Escambia County’s best football players have been selected for the 2016 All-County Football Team. Brewton Standard Sports Editor Corey Williams and Atmore Advance Editor Andrew Garner chose the team based on coaches nominations. Players were chosen from all county public and private high schools, including Escambia County, Escambia Academy, T.R. Miller, W.S. Neal and Flomaton. Eleven positions were picked from each side of the ball and the Players of the Year were chosen based on each end of the county.

Offense

QB — Caleb Winston, TRM

RB — Louie Turner, EA

RB — Michael Campbell, TRM

TE — Tyrese Nicholson, TRM

WR — JoJo Booker, TRM

WR — Patrick McGhee, EA

OL — Nicholson

OL — Preston Townsend, TRM

OL — Willie English, WSN

OL — Ryan Gagliano, FHS

OL — Cameron Armentor, EA

Defense/Special Teams

DL — Ty Lett, TRM

DL — Trentez Johnson, TRM

DL — Rickey Samuel, WSN

DL — Trae Lee, EA

LB — Jaylan Brown, ECHS

LB — Jonathan Gantt, WSN

LB — Aaron Morton, FHS

FS — Booker

CB — Henry Davison, TRM

CB — Fred Flavors, EA

DB — Kainoa Gumapac, EA

K — Matthew Morgan, TRM

P — Booker

Honorable Mentions

Kris Brown, EA

Chris Nobles, TRM

Casey Steadham, FHS

Joshua Jolly, TRM

Devon Robinson, ECHS

Da’Shun Odom, FHS

Offensive P.O.Y.: Louie Turner

Escambia Academy’s Louie Turner is this year’s Escambia County All-County Offensive Player of the Year for the west.

Turner finished with 1,235 yards rushing and scored 22 touchdowns this year. He also had 345 yards receiving.

Turner, a junior, said he couldn’t have done it without God, his teammates, coaches and everyone in the program.

Turner, known for his power running game, said he got his running technique from his uncles and cousin.

“They motivated me to be better,” he said.

Turner said his best game was against Jackson Academy because he knew it was going to be a good night before the game started.

“The line was blocking and everybody was doing what they needed to do,” he said.

Turner’s favorite college football team is the University of Alabama, and his favorite player is Derrick Henry.

Defensive P.O.Y.: Trae Lee

Escambia Academy’s Trae Lee is this year’s Escambia County All-County Defensive Player of the Year for the west.

Lee finished the year with 67 tackles, nine sacks, nine tackles for a loss, four caused fumbles, four fumble recoveries for the Cougars, who played in the AISA Class 2A state championship game.

Lee played at defensive end on the defensive line.

He said the success of the season started in the spring.

“We knew we had a good group of seniors to go to state,” Lee said. “We knew we had a bond as well. We worked hard, and grew during the season. We knew we’d be back in Troy again for the championship.”

Being a defensive end, foot work is the main key for the position.

Lee said EA linebackers coach Marquino Siler worked with him since he was a freshman to help him grow into a Division 1 defensive end.

Lee said his best game he had this season was back during the first against First Baptist of South Carolina in the SECIS Preseason Classic in Montgomery.

In the game, Lee had two interceptions, two sacks and some 14 tackles with five for a loss.

Lee, an avid Navy fan, said he’ll take visits to Navy, Army and the Citadel in January, before making a decision on National Signing Day.

His favorite college football team is Navy, and his favorite player is DeMarcus Ware of the Denver Broncos.

Lee said most of all, he thanks God for giving him his gift for playing football.

“I just want to thank my coaches, family and friends, and the whole EA family,” he said.

Coach of the Year: Hugh Fountain

Escambia Academy head football coach Hugh Fountain is the 2016 All-County Coach of the Year.

Fountain helped lead the Cougars to their second state championship game in three years. He also eclipsed the 200-win mark in the state semifinals. EA finished at 8-5 on the season.

The head coach said the award’s credit goes to the players.

“To me, it goes to the players because they make the season,” Fountain said. “Even though we didn’t win a state championship, but we played in it, that was an accomplishment with our guys.”

Fountain said the EA culture is one where a lot of the coaches take pride in being able to coach high-caliber athletes.

“This award, to me, is about these guys and the assistant coaches,” he said. “They’ve been with us for a couple of years.”

Throughout the season, Fountain, along with assistant coaches John Gartman, Cale Thompson, Jeff Price, Marquino Siler, Marty Long, Joey Quimby and JP Sawyer, helped players improve in their respective positions.

Fountain said the coaches always stress to the players that it’s the end of the season that matters.

“One thing that we’ve done with the players is that we’re not afraid to change,” he said. “We’re not afraid to move people around.”