January 23, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Senior Isaac Knowles, a future Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagle, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2021 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile Addison Puckett, a senior received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader Award.
The trophies, sponsored by Liberty State Bank, were presented to Knowles and Puckett respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.
Knowles, a standout on offense as a receiver, runner, and quarterback, and on defense was a key factor in the Tigers success in 2021 as the team completed a 7-5 season and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs before losing to Upperman at Baxter in November.
“Isaac has set a standard for the record books at DeKalb County High School football. He has also set a standard for the type of young man he is and has been an example for these guys who are playing behind him to live up to that standard. Isaac has left a great legacy here and as of this morning (Saturday) he will be a Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle next year,” said Tiger Coach Steve Trapp.
During his four-year career at DCHS, Knowles started and played in 47 football games, the most ever by any Tiger in school history.
Knowles’ statistics for the 2021 season are as follows:
*Rushing: 104 carries, 882 yards, 15 Touchdowns- 8.5 yards per carry
*Receiving: 72 receptions, 1030 yards, 6 TD – 15.2 yards per catch, 103 yards per game
*Passing: 7 of 13, 155 yards, 2 TD, 0 Interceptions
Knowles scored 23 total touchdowns and on four two-point conversions, and led the team with 146 total points scored, which is an average of 12.2 points per game.
*Defense: 47 solo tackles, 42 assists, three special teams tackles, three tackles for loss, seven interceptions, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one blocked punt/field goal, one defensive touchdown.
*Special Teams: He had 30 kick/punt returns for 644 yards and one touchdown, an average of 21.4 yards per return.
*All-Purpose Yards: 2,556
Knowles was named the Region 4-4A Offensive Player of the Year, named to the Tennessee Football Coaches’ Association’s All-State Team, and selected to play in the East-West All-Star Classic at Austin Peay.
For his four-year high school career, Knowles compiled the following statistics:
*Career Receiving- 154 total receptions for 2,308 yards and 15 touchdowns in 47 games.
*Career Returns- 80 total returns for 1,388 yards and 2 touchdowns
*Career Rushing- 109 total carries for 893 yards and 15 touchdowns
*Career Passing- 7 completions of 13 attempts for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns
“On defense Isaac had over 300 tackles in his career with 18 career interceptions and I am pretty sure that is a (DCHS) career record,” said Coach Trapp.
Knowles’ other high school career awards and honors include the following:
*4 Time All Region 1st Team 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
*2 Time 4A All State 2020 and 2021
*2 Time 4A All Region Most Outstanding Defensive Back 2019 and 2020
*2021 All Region Offensive MVP
*2018 Team Voted Defensive Player of the Year
*2019 and 2020 Team Voted Defensive Back of the Year
*FirstBank Player of the Week-November 2020
*2021 DTC Player of the Year
*2021 DTC All Star Team
*2021 TACA All Star Game Participant
*2021 Blue Gray Game Selection
*2021 Team Captain
Meanwhile senior Isaiah Harrington was announced as the winner of the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award. Harrington was unable to attend the banquet, but members of Edwards’ family were on hand for the occasion including Abram Edwards and Sarah Rathbone, son and daughter, and their mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs. Harrington also received the Defensive Player of the Year Award and was named the Region 4, Class 4A Most Outstanding Linebacker.
In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about Puckett’s’ determination and the example she set for her fellow cheerleaders.
“This award is chosen by the cheerleaders and is given to the one who shows exceptional value to the team in all areas. Addison is not just someone with great talent and has been a great friend and leader, she is a fantastic role model and leads by example. She put so much pressure on herself to make sure she knew the material and worked as hard or harder than others. She wanted to please everyone and made sure she was a person others could look up to. When I look up other words for valuable, I find words like worthy, helpful, appreciated, cherished, treasured, respected, and admired. To me Addison has been all of those this year,” said Coach Fuller.
Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Colby Barnes
Offensive Lineman- Diego Coronado
Offensive Back- Nathaniel Crook
Receiver- John Ellis
Defensive Player of the Year- Isaiah Harrington
Defensive Lineman- Wil Farris
Linebacker- Tyler Estes
Defensive Back- Brady Hale
Special Teams Player- Nolan Gottlied
Most Improved-Shadie Rankhorn
MVP- Isaac Knowles
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Isaiah Harrington
Scout Team Player of the Year: Jonathan Garcia
Newcomer of the Year: Ty Webb
Ten DCHS Football players earned 2021 All-Region honors including Tiger Senior Isaac Knowles who was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player in Region 4, Class 4A. Knowles was joined by Isaiah Harrington, the region’s Most Outstanding Linebacker; Colby Barnes-Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman; and Diego Coronado-Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
All Region 1st Team from DeKalb County: Tyler Estes, Brady Hale, Silas Cross, and Wil Farris
All Region 2nd Team from DeKalb County: Ean Jones and Shadie Rankhorn.
DTC Player of the Year- Isaac Knowles
DTC All Star Team members- Isaac Knowles, Diego Coronado, Brady Hale, and Isaiah Harrington
Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Addison Puckett
Most Spirited- Sadie West
Best Dancer- Hannah Trapp
Best Cheer-Haidyn Hale
Best Stunts-Addison Roller
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility- Bella France
Best Jumps-Kiersten Robinson