2015 All-Area football: Greg Ruff is The Herald’s player of the year

I made this list. And checked it twice. And once more, and then again.

This was a tough year to pick All-Area football. That said, here it goes:

Greg Ruff is the area’s player of the year. The 5-foot-9 senior quarterback was a delight to watch, whether he was slinging touchdown rockets to his loaded arsenal of receivers, or toying with defenders like they were dumb newborn puppies. I can’t remember how many times I saw Ruff pump-fake like he was going to throw - in some cases beyond the line of scrimmage and legal passing turf - and defenders leaped in the air like they were jumping jacks. Ruff would scamper by and you could almost see him laughing through his facemask.

Ruff’s numbers were excellent, especially the one interception in 364 pass attempts. Naturally, that came in the final game of the season, an exasperating irony as the Stallions cruised to a second straight state title with Ruff as the starting QB. Where he will end up next season is unknown, but he sure was enjoyable during his two years as South Pointe’s starter.

Nation Ford’s season was also enjoyable to watch. The Falcons had the best campaign in the school’s short football history, falling to Northwestern in the 4A Division II semifinals and winning nine games. Quarterback Cole Martin and defensive end Charles Newton were two of the primary catalysts, and they’re the area’s offensive and defensive players of the year. Martin led the state - and maybe beyond? - with over 5,400 passing yards and he pulled the strings for a Nation Ford scoring unit that was spread offense artwork at its best, and pretty dang good at its worst.

Newton’s move from linebacker to defensive end during the offseason was one reason behind Nation Ford’s complete defensive improvement. His speed off the edge led to 15 sacks and 22 tackles-for-loss and set the tone for a completely revamped unit that relied on a number of talented young contributors, who needed Newton and others’ experience. The Falcons’ offense has been outstanding the last couple of years, but the reason the Falcons played into December this season was the defensive improvement.

And sticking with the Nation Ford theme, Falcons coach Michael Allen is the area’s coach of the year.

Allen may be an unusual pick given that South Pointe’s Strait Herron and Northwestern’s Kyle Richardson both led their teams to state championships in entirely dominant fashion. No knock to either of them but their teams were loaded with talent, and while getting the chemistry right wasn’t an easy task, winning state titles was not a shock for the Stallions or the Trojans this fall. In cases like this, South Pointe and Northwestern can be victims of their own success and sky-high expectations.

Nation Ford reaching the state semifinals was a bit of a shock coming off a 2-9 season, and is a testament to the job Allen and his coaching staff did. This is after all essentially a coaching staff award, and Nation Ford defensive coordinator Kirkley Russell deserves some of the credit for completely flipping the Falcons’ defense into a unit that not only didn’t allow 48 points per game like it did just a season ago, but into one that could win games.

The Herald’s 2015 All-Area football teams

Player of the year: Greg Ruff, South Pointe

Offensive player of the year: Cole Martin, Nation Ford

Defensive player of the year: Charles Newton, Nation Ford

Coach of the year: Michael Allen, Nation Ford

First team

Offense

QB- Greg Ruff, South Pointe: Ruff was such a threat this fall because he could beat opposing defenses with his legs or arm. A North-South selection, the senior was too busy winning a second straight state title to get to play in the Myrtle Beach all-star game. Ruff completed 250-of-364 passes for 3,295 yards and 36 touchdowns. He threw one interception, in the state championship victory over Midland Valley, and also ran for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns.

RB- Ant Foster, Lancaster: Foster had an excellent season as half of the Bruins’ bruising backfield duo with Farrika Grier. Foster finished the season with 1,312 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games. The powerful junior averaged 6.5 yards per carry and was named the Tri-County Coaches Association’s 1A-3A offensive player of the year.

RB/WR- Jerry Howard, Northwestern: junior running back had a great season (25 total TDs) even with a couple of games where the Trojans almost exclusively passed the football. Howard finished with 1,570 yards and 19 touchdowns on 199 carries, an average of 7.9 yards per touch. He also caught 39 passes for 388 yards and six more touchdowns.

WR- Hank Tuipulotu, Nation Ford: senior BYU commit might have led the nation in pass receptions this year - it’s hard to know for sure - following up his impressive junior season with a senior season at least as good. Tuipulotu played in the North-South all-star game after catching 125 passes for 1,711 yards and 11 touchdowns. The big receiver dropped just four of the 129 passes thrown his direction.

WR- Quay Brown, South Pointe: Might as well have been nicknamed “First Down” Brown, because the senior always came up with a big catch when South Pointe needed it most. Brown became the first 1,000-yard receiver in South Pointe’s short football history, making 64 catches for 1,051 yards and nine touchdowns.

WR- Jordan Starkes, Northwestern: heady sophomore receiver showed up in the stats but was also in the right spot numerous times for the Trojans this fall, making key blocks or recovering fumbles. Starkes finished with 75 catches for 1,088 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first season as a varsity football receiver.

OL- Demontre Buckson, Northwestern: The Herald’s 4A Hawg of the Year, the senior graded 94 percent with 17 pancakes and 10 knockdowns.

OL- Lamon Bryant, South Pointe: Bryant was a beast for the Stallions, recording 52 knockdown blocks in 15 games and allowing just four sacks.

OL- Caleb Clayton, York: The Cougars’ senior center graded out 90 percent for the season with 33 knockdown blocks as the leader of a very good York offensive line.

OL- Ryan Enniss, York: hulking senior offensive tackle graded 91 percent with 37 knockdown blocks for the Cougars, who averaged almost 200 rushing yards per game.

OL- Lewis Johnson, Lancaster: slender offensive tackle was The Herald’s 1A-3A Hawg of the Year, an award for top offensive linemen, as well as a North-South selection. Johnson helped the Bruins average 224 yards of rushing offense per game and graded 93 percent for the year.

ATH- Wally Wilmore, York: Wilmore could have made All-Area in three or four different positions. As a quarterback, he ran the ball for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns, while completing 85-of-128 passes for 965 yards and nine more scores. He also caught 21 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns, finishing the fall with over 2,200 total yards and 28 touchdowns.

Defense

DL- Logan Rudolph, Northwestern: junior defensive end teamed with Trae’von Hinton for the most destructive pair of defensive linemen in the area. Rudolph finished with 60 tackles, 15 sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, 10 tackles-for-loss, four forced fumbles and three recovered fumbles. Rudolph also had an interception return for a touchdown against Irmo.

DL- Elijah Adams, South Pointe: sophomore defensive end had a huge season for the Stallions, leading The Herald’s coverage area with 20 sacks, to go with 114 tackles, including 16 for a loss. Adams also recorded 15 quarterback pressures and forced and recovered a fumble.

DL- Charles Newton, Nation Ford: the senior’s move to defensive end was fundamental to Nation Ford’s massive defensive improvement this season. Newton used his speed off the edge to make 124 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss and 15 sacks. He also recovered a fumble and broke up four passes.

LB/DE- Trae’von Hinton, Northwestern: senior Shrine Bowler was an all-action player up front for the Trojans. Hinton led the team with 113 tackles, including 10 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and 15 quarterback pressures.

LB- Donavon Perryman, Rock Hill: Perryman finished with 106 tackles in 11 games, including 11 sacks and six tackles-for-loss. He also forced a fumble and recovered three more. Perryman added 11 QB pressures and two blocked kicks to a standout senior season in the middle of the Bearcat defense.

LB- Corbin Tesimale, Nation Ford: junior linebacker had a big season chasing the football for Nation Ford’s defense. Tesimale made a team-high 178 tackles, with 12 for a loss and five sacks.

LB- Bryson Cooper, South Pointe: junior finished as the top tackler in The Herald’s coverage area, notching 185 stops in 15 games. One hundred of those were solo efforts, and seven went for a loss. Cooper also had three sacks, six QB pressures and broke up five passes.

DB- Miles Corpening, Northwestern: senior transfer from Charlotte was an impact player for Northwestern, and a Shrine Bowl pick. Corpening made 98 tackles from his safety spot, breaking up five passes, forcing three fumbles and intercepting three passes. He also had five tackles-for-loss as a strong run defender.

DB- Ben Tuipulotu, Nation Ford: sophomore safety was a big part of the Falcons’ ability to force turnovers this fall. Tuipulotu finished with 126 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, two fumble recoveries, four pass break-ups, and an area-high seven interceptions.

DB- Nick McCloud, South Pointe: North-South selection made 68 tackles with two for a loss. McCloud led the Stallions with six interceptions, including two that he returned for a touchdown. McCloud also broke up eight passes and forced three fumbles.

DB- Jae’Vion Matthews, York: 6-foot-1 junior was a big play-maker in the Cougars’ secondary, finishing with three interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and four punt returns for touchdowns. Matthews added 84 tackles, a forced fumble and eight pass break-ups.

K/P- B.T. Potter, South Pointe: sophomore was a big part of the Stallions’ state championship, hitting 10-of-16 field goals, 55-of-62 extra points and booting 28 kickoffs for touchbacks.

Second team

Offense

QB- Cole Martin, Nation Ford: senior had a monster season, throwing for 5,411 yards and 45 touchdowns. Martin had 11 interceptions to boot, and also ran for three touchdowns, while completing 62 percent of his 577 pass attempts. Like Northwestern’s Gage Moloney, Martin would likely be the player of the year most other years, such was the bevy of QB talent in the area this fall.

RB- Lee Massey, Indian Land: the stout junior looks poised for a big senior season after rushing for 967 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He averaged nearly six yards per carry, and also caught 11 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.

RB/WR- Voshon St. Hill, South Pointe: junior running back finished the 2015 season strong, rushing for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also catching 14 passes for 190 yards.

WR- Josh Wilkes, South Pointe: Eastern Michigan commit was one of the most dangerous receivers in the area in the open field. Wilkes finished with 58 catches for 794 yards and 10 touchdowns.WR- Alex Stennett, Nation Ford: athletic junior had a nice season catching the ball for the Falcons. Stennett made 74 catches for 1,163 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.

WR- Jamario Holley, Northwestern: freshman wide receiver was an instant contributor for the Trojans. Holley finished the campaign with 70 catches for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns.

WR- Josh Shade, Nation Ford: the Falcons’ deep threat, Shade caught 68 passes for 1,170 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior campaign.

OL- DeAllen Boulware, Lewisville: junior center had a nice season for Lewisville, grading over 80 percent in eight of his 11 games, and making just two bad shotgun snaps in 874 attempts.

OL- Chandler Smith, Nation Ford: 6-foot-4, 310-pound tackle was a lynchpin of Nation Ford’s pass protection, grading out higher than 90 percent in four games this season.

OL- Jacob Williams, Indian Land: senior center was named All-Region 4-2A for the third year in row. He graded out 85 percent with 22 pancakes for the run-heavy Warriors.

OL- Paden Lipe, South Pointe: senior had a strong year, posting 45 knockdown blocks and allowing just one sack in 15 games.

OL- Garrett Lutz, Clover: one to watch for the future, Lutz, a sophomore center, graded out 90 percent with 30 pancakes in just eight varsity games.

ATH- Jordan Helms, Nation Ford: Helms played almost every down for the Falcons at either slot receiver, linebacker or defensive line. He caught 77 passes for 918 yards and seven scores, and also made 48 tackles that included 13 for a loss and seven sacks.

Defense

DL- Alan Salgado, Rock Hill: Salgado was a beast in the middle of the Bearcats’ defensive line. The senior wrestling standout finished with 117 tackles - including 89 solo stops -, five sacks, six tackles-for-loss and seven QB pressures. He also forced and recovered a fumble.

DL- Deivonne Chalk, York: senior defensive end finished the season with eight sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound specimen had 52 total tackles and also recorded 17 quarterback pressures.

DL- Markees Watts, Lancaster: sophomore defensive lineman had a great season, winning Region 3-3A defensive player of the year honors. Watts finished the season with close to 100 tackles, including 12 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks.

LB/DE- Austin Gordon, Indian Land: Gordon was another one of the top two-way players in The Herald’s area; he rushed for 665 yards and 13 touchdowns, but was a menace on defense, recording 19 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks. He also had a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

LB- Keilan Renegar, Lewisville: junior linebacker had a great season for the Lions, posting 106 tackles, nine sacks and 14 tackles-for-loss. He also forced an area-high five fumbles, recovering one.

LB- Shavares Crockett, South Pointe: Crockett had an active senior season, making 114 tackles - six for a loss-, intercepting three passes, and recovering two fumbles.

LB- Vinny Catan, Nation Ford: sophomore linebacker was Corbin Tesimale’s partner in on-field crime, making 161 tackles, with seven for a loss and three sacks. Catan also had an interception and a pass break-up.

DB- C’Darious Catoe: Lancaster junior safety made 51 tackles, five interceptions and broke up nine passes this fall.

DB- Davion Blake, Northwestern: senior made 49 tackles, broke up a team-high 13 passes and intercepted three more. Blake was playing defense for the first time.

DB- Derion Kendrick, South Pointe: Kendrick only played a couple of snaps during the 3A playoffs, but by that point he’d already made 77 tackles with nine passes broken up and three interceptions. Kendrick also had punt return, reception, rushing and passing touchdowns this fall.

DB- Greg Wilson, Nation Ford: senior defensive back made 100 tackles, with three for a loss and a sack, recovered two fumbles, made an interception, and broke up a team-high 12 passes.

K/P- Myles Prosser, York: good-sized junior hit 38 extra points, a field goal, and thumped 30 kickoffs for touchbacks. Prosser also averaged 36 yards per punt.

Honorable mention

Offense

QB- Gage Moloney, Northwestern: Moloney finished with 3,969 yards passing, with 47 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 74.8 completion percentage. The junior also ran for 506 yards and 16 more touchdowns while leading the Trojans to a state title in his first year in Rock Hill after transferring from James Island.

RB- Brett Ferguson, Fort Mill: senior was one of the best two-way players in the area this year, rushing for 949 yards and 11 touchdowns, and also made 70 tackles as a defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets.

RB/WR- Farrika Grier, Lancaster: powerful junior ran for 843 yards (6.4 yards per carry average) and six touchdowns, even while sharing carries with fellow junior Ant Foster. Bad news for Bruins opponents next year, both Foster and Grier return.

WR- Julian Shockley, Northwestern: senior receiver caught 66 passes for 884 yards and 11 touchdowns.

WR- Mike Hill, Lewisville: Hill was leading the area in receiving when he injured his ankle in the sixth game of the season. He still finished with 686 receiving yards and nine touchdowns - which tied a school record. Hill added 283 yards rushing and two more scores. He’ll be one of the Tri-County’s best offensive athletes next season.

WR- Cordarius Tinsley, Lancaster: home run-hitter in the passing game, Tinsley caught just 27 passes in a run-oriented offense, but he averaged nearly 22 yards per catch and reeled in 11 touchdowns. The long-limbed junior also intercepted two passes on defense.

OL- Caleb Funderburk, Lancaster: giant senior lineman graded 90 percent with nine pancake blocks at offensive guard.

OL- Ant Foster, Chester: sophomore center made over 650 snaps this season without a single bad one for the Cyclones.

OL- Xi Simpson, Chester: 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior was Chester’s highest-rated blocker and is an FCS-level college prospect.

OL- Josiah Ivey, Northwestern: sophomore graded 88 percent with 10 pancakes and seven knockdown blocks for the 4A Division II state champs.

OL- Matt Neill, Fort Mill: senior graded out 83 percent with 14 knockdowns for the Yellow Jackets.

ATH- Malik Williams, Chester: junior was one of the best overall athletes in the area. He finished with 2,170 yards and 17 touchdowns as the Cyclones’ QB, while also returning three punts for 105 total yards late in the season, including one return for a touchdown.

Defense

DL- Jene Thompson, Lewisville: another Lion that had an injury-hit season, Thompson still managed to make 61 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss in eight games.

DL- Jon’quavious Benton, Nation Ford: Benton made 87 tackles, with four sacks and four tackles-for-loss. He also recovered two fumbles and forced another.

DL- Houston Brantley, Lancaster: Brantley had five sacks, seven tackles-for-loss, four pass break-ups and two forced fumbles in an active junior season at defensive end.

LB/DE- Khari Hunter, Rock Hill: In just his second season of high school football, Hunter showed his potential with 106 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and five pass break-ups.

LB- Jacorrius Logan, York: senior made 116 tackles with seven for a loss, two sacks, five pass break-ups and a recovered fumble.

LB- Nick Sturgill, York: senior linebacker made 104 stops, forced three fumbles and had an interception. Sturgill also had eight tackles-for-loss.

LB- Jonathan Lowery, South Pointe: Lowery racked up 146 tackles with five for a loss.

DB- Ali Shockley, Northwestern: junior safety made 99 tackles and broke up five passes.

DB- D.J. Williams, Northwestern: the junior’s first season on the defensive side of the football went pretty well, breaking up nine passes and intercepting four.

DB- Quan Young, Chester: senior made 77 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Young also forced and recovered a fumble.

DB- Chris Smith, South Pointe: Shrine Bowl pick had an injury-plagued final season of prep football, but still managed 40 tackles and two interceptions.

K/P- Taylor Sheets, Fort Mill: big-legged senior will play in the Semper Fidelis All-American game. Sheet hit three field goals this season, was 38-for-45 on extra points and averaged 36 yards on 31 punts.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 10:38 AM with the headline "2015 All-Area football: Greg Ruff is The Herald’s player of the year."