CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – With the conclusion of the 2022-23 high school football season, it’s time to honor players representing Montgomery County schools with the first Clarksville Now All-Area Football Team and Player of the Year.
There’s a wide variety of talented individuals who make up each high school team, but these players separated themselves from the rest. All statistics were contributed by Clarksville-area coaches or found on Max Preps.
Clarksville Now 2022 All-Area Football Team
Quarterback: DJ Merriweather, Clarksville Academy – Merriweather completed 60% of his throws for 2,211 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. The senior ran the ball 105 times for 1,048 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Merriweather also had the following statistics as an outside linebacker on the season: 42 tackles, 2 interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Quarterback: Jaiden Puig, Northeast High – The senior completed 53% of his throws for 2,223 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Running Back: Jamar Carnell, Clarksville High – Carnell carried the ball 178 times for 1,426 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns and averaged 8.01 yards per carry. The senior also had 16 catches for 200 yards receiving and 2 receiving touchdowns. Carnell finished with the following stats as an inside linebacker: 89 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 pass break-ups.
Running Back: Khameron Athy, Northeast High – Athy carried the ball 104 times for 1,181 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns and averaged 11.8 yards per carry. The junior also had 152 receiving yards on 8 receptions.
Running Back: Andrew White, Montgomery Central – White carried the ball 159 times for 961 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6 yards per carry. The senior had 7 receptions for 116 receiving yards too.
Wide Receiver: Jacques Wyatt III, Clarksville Academy – Wyatt finished with 55 receptions for 1014 yards, 15 touchdowns and 18.4 yards per catch average. The 6-foot-5 senior playmaker had the following statistics on defense: 26 tackles, one interception for a touchdown and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Wide Receiver: Cooper Wallace, Clarksville Academy – Wallace compiled 61 receptions for 929 yards, 11 touchdowns and averaged 15.2 yards per catch.
Wide Receiver: Bobby DeMyers, Northwest High – DeMyers finished with 26 catches for 427 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns and averaged 16.4 yards per catch. The senior also played cornerback for the Vikings. He finished with 30 tackles, interceptions and 5 passes defended.
Wide Receiver: Maurice Moore, Fort Campbell High – Moore posted 27 catches for 463 receiving yards, 7 receiving TD’S and averaged 17.1 yards per catch.
Return Specialist/Running Back: Keyontay Showell, Kenwood High – Showell rushed the ball for 740 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6.07 yards per carry. The running back served as the Knights return specialist as well. He accounted for 323 kick-off yards, 78 punt return yards and 2 return touchdowns.
Placekicker/ Punter: Chancer Siler, Rossview High – Siler served as the Hawks placekicker, punter and wide receiver. The senior scored 73 total points. As a placekicker, Siler went 7 for 8 on the season and made 12 out of his 14 extra point attempts. As a punter, he averaged 38.5 yards per punt, 35.2 net yards for the year and kicked 9 punts inside the 20. In addition, he found the endzone six different times on offense.
Defensive All-Area Football Team
Defensive End: Malachi Miller, Northwest High – Miller was one of the premier sack leaders. The senior ended with 42 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks and 2 force fumbles.
Defensive End: Johnny Payne, Montgomery Central – Payne was another defensive end that caused havoc in the backfield. The senior compiled a stat line of 64 Tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 3 fumbles recovered, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked field goal.
Defensive Tackle: Jefferson Brown, Rossview High – Rossview Head Coach Michael Hood said Brown was “the big man that kept the linebackers clean.” The interior defensive linemen did his job and then some. Brown finished the year with 51 tackles and three sacks.
Linebacker: Freddy Ellis Jr, Kenwood High – Ellis was one of the most effective defensive playmakers on the field during the 2022-23 season. The junior linebacker put up 91 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumbles recoveries.
Linebacker: Jaisaun Ousley, West Creek High – West Creek used Ousley as a running back and outside linebacker. Ousley put up the following defensive statistics: 37 tackles with 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. He also had 46 rushing attempts for 218 rushing yards with 4 TDs.
Linebacker: Ian Conner, Montgomery Central – The Indians used Conner in a number of defensive roles. He played positions such as inside linebacker and defensive end. He had 17 tackles for a loss. Here are his other defensive statistics: 76 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.
Linebacker: Derek Garis, Northwest High – Garis found ways to affect several areas of the game, and his statistics prove it. The senior inside linebacker had 74 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 force fumble and 1 blocked kick.
Defensive Back: Anthony Holland, Montgomery Central – Holland stood out as a playmaking ballhawk in the Indians secondary. He also made a difference in run support. Here are the sophomore’s totals: 80 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 pass deflection, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble.
Defensive Back: Isaiah Soto, Clarksville High – Soto was another premier ballhawk. The junior safety had 52 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 1 defensive touchdown.
Defensive Back: Cam Stahley, Clarksville High – Stahley was difference maker for the Wildcats secondary. Stahley played the strong safety position and Soto played free safety, which made quite the dynamic duo. The junior finished with 60 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 pass deflections.
Defensive Back: Kanyon Conner, Montgomery Central – Conner played strong safety for the Indians. Montgomery Central had two sophomore safeties on this list, so it seems as though their secondary has a bright future. Conner’s stats: 96 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 1 fumble recovery.
Clarksville Now Player of the Year
DJ Merriweather, starting quarterback for Clarksville Academy, has earned Clarksville Now Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. Merriweather showcased his ability as a dual-threat quarterback all season.
The senior broke the record for most passing yards in a season for a Clarksville Academy quarterback. Meanwhile, Merriweather helped two of his receivers, Jacques Wyatt III and Cooper Wallace, break the all-time receiving yards record at their school.
Merriweather’s production under-center helped lead the Cougars to a playoff appearance, and for the quarterback to be recognized as a semi-finalist for the 2022-23 Mr. Football Award.