Thursday, December 2, 2010

Anson Sr. LB Stephone Anthony named NC Gatorade player of year

Anson Senior linebacker Stephone Anthony is the 2010 N.C. Gatorade football player of the year.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Anthony as North Carolina’s best high school football player. 

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior linebacker recorded 123 tackles and four sacks, as the Bearcats finished 3-8 this past season. Anchoring a defense that allowed 89.6 rushing yards and 147.4 passing yards per game this past fall, Anthony was credited with six pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, while 16 of his tackles resulted in lost yardage for opponents. An Under Armour All-American and also a running back for Anson, he rushed for 302 yards and seven touchdowns on 50 carries. On special teams, he returned 14 kickoffs for 498 yards. As a junior in 2009, Anthony amassed 120 tackles—18 for losses—and four interceptions, leading his team to the school’s second-ever Class 3A state semifinal appearance.

Also a baseball, wrestling and track standout, Anthony has maintained a 3.57 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a youth athletic instructor and mentor to elementary school students.

“He’s been absolutely incredible for our football team and our community,” said Anson Head Coach Luke Hyatt. “He’s a super, super kid. It’s easy to say he’s the best player on our football team, and he has been the last three years without a doubt. He gets it done in the classroom. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do all the time. He’s a great leader for us. The whole community looks up to him. He’s just a pleasure to coach. I don’t know if I’ll ever coach another guy like that again.”

Anthony joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Football Players of the Year Christian LeMay (2009-10, Butler), Xavier Nixon (2008-09, Jack Britt) and Braden Hanson (2007-08, Charlotte Latin School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

He is undecided for college.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Mr. Anthony. He sounds like a class act on and off the football field. Good luck to him in the future as he now must decide where to attend college. I hope he gives the in state schools a good hard look. I would love to see him in a Wolfpack uniform one day!

Anonymous said...

He IS a very good young man with high morals and standards. It is nice to see nice a guy finish on top. Good luck in everything you do Stephone, they sky is the limit for you.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Stephone. Possibly the number one recruit for Va Tech; hope to see him in Orange and Maroon next Fall. He is exactly the kind of player needed to get a NC for the Hokies.