Belfry running back Isaac Dixon will go down as arguably one the most electrifying players in school history.
He rushed for 1,690 yards and 25 touchdowns in his senior season as a Pirate. He averaged better than 13 yards per carry, which totaled just 125. Dixon also had three receiving touchdowns.
Dixon has been named Mountain Top Sports’ Player of the Year, leading an outstanding group of area football standouts.
He edged out Johnson Central senior running back Dylan Preston, who was chosen captain of the first team offense. He ran for 1,679 yards and 29 scores.
The first team defense is captained by Paintsville linebacker Mason Lovely. Magoffin County quarterback Lucas Litteral leads the second team offense and Letcher Central’s Carson Adams was named second-team defensive captain.
Paintsville head coach Joe Chirico guided the Tigers to the school’s first football championship in 100 years. He was honored as Coach of the Year.
Here are the 2020 Mountain Top Sports All-Area football selections:
Coach of the Year: Joe Chirico, Paintsville
Player of the Year: Isaac Dixon, Sr., Belfry
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Russ Osborne, Fr., Shelby Valley
QB – Isaac McNamee, Jr., Pikeville
RB – Dylan Preston, Sr., Johnson Central (Capt.)
RB – Matt Anderson, So., Pike Central
RB – Harris Phelps, So., Paintsville
RB – Dominick Francis, Sr., Phelps
OL – Grant Bingham, Jr., Johnson Central
OL – Aiden Smith, Sr., Belfry
OL – Peyton Sayers, So., Pikeville
OL – Owen Lemaster, Jr., Johnson Central
OL – John Blackburn, Sr., Paintsville
TE – Zach Russell, Sr., Johnson Central
TE – Lincoln Billiter, Jr., Shelby Valley
WR – Zac Lockhart, Jr., Pikeville
WR – Anthony Pallotta, Sr., Shelby Valley
UTL – Keegan Bentley, Sr., Pike Central
UTL – Jayden Newsome, So., Shelby Valley
UTL – Karsten Poe, Sr., Paintsville
UTL – Blake Birchfield, So., Pikeville
PK – Braydon Combs, Sr., Paintsville
PK – Austin Ratliff, Jr., Johnson Central
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Joshua Taylor, Jr., Pikeville
DL – Caleb Lovins, So., Shelby Valley
DL – Landon Dotson, Jr., Phelps
LB – Mason Lovely, Sr., Paintsville (Capt.)
LB – Seth Mounts, Sr., Belfry
LB – Mason LeMaster, Jr., Johnson Central
LB – Brad Lowe, Sr., Belfry
LB – Nate Collins, Sr., Pikeville
DB – Brett Coleman, Sr., Belfry
DB – Noah Iricks, Jr., Pike Central
DB – AJ James, So., Paintsville
P – Grant Rice, Jr., Johnson Central
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Lucas Litteral, Sr., Magoffin County (Capt.)
QB – Chase Mims, Jr., Betsy Layne
RB – Kolby Sparks, Jr., Martin County
RB – Dylan Ferguson, So., Lawrence County
RB – Isaiah Adkins, Jr., East Ridge
RB – Mason Lawson, So., Johnson Central
OL – Logan McCoy, Sr., Belfry
OL – Mason Sayers, So., Pikeville
OL – Jacob Carter, Sr., Martin County
OL – Spencer Hensley, Sr., Belfry
OL – Ethan Sparkman, Sr., Floyd Central
TE – Brant Potter, Sr., Floyd Central
WR – Aiden Barnett, So., Magoffin County
WR – Cainan Land, Jr., Phelps
WR – Brad Standifer, Sr., Magoffin County
UTL – Jake Hyden, Sr., Paintsville
UTL – Brayden Slone, Prestonsburg
UTL – Tayvion Boykins, Pike Central
UTL – Caleb Hager, Sr., Floyd Central
PK – Gideon Ireson, Jr, Belfry
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Jo Jo Ratliff, Sr., East Ridge
DL – Landon Hammock, Jr., Pikeville
DL – Hunter Ousley, Sr., Paintsville
DL – Michael Compton, Sr., Shelby Valley
LB – Keaton Day, So., Letcher Central
LB – Aaron Slone, Sr., Pike Central
LB – Seth Mayhorn, Sr., Phelps
LB – Luke Hyden, Sr., Paintsville
DB – Skyler Salisbury, Jr., Betsy Layne
DB – Jacob Cain, Jr., Johnson Central
DB – Carson Adams, Jr., Letcher Central (Capt.)
P – Jonah Little, So., Letcher Central
SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION
Timmy Ramey, Martin County; Keian Worrix, Shelby Valley; Nicholas Howell , Sr., Betsy Layne; Cameron Willis, Johnson Central; Garrett Smith, Belfry; Jeremy Taylor, East Ridge; Nathan Marsillett, Paintsville; Devin Hall, Paintsville; Jordan Little, Shelby Valley; Carter Akers, Prestonsburg; Nicholas Howell, Betsy Layne; Keaton Meade, Martin County; Zac Taylor, Paintsville; Brady Robinson, Betsy Layne; Braxton Damron, Shelby Valley; Lucas Whit, Johnson Central; Jesse McCoy, Johnson; Hayden Brashear, Letcher; Chase Price, Johnson Central; Barrett Caudell, Pikeville; Adrien Anthony, Pike Central; Jepatha Griffith, Letcher; Blue Fletcher, Lawrence County; Steve Thompson, Martin; Connor Puckett, East Ridge, Bryson Locklear, Phelps.
HONORABLE MENTION
Sam Little, Letcher Central; Brandon Smith, Martin County; Jonah Porter, Paintsville; Steven Layne, Phelps; Austin Tackett, Betsy Layne; Alex Strickland, Lawrence County; Bladen Sexton, Johnson Central; Trenton Hatfield, Floyd Central; Parker Davis, Martin County; Caleb Howard, Magoffin County; Brayden Rash, Belfry; Brandon Lowe, Pikeville; Zack Mason, East Ridge; Ethan Jarvis, Prestonsburg; Ethan Bentley, Shelby; Jakobe Justice, Pike Central;
Riley Dotson, Phelps; Jackson Burchett, Betsy Layne; Keygan Pelfrey, Johnson Central; Jordan Akers, Floyd Central; Randy Kinser, Martin County; Grayson Whitaker, Magoffin County; Brendan Rash, Belfry; Luke Ray, Pikeville; Landon Robinson, East Ridge; Owen Greene, Prestonsburg; Jordan Ratliff, Shelby Valley;
Cameron Kimbler, Pike Central; Gavin Branham, Shelby Valley; Nathan McGuire, Prestonsburg; Carson Wright, Pikeville; Rudy Blackwell, Belfry; Reese Goss, Johnson Central; Tyler Chaffin, Belfry; Christian Land, Phelps; Ricardo Perez, Pikeville.