By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

For the second year in a row, Starmount’s football team completed an undefeated conference run — and garnered the conference’s top individual honors as a reward.

Scott Johnson earned coach of the year honors in the Mountain Valley 1A/2A Conference after guiding the Rams to an 8-0 record. Junior quarterback Jake Barr was voted the league’s best offensive player, while junior linebacker M.J. Bryant was tabbed as the MVAC’s defensive MVP.

Last season, Johnson was the top coach in the old Mountain Valley 2A, with then-seniors Rashaun Gaither and Matthew Walker earning conference MVP honors.

The good news about this season’s award-winners is that both Barr and Bryant have another year of eligibility in the Rams’ program. The best could be yet to come for the two and their team.

“They are both very hard working and dedicated young men who try to lead by example in how they work in the classroom, weight room and on the practice field,” coach Johnson said. “Each has a strong desire to excel in all they do and a willingness to go the extra mile. It is a well deserved honor.”

Barr, who has been the starting quarterback since midway through his freshman year, played a more diverse roll in the offense this go-around. Sometimes he lined up at running back, with Nick Kimmer under center, to give the Rams a different look.

Barr rushed for 703 yards (third-most on the team) and 14 touchdowns (second-most). He completed 35 of 96 passes for 717 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Barr earned Battle of the Bridge MVP honors after scoring four touchdowns in the 42-12 win over Elkin. Barr’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Israel Murphy and two-point conversion run afterward helped Starmount survive a tight game with East Wilkes.

Bryant emerged as the quarterback of the defense from his middle linebacker spot. He was a fierce hitter who piled up 59 solo tackles, 57 hits, 10 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception. He also caused three more fumbles. Bryant blocked a punt against Wilkes Central and returned the loose ball for a touchdown.

“M.J. makes all of our calls on defense,” Johnson said after the win over Wilkes Central in early November. “He spends a lot of time studying film and reading the scouting reports, making sure he understands where everybody is supposed to be. He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around.”

Both players were recognized as all-conference on both sides of the ball.

Barr actually graded out the highest of any of Starmount’s defensive players in terms of stats. He made 59 solos, 31 hits and five tackles of loss. He picked off eight passes, running one back for a touchdown. He caused seven fumbles and recovered one, turning that into a score.

On offense, Bryant proved a steady option at fullback. He finished with 841 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. Had Bryant not had such a key role on defense, he might have run the ball more.

Only Israel Murphy (1,082 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns) gained more on the ground for the Rams this season. Murphy also was an all-conference pick on offense.

Starmount senior lineman Wayne McCracken was an all-conference performer on both sides of the ball. Other Rams to make all-conference included Dillon Bray on offense and Blaine Nicholson on defense.

Clay Renegar, Drew Vestal, Matthew Gordon, Steven Hemric, Nick Kimmer and Houston Myers were honorable mention for the Rams.

Elkin, which finished second in the Mountain Valley 1A/2A behind Starmount, had four all-conference picks on offense and four on defense.

Tre Hayes and Damon Smith earned all-MVAC on both sides of the ball. Hayes led Elkin in rushing with more than 1,000 yards and was a standout linebacker. Smith was the Elks’ top pass-catcher and proved key in the defensive secondary.

Other Elkin all-conference players included offensive lineman Tyler Billings, offensive lineman Nathan Gilliam, linebacker Aaron Rabin and defensive lineman Jordan Tanner.

Elks to make the honorable mention team included Grayson Kimery (offense), Aaron Rabin (offense), Alex Ratley (offense) and Jordan Coe (defense).

East Wilkes also had a pair of two-way all-conference players — quarterback/defensive back Micah Bryan and offensive/defensive lineman Luke Rintaniemi.

Running back Aaron Bauguess, who along with Bryan eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing, also made all-conference on offense for East Wilkes.

The Cardinals’ honorable mention all-conference players were Jesse Hall (offense), J.J. Jackson (defense), Drew Lovett (defense) and Jesse White (defense).

Mountain Valley 1A/2A

All-Conference Football

Coach of the Year: Scott Johnson (Starmount)

MVP Offense: Jake Barr (Starmount)

MVP Defense: M.J. Bryant (Starmount)

All-Conference Offense

Offensive Backs

Trae Alexander (Wilkes Central)

Jake Barr (Starmount)

Aaron Bauguess (East Wilkes)

Micah Bryan (East Wilkes)

M.J. Bryant (Starmount)

Logan Hallock (West Wilkes)

Tre Hayes (Elkin)

Israel Murphy (Starmount)

Sebastian Sandoval (Alleghany)

Offensive Linemen

Daniel Aldaco (Alleghany)

Tyler Billings (Elkin)

Dillon Bray (Starmount)

Mathan Brewer (Ashe County)

Chad Faircloth (Forbush)

Nathan Gilliam (Elkin)

Brent Kelly (Wilkes Central)

Wayne McCracken (Starmount)

Luke Rintaniemi (East Wilkes)

Josh Wineberg (Ashe County)

Receivers

Andrew Adams (West Wilkes)

Damon Smith (Elkin)

Grayson Wells (Ashe County)

Punter

Devin Williams (Wilkes Central)

All-Conference Defense

Linebackers

M.J. Bryant (Starmount)

Morgan Burks (Ashe County)

Austin Church (Wilkes Central)

Tre Hayes (Elkin)

Blaine Nicholson (Starmount)

Aaron Rabin (Elkin)

Andrew Russell (Ashe County)

Sebastian Sandoval (Alleghany)

Defensive Linemen

Daniel Aldaco (Alleghany)

Seth Cox (Ashe County)

Chad Faircloth (Forbush)

Alex Hershner (Ashe County)

Brent Kelly (Wilkes Central)

Wayne McCracken (Starmount)

Luke Rintaniemi (East Wilkes)

Jordan Tanner (Elkin)

Defensive Backs

Jake Barr (Starmount)

Micah Bryan (East Wilkes)

Aaron Scott (Ashe County)

Cody Smith (Alleghany)

Damon Smith (Elkin)

Grayson Wells (Ashe County)

Placekicker

Devin Williams (Wilkes Central)

HONORABLE MENTION PICKS

Offense

Brett Baity (Forbush)

Tyler Black (Forbush)

Grayson Fulp (Forbush)

Alan Greene (West Wilkes)

Jesse Hall (East Wilkes)

Steven Hare (Ashe County)

Jeren Holman (Ashe County)

Dalton Johnson (Wilkes Central)

Grayson Kimrey (Elkin)

Austin McConnell (Wilkes Central)

Andrew Marley (West Wilkes)

Dalton Moore (West Wilkes)

Jake Murray (Alleghany)

Brandon Parsons (Wilkes Central)

Uvaldo Piedras (Alleghany)

Aaron Rabin (Elkin)

Alex Ratley (Elkin)

Clay Renegar (Starmount)

Zack Shumate (North Wilkes)

Aaron Sparks (Wilkes Central)

Dalton Tedder (North Wilkes)

Drew Vestal (Starmount)

Devin Williams (Wilkes Central)

Defense

Brett Baity (Forbush)

Jordan Carlton (Wilkes Central)

Jordan Coe (Elkin)

Martin Garcia (Alleghany)

Joe Gilbert (Wilkes Central)

Matthew Gordon (Starmount)

Luke Goss (Ashe County)

Alan Greene (West Wilkes)

Steven Hemric (Starmount)

Jeren Holman (Ashe County)

Zach Hudler (Ashe County)

J.J. Jackson (East Wilkes)

Dalton Johnson (Wilkes Central)

Drew Lovett (East Wilkes)

Nick Kimmer (Starmount)

Houston Myers (Starmount)

Bryan Owens (West Wilkes)

Adam Parker (Wilkes Central)

Joe Weaver (Ashe County)

Jesse White (East Wilkes)

Nick Wilcox (West Wilkes)