MOUNTAIN TOP SPORTS: Dixon leads All-Area Football Teams; Chirico named Coach of the Year

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.