- Laron White of Sparkman turned the Senators around in his first season as head coach leading Sparkman into the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and thus was named the AWSAA Class 7A Coach of the Year. Bob Labbe Photo
Sparkman’s White Named Coach of The Year To Lead All-State Football Teams
Published 11:24 pm Sunday, December 24, 2017
MADISON- Bob Jones led the local teams with five players named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 2017 All-State Football Team. Both James Clemens and Sparkman had three players each named to the squad while Sparkman head coach Laron White was named Class 7A Coach of the Year. In Class 4A, Madison Academy has three players named to the 4A team.
White joined the Senators at Sparkman this season after 14 years as head coach of the Tanner Rattlers of Limestone County. “I’m used to winning and I think we can win here at Sparkman and is starts at the ground level with me and I promise you I’ll give it my best shot,” said White when he was introduced as the new head coach at Sparkman early in 2017.
Sparkman posted an overall record of 7-4 and 5-2 in Region 4 and made the first round of the 7A playoffs against Hoover High. The trek into the playoffs was the first time for the program in over a decade. White’s leadership of the school’s remarkable turnaround from losing records to a playoff squad was enough to earn him the distinction of Coach of the Year.
Sparkman running back Hunter Gibson (6-0, 192) who is known as The Warrior earned his third straight All-State selection as running back. He was joined on the First Team by teammate Ethan Caselberry, DB, 6-3, 205, and while offensive lineman Isaac Edwards (6-4, 275) was named to the Second Team All-State.
The five from Bob Jones named to the elite squad include three First-Team selections in Demontrez Brown (WR, 6-2, 200), Jaydon Hill (DB, 6-0, 180) and Kade Koler (LB, 6-2, 230). Offensive lineman Colby Murrell, a junior, (6-1, 275) was named to the Second Team while Terrell Jennings was tabbed Athlete Honorable mention.
James Clemens had one First Team selection in junior defensive lineman Daevion Davis (6-2, 315) and two honorable mentions selections with junior linebacker Zach Hopkins and punter Brody Droppleman.
In Class 4A, Madison Academy was led by First Team selection Jaylin Brackett (DL, 5-10, 240) and Second Team picks Tyler Greene (WR, 6-1, 160) and kicker Sean Dorney (5-10, 220).
