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Dec. 23—The Daily Journal has been awarding coach and player of the year honors since the mid-1980s, but this year we’re adding a few more honors. It’s a way to highlight certain players, teams and moments that came to define the 2023 football season.
Comeback Player of the Year
Jalen Washington, Houston
A torn ACL can bring a running back’s career to a premature end, or at the very least make him a less effective runner. But Washington came back stronger than ever.
He injured his ACL in Week 3 of the 2022 season. It was a big blow for a player who had been named Daily Journal Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, when he rushed for 2,003 yards.
Making his return to action even more challenging, Washington and his family lost their home to a fire over the summer. None of the adversity Washington faced kept him from having a memorable senior season.
He rushed for 2,156 yards and 23 touchdowns and led Houston to its second straight Class 4A North final appearance.
Freshman of the Year
Wyatt McDaniels, Mooreville
Mooreville coach Jimmy Young kept a lid on what he had at quarterback — until the season began.
In his first varsity start, McDaniels completed 12 of 16 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns; he also rushed for 96 yards and a score. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder continued to excel before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Smithville in Week 6.
McDaniels led the Troopers to a 6-0 start, and they rode that momentum to a 9-4 season and the deepest playoff run in program history.
Biggest Turnaround
Mooreville
The Troopers were 0-10 in 2022. And while the addition of McDaniels helped right the ship, it was the defense that ultimately carried the day late in the season and into the playoffs.
Mooreville beat Aberdeen 21-20 to clinch a playoff berth in the final week of the regular season. The Troopers then edged…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-daily-journal-area-football-133300174.html
Author : Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
Publish date : 2023-12-23 13:33:00
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