Carthage’s Luke Gall is the COC Offensive Player of The Year and Defensive Player of the Year, but Nixa tops the league with 10 First-Team selections.
Carthage has five First-Team picks, as does Joplin.
The Eagles’ First-Team choices are running back Ramone Green, offensive lineman Garrett Davidson, quarterback Connor Knatcal, wide receiver Kael Combs, tight end Gaven Krans, defensive end Jayden Antonelli, linebacker Ty Hartman, safety Spencer Ward and kicker and punter Kaleb James.
Ozark has one First-Team selection in linebacker Gage Depee.
Green carried the ball 241 times for 2,223 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. He averaged 9.2 yards a carry and had 10 games with 100 or more yards rushing.
Green was part of the Eagles’ backfield four years and finished with career numbers of 614 carries for 4,331 yards.
Knatcal completed 145-of-228 passes for 2,195 yards, with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. He threw for a single-game school record five touchdowns at Carl Junction in Week Six.
A year ago, Knatcal had a single-season school record 24 touchdown passes. His 46 career touchdowns are a school record.
Combs caught 38 passes for 605 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a single-game school record four touchdown receptions at Carl Junction.
Krans had 22 catches for 324 yards. He and Knatcal teamed for a winning two-point conversion pass to beat Carthage 22-21 in Week Three.
James had 49 touchbacks among his 74 kickoffs. He made 70-of-71 PATs and 2-of-4 field goals.
James punted 11 times with an average boot of 42.2 yards.
Ward recorded 114 solo tackles, with three TFLs, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one quarterback sack. He had a career-high 14 solo stops against Ray-Pec in a District semifinal.
Antonelli collected eight sacks and seven TFLs among his 58 solo stops.
Hartman had 94 solo tackles. In his finale, he had nine solo stops against Lee’s Summit North in a District final. Over the past two seasons, Hartman totaled 193 tackles.
Depee garnered 60 tackles, including three TFLs in his junior year for Ozark.
Gall was honored as a running back offensively and linebacker defensively. It’s the third year in a row he is a First-Team pick on both sides of the ball.
The rest of the First-Team Offense includes Carthage lineman Drew Musche, Joplin lineman Dontrell Holt, Republic lineman Carter Nation, Webb City lineman Shaun Hunt, Neosho running back Jared Siler, Neosho wide receiver Isaiah Green, Joplin wide receiver Terrance Gibson and Republic athlete Wyatt Woods.
The remaining First-Defense includes Carthage lineman Micah Lindsey, Republic lineman Dean Marcum, Webb City defensive end Lucas Ott, Joplin linebackers Draven VanGilder and Jonathan Williams, Carthage defensive back Davion King, Webb City defensive back Kaylor Darnell and Branson defensive back Javen Finkbone, Joplin returner Devin Thomas and Willard returner Clayton Scott.
Repeat First-Team choices are Gall, Combs, Hartman, Gibson, Lindsey, VanGilder and King.
Nixa’s Second-Team selections are offensive lineman Landon Carson, wide receiver Rylan Michel, nose guard Avry Rutherford, linebacker Tanner Grant and cornerback Broden Mabe.
Michel caught 39 passes for 621 yards. Grant had 95 solo tackles, Rutherford 32 and Mabe 29.
Ozark running back Ethan Sutherland, linebacker Brock Dodd and offensive lineman Luke Neely and Nixa offensive lineman Jacob Lile, linebacker Nate Brower and safety Jacob Miller are Third-Team picks.
Nixa's John Perry is the league’s Coach of The Year. He is 27-8 in three years with the Eagles.
