The L4 Security 13th Region Media Network Team announced the best players in the 13th Region — the “13th Region’s Finest.”, and those can be seen listed below.
Taking a closer look, Corbin led the way with five players on the list while Bell County followed with four players. North Laurel and Williamsburg each had three players apiece while Clay County, Knox Central, Middlesboro, and Whitley County each had two apiece. Harlan, and Harlan County each had one player apiece.
13th Region’s Finest
Jacob Baker, Corbin High School, Senior, K/DB/P
Baker finished the 2021 campaign with nine field goals, & 66 extra points, finishing with 93 total points which ranked third overall for Corbin.
He also had three interceptions, a fumble recovery, & 34 tackles.
Sydney Bowen, Williamsburg High School, Senior, QB
Bowen threw for 2,251 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while averaging 204.6 passing yards per game in 2021. He also ran for a team-best 914 yards and 11 touchdowns while 83.1 rushing yards per game.
Gage Brock, Pineville High School, Senior, OL/DL
Brock established himself as one of the top linemen during 2021, helping guide the Mountain Lions to eight wins.
Gavin Chadwell, Knox Central High School, Junior, TE/DE
He has proven himself to be one of the best players in the by dominating on both sides of the ball. He caught 17 passes for 295 yards and 8 TDs in 2021 & recording 55 tackles, 3 sacks & 1 fumble rec.
Jack Chappell, North Laurel High School, Junior, WR/DB
Chappell had seven catches for 93 yards in 2021 while rushing for 13 yards on two carries. His 64 tackles were fourth best on the team for North Laurel. He also finished with six sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Cameron Combs, Corbin High School, Senior, QB
Combs threw for 1,529 yards last season along with 13 passing touchdowns. He ran for 563 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Brayden Dunn, Bell Co., Junior, OL/DL
Dunn is one of the best linemen in the region, turning in a solid sophomore campaign in 2021. He displayed toughness on both sides of the ball, establishing himself as a top-notch OL while recording 33 tackles as a DL.
Cayden Grigsby, Middlesboro, Junior, QB/DB
Grigsby passed for 1,745 yards and 21 touchdowns last season for the Yellow Jackets while running for 858 yards & 11 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 13 tackles, three interceptions and a touchdown on defense.
Tye Hamblin, Whitley County High School, Junior, RB/DB
On the defensive side of the ball Hamblin was 2nd on the Colonels in tackles with 72 total tackles over 9 games. Of the 72, 21 of them were solo tackles and 4 were TFL.
Sam Harp, Whitley County High School, Senior, WR/DB
Harp was the leading receiver for the Colonels last year. He caught 26 passes for 776 yards. He also had 10 touchdowns last year.
Austin Johnson, North Laurel, Junior, OL/DL
Johnson had a breakout sophomore season for the Jaguars, leading the state with 21 sacks. He led North Laurel with 121 tackles with 13 of those going for a loss. He also finished with two fumble recoveries.
Landon King, Pineville, Senior, WR/DB
King enters the 2022 campaign as one of the most versatile players in the 13th Region. He can do damage on both sides of the ball, and returns as one of the top defensive backs.
Trey King, Middlesboro, Junior, OL/DL
King is a 6’5 athletic offensive tackle. He was Second Team All District last season and started all 14 games on Middlesboro’s 13-1 team. He has been to several camps this summer.
Connor Lay, Williamsburg, Senior, OL/LB
Lay established himself as one of the top linemen in the season last year by helping Williamsburg capture another district title while posting an 8-4 record.
Mikey Neal, Corbin, Sophomore, RB/LB
Neal dominated as a freshman. He led Corbin with 112 tackles, 67 of those were solo tackles.
Steve Partin, Knox Central, Junior, QB, RB, WR, LB
Partin did it all last season for Knox Central. He passed for 610 yards and seven TDs, ran for 505 yards, and 10 TDs, caught 10 passes for 97 yards, and led the Panthers with 68 total points.
He also had a team-best 134 tackles, recorded one sack, and also had an interception.
Ethan Raby, Bell County, Senior, FB/LB
Raby ran for 416 rushing yards and 7!TDs while catching two balls for 25 yards. Raby was third on the team with 64 points while leading the team with two fumble recoveries. He also logged 101 tackles and 4 sacks.
Tate Rice, Clay County, Junior, Quarterback
Rice threw for 1,518 yards and 18 touchdowns last season while also running for 314 yards, and three scores. He also had an interception on defense.
Martin Shannon, Williamsburg, Senior, WR/CB
Shannon finished with 36 receptions while totaling 860 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. He also led Williamsburg with 84 points.
Trevor Spurlock, Clay County, Senior, RB/LB
Spurlock led the Tigers with 901 rushing yards, and six touchdowns last season. He also finished with eight receptions that went for 70 yards.
Jonah Swanner, Harlan Co., Junior, WR/CB
Swanner led Harlan County with 17 receptions for 413 yards, and five touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for 85 yards, and one touchdown. On defense, Swanner recorded 41 tackles and two interceptions.
Daniel Thomas, Bell County, Junior, RB/LB
Thomas ran for 778 yards and 11 TDs. He also threw for 28 yards, and a TD while hauling in 21 receptions for 370 yards, and three TDs. He was second on the team with 106 points.
Jayden Ward, Harlan, Senior, RB/DB
Ward ran for 698 rushing yards & 6 TDs last season while hauling in 15 receptions for 174 yards and two TDs. He also recorded 34 tackles on defense.
Tucker Warren, North Laurel, Junior, QB/DB
Warren threw for 1,955 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while leading North Laurel with 628 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Brody Wells, Corbin, Senior, WR/LB
Wells caught one pass reception for four yards, and a touchdown last season while finishing on defense with 62 tackles, one sack, and one interception, and one fumble recovery.
Franklin West, Corbin, Junior, OL
West established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the state last season. He will look to continue to lead the Redhounds this season.
Dawson Woolum, Bell County, Senior, RB/LB
Woolum rushed for 1,678 yards, and 21 TDs while also six passes for 82 yards. Defensively, he had 82 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.
