McCray, White and Pridgen named All-Region

MINNEAPOLIS – Three Huntingdon seniors received All-South Region honors with the release of the D3football.com All-Region team on Monday afternoon.

Defensive lineman Heath McCray earned first-team honors and safety Anthony White and offensive guard Chael Pridgen each earned second-team recognition.

"Those three guys have all been really good players for us for a long time," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "All of them have been dependable guys we've counted on for three or four years. All-Region is a big honor and I'm happy for all three of them."

This is the fifth straight season the Hawks have had at least two All-Region performers. A total of 10 Huntingdon players have earned D3football.com All-Region honors since the All-Region teams began in 2005.

McCray is just the fourth Hawk to earn first-team honors, joining former defensive lineman D.J. Chappell (2011 and 2012), former linebacker Zach Brownell (2014) and former defensive back/special teams performer Jeremy Murphy (2014).

"This mean a lot to me. Being named All-Conference was exciting, but this is even bigger," said McCray, a native of Ashford, Ala. "When you think about being one of just four players from your program to earn first-team All-Region, it's a great feeling. I don't know where I would be without (defensive line) coach (Landius) Wilkerson. He's pushed me and motivated me to help me get where I am."

McCray led the Huntingdon defensive line with 39 tackles this season and led the team with 11.5 tackles for loss. He was second on the team with 6.5 sacks and tied for the team-lead with two forced fumbles.

"Heath has come a long way during his career," Turk said. "He is a very unselfish player and a special guy. He doesn't have the typical build for an inside player, but one of his strengths is his versatility. He has been willing, and able, to play the inside and outside positions and do well for us."

Pridgen, who earned third-team All-Region honors as a sophomore and junior, is the first Huntingdon player to earn All-Region honors for three straight seasons. Chappell, former running back Trevor Manuel (second-team in 2011 and 2012) and former defensive back Keith Anthony (second-team in 2009 and third-team in 2011) each earned All-Region recognition twice.

"I've practiced against Chael for three years. You hate to practice against a guy like him but you love to have him on your team," McCray said. "He works hard every day and gets after it. I've watched him get better each year and develop into what I consider an All-American-type player."

A team captain, Pridgen was a four-year starter on the offensive line and started in 37 straight games. A three-time, first-team All-Conference selection, he graded out at 90 percent or better in each of his final three seasons. A native of Hazel Green, Ala., Pridgen anchored an offensive line that helped the Hawks rush for a school-record 2,936 yards this season and tied a school record with 33 rushing touchdowns.

"Chael has been dependable as a player and a leader," Turk said. "Once he entered the starting lineup during his freshman season, he started every game he played. He developed into one of the team's top leaders. He was a guy the coaches and players knew they could count on."

White, the USA South Defensive Player of the Year, led the South Region with eight interceptions this season. The Montgomery native finished one interception short of the Division III leader and one short of the Huntingdon single-season record.

A three-time, first-team All-Conference selection, he led Division III with 252 interception return yards this season, totaled 52 tackles, broke up eight passes, had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and recorded a safety.

He also scored two touchdowns, returning an interception for a Huntingdon-record 100 yard touchdown and returning an onside-kick 45 yards for a score. He finished third in Hawks' history with 234 career tackles and 14 career interceptions and second with 154 career solo tackles.

"Anthony was a really good player for his entire career," Turk said. "It's hard for some guys to continue to raise the bar every year, but Anthony did. His senior year was an amazing year. Every week he did something that would make you think 'I can't believe he just did that'. After watching him for three years, and knowing what he was capable of, he could still make you say 'Wow'."

Guilford quarterback Matt Pawlowski was named the South Offensive Player of the Year and Mary Hardin-Baylor defensive end Teidrick Smith was named the South Defensive Player of the Year. Thomas More's Regis Scafe earned South Coach of the Year honors.

D3football.com selects All-Region teams for the North, South, East and West regions of the nation.

To view the entire D3football.com South Region teams, click here.