followed through on his goals in games like the District 8-8A opening win over Vero Beach when he had 13 tackles and five sacks. And
RASHAWN SHAW
Fort Pierce Central senior defensive end/linebacker Stats: 90 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 1 fumble recovery in 11 games Coach Josh Shaffer: “He did exactly what we asked him to do and that was to be first up as a leader, and then to step up and dominate his side of the football. I think he did that throughout the year. Each game, he just got better and better and better. He had a good two years as a sophomore and junior, but I really think his senior year was his best. Being as versatile as he was, moving around from defensive end to linebacker, to inside sometimes at defensive tackle, some of the things he was able to do for us on defense really created a lot of problems for opposing teams.”
in the regional semifinal win over top-ranked Bradenton-Manatee, Shaw had 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and came up with a big stop on fourth-and-1 to seal the game. “I felt like I needed to be more of a leader because it was just me, William Daceus and Mike Perceval who were coming back as legit starters from the past two years,” Shaw said. “Coming in, I wanted to take that senior leadership role seriously and be more of a leader and put the defense
on my back and try to get victories. “Defense wins a lot of games, so I figured I needed to do all I could to help us win.” Central coach Josh Shaffer said Shaw seemed to just will his team to victory, including the upset win over previously unbeaten Manatee in a region semifinal victory at Lawnwood Stadium. Shaffer recalled times when Shaw hit the quarterback so hard he flew through the air. Other times, Shaffer said, an opponent’s running back seemed to have a free lane and Shaw’s secondary move broke him free to make the stop. Those were the type of plays Shaw made in his first two years, but Shaffer said he was more consistent in doing those things this season. “It clicked for him that it was his time to step up,” Shaffer said. “We were either going to be great or just average based on his leadership throughout the course of the year. “That seemed to just click in his head, and he took the lead to make sure we were going to be great defensively.” Shaw said playing against good teams throughout this season has helped prepare for the next level. “We got a lot of competition this year, so it was fun getting a chance to overcome a lot of obstacles and go out with a really challenging schedule,” Shaw said. “I feel I’m a better player from playing in games like that and playing well in those games.”
Treasure Coast senior safety Stats: 97 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INT in nine games
AARON PARKER
St. Lucie West Centennial junior defensive back Stats: 110 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
MIKE PERCEVAL
Fort Pierce Central senior defensive back Stats: 34 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 INT in 11 games
JASON RIVAS
Vero Beach senior punter Stats: 41.8 yards per punt (27 punts for 1,129 yards); long of 56 yards
NICO SAWTELLE
Jensen Beach junior linebacker Stats: 154 tackles (15.4 per game), 16 TFL, 11 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
HUNTER SCISCENTE
Fort Pierce Central senior defensive lineman Stats: 82 tackles, 37 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 fumble recovery in 12 games
KHALIL SHAHEED
St. Lucie West Centennial senior linebacker Stats: 135 tackles, 13 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT in nine games
NATE SIMMONS
Martin County senior defensive back Stats: 66 tackles, 2 TFL in 10 games
KODY STRIPLING
South Fork senior linebacker Stats: 121 tackles, 11 TFL, 1 sack in nine games
Honorable Mention CARSON ASSALY John Carroll junior linebacker NICK BOROWICK Martin County senior defensive lineman JOHNLEY CADET Port St. Lucie junior defensive lineman BRIAN CARTER St. Edward’s sophomore defensive lineman MIKE DESSIN SLC Centennial junior linebacker
YOHAN ELLIOTT Treasure Coast senior safety CULLEN FALVEY St. Edward’s senior linebacker TOMMY GALUCCI South Fork senior defensive back KADE GLENN Jensen Beach junior safety IRA GRAHAM Vero Beach senior defensive back
PIERCE HALLERAN John Carroll senior safety DOMINIC JACKSON Treasure Coast junior defensive lineman QUAMAYNE JONES Fort Pierce Westwood senior defensive lineman DUSTIN KROCK South Fork senior linebacker ADAM KUH Vero Beach senior linebacker
BRANDON LETCHER Port St. Lucie junior linebacker TAVON LINDSAY Port St. Lucie senior defensive back RAUL MARTINEZ Sebastian River senior defensive end WILLIE MICCO Treasure Coast senior punter
RASHAAD OWENS Fort Pierce Central senior defensive back JOSH PANTALEON John Carroll senior linebacker XAVIER PRESTON Jensen Beach senior linebacker ELIJAH RICHARDSON SLW Centennial senior linebacker GREG SIMMONS Fort Pierce Central sophomore defensive end
ANDREW STIRRAT Vero Beach senior defensive back DONTAVIOUS WILLIAMS Fort Pierce Westwood sophomore defensive back TERRENCE WILSON Fort Pierce Central senior defensive back RYAN WORTHEN Sebastian River junior linebacker