All-BHC Dream Team: Offense

Quarterback
Joel Elswick, Sr., Richlands
An All-Southwest District and All-Region IV first-teamer, Elswick finished his career as the most prolific passer in school history. He possessed the ability to hurt opponents both passing and running: He threw for more than 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns; and, he ran for 600 yards and 17 TDs. He shared district player of the year honors with Tazewell’s Matt Muncy.

Running Back
Chris Robinson, Sr., Clintwood
Robinson was the No. 1 option on what might have been Southwest Virginia’s most potent offense. Blending size and speed, Robinson finished the season with 1,736 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns – numbers gaudy enough to see him elected to the All-LPD and All-Region D first teams, including a nod as the Region D Offensive Player of the Year.

Running Back
Keenan Shepard, Jr., Tennessee High
The best pure runner in Northeast Tennessee. Fast, powerful, smart and filled with fire, Shepard racked up 1,562 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He was a beast this year for Tennessee High, even while dealing with injuries. And here’s the scary part: Shepard gets to wear Vikings’ maroon-and-white next season. “He is a coach’s player,” Tennessee High coach Greg Stubbs said.

Wide Receiver
Matt Muncy, Sr., Tazewell
The versatile and athletic Muncy, who will play football at Wake Forest, did whatever was necessary to help the Bulldogs win, accounting for 35 percent of Tazewell’s offensive output. He ran for 817 yards, caught passes for 550 more and scored 17 all-purpose touchdowns, including four against Richlands in the Region IV, Division 3 title game. He also occasionally lined up at quarterback, and he returned punts and kicks.

Wide Receiver
Brandon Atwell, Jr., George Wythe
Atwell had 52 catches for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns and established several new school records. In a district-title clinching win over Chilhowie, Atwell had a touchdown reception, booted a field goal and returned a fumble for a score.

Tight End
Joe Yates, Sr., Haysi
Not only did Yates catch 33 passes for 426 yards in Haysi’s aerial attack, his fierce blocking earned him the BDD’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award. Yates’ potency did not go unnoticed around the area (where he earned spots on the first teams of both the All-BDD and All-Region D squads) or the state (Yates has been asked by Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer to walk on for the Hokies football team).

Offensive Line
Ty Frazier, Sr., Gate City
The Clinch Mountain District’s lineman of the year, Frazier helped to clear the way for the Blue Devils’ ground-based attack and provided protection for quarterback Tihlee Anderson. His senior leadership was also pivotal for the CMD champions.

Offensive Line
Richard Griffith, Sr., Chilhowie
A three-year starter, Griffith helped pave the way for an offense that rushed for 2,734 yards. “He loves to hit. I know you’ve heard that cliché, but he just enjoys playing. He doesn’t care who gets the glory. He’s a true lineman,” Chilhowie coach Larry Russell said.

Offensive Line
Preston Frye, Sr., Sullivan East
It was a rough season for the Patriots, but Frye was a strong point. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound senior guard was a consistent force inside for East, and he split open holes and manhandled opposing linemen for a rotating cast of Patriots running backs. With Frye, East’s offense was in every game and the Patriots had options. Without him, a rough year would have been unbearable.

Offensive Line
Adam Tabor, Sr., Tennessee High
The Vikings ran over their opponents this season, and Tabor was a major key. “He gave us the inside push,” Stubbs said. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Tabor helped Tennessee High establish the holes Shepard blasted through, and Tabor was a veteran presence in the locker room.

Offensive Line
Russell Hull, Sr., Clintwood
The undersized senior garnered all-state honors last year and showed no signs of wearing down in 2008. Behind Hull’s stewardship, the Greenwave offensive line helped Clintwood rush for almost 220 yards per game. Also a star on defense, Hull was honored as the LPD’s offensive lineman of the year and made the Region D team as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

Kicker
Allen Owens, Sr., Haysi
A kicker’s worth is not always measured by how prolific he is, but by how clutch he is. Good thing Owens is both. Besides making five of six field goal attempts and all but one of his 47 extra-point attempts, Owens booted the tying and winning field goals against Kelly earlier this season. As a receiver, he led the Tigers with 38 receptions. He will kick for UVa.-Wise next season.

Athlete
Tihlee Anderson, Sr., Gate City
Anderson hurt opponents in a lot of ways. At quarterback, he ran for 485 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 702 yards and five more TDs. He also was a dangerous return man. He was the Clinch Mountain District’s offensive back of the year.