Catching up on some things that happened while I was on vacation:
ALL-NELA: Rueben Randle was named as the winner of the James (Shack) Harris Award as the area’s offensive player of the year by the Monroe News-Star on Thursday.
Joining Randle on the first unit from Bastrop were wide receiver Stanley Moore, center Trevor Rodgers, defensive linemen D.D. Jones and Josh Downs, linebacker Tai Alford and free safety RaDarius Winston.
Wide receiver Hunter Freeland was an honorable mention selection.
THREEPEAT: Downs recently earned the distinction of becoming a three-time, first-team All-State selection when he was selected to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A squad.
An offensive tackle on the Rams’ 2006 state championship team, Downs was the only sophomore named to the first unit. Switching to defense the following year, the LSU pledge was a two-time All-State defensive tackle.
Randle garnered first-team All-State accolades for the second straight year. He is listed on the 2008 squad as an athlete after playing quarterback as a senior. Rated as the nation’s No. prospect by rivals.com, Randle was a first-team wide receiver as a junior.
1A HONORS: Ouachita Christian senior linebacker Jacob Boles of Bastrop was a first-team Class 1A All-State selection. He was also chosen as the Defensive MVP of District 2-1A after registering 120 tackles for the Eagles.
Also gaining recognition on the All-District 2-1A team from Bastrop were defensive back Blake Gillikin, first team; defensive lineman Sam Wade, second team; and Cade Lawhon, honorable mention.
St. Frederick senior Landon Williams, formerly of Bastrop, was a first-team District 2-1A selection as an athlete.
ALL-SLC: Jeremy Ford was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection after helping Central Arkansas finish the season with a No. 12 ranking in the final FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national poll. He was an honorable mention All-Conference selection as a junior.
Ford helped the Bears’ powerful offense average 37.5 points and 438.1 total yards per game.
UCA compiled a 10-2 record and was the uncrowned SLC champion. Although the Bears finished atop the SLC standings, they are in transition status while moving up from Division II and thus ineligible to compete for championship honors.
Ford, a former Bastrop High standout, drew 39 starts during his college career. More importantly, he received his degree in finance on Dec. 13.
ALL-SUN BELT: Dominique Williams of Bastrop was recognized as an honorable mention selection on the All-Sun Belt Conference team.
As a senior, Williams logged 49 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and five pass breakups. He was part of a defense which ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt in total defense and No. 2 in pass defense.
MARSHAY GREEN will play in the AT&T Cotton Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2 when Ole Miss (8-4) takes on Texas Tech (11-1) at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports.
Green, who has started all 12 games at cornerback for the Rebels, has 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and six pass breakups. He has also returned 31 punts for a 9.7-yard average and a touchdown.
DEDDRICK JONES had three tackles in helping Southern Mississippi to a 30-27 overtime victory over Troy in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21.
Jones, a redshirt freshman defensive end, played in all 13 of the Golden Eagles’ games, while making nine starts. His season totals included 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
MARCY ROBINSON is now playing at Angelina (Texas) Community College. She had two points and four steals in the Lady Roadrunners’ most recent game, a 60-40 victory over Kilgore.
Robinson, a 5-7 sophomore, has helped Angelina to an 8-2 start, including a 3-0 conference mark.
A four-year starter for the Bastrop Lady Rams, Robinson played sparingly during an injury-marred true freshman season at McNeese, before transferring to Angelina over the summer.
Bastrop, La. —
