The 2009 football season saw North Forsyth break a four-year state playoff drought, a feat that required plenty of playmakers.

The individual success that helped fuel North’s winning ways has landed 14 Raiders among the 30 members of this year’s Forsyth County News All-County Team.

The team also features eight players from West Forsyth, along with four each from Forsyth Central and South Forsyth.

The team also includes 23 honorable mentions.

To assemble this year’s squad, the FCN sports staff solicited nominations from North coach Jared Zito, West coach Frank Hepler, Central coach Chris Bennett and former South coach Wendell Early. Spots were then awarded based on season statistics and other achievements.

Athlete of the Year
Steven Hester, North Forsyth (Sr., RB/DB)
On offense: 1,028 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns
On defense: 30 tackles (4 for loss), 3 pass breakups, 1 interception; First Team All-Region 7-AAAAA as DB
On special teams: 834 return yards; also served as long snapper
Zito: “Steven has been a major part of our program’s success for the last three years and his impact will be hard to replace. He is a true team player in the fact that he contributed in a variety of ways for us and was completely selfless every step of the way. He was the constant playmaker for us in each part of the game — offense, defense and special teams.”

Offensive Player of the Year
Ben Emert, WF (Sr., RB)
1,519 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns, 8.6 yards per carry; First Team All-Region 7-AAA; signed with Wake Forest
Hepler: “One of the best players in the state [and the] hardest working player I have been around. He will be a huge success at Wake Forest. He had some great games — 350 yards vs. Flowery Branch, 280 yards vs. Johnson. I believe he was probably the strongest player in this area.”

Defensive Player of the Year
Quinton Riley, NF (Jr., LB)
103 tackles (5 for loss), 1 sack, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered; Second Team All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Quinton really stepped up his game this year as a dominant defensive player. His ability to get to the football and not be blocked was impressive. We are glad to have him back for another season and expect even better results as a senior leader and returning starter on defense.”

Offense

Quarterback (1)
Joey Vicary, NF (Jr.)
1,037 rushing yards, 400 passing yards, 9 total touchdowns; Second Team All-Region 7-AAAAA as Returner
Zito: “Joey was a surprise to everyone in the county and Region 7-AAAAA at quarterback for us except the players and coaches at North Forsyth. His ability to make the big play through the air or with his legs makes him a very dangerous player for opposing defenses. I look forward to see him grow as a person, leader and player on our team and expect a successful senior season for him as our quarterback.”

Running back (1)
Tyler Slaton, NF (Jr.)
1,121 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns; First Team All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Tyler has been playing at a high level since his ninth grade year when he started on the varsity for us for five games. What makes his performance this year so impressive is that he did it while not being the only playmaker in our offense ... He has the chance to be one of the all-time greatest running backs in Raider history with another great offseason and senior year.”

Wide receiver (3)
Ethan Shirley, WF (Jr.)
350 receiving yards, 250 rushing yards (played partial season)
Hepler: “A junior who still had very good numbers before he was injured in Week 6. We look forward to some great things from Ethan next season. He can play all over the place. Excellent runner, receiver and returner.”

Charlie Stout, South Forsyth (Sr.)
280 receiving yards
Early: “Charlie did a great job filling in [and] playing behind a couple of good senior receivers last year. ... This year he stepped into that role and became our leading receiver. He worked hard at it, ran good routes, and provided us with some kind of down-the-field threat.”

Nick Saponara, NF (Jr.)
247 receiving yards; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Nick has a lot of big play ability and I have a feeling we have only seen the beginning of what he is truly capable of doing for our team. He is a very good athlete, but what is more impressive is how hard he has worked to become the person and player he is today. We are looking for him to add to our offensive output with a legitimate passing game in 2010.”

Tight end (1)
Matt Hansard, NF (Sr.)
Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA as DL
Zito: “Matt has been a two year starter on both sides of the ball for us and has done a great job. Matt is a very athletic and strong player who will be missed and hard to replace.”

Offensive line (5)
Kasey Morrison, Forsyth Central (Sr.)
First Team All-Region 6-AAAA; signed with Samford
Bennett: “Great player. First person in the history of Forsyth Central football to be all-state. Great family, great lineage. Did a great job for us a three-year starter. Has a great future ahead of him at Samford. Was a pleasure to coach.”

Ryan Marks, NF (Sr.)
First Team All-Region 7-AAAAA; signed with Furman
Zito: “Ryan has been a three-year starter that has been a major source of stability and leadership for our offensive line. Ryan became the team’s appointed leader through his hard work, vocal leadership and performance on the field. I am very excited and proud of Ryan and wish him nothing but the best at Furman University. He will make the Raiders proud at the next level.”

Taylor Roland, WF (Sr.)
First Team All-Region 7-AAA
Hepler: “Excellent lineman with a great future ahead of him. He is 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. He moves well and is a great run blocker. Led Ben Emert to 300-pus yards vs. Flowery Branch.”

Johnny Hampton, NF (Jr.)
Second Team All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Johnny is a Division I prospect who is just starting to realize how good he can be. He will be a four-year starter for us and we look to him to be our leader of the offensive line with the graduation of Ryan Marks. With a great off-season and summer, Johnny will be able to dominate a lot of the guys he will line up against in 2010.”

Jacob Nesmith, FC (Soph.)
Honorable Mention All-Region 6-AAAA
Bennett: “He has unlimited potential. He’s a big kid, he moves well. ... We expect great things from him. ... He has a very, very bright future ahead of him.”

Defense

Defensive line (5)
Dustin Gayton, WF (Jr.)
39 tackles (13 for loss), 8 forced fumbles, 7 sacks; First Team All-Region 7-AAA
Hepler: “Great defensive end [who] plays with great energy. He is always in full speed mode. Led us in sacks and plays behind the line. Scored a touchdown as a tight end.”

Kyle Travis, SF (Jr.)
48 tackles (8 for loss), 2 sacks; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA
Early: “He’s got all the raw ability and skills to just do whatever he wants to do in that sport. He’s really a talented youngster and really a super, terrific kid. He could probably play any position on the football field.”

Austin Kahler, NF (Jr.)
41 tackles (5 for loss), 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick
Zito: “Austin just makes plays — period. When he makes up his mind to dominate an opponent or make a play that must be made, he just gets it done no matter ... who the opponent. I look forward to seeing him continue growing as a person and player for us in the offseason and summer. I look forward to him being someone that takes over a game when we need it in the fall.”

Jake Tatum, WF (Jr.)
56 tackles (9 for loss), 3 sacks; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAA
Hepler: “Strong and unmovable. Extremely hard worker. Plays at a high tempo at all times. Fundamentally one of the best we have had. Very similar to Jeff Owens of UGA, who we coached in south Florida.”

Justin Roper, NF (Sr.)
65 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Justin has worked so hard for everything he has received in football and life. He is a true football warrior who loves the game and everything about it. Often undersized, he continued to make plays when we needed it the most. His ability to do the jobs on defense that often do not get much credit and usually nobody wants to do earned the respect of me, his coaches, players and opponents.”

Linebackers (4)
Austin Hansard, NF (Jr.)
77 tackles (3 for loss), 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovered
Zito: “Austin was a pleasant surprise at Mike Linebacker for us this year. Austin went from being a JV player to a varsity co-starter to a varsity starter and difference maker on defense. Austin is a true team player who brings a high level of intelligence to our defense. I am excited to see what he is capable of doing in 2010 as a leader of our returning defensive players.”

Dade Parham, SF (Sr.)
67 tackles (5 for loss), 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA
Early: “Dade is a high intensity, high amp kind of guy. He really plays with a motor and he was one of the guys that would really pick our practices up and make us work harder. ... Tough, hard-hitting, hard-nosed kind of guy.”

Nathan Teter, WF (Sr.)
65 tackles (7 for loss), 3 sacks, 2 interceptions (played partial season); Second Team All-Region 7-AAA; signed with The University of West Georgia
Hepler: “Dominant player. He was injured in Week 6 and still led us in all tackle categories. Will hit you as hard as anyone we have had. He is a good leader and will be a stud on the college level.”

Brett Garner, NF (Sr.)
69 tackles (3 for loss), 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Brett had such a great year and I couldn’t be happier for him. He was a true team leader and although he may not have some of the measureables of other linebackers, he did nothing but make big play after big play for us when we needed it the most. Brett was a student of the game who did an outstanding job of understanding what other teams were doing to attack us and how he could help defend them.”

Defensive backs (3)
Joe Outlaw, SF (Jr.)
58 tackles, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups; Second Team All-Region 7-AAAAA
Early: “Joe is just a great kid. ... Lot of fun to coach, lot of fun to be around. He is almost a coach on the field back there in the secondary. He does a great job of getting people lined up, getting them in the right position, having us in the right coverage.”

Tyler Riddle, NF (Jr.)
51 tackles (2 for loss), 1 interception, 7 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery;  Second Team All-Region 7-AAAAA
Zito: “Tyler is an absolute competitor. He has the best characteristics of a high school corner on defense. He is a huge competitor, very confident, has a [good] memory and if you are able to have success on him once, that will probably be the last time for the night. He holds himself to such a high standard of production and dependability as a player that it is hard to raise the bar on him as a coach. I am excited to have him back next year as a three-year starter on defense.”

Trey Rood, WF (Sr.)
25 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 3 interceptions (played partial season)
Hepler: “The most courageous player I have been around. He is a fighter. He went through so much this year [fighting melanoma] and he still was a force when he was on the field. He was selected as the Defensive MVP for the first annual  Rotary Bowl on December 19, 2009.”

Special Teams

Long Snapper
Sean Mateer, FC (Sr.)
First team All-Region 6-AAAA; signed with Western Carolina
Bennett: “Sean does a great job on deep snapping. ... He did a great job on us for special teams. In the two years he’s been snapping, we didn’t have a punt blocked.”

Kicker
Cole Allison, NF (So.)
5-for-6 field goal kicking, 5 touchbacks on kickoffs
Zito: “Cole answered a lot of questions and concerns for us by going 5-of-6 on field goals this season, including a 45-yard field goal in the first round of the playoffs. You could see his confidence in his ability grow as the season went on. He did a great job for us this year and we expect for him to be a true offensive weapon next year as a junior.”

Punter
Daniel McDowell, WF (Jr.)
39-yard punting average, pinned eight kicks inside 10-yard line, season long 68 yards; Honorable Mention All-Region 7-AAA
Hepler: “Strong-legged punter. Had great hang time and had some very big kicks in pressure situations. Did a great job of kicking away from our opponents’ best returners. Is a very good receiver also and will have a big year at receiver next season.”

Kick returner
Ryan Tolland, FC (Sr.)
634 kick return yards, 24.38 yards per return
Bennett: “Great surprise. First year he’s ever played football ... Really wish we had had him for four years. I think he could have been something special.”