Ben Cates
Gideon Davidson, who will lead Liberty Christian into Saturday's Class 3 state championship game against Kettle Run, recently took home his latest accolade: the Region 3C offensive player of the year.
It marks the second year Davidson has earned all-region POY honors. The running back and Clemson signee with more than 2,000 yards to his credit in 2024 also is the reigning state offensive player of the year in Class 3. In addition to his all-region honors, he was named the Seminole District player of the year for the third straight year and, last weekend, took home the Gatorade Virginia player of the year award.
"He's clearly the best player we've had," LCA coach Frank Rocco said this week.
Rocco was named coach of the year for the second straight season. The reigning state coach of the year has his team (13-0) on a 27-game winning streak entering Saturday's championship, which kicks off at 11:30 a.m. at Williams Stadium.
LCA's 6-foot-6 lineman Easton Ware (Clemson) took home first-team lineman honors on both sides of the ball. Ware's work is integral to LCA's success in the trenches, and he could be a major factor against Kettle Run.
"They're a solid team, they're undefeated," Ware said of the 14-0 Cougars. "You look at most of their games, they're blowouts, so they know what they're doing. They're a well-coached team. They have a lot of good players so we've just got to play our game and come out swinging."
Davidson also was honored at first-team running back, kick returner and defensive back. LCA also placed center Ryan Sissney on the offensive first team.
Heritage had two offensive first-team selections: lineman Azaiah Wright, a sophomore, and senior receiver Tavion Clark. Clark finished the season with roughly 700 receiving yards and was integral to the Pioneers' success.
Other first-team defensive honors from local schools went to: lineman Ja'Vante Smith (Rustburg), lineman Tyler Reed (Heritage), linebacker James Deyo (LCA), linebacker Brayden Morgan (Heritage), linebacker Ari Reid (Rustburg), defensive back Braylen Horsley (Heritage) and defensive back Alex Dunn (Rustburg).
For the full Region 3C teams, scroll to the bottom of this report.
Thrilled to be back
James Deyo, an LCA linebacker and receiver, is playing a more prominent role in the Bulldogs plans than he did one year ago. But Deyo did make a big difference in 2023's state title game, a 28-14 win over Lafayette, when he helped salt away the game by throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Nesselrotte.
Deyo has been dreaming of returning to the state championship ever since. He gets his chance Saturday as a senior who is coming off a huge state semifinal performance. Against William Byrd last week, Deyo accounted for four touchdowns, caused an interception and had a sack. He enters with 68 total tackles and three sacks on the season.
"I'm so, so excited," Deyo said this week. "Ever since last year's state championship I've been looking forward to this season. And the fact that it's here and that we're about to play in a state championship is super surreal."
The Mejia touch
Sam Mejia had a solid 2024 in his first season as LCA's full-time kicker. He has yet to miss an extra point since the closing game of the regular season, against Jefferson Forest.
Mejia went 6 for 6 on PATs against the Cavaliers. He's perfect in the playoffs, hitting all 33 of his extra-point attempts. Against William Byrd last week, he was 7 for 7, which tied his season high for PATs, set against Broadway in the first round.
Chasing Gideon
Davidson is closing in on 2,200 rushing yards this season and has accounted for 40 total touchdowns. Kettle Run faces a tough task Saturday in limiting the output of the senior. In the state title game last year, Davidson rushed for 302 yards and three touchdowns, while intercepting two passes.
"You put the film on and [Davidson] looks better on film," Cougars coach Charlie Porterfield told Insidenova.com this week. "Clearly you hear stories about the kid and you see his highlights pop up all over the state, but to really kind of watch him play a whole game, it's very impressive."
FOOTBALL All-Region 3C teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Gideon Davidson, Liberty Christian
Defensive Player of the Year: Beau Baylor, Turner Ashby
Coach of the Year: Frank Rocco, Liberty Christian
OFFENSE
First team: Quarterback -- Des Jordan (Alleghany); Center -- Ryan Sissney (LCA); Offensive Lineman -- Easton Ware (LCA), Chase Smith (Turner Ashby), Azaiah Wright (Heritage), Joseph Rogers (Alleghany); Running Back -- Gideon Davidson (LCA), Beau Baylor (Turner Ashby), Carter Nicely (Alleghany); Wide Receiver -- Xzavier Hayslett (Alleghany), Micah Matthews (Turner Ashby), Tavion Clark (Heritage); Tight End -- Benny Denby (Fluvanna); Kicker -- Solomon Kisembo (Turner Ashby); Kick Returner -- Gideon Davidson (LCA); All-Purpose -- Marc Geffrard (Staunton).
Second team: QB -- Ayden Slash (Heritage); C -- T.J. Gillenwater (Turner Ashby); OL -- Xavier Thompson (Rustburg), Brady Collins (LCA), Michael Mason (Turner Ashby), Brad Scott (Heritage); RB -- Shaun Rosser (Rustburg), Zeke Pour (Monticello), Mason Dellinger (Broadway); WR -- Parker Baucom (Wilson Memorial), Ashton Dixon (Rustburg); TE -- Sarge Persinger (Alleghany); K -- Oziel Jara-Castillo (Monticello); KR -- Uriah Rutan (Broadway); AP -- Zachariah Stuhmiller (Broadway).
DEFENSE
First team: Defensive Lineman -- Easton Ware (LCA), Ja'Vante Smith (Rustburg), Tyler Reed (Heritage), Jackson Keppel (Turner Ashby); Linebacker -- Beau Baylor (Turner Ashby), James Deyo (LCA), Brayden Morgan (Heritage), Mason Dellinger (Broadway), Ari Reid (Rustburg); Defensive Back -- Gideon Davidson (LCA), Keyvon Jones (Wilson Memorial), Alex Dunn (Rustburg); Punter -- Uriah Rutan (Broadway); Punt Returner -- Uriah Rutan (Broadway); All-Purpose -- D'Rhon Jackson (Monticello).
Second team: DL -- Sebastian Ray (Broadway), Brooks Lavar (Turner Ashby), Rayne Dean (Spotswood), Dashawn Shifflett (Staunton); LB -- Gavin Via (Alleghany), Zaid Holloway (Heritage), David Breneman (Turner Ashby), Thomas Chisley (Staunton), Tre Early (Monticello); DB -- Justis Belford (LCA), Uriah Rutan (Broadway), Hunter Knighton (Alleghany), Jackson Graves (Spotswood); P -- Oziel Jara-Castillo (Monticello); PR -- Tre Early (Monticello); AP -- Zachariah Stuhmiller (Broadway).
Ben Cates, (434) 385-5527
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