Leak, Sunseri, Crowder, Brent, Kilgo
5 Former Union Co. boys in the NFL
The Houston Texans have signed former Parkwood High receiver Marcus Leak to a contract, placing five Union County players in NFL training camps this summer and all with good opportunities to make each team. Leak (6-1, 210 pounds) spent last season as a rookie with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts released him in the off season. Leak joins Washington receiver Jamison Crowder (Monroe), New England defensive tackle Darius Kilgo (Weddington), San Francisco safety Vinnie Sunseri (Marvin Ridge) and Oakland receiver KJ Brent (Marvin Ridge). Crowder has developed into a standout for the Redskins as a slot receiver who also returns punts. The former Blue Devil all-american enters his third NFL seasons with 126 receptions for 1,451 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s expected to be a full-time starter for the first time after making 10 starts in his first 33 NFL games. Kilgo, just 25 years of age is a two-time Super Bowl champion. A three-year starter at the University of Maryland, Kilgo is in a battle to make the 53-man roster in 2017. Sunseri, a three-year starter at Marvin Ridge who was a national champion at Alabama, is expected to make the San Francisco 49ers as a free safety and special teams player. The 24-year-old Sunseri has played in 15 NFL games since New Orleans drafted him in the fifth round in 2014. KJ Brent (6-4, 190) played at South Carolina and then Wake Forest before making the Raiders’ practice squad in 2017. Good Luck boys, Union Co. is watching you!!!
Sam Howell (SV)
Austin Kendall (CU)
Sun Valley's Howell chasing the Union Co. record book
In 2016 we saw most of the Union Co. career receiving records change hands throughout the season. The 2017 season could bring the same in regards to the passing records. Two Union Co. records will most likely fall this season. The Union Co. records for most passing yards in a career and most passing touchdowns in career are the ones that will undertake the assault with Sun Valley junior QB Sam Howell the one in pursuit. Howell currently sits in 3rd place on the list with 73 career passing touchdowns and 3rd place in career passing yards with 6803. Cuthbertson’s Austin Kendall, currently the backup QB at Oklahoma played three seasons at Cuthbertson is the current record holder with 90 career touchdown passes. Kendall also owns the Union Co. record for career passing yards with 8588.
Career Passing Yards
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Career Passing TDs
Austin Richardson (PR)
Pirates Richardson headed to ECU!
Porter Ridge WR/DB Austin Richardson will continue his education and football career at Eastern Carolina in the fall of 2018. Richardson announced his decision via the Porter Ridge football Twitter account (@PorterRidgeFB). Richardson had 18 receptions for 370 yards and scored 5 TDs for the 7-5 Pirates in 2016. On defense Richardson had 25 takcles adn 2 interceptions. Richardson was named All-SW4A as a defensive back in 2016.
C.A.T.A. Cougars
Cougars find their man
CATA has finally found their head caoch. In late May, the school named Tony Byrum its new coach. Byrum was an assistant at the school for two years under departing head coach Shane Griffin. Central’s new head coach is now Jeff Edwards, a former defensive coordinator at nearby Sun Valley High School. Edwards has also coached defense at West Lincoln, South Stanly and Fairmount. Central Academy was 1-10 last season and lost its final nine games. Since opening in 2007, the school has never had a winning season. Its best year came under coach Tad Baucom in 2011, when the Cougars finished 5-7.
Luke Burrnette (SV)
Sun Valley's Luke Burnette committs App State.
Sun Valley's Luke Burnette Burnette caught 23 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as a junior at Sun Valley. On the defensive side of the ball Burnette had seven sacks and 57 tackles as a defensive end. The App State coaching staff projects him as a tight end or offensive tackle. Burnette also has offers from Richmond, Elon and Florida International. The Spartans went 8-4 last season.
Tony Byrum (CA)
Cougars still looking for a headcoach.
Central Academy High football coach Tony Byrum has resigned as head football coach 5 days after accepting the position. CATA's twitter account lists personal reasons for his stepping down. CATA will now resume the search for a new football coach.
Mannesseh Missick (UA)
UA's Missick headed to play college football!
Union Academy’s multi-talented Mannesseh Missick has signed to continue his education and football career at NC Wesleyan. Missick was named 2nd Team All-UCHSF as a senior after rushing for 1091 yds and 10 touchdowns and threw for 1069 yds and 10 touchdowns as well as being named All-Yadkin Valley in 2016. For his career Manasseh has 2945 career passing yards and 22 TDs along with 1708 rushing yards and 23 TDs. GOOD LUCK Mannesseh!
Ishod Finger (SV)
Sun Valley's Finger transfers out!
Sun Valley’s leading rusher from 2016 will not return for his senior year. Ishod Finger, who rushed for 1110 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior will play his senior year at Metrolina Christian Academy. Finger announced his intentions via this twitter account, “After a thought-out process with family and friends I feel it would be in my best interests to attend Metrolina Christian for my senior year of football. I am thankful for all that Sun Valley has done for me through the years but it comes a time and place where a man has a stand on his own two feet and do what he feels is better for himself.” Finger was named 2nd Team All-UCHSF as a junior. Finger had 17 catches for 179 yards and 3 scores. Sophomore QB Sam Howell was the Spartans 2nd leading rusher in 2016 with 444 yards on the ground and 12 rushing TDs. Good Luck Ishod!
NIck Stitt & Rheece Hillard
Parkwood's Stitt & Hillard headed to play college football!
Parkwood’s Nick Stitt will continue his education and football career at North Carolina Wesleyan. Stitt signed his letter of intent earlier this week and Mr. Stitt announced via his twitter account, “Committed to another four years to be a student-athlete at North Carolina Wesleyan.” Stitt, 5’6 150 lbs played receiver and defensive back for the Lynn Coble and the Rebels. Nick has 432 career receiving yards on 45 receptions and 4 touchdowns. Defensively Stitt has 5 career interceptions along with 77 tackles for the Rebels. Congrats Nick!!!!
Parkwood’s Rheece Hillard joins Nick Stitt in in continuing his football career and education as he is headed to St. Francis. Hilliard, a two-year starter for the Rebels at defensive end had 62 career tackles along with 5.5 sacks for Coach Coble. Congrats Rheece!!
Tyrese Marsh
Yellow Jackets Marsh headed to Catawba
Forest Hills Tyrese Marsh will continue his education and football career at Catawba. Marsh was a 3 year starter at linebacker Forest Hills and recorded 360 total tackles, 259 solo tackles. Marsh added 2 interceptions in his 3 years at Forest Hills. Marsh was named All-UCHSF 1st team as a junior and senior along with All-Rocky River for 3 years. Congrats Tyrese!!
Parkwood names Speakman as new HC.
Speakman came to Parkwood from Ave Maria University, where he served as the head softball coach. He was also the football team’s offensive coordinator from 2010-13. Speakman, who has 28 years of football coaching experience, was par t of Appalachian State’s football staff under head coach Jerry Moore. After his time at App State, Speakman spent four seasons as the head football coach at Pal- metto Ridge High School in Naples, Florida. Under Speakman, Palmetto Ridge finished 7-4 in 2006 and 7-3 in 2007. Speakman, who is now the head softball coach at Parkwood takes over a football team that finished 6-6 under head coach Lynn Coble last season. Coble spent the last six seasons at the helm for the Rebels, compiling a 27-45 record with the team. Parkwood has finished above .500 four times in the past 13 seasons, including twice under Coble. The Rebels will compete in the Southern Carolina 3A Conference next season as they move from the Rocky River 2A Conference. Coach Speakman!!!
Past UCHSF News
