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THS, SWHS players earn big honors It doesn't always show up in the stat sheets and it may not make the highlight films each week, but it is that something that every athlete dreams of having. Some people call it intangibles, whatever the term is Thomasville High School's Jake Overstreet has it in bulk. The senior has been the starter at Thomasville for two years now and in that time the Tigers have been to the semi-finals as well as their trip to Birmingham and the 4A title game this season. Also in that span THS has only tasted defeat four times. "What can you say about a player like Jake," Tiger Coach Jack Hankins said. "The players rally around him. They look for him to be there when they need something and he usually delivers." During the 2006 season Thomasville saw itself fall behind in games, only to see Overstreet and the offense do whatever it took to bring them back over the top. It was especially evident in the playoffs as Thomasville fought back to win in the first round over Central- Tuscaloosa in overtime. In that game he scored on a 1-yard sneak and then threw the 2-point conversion pass to Andrew Parten to tie the game and send it to the extra period. For the whole game he accounted for three scores. But it was in the third round where that something special thing he has showed its head. The Tigers had just fallen behind 14-0 to Trinity and the home folks were starting to think the dream season was over. Overstreet never got rattled and never thought that his team's season was over. "As long as there is time left then we have a chance," Overstreet said. "This team just refused to get down even after falling behind so early. We knew we were going to come back and win." The Tigers then scored 28 unanswered points and never looked back to advance to the semi-finals for the second straight season. Against Andalusia anyone who witnessed that game saw both great moments and heart-wrenching scenes. Thomasville jumped out to a 21- point lead and then had to fight for their lives as Andalusia rallied to take a 26-21 lead into halftime. In the second half they scored 21 points to win 42-26 and advance. It wasn't just the offense in the game from Overstreet. It was his play on the defensive side of the ball as he recovered three fumbles, one of which he returned for a 77-yard TD, but he also intercepted an Andalusia pass in the endzone, snuffing out a potential score. On the other side of the ball he scored two TDs and ran in a 2-point conversion. Even though Thomasville lost 28- 27 in the championship game to Guntersville the next week. His play caught the eyes of statewide sports writers and they voted him as the 4A Back of the Year. "It was a great honor," Overstreet said. "But it was made possible by the play of the team. We earned it together." His play this season also earns Overstreet the Southwest Alabama Player of the Year award. Offensive Player of the Year It was like the replaying of an old movie when Sweet Water took the field against Cedar Bluff for the Class 1A state championship. Only this time the Bulldogs were not flying in under anyone's radar and everybody on the field and in the stands knew the player's name wearing number two. Anthony Landrum, if he played on any other team in the state, would be the featured back and likely have eclipsed the state's rushing record. In the case of Sweet Water he has shared the backfield with another powerful back and because of the team's explosiveness, Landrum and the other starters have only played in two or three full games this season. Otherwise they are on the sidelines watching the younger players perform. Even in the title game that the Bulldogs won 48-0, he was off the field in the fourth quarter. In the game, in which he was named MVP, he had 142 yards rushing and scored a TD. He also intercepted a pass. On the road to winning their second title in three years, Landrum had 1,691 yards on 186 carries and scored 25 TDs. Not too shabby when you consider he only played two full games and shared the backfield with another back who had over 1,500 yards rushing. He became the first player to be named MVP of the championship game twice as well. Opposing defenses shudder to know he has one more year left and will be the featured runner as well. In leading his team to the state championship, Landrum earns the Southwest Alabama All-Region Offensive Player of the Year award. Defensive Player of the Year You can't mention one without the other, unless you are talking about defense. Meaning you can't discuss Sweet Water's success with talking about Landrum and Dominic Holt. Except on the defensive side of the ball. It is there that Holt has risen above everyone else in this region. Sports writers from around the state recognized what he did this year as well as for his career as he was named the Class 1A Lineman of the Year. Holt finished the season with 103 tackles and eight sacks. That comes in a season where he only got to play in two full games because the younger players were on the field late in huge wins. In a career that started while he was in the eighth grade, Holt has been able to amass over 500 career stops. Oh and he also plays on the offensive side of the ball where he had 1,300 yards and 25 scores. Not a bad season or career. Holt gets the honor of being named the region top defensive player for the third straight season.
The shoes he leaves behind will be huge to fill for next year's team.
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