By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
A 2023 Woodruff football team bursting with youth and talent saw seven of its members bestowed with All-Region honors following the conclusion of the season. Of the seven players to receive the award, five of them are underclassmen and will return next year. Two were seniors who have represented Woodruff football with class and sportsmanship for the past four seasons. Here is a look at all the Wolverines’ All-Region honorees and the reasons they were chosen.
Kory Scott- Wide receiver (Senior)
Kory Scott has been the consummate Wolverine. Over his three-year varsity career, Scott has played wide receiver, defensive back, returned kicks and punts, and served two stings as Woodruff’s starting quarterback during the 2021 and 2022 seasons when injuries arose. Kory’s senior season was one to remember. Scott led the Wolverines with 65 catches for 761 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for two more. He intercepted a pass on defense and in special teams, returned 15 kicks for 249 yards. He was one of three Woodruff players to finish the season with over 1,000 all-purpose yards, tallying 1,065. His 65 receptions rank fourth all-time in a single season in program history.
Keshawn Clark- Linebacker (Senior)
Keshawn was the heart and soul of the Woodruff defense. A fiery linebacker with a nose for the football, Clark was often put in charge of neutralizing opponents’ running backs and quarterbacks. Any ball carrier that got into his space was subject to being stopped in their tracks. Keshawn finished second on the team with 60 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Keshawn started on varsity for two seasons.
T.J. Morris- Quarterback (Junior)
Morris was a true revelation for Woodruff at the quarterback position. Taking over the starting role as a junior, Morris announced his arrival in the season’s first game by throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns. T.J. finished his first season at the helm with 2,571 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. His 64.9 percent completion percentage is the second-highest completion percentage in a season in program history. Tough and with a strong and accurate arm, Morris will enter 2024 as the unquestioned leader of the Woodruff offense. With a host of talented playmakers returning around him, he is looking for the Wolverines’ signal caller to put up even bigger numbers as a senior.
Hunter West- Defensive back/wide receiver (Junior)
Hunter West is a sparkplug no matter where on the field he plays. West played more on the defensive side of the ball, leading the entire team in tackles with 74. He also intercepted a pass. On offense, Hunter proved equally dynamic. While he was not the most targeted receiver on the team, West made the most of his opportunities. He caught 12 passes for 194 yards and four touchdowns. During a key region game against Emerald, West caught three passes for 76 yards, with all three receptions scoring touchdowns. Hunter will be a key member of the Wolverines’ 2024 team on both sides of the ball.
Cohen Lyda- Offensive line (Junior)
Lyda was an anchor of a Woodruff offensive line that continued getting better as the season went along. At 6 feet 2 inches and 275 pounds, Cohen was a force in the middle of the Wolverines’ line. He helped pave the way for freshman running back Aiden Gibson’s monster season, and his cohesion with Morris will help keep the Woodruff offensive running smoothly next season. Experience is hard to replace up front, and Lyda brings a ton of that to the table next year.
Kori Moates- Wide receiver (Sophomore)
Kori Moates is an electrifying talent on the football field. The first-year varsity player showed everyone, from fans to opponents, what they have to look forward to (or not) for two more seasons. Kory finished second on the team with 598 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 217 yards and another score. His breakout game came against Union County late in the regular season when Moates caught eight passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. In the same game, he carried the ball 13 times for 118 yards and another score. Moates was also the Wolverines’ primary kick returner, adding 420 yards there. He finished with a team-leading 1,235 all-purpose yards.
Aiden Gibson- Running back (Freshman)
Aiden Gibson was nothing short of fun to watch on Friday nights. Not too often do freshmen break onto the scene and put up numbers like Gibson did. Taking over the starting role in the season’s third game, Gibson rushed for a team-high 771 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. But he is far more than just a bruising running back. Gibson also caught 28 passes for 405 yards and three more touchdowns. He was targeted 28 times, too, meaning that he did not drop or misplay a single ball thrown his way. It may be early, but Gibson looks as if he could challenge some long-standing records over the next three seasons, as Woodruff’s offense appears to be loaded for a long time to come.
Author: Tracy Sanders
