Liberty Christian lineman Easton Ware blocks against Kettle Run during the Class 3 state championship at Williams Stadium on Dec. 14.
Ben Cates
After a season in which he rushed for 2,349 yards and led Liberty Christian to its second straight Virginia High School League state football title, running back Gideon Davidson this week was named the league's Class 3 player of the year for the second straight season.
Davidson wrapped a sensational high school career on Dec. 14 when he rushed for 181 yards and scored four touchdowns against Kettle Run in the Class 3 state championship game. LCA won 42-6 and claimed its second state title in a row.
Davidson then headed to Clemson the next day, where he is a mid-year enrollee after graduating early from LCA. The 6-foot, 193-pounder averaged nearly 9 yards per carry in 2024 and scored 37 rushing touchdowns. He also had five receiving touchdowns and two kickoff returns in his senior season.
Davidson also was named the Class 3 offensive player of the year as a junior, when he rushed for more than 2,700 yards and scored 46 total touchdowns.
He finished his high school career with 7,769 rushing yards and 122 total touchdowns. He accomplished most of that work in his junior and senior seasons.
"I'm happy with the results I've gotten," Davidson said in the days leading up to this year's state championship game.
Davidson also took home second-team all-state honors at defensive back. He plans to end his high school career by playing in the Navy All-American Bowl on January 11. The game, with an 11 a.m. kickoff, will be televised on NBC.
His career includes accolades such as being named the MaxPreps 2023 national junior of the year, Gatorade Virginia player of the year as a senior, two-time all-region 3C player of the year, and three-time Seminole District player of the year, among others.
The league announced its Class 3 teams hours before Christmas.
Liberty Christian coach Frank Rocco earned state coach of the year for the second straight year. His team sports a 28-game winning streak after going 14-0 in each of the last two seasons.
LCA 6-foot-6 lineman Easton Ware, also an early enrollee at Clemson, earned first-team all-state honors at offensive line and defensive line. The three-star, 280-pound offensive tackle and nose guard posted roughly 70 total tackles and seven tackles for a loss to go along with four sacks, two fumble recoveries and one a caused fumble.
The Bulldogs also placed center and captain Ryan Sissney on the all-state first team and the versatile James Deyo at first-team linebacker (70-plus tackles).
Staunton River running back and linebacker Brady Barnes was named a second-team all-state linebacker. In addition to being invaluable on offense, Barns also starred at linebacker and helped the Golden Eagles pull off their 2024 signature victory, a 29-28 double overtime win against previously undefeated William Fleming in the final week of the regular season.
The VHSL also released its Class 4 and Class 2 all-state teams this week.
Three local athletes were honored on the Class 4 team: Amherst's Benaiah Williams and Devonte Wade and Jefferson Forest's Slade Keesee.
Williams was a first-team defensive honoree. The senior led the Lancers with 114 tackles (11.4 per game, 73 solo) and also had five tackles for a loss. Williams also led Amherst with four interceptions, had three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal.
Wade, who held down most of Amherst's quarterback duties, was a second-team all-purpose selection on defense. In addition to his 21 total touchdowns on offense, Wade finished the season with 58 total tackles, five tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Off those two snares, he amassed 105 interception returns (52.5 yards per interception). He also caused one fumble and blocked one field goal. On special teams, Wade had seven kickoff and seven punt returns for a total of 495 yards.
Keesee was named the Seminole District defender of the year in November, at the conclusion of the regular season. This week, he was named an all-state second-team defensive lineman. The 6-foot-2 junior posted 50 total tackles (36 of them solo), eight tackles for a loss and five sacks in the regular season and helped the Cavaliers to a 9-3 overall record.
Three local athletes were honored on the Class 2 all-state teams: Gretna's Jamarius Giggetts, Raneer Jones and Xavier Waller.
Giggetts turned in a tremendous season at receiver, and he was honored as a second-team selection. Giggetts had 36 receptions for 734 yards and seven scores to go along with 173 rushing yards and an additional score. Jones was named a second-team linebacker after leading the Hawks with 142 total tackles (77 solo). Waller was a second-team punt returner. He made six kickoff returns and 10 punt returns for a total off 400 yards.
The Hawks finished the season with a 9-4 record.
Scroll to the bottom of this report for the full all-state teams released this week.
The VHSL released its Class 1 all-state teams last week. Altavista, which advanced to the state semifinals, placed 10 athletes on those squads.
Class 4 All-State teams
OFFENSE
First team: Quarterback -- Harry Dalton (Dinwiddie): Center -- Markus Hopson (Phoebus); Offensive Lineman -- Jayden Hill (Phoebus), Jaiden Wellons (Varina), Jaishaun Offutt (John Handley), Will Saba (Loudoun Valley); Running Back -- Josiah Persinger (Salem), Davion Roberts (Phoebus), Devin Henderson (Varina); Receiver -- DaMari Carter (Varina), Romeir Smith (Phoebus), Dawason Harvey (John Champe); Tight End -- Matt Henderson (Powhatan); Kicker -- Josh Tikalsky; Kick Returner -- Jordan McCadden (Salem); All-Purpose -- Kaleb Wyche (Varina).
Second team: QB -- Brandon Pena (Champe); C -- Jarrett See (Sherando): OL -- Nathaniel Anthony (Phoebus), Carter Scruggs (Loudoun Valley), Chris Law (GW-Danville), Jack Bryie (Salem); RB -- Montez Dyson (Loudoun County), Hassan Akanbi (Handley), Kinye Martin (Smithfield); WR -- Kingston Hall (Churchland), Lveon Lewis (Huguenot), Coen Logan (Salem); TE -- Tyler Kann (Champe); K -- Farriss Knight (Phoebus); KR -- Ahmari Boxley (Courtland); AP -- Dawson Pough (Tuscarora).
DEFENSE
First team: Defensive Lineman -- Markus Hopson (Phoebus), JaySean Richardson (Varina), Lucas Allen (Tuscarora), Lucas Love (Tuscarora); Linebacker -- Braylon Hood (Varina), Brett Clatterbaugh (Eastern View), Brendon Thompson (Phoebus), James Walters (Sherando); Defensive Back -- Noah Jefferson (Phoebus), Myles Anderson (Varina), Nijay Gay (Phoebus), Josiah Persinger (Salem); Punter -- Luke Morrison (Loudoun County); Punt Returner -- Cooper Fitzgerald (Champe); All-Purpose -- Benaiah Williams (Amherst).
Second team: DL -- Willim Flythe (Smithfield), Samuel Cohen (Huguenot), Slade Keesee (Jefferson Forest), Chris Law (GW-Danville); LB -- Josiah Johnson (Handley), Tristan Teasdell (Tuscarora), Oliver Chaplain (Tuscarora), Chase Loftis (Loudoun Valley), Dior Hatchett (Phoebus); DB -- Nylon Mason (Dinwiddie), Dawson Pough (Tuscarora), Trenton Mitchell (Phoebus), Shawn Springs (Champe); P -- Ejikeme Onuorah (Tuscarora); PR -- John Peddy (Churchland); AP -- Devonte Wade (Amherst).
Offensive Player of the Year: Harry Dalton, Dinwiddie
Defensive Player of the Year: JaySean Richardson, Varina
Coach of the Year: Jeremy Blunt, Phoebus.
Class 3 All-State teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Gideon Davidson, Liberty Christian
Defensive Player of the Year: Rashaud Cherry, Thomas Jefferson
Coach of the Year: Frank Rocco, Liberty Christian
OFFENSE
First team: Quarterback -- Jacob Mulhern (Kettle Run); Center -- Ryan Sissney (LCA); Offensive Lineman -- Easton Ware (LCA), Daniel Jordan (Kettle Run), Andrew Buckley (Lafayette), Gavin Walker (Lord Botetourt); Running Back -- Gideon Davidson (LCA), Colton Quaker (Kettle Run), Tristan Overbay (LB); Receiver -- Matthew Outtan (I.C. Norcom), Amare Gough (Thomas Jefferson), Xzavier Hayslett (Alleghany); Tight End -- Carter Bernatzky (Kettle Run); Kicker -- Cole Byrd (Bassett); Kick Returner -- Matthew Outtan (Norcom); All-Purpose -- Rashard Cherry (Thomas Jefferson).
Second team: QB -- Cannin Lutz (William Byrd); C -- Jackson Harless (LB); OL -- B.J. Cheatwood (WB), Zavier Artis (Thomas Jefferson), Chase Smith (Turner Ashby), Ty're Tabron (Norcom); RB -- Beau Baylor (Turner Ashby), Brayden Smalls (Lafayette), Jahkei Chavis (Armstrong); WR -- Zach Roth (Kettle Run), Torian Younger (Magna Vista), Micah Matthews (Turner Ashby); TE -- Daniel Jackson (Lafayette); K -- Aiden Gerda (Lafayette); KR -- Jahkei Chavis (Armstrong); AP -- Mykell Harvey (Northside).
DEFENSE
First team: Defensive Line -- Easton Ware (LCA), Jayden Booth (Kettle Run), Daniel Jackson (Lafayette), Maurice Burnette (William Byrd); Linebacker -- Beau Baylor (Turner Ashby), Donzell Jones-Teal (Armstrong), Jamir Nesbith (Lafayette), James Deyo (LCA), Jonathan Rosser (WB); Defensive Back -- Rashaud Cherry (Thomas Jefferson), Magerald Clarke (Lake Taylor), Jahkei Chavis (Armstrong), Simeon Moore (Magna Vista); Punter -- Bryant Nottingham (Pulaski); Punt Returner -- Malik Porter (Thomas Jefferson); All-Purpose -- Sabastian Nix (Lafayette).
Second team: DL -- Rahmir Schoolfield (Norcom), A'Veri Hornes (Armstrong), Caleb Martin (Magna Vista), Zyan Hill (Thomas Jefferson); LB -- Isaiah Brown (Thomas Jefferson), Jerome Brown (Lake Taylor), Seth Reiter (Lord Botetourt), Carter Bernatzky (Kettle Run), Brady Barns (Staunton River); DB -- Gideon Davidson (LCA), Zalen Smith (Norcom), Quinten Jones (LB), Dycen Tapscott (Kettle Run); P -- Temple Gingras (Thomas Jefferson); PR -- Matthew Outten (Norcom); AP -- Cody McConnaughey (LB).
Class 2 All-State teams
OFFENSE
First team: Quarterback -- Brody Dawyot (Glenvar), Center -- Gage Gutierrez (Strasburg); Offensive Lineman -- Xavier Kennard (Graham), Jacob Britton (Strasburg), Brayden Agnese (Poquoson), AJ Johnson (Union); Running Back -- Taki Coates (Strasburg), Keith Chandler (Union), Gaby Lilly (Graham); Receiver -- Anthony Henderson (Bruton), Peyton Deel (Glenvar), William Dickey (Madison Co.); Tight End -- Phillip Radford (Floyd); Kicker -- Carl Muse (Glenvar); Kick Returner -- Blake Graham (Graham); All-Purpose -- Cam Bostic (Union).
Second team: QB -- Zayden Pope (South Hampton); C -- Nolan Dalton (Radford); OL -- Jack Reese (Chatham), Rhett Henderson (Glenvar), Carter Jones (Poquoson), Aiden Bailey (Graham); RB -- Javonte Lynch (South Hampton), James Stewart (King William), Jeremiah Brown (Madison Co.); WR -- Jamarius Giggetts (Gretna). Keshawn Smith (Virginia High), Steven McClenny (South Hampton); TE -- Nathaniel Quiroz (Poquoson); K -- Cooper Wolfe (King William); KR -- Anthony Henderson (Burton); AP -- KSean Hill (King William).
DEFENSE
First team: Defensive Lineman -- Omarri Hill (Graham), Carter Jones (Poquoson), Nick Wilson (Glenvar), Saia Tuivailala (Clarke Co.); Linebacker -- Cale Vaughan (Glenvar), James Stewart (King William), Carson Chinn (Clarke Co.), Cole Martin (Radford); Defensive Back -- Chris Edwards (Graham), Pace Prioleau (Radford), Laurence Wallace (Southampton), Tahki Coates (Strasburg); Punter -- Brody Dowyot (Glenvar); Punt Returner -- Cambel Fix (Graham); All-Purpose -- Peyton Deel (Graham).
Second team: DL -- Carlos Anderson (Union), Jysir Williamson (Graham), Jacob Britton (Strasburg), Brayden Agnese (Poquoson); LB -- Lavon Ashley (Southampton), Austin Conley (Poquoson), Camden Wharton (Union), Gabe Lilly (Graham), Raneer Jones (Gretna); DB -- Kam Bostic (Union), Blake Graham (Graham), Devin Clark (Glenvar), Dylan Bullard (Poquoson); P -- Joshua Mitchell (Poquoson); PR -- Xavier Waller (Gretna); AP -- Cameron Stowers (Poquoson).
Offensive Player of the Year: Brody Dawyot, Glenvar
Defensive Player of the Year: Omarri Hill, Graham
Coach of the Year: Tony Palmer, Graham.
Ben Cates, (434) 385-5527
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