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Trio of Indians players earn all-state honors
Hartley, Blake make 2nd team, Dewhirst honorable mention.
By CHRIS WHITE
cwhite@lakecityreporter.com
The Fort White High
varsity football team got in one last hurrah on Tuesday when the Class 2A all-state teams were announced.
Indians lineman Robert Hartley and running back Xavier Blake were named to the second-team roster, and receiver Jordan Dewhirst was named an
honorable mention.
Hartley, a 6-7 senior who led the offensive line and spent time on the defensive line, said he was honored to have made the second team for the second consecutive year.
“It’s a pretty big deal to be on those teams,” Hartley said. “I think we had a really big year and it’s good to be on the team.”
The lineman’s role stretched further than the trenches, though, Fort White coach Demetric Jackson
said.
“Hartley was our leader,” the coach said. “He was tremendous for us, and he was more than just a rah-rah guy. He led by example on the field, at practice, in the weight
room, at summer workouts.
Even when he was sick, he would still be there pushing
everybody.”
Blake, a 6-1 junior, made the list for the first time after a breakout season that put
him among the state’s elite running backs. His 17 rushing
touchdowns and 1,738 yards on the ground helped
Fort White make the
playoffs for only the
second time in the program’s history.
“We called Xavier our quiet assassin,” Jackson said. “I’m really proud of him for what he did for us — he really stepped up for us. We knew he had it in him, we were just waiting for him to use it.”
Dewhirst also made his first appearance on the all-state radar this season after
connecting with Indians
quarterback Alex Gilmer for 34 receptions, 11 touchdowns and 631 total yards. The
6-2 junior also had breakout games against Taylor County High, which the Indians
had to defeat to earn a playoff berth, and in the
team’s first-ever playoff win against Pensacola Catholic High.
Jackson said he expected another big season out of the receiver, but did not always know what to expect out of him after Dewhirst quit his freshman year. He returned to play on the junior varsity squad as a sophomore and caught the attention of
coaches.
“I saw him after that
and asked, who is this kid
and why is he on JV?”
Jackson said. “He’s catching everything. And he’s so fast. A lot of guys will catch him at practice, but I’ve never seen anyone catch him in a game yet.”
Hartley earned second-
team honors last season,
and then-teammate Trevares Holden was named to the third team. Holden just finished his first season as a redshirt
freshman at Bethel College in Kentucky.
varsity football team got in one last hurrah on Tuesday when the Class 2A all-state teams were announced.
Indians lineman Robert Hartley and running back Xavier Blake were named to the second-team roster, and receiver Jordan Dewhirst was named an
honorable mention.
Hartley, a 6-7 senior who led the offensive line and spent time on the defensive line, said he was honored to have made the second team for the second consecutive year.
“It’s a pretty big deal to be on those teams,” Hartley said. “I think we had a really big year and it’s good to be on the team.”
The lineman’s role stretched further than the trenches, though, Fort White coach Demetric Jackson
said.
“Hartley was our leader,” the coach said. “He was tremendous for us, and he was more than just a rah-rah guy. He led by example on the field, at practice, in the weight
room, at summer workouts.
Even when he was sick, he would still be there pushing
everybody.”
Blake, a 6-1 junior, made the list for the first time after a breakout season that put
him among the state’s elite running backs. His 17 rushing
touchdowns and 1,738 yards on the ground helped
Fort White make the
playoffs for only the
second time in the program’s history.
“We called Xavier our quiet assassin,” Jackson said. “I’m really proud of him for what he did for us — he really stepped up for us. We knew he had it in him, we were just waiting for him to use it.”
Dewhirst also made his first appearance on the all-state radar this season after
connecting with Indians
quarterback Alex Gilmer for 34 receptions, 11 touchdowns and 631 total yards. The
6-2 junior also had breakout games against Taylor County High, which the Indians
had to defeat to earn a playoff berth, and in the
team’s first-ever playoff win against Pensacola Catholic High.
Jackson said he expected another big season out of the receiver, but did not always know what to expect out of him after Dewhirst quit his freshman year. He returned to play on the junior varsity squad as a sophomore and caught the attention of
coaches.
“I saw him after that
and asked, who is this kid
and why is he on JV?”
Jackson said. “He’s catching everything. And he’s so fast. A lot of guys will catch him at practice, but I’ve never seen anyone catch him in a game yet.”
Hartley earned second-
team honors last season,
and then-teammate Trevares Holden was named to the third team. Holden just finished his first season as a redshirt
freshman at Bethel College in Kentucky.
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| Nine suspended after Chiefland basketball fight | Tigers hold off Indians |
TAMMY HARTLEY wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:51 PM:
I HAVE TO SAY I AM VERY PROUD OF
EACH OF THEM. "