After posting 13 1/2 sacks, 78 tackles and four fumble recoveries a year ago, Kony Ealy netted Class 3 second team All-State honors from Show-Me State sportswriters at season’s end.
Ealy, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound defensive end from New Madrid County Central, enters his senior season with plenty of preseason recognition both nationally and locally.
The senior sackmaster, who has Division I offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Memphis, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and Arkansas State, is the top defensive end on Dean Backes’ 2009 Missouri Small School Preseason All-State Football Team.
He is also the top defender, period, in Classes 1, 2 and 3 and has been selected as the Missouri 2009 preseason Most Valuable Player on the defensive side of the ball.
Ealy displayed his offensive skills as well last season and is the only two-way first team selection because of it.
Not only did the Eagle tight end provide valuable interference for New Madrid County Central quarterbacks and running backs a year ago, he caught 19 balls for 467 yards and six touchdowns.
Ealy’s counterpart on the offensive side of the ball is Fair Grove All-State running back Caleb Schaffitzel. A season ago, the 5-11, 210-pound Eagle rushed the ball for 2,700 yards and an astounding 52 touchdowns.
Here is a look at the rest of the preseason All-State team
First Team Offense
QB – Darrenn White, University Academy, Sr. 6-0 170
2008 Second Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 84 of 140 passing for 1,701 yards and 17 touchdowns and 105 rushes for 1,279 yards and 14 more scores in 2008.
RB – Bryce Young, Chillicothe, Sr. 5-10 150
2008 First Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3 AP; Ran the ball 157 times for 1,954 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 19 balls for 570 yards and 8 more scores.
RB – Caleb Schaffitzel, Fair Grove, Sr. 5-11 210
2008 First Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP; Ran the ball for 2,700 yards a year ago and 54 touchdowns.
RB – Brandon Bourbon, Potosi, Sr. 6-2 205
2008 Second Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; 2008 Third Team All-State Class 3 AP; Rushed for 2,411 yards and 27 touchdowns on 247 carries as a junior.
WR – Grant Wallace, John Burroughs, Jr. 6-0 170
2008 Second Team All-State Class 3 AP; Registered 938 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008.
WR – Jon Gilliam, Paris, Sr. 5-11 170
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 AP; Reeled in 82 aerials for 1,184 yards and 9 scores and ran the ball for 104 yards and 3 scores on 14 carries
TE – Kony Ealy, New Madrid County Central, Sr. 6-6 228
Caught 19 balls for 467 yards and 6 touchdowns
Athlete – Maurice Taylor, Cardinal Ritter, Sr. 5-9 160
2008 First Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; Rushed the ball for 593 yards and caught 450 yards in passes to go along with 992 yards and 8 touchdowns in punt and kick returns and 4 interception returns.
OL – Clint Thompson, Maryville, Sr. 6-2 205
2008 First Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA
OL – Cameron McGlothlin, Orrick, Jr. 6-3 223
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 2008 Second Team All-State Class 1 AP
OL – John Novak, Penney, Sr. 6-2 212
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 AP
OL – Ely Martin, Thayer, Sr. 6-2 290
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 2008 Second Team All-State Class 1 AP
OL – Zach Thomas, Sweet Springs, Sr. 5-10 210
2008 Second Team All-State Class 1
First Team Defense
DL – Jordyn Butler, Orrick, Jr. 6-3 231
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 96 tackles, 4 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries.
DL – Kony Ealy, New Madrid County Central, Sr. 6-6 228
2008 Second Team All-State Class 3 AP; Led Southeast Missouri with 13 1/2 sacks and was credited with 78 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries and a safety.
DL – Adam Bingham, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Sr. 6-3 215
2008 Third Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP
DE – Beau Bounous, Monett, Sr. 6-4 210
2008 First Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3 AP
DE – Bryson Cofield, Cardinal Ritter, Sr. 6-1 226
2008 Second Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; 44 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 interception a year ago.
LB – Evan Johnson, Maryville, Sr. 6-0 225
20008 First Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP
LB – Matt Bell, Marceline, Sr. 6-1 180
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA
LB – Corey Rutledge, Mountain View-Liberty, 6-0 205
2008 Third Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP
LB – Bryce Enyard, Westran, Sr. 6-2 180
2008 Third Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 2008 Second Team All-State Class 1 AP
DB – Joe Chinn, Monroe City, Sr. 5-11 175
2008 First Team All-State Class 2 MOFBCA; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP; 122 tackles, 8 interceptions and 9 passes defended.
DB – Chris Bracht, Tipton, Sr. 6-0 160
2008 First Team All-State Class 1 MOFBCA; 2008 Second Team All-State Class 1 AP
DB – Devonte Bausby, Hogan Prep, Jr. 5-11 155
2008 First Team All-State Class 2 AP; 42 tackles, 6 interceptions and 1 pass deflected.
DB – Dontre Jenkins, New Madrid County Central, Sr. 6-1 190
First Team Specialists
K – Drew Sperry, Smithville, Sr. 5-10 162
Second Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA
P – Matt Jones, Priory, Sr. 6-0 185
Second Team All-State Class 3 MOFBCA; Averaged 41.3 yards per punt.
Returner – Cody Renzelman, Carrollton, Sr. 5-8 175
Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Mike Greminger, Valle Catholic, Sr.
Running Back – Aaron Blyth, Orrick, Sr.; Darin Clark, Miller, Sr.; Stefan Andress, South Shelby, Sr.
Wide Receiver – Nathan Gelle, Valle Catholic, Sr.; Nic Ford, Centralia, Sr.
Tight End – Mason Owen, Clark County, Sr.
Offensive Line – Bryan Kertz, Valle Catholic, Sr.; Ty Griffin, Orrick, Sr.; Michael Naylor, Greenfield, Sr.; Alec Hufford, Principia, Sr.; Alex Brungardt, Brentwood, Sr.
Second Team Defense
Defensive Line – Jason Obermann, Monett, Sr.; Slade Kenagy, Princeton, Sr.; Patrick Goforth, New Madrid County Central, Sr.
Defensive End – Matt O’Dell, Orrick, Sr.; Austin LeBlanc, University Academy, Sr.
Linebacker – Kalija Rogers, Orrick, Sr.; Zach Davis, Carrollton, Sr.; Sam Padgett, Fair Grove, Sr.; Tommy Martin, Thayer, Sr.
Defensive Back – Bryan Plenge, Clark County, Sr.; Colton Selby, Gallatin, Sr.; Marquise Hill, Trinity Catholic, Sr.; Keagan Prather, Penney, Jr.
Second Team Specialists
Kicker – Adam Burkat, Mid-Buchanan, Sr.
Punter – Ethan Leisenring, Thayer, Sr.
Returner – Rodney Anderson, New Madrid County Central, Sr.
Honorable Mention Offense
Quarterback: T. J. White, O’Hara, Sr.
Running Back: Evan Williams, Mountain Grove, Sr.; Maurice Sneed, Hogan Prep, Sr.; Devin Mellon, Lawson, Sr.; Keil Allison, Tipton, Sr.; Kalija Rogers, Orrick, Sr.; Trevor Dixon, Penney, Jr.; Vance Purdun, Princeton, Jr.
Wide Receiver: Trevor Tanner, Cassville, Sr.; Jason Blum, Valle Catholic, Sr. Offensive Line: Raleigh Neher, Jasper, Sr.
Defensive Line: Josh Temple, Cardinal Ritter, Jr.; Stephen Cotham, Thayer, Sr.; Dean Manning, Polo, Sr.; Seth Vie, Lone Jack, Sr.; James Schrier, Braymer, Sr.; Spencer Ward, Wellington-Napoleon, Sr.; Lyndon Hunt, Caruthersville, Sr.
Defensive End: Chance Albersworth, Higginsville, ; Cody Beyers, Tipton, Sr.; Zach Oberdiek, West Platte, Sr.
Linebacker: Collin Stephenson, Lexington, Sr.; Markeith Martin, Hogan Prep, Sr.; John Ward, Warsaw, Sr.; Derek Jack, Miller, Sr.; Camron Carey, Thayer, Jr.; Jamie Gray, Greenfield, Sr.; Aaron Wenger, Versailles, Sr.
Defensive Back: Conner Smith, Rogersville, Sr.; Josh Linnenbrink, Blair Oaks, Sr.; Ethan Leisenring, Thayer, Sr.; Taylor Barr, Paris, Sr.; Levi Miles, Putnam County, Sr.; Corey Phillips, Mount Vernon, Sr. Punter: Seth Littrell, Caruthersville, Sr.
