Area programs place 48 on Ga. Sportswriters All-State teams

How good has football gotten in northeast Georgia?<br /> <br /> All you have to do is look at the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State teams, which were released on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Gainesville, Buford, Jefferson, and West Hall each had multiple selections in their respective classifications. Northeast Georgia had at least one first team selection in every classification.<br /> <br /> Nearly 50 players -- 48 to be exact -- were named to either the first team, second team, or honorable mention.<br /> <br /> Buford dominated Class AAAA with eight players selected with Jess Simpson named Coach of the Year. Nick Polino (OL), Hunter Holland (OL), Joshua Thomas (LB), Austin Smith (LB), Shug Frazier (DL), and David Curry (DB) were first-team selections. Isaac Nauta (REC) and Quay Picou (DL) were named second team.<br /> <br /> Gainesville and Lanier in Class AAAAA had solid representation. The Red Elephants had three named to the first or second team -- Chris Williamson (REC) and J.D. Sosebee (LB) were first team with Mikey Gonzalez (QB) named to the second team. Lanier had Derrick Brown (DL) and Stefan Ball (DB) named to the first team.<br /> <br /> In Class AAA, Jefferson and West Hall had nine combined players named to the first or second team. For the Spartans, Bradley Hodgson (K) and Anthony Lotti (P) were first team selections with Kwon Williams (ATH) named to the second-team.<br /> <br /> The Dragons, which advanced to the Elite 8, had four named to the first team -- T.J. Skelton (REC), Dalton Hill (REC), Caleb Chandler (OL), Tradd Porter (DB) -- and two named to the second team in Evan Shirreffs (QB) and Kendrick Robinson (DB).<br /> <br /> Fannin County's Cody McPeek (OL) was named to the Class AAA first team and Lumpkin County's Jacoby Jackson (OL) was named to the second team.<br /> <br /> In Class AA, Rabun County's Charlie Woerner (DB) was named to the first team with Union County's Joseph Mancuso (QB) and Chase Barnett (LB) named to the second team.<br /> <br /> In Class A, Zach Boyer (OL) was named to the first team with the Tigers' Derek Benoit (DL) named to the second team.<br /> <br /> In Class AAAAAA, North Gwinnett was well represented with three making the first or second team. Mitch Hyatt (OL) was named first team with John Urzua (QB) and Josh Imatorbhebhe (REC) named to the second team.<br /> <br /> A full account of all of the selections for northeast Georgia players is listed in the box to the right.