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After a season in which it went 12-1 and advanced to the Class 1 state semifinals for the second straight year, Altavista on Tuesday placed 10 players onto the Virginia High School League's Class 1 all-state teams. Following his sensational season, running back Ladainian Stone was named to the offensive first team and was honored as a second team linebacker. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior rushed for 1,802 yards and 38 touchdowns while also recording two receiving touchdowns for 40 total TDs.
His monstrous campaign was highlighted by Stone surpassing the 4,000-yard career rushing mark in late October, a night in which he also was honored as the school's homecoming king. He will graduate as Altavista's all-time leader in rushing yards. Stone has been known throughout his career as a guy who could not only plow through opposing lines with his size, but also skirt around the edge, hurdle defenders and provide sound defense.
"I've never seen, especially a guy his size, that can do what he does with his body," Altavista coach Matt Deloach said in a profile published in this newspaper in the days leading up to Stone surpassing 4,000 career yards. "It's pretty spectacular." Stone, who also was the Region 1B offensive player of the year, helped lead the Colonels to an undefeated regular season and to the Region 1B championship title.
The Colonels fell to Essex on Dec. 7 in the Class 1 semifinals. The Colonels placed two additional players on the offensive first team.
Senior Braelyn Smith was honored at offensive lineman as a member of the line that was instrumental in Altavista averaging 45.3 points per game. Junior Ja'Corion Davis was honored as the first-team kick returner.
Davis scored touchdowns on four of his 11 returns and averaged 41 yards per return. Region 1B defensive player of the year RJ Slayton headlined Altavista's defensive first-team honorees. Following the region championship game, the 6-foot, 210-pound sophomore had 95 tackles (56 solo), 25.
9 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Other first-team defensive honorees for Altavista included Tyriemh Robinson (linebacker), Jamari Slayton (defensive back) and Jase Shelton (punter). Slayton posted 70 tackles (44 solo), 13 pass breakups, four tackles for a loss, a blocked punt and three interceptions.
Robinson had 96 tackles (69 solo), nine tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. Shelton was a first team all-region performer. Second team offensive honorees for the Colonels included center Lucas Brown and lineman J'Vlen Irvin.
Second-team defensive honors went to freshman lineman Kaleal Clark and Stone at linebacker. Rye Cove's Landon Lane was named the Class 1 offensive player of the year after throwing for 1,697 yards and 23 touchdowns. Lane completed 65.
9% of his passes and led his team to a 14-1 record and a trip to the state finals. Grayson County defensive back Mac Goad was the all-state defender of the year after serving as a top-notch defender, a dependable receiver and the team's kicker. Essex coach Todd Jones was named the Class 1 coach of the year.
He led his team to a 14-1 record and the school's second state title last weekend. See below for the complete all-state teams. First team: Quarterback — Landon Lane (Rye Cove); Center — Tristan Marshall (Essex); Offensive Lineman — Daniel Walker (Essex), Braelyn Smith (Altavista), Kingston Cox (Grayson County), Reagan Wood (Eastside); Running Back — Ladainian Stone (Altavista), Kenneth Madison (Rappahannock), Jaden Holmes (Essex); Wide Receiver — Mac Goad (Grayson County), Avery Musick (Honaker), Jaylen Burrell (Westmoreland); Tight End — Braiden Mabe (Bath County); Kicker — Aaron Smith (Holston); Kick Returner — Ja'Corion Davis (Altavista); All-Purpose — Wyatt Campbell (Bath County).
Second team: QB — C.J. Kelly, Jr.
(Rappahannock); C — Lucas Brown (Altavista); OL — Billy Houchin (Rappahannock), J'Vlen Irvin (Altavista), Omar Hernandez (Grayson County), Tyler Barrett (Patrick Henry-GS); RB — Trey Rainey (George Wythe-W), Keldan Hamilton (Eastside), Colby Yeago (Buffalo Gap); WR — Luke Trent (Eastside), Elijah Knoetze (Narrows), Devin Garnett, Jr. (Westmoreland); TE — Hayden Sinclair (Holston); K — Connor Smith (Giles); KR — Cole Barnette (Rye Cove); AP — Logan Lester (Grundy). First team: Defensive Lineman — Xzayviia Bundy (Essex), Kingston Cox (Grayson County), RJ Slayton (Altavista), Tyler Barrett (Patrick Henry-GS); Linebacker — Chase Self (Rappahannock), Tyriemh Robinson (Altavista), Keldan Hamilton (Eastside), Tanner Melton (Grayson County), Will Rollins (Rye Cove); Defensive Back — Mac Goad (Grayson County), Jamari Slayton (Altavista), Tyreek Lundy (Northumberland), Holden Luttrell (George Wythe-W); Punter — Jase Shelton (Altavista); Punt Returner — Wyatt Campbell (Bath County); All-Purpose — Izaya Terperning (Essex).
Second team: DL — Kenneth Madison (Rappahannock), Kaleal Clark (Altavista), Braiden Mabe (Bath County), Trevor Darnell (Rye Cove); LB — Ethan Bryant (Bath County), Ladainian Stone (Altavista), Demonte Johnson, Jr. (Essex), Elijah Morton (Essex), Xavier Brown (Grayson County); DB — Brayden Hayes (Rappahannock), Nasir Williams (Brunswick), Aaron Peterson (Grayson County), Logan Lester (Grundy); P — Brayden Billings (Fort Chiswell); PR — Nasir Williams (Brunswick); AP — Landon Lane (Rye Cove). Offensive Player of the Year: Landon Lane, Rye Cove Defensive Player of the Year: Mac Goad, Grayson County Coach of the Year: Todd Jones, Essex.
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