Briarwood, Oak Mountain players secure All-State honors

The Briarwood Christian School football team landed six players on the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State team after a stellar season that saw the Lions advance to the state championship game, where they eventually lost in bitter defeat to St. Paul’s.

Despite the title game loss, the Lions were the No. 1 team in 5A all season after the first week of games. They achieved that in large part to many key contributors.

Offensive lineman Garrett Bell, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 250 pounds, was coach Fred Yancey’s best offensive lineman all season and garnered a first-team selection. He was credited for much of running back JR Tran-Reno’s success, as Tran-Reno gained more than 1,000 yards on the ground last season.

Tran-Reno was also a first-teamer after a sensational junior season, in which he received snaps at running back, quarterback and even receiver at times. He totaled 27 touchdowns on the season.

Defensive back Cade Dickinson and linebacker Gabriel Russell also received first-team nods. Dickinson came up with four interceptions on the year, and Russell was a tackling machine. Russell led the Lions with nine tackles in the state championship game and finished with more than 150 on the year.

Second-team wide receiver Carson Eddy topped 1,000 receiving yards on the season and scored 10 touchdowns as quarterback Michael Hiers’ top playmaker. Carson Donnelly also made the second team, picking off a pair of passes and notching more than 80 tackles.

Hiers was named honorable mention, as he surpassed 2,500 passing yards in his lone season to start at Briarwood.

A pair of Oak Mountain standouts was named to the Class 7A second team. Offensive lineman Jacob Feenker was lauded by head coach Cris Bell as the best center he has had in his six-year tenure at Oak Mountain. Zach Nelson was also honored, as he secured four interceptions and racked up 40 tackles on the year.

Spain Park kicker Cole Starr and defensive lineman Cedric Tooson were named honorable mention. Starr made all 10 field goal tries on the year and converted 39-of-41 extra points. Tooson totaled 87 tackles and eight sacks.