Warhill’s Dedmon Named Bay Rivers District Football Player of the Year

The numbers are jarring. But then again, they had to be in order to stand out above a guy like Lafayette running back Jahlil Green.

Devonte Dedmon, Warhill High’s do-it-all junior football star who led the Lions to consecutive Division 4 playoff appearances for the first time in school history, has been named this year’s Bay Rivers District football Offensive Player of the Year.

The versatile Dedmon proved to be one of the most dangerous playmakers in the district from a number of different positions on the field. He accounted for almost 25 touchdowns despite missing time early in the season with an ankle injury.

His 1,348 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns were second only to Lafayette’s Green – a junior who rushed for over 1,400 yards and 18 TDs despite sitting the fourth quarter of most games – in the district and alone are worthy of first-team recognition.

Additionally, Dedmon’s combination of speed and quickness made him one of the district’s toughest cover assignments after leading Lions in receptions (19), yards (360) and touchdowns (3). Dedmon also threw for as many touchdowns (5) as Warhill’s starting QB Seth Thompson, only Dedmon completed just eight passes all season to Thompson’s 44.

Warhill coach Billy Jarvis estimated that of the Lions’ 208 points this season, Dedmon had a hand in at least 178 of them.

“To be honest with you, I thought he could have gotten the [Player of the Year] award last year,” Jarvis said. “But I was happy to see him get it; he definitely deserves it. It seemed like he was either running, throwing or catching almost every one of our touchdowns.

“And then most of the time he was running in the two-point conversion.”

Smithfield linebacker Kyon Croker, who led a stingy Packers’ defense that held opponents to roughly 10 points per game, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Lafayette’s Andy Linn (Division 3) and Smithfield’s Clark Harrell (Division 4), who led their programs to 9-1 records and a share of the district title, were named Coach of the Year in their respective divisions.