S-C football coach Johnson named WCC's best

Smith-Cotton football coach Mark Johnson made history this season in the West Central Conference.

Johnson earned the conference’s coach of the year award after leading the Tigers to a 5-0 league record.

The Tigers outscored conference opponents 193-37 on their way to their second straight undefeated conference season.

“The kids deserve the credit,” Johnson said. “I’m just out there to steer them in the right direction.”

Smith-Cotton had 17 all-conference selections, highlighted by Evan Schnicker as a unanimous pick for defensive player of the year and all five of the offensive linemen garnering all-conference honors.

At free safety, Schnicker had a team-high 116 tackles and three forced fumbles to go along with two interceptions.

Johnson said, “No one was up against him (for the vote), which says a lot about the respect coaches have for him in the conference.”

On defense, cornerback Anthony Spellmeyer, defensive tackles Jonathan Lake and Jacob Hayworth and  linebackers Billy Gudde and Addison Foote were selected to the first team.

Spellmeyer had 27 tackles and a team-high three interceptions, Lake had 59 tackles and a sack, and Hayworth chipped in 24 tackles and a sack.

Gudde was second in total tackles with 92 and Foote was third with 77 to go along with a sack and a fumble recovery.

Defensive end Lucas Ficken, who had 17 tackles, was the lone Tiger selected second-team all-conference.

On offense, O’Hara’s T.J. White was selected above unanimous running back selection Andrew Byrd, of Smith-Cotton, as offensive player of the year.

Tight end Kendal Brown was selected first-team all-conference, while quarterback Dominique Smith and wide receiver Sam Brummett earned second-team honors.

Byrd rushed for 1,979 yards and 32 touchdowns for an average of 10.47 yards a carry. Brown had nine catches for 97 yards and three TDs and Brummett had 279 yards and a touchdown.

On the offensive line, center Adam Smith, guard William Stathem and tackles Caleb Hanson and Lucas Ficken made first-team all-conference. Guard Trey Tabor had second-team honors.

Freshman kicker Jacquelene Greer, who was second in points scored for the Tigers, earned first-team all-conference at kicker after 45 successful extra points and a field goal on the season.

“Anytime you get a postseason award, it says a lot about your program and the team,” Johnson said. “The kids deserve the credit and the coaches across the league recognized their hard work.”