All-Conference not announced yet, so let me hand some awards out

In the print edition of today's The Cary News and Southwest Wake News, I mistakenly said the All-Conference team for the Tri-Nine would be announced Monday.

As I found out later that night (and after deadline), the team was simply decided upon Monday and won't be announced until after the last conference team is ousted from the playoffs (so here's hoping we don't know that list for awhile).

Which brings me to today's column which looked back on the year at-large. If I had to pick a Player of the Year, I'd go with Middle Creek quarterback Garrett Leatham. I wish I knew enough to do an all TCN/SWW team like I do for basketball, but I think I'd shortchange too many defensive players and offensive linemen. It's best to leave that up to the coaches.

While we're handing out meaningless votes and awards, I'd give Holly Springs' Jim Hynus Coach of the Year, Fuquay-Varina's Cory Hunter Offensive Player of the Year, Fuquay's Shawn Underwood Defensive Player of the Year and Middle Creek's Matt Frongello Specialist of the Year.

And if these players don't make first-team all-conference, they might as well do away with the list: Athens Drive's Kyree Green, Rob Crisp, Pete Singer and Louis Wilder; Panther Creek's Graham Love; Fuquay's Isaac Minor and Shawn Underwood as both an offensive and defensive lineman; Holly Springs' J.J. Graves; Middle Creek's Britt Cherry and Jordan Mays.

Others to consider: Green Hope's Blake Scott; Lee County's Dequan Swan; Apex special teamer Darius Lassiter, quarterback Adam Nelson and kicker/punter Stephen Weiss; Cary's Deandre Henry and punter Will Gillfillan; Fuquay's Nate Budde and Eric Powell; Athens' Ben Snotherly; Panther Creek's Isaiah Johnson, Kel Jackson, Kameron Bryant, Jay Townsend, Tyler Bailey and Josh Tann; Holly Springs' Corron Boston, Xavier Bailey, Nick Volk, Nick Hohns and Tremayne Dennis; Middle Creek's Devonte Knox, Matt Laxton, Garrett Rider and Stephen Sladek.