EA places 5 on AISA first team; ECHS player gets Class 4A mention
By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Five players from Escambia Academy were selected as first-team members of the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) 2020 AISA All-State football team, and a key player from Escambia County High School earned honorable mention on ASWA’s 2020 AHSAA All-State roster.
The postseason honors were announced December 23. The AISA team is made up of players from throughout the association of independent schools, while a separate team is chosen for each of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s seven classifications.
EA was well represented on the AISA squad, offensively and defensively.
Troy Fountain, a 5-10, 265-pound senior offensive lineman, was named to the first-team offense, and 6-2, 185-pound junior Landon Sims was selected as first-team quarterback.
Defensively, the Cougars had three players selected to the first team. Senior lineman Randall Bonds (6-3, 205) made the first team, as did 6-1, 192-pound junior linebacker Bubba Nettles, and Daughtry McGhee, a 5-10, 180-pound senior defensive back.
On the AHSAA side, ECHS’s 6-2, 338-pound junior offensive lineman Tomorrion Knight earned honorable mention recognition on the Class 4A All-State team.
The various All-State teams are selected from nominations by statewide coaches and are voted on by members of the ASWA prep committee. The committee also votes on a Coach of the Year, Back of the Year and Lineman of the Year for each ASHAA classification and for the AISA.
One player is also chosen each year as “Mr. Football,” a highly honored position awarded to the individual voted best football player in the state from all classifications of public and private schools.
Finalists for Back of the Year and Lineman of the Year in each classification and AISA are expected to be released later this week, and the “Mr. Football” selection is set for release in mid-January.