Lumpkin football lands eight on All-Region teams

The LCHS varsity football team received some much deserved recognition for the play of eight of its players during the 2019 season when the All-Region 7-AAA teams were announced recently.
Senior Aaron Hopkins was named to the All-Region first team while his teammates senior BoJack Dowdy, senior Tucker Kirk, senior Ethan Kline, senior Trey Wilkes, junior Ryan Burkhart, junior Jared Hooch and sophomore Ricky Hicks were all named to the All-Region second team as voted on by the coaches of Region 7-AAA.
Hopkins proved to be a beast on either side of the ball for the Indians in their 2019 campaign. Whether plucking the occasional ball out of the air at the tight end position or delivering brutal hits behind the line as a defensive lineman, Hopkins was an integral part to Lumpkin’s successes throughout the season. The team captain led by example and exemplified the fight that LCHS first-year head coach Caleb Sorrells tried to instill in all his players through his mantra of “Tie down.” Hopkins’ ability to make a difference on both sides of the ball, his explosiveness off the line and sensational tackling ability made him a lock for the All-Region first team.
Dowdy carried most of the load on the ground for the Indians during the 2019 season at the running back position. The senior back consistently ran with purpose no matter the circumstance and proved hard for opposing teams to take down, especially in short yardage situations. Dowdy’s gritty and no-holds-barred play for Lumpkin was not unnoticed by the Region 7-AAA coaches and allowed him to earn a spot on the All-Region first team.
Kirk had a solid season behind center for the Indians. The senior quarterback showed signs of brilliance with his arm and with his feet during the 2019 season. Although Kirk didn’t put up the kind of numbers as some of the region’s top quarterbacks, the senior displayed leadership and poise, calmness in the pocket, the ability to deliver pinpoint passes and the ability to pick up yards with his feet. Those qualities allowed Kirk to earn his spot on the All-Region second team.
Kline’s name came over the PA systems of many conference stadiums on defense during the 2019 season. The senior linebacker was one of the team’s leading tacklers and showed a propensity to put a big hit on an opponent when the Indians needed it the most throughout the season. Kline raised the energy level of the team when he stepped onto the field and proved to be a force to be reckoned with no matter the opponent. For his efforts, Kline was named to the All-Region second team.
Seemingly undersized at the wide receiver position, Wilkes played bigger than his height gives him credit for and was a potent offensive weapon for the Indians in the 2019 season. Wilkes showcased his route-running ability, dependable hands and speed throughout the season and scored several touchdowns for the Indians in 2019. What Wilkes lacked in height he more than made up for with heart and determination. Wilkes’ strong senior season was recognized by him being named to the All-Region second team.
Along with the four senior players named to the Region 7-AAA All-Region second team were three underclassmen. Burkhart, Hoch and Hicks each put in performances that put them on the radars of the majority of the region’s coaches and indicated that they will be important parts of the Indians’ 2020 season.
The announcement of the eight Indian players being named to the Region 7-AAA All-Region teams was a nod to the hard work, effort and performances that these Lumpkin players put into every snap of the season.