Despite all of the talk about Blue Springs South and Blue Springs being favorites going into the last two Class 6 state championship football games, Hazelwood Central (13-1) quarterback Kerry Gibson kept his nose to the grind stone and led the Hawks to back-to-back titles.
It's in that spirit, as well as his speed, athletic ability and knack for making big plays, that Gibson earns the nod as my offensive MVP of the 2009 Missouri all-state football team.
Gibson doesn't necessarily put up eye-popping numbers. But he does know how to win football games.
Against Blue Springs, in the 2009 championship game, Gibson threw for 136 yards, including a 55-yard strike to fellow first-team all-state teammate Jawyne Thomas. Gibson scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter to tie the game 14-14.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior completed 122-of-217 passes in 2009 for 2,167 yards and 18 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Gibson also rushed for 934 yards and 13 touchdowns on 130 carries and punted 39 times for a 44.8-yard average.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kearney defensive lineman Joe Windsor was an easy pick for MVP. After all, the Bulldogs won the Class 4 title with a dominating, big-play defense.
Just like Gibson, Windsor was a leader on the field. The 6-1, 220-pound senior's second of two sacks set up a punt return late in the third quarter that produced Bulldog field position at the Crusader 24-yard line late in the third quarter of the championship game. Ashton Hiatt then scored from 4 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to put Kearney up 24-9.
For the year, Windsor produced 51 tackles, including 17 sacks, deflected six passes and forced three fumbles for the Bulldogs (13-2).
Below is a look at the rest of the 2009 All-Class football team.
Missouri All-State Football Team
1st Team Offense
End - Keeston Terry, Blue Springs, 6-2 185 Sr.
End - Marcus Lucas, Liberty, 6-5 210 Sr.
End - Jawyne Thomas, Hazelwood Central, 6-1 170 Sr.
Offensive Line - Kaleb Davis, Jefferson City, 6-1 245 Sr.
Offensive Line - Drew Kerber, Blue Springs, 6-3 280 Sr.
Offensive Line - Andrew Mueller, Raymore-Peculiar, 6-4 265 Sr.
Offensive Line - Zach Curry, Fox, 6-0 285 Sr.
Offensive Line - Bryan Carroll, Fort Zumwalt West, 6-3 265 Sr.
QB - Kerry Gibson, Hazelwood Central, 6-2 180 Sr.
RB - Darrian Miller, Blue Springs, 5-10 185 Jr.
RB - Rob Standard, Chaminade, 5-11 180 Jr.
RB - E.J. Gaines, Fort Osage, 5-10 165 Sr.
Kicker - Mat Sims, Hannibal, 5-9 175 Sr.
1st Team Defense
Defensive Line - Chase Rome, Columbia-Rock Bridge, 6-5 270 Sr.
Defensive Line - Dan Tapko, Rockhurst, 6-5 235 Jr.
Defensive Line - Joe Windsor, Kearney, 6-1 220 Sr.
Defensive Line - Kony Ealy, New Madrid County Central, 6-5 228 Sr.
LB - Sal Belfonte, Rockhurst, 6-0 203 Sr.
LB - Courtland Dunlap, Hazelwood Central, 6-1 205 Jr.
LB - Yomi Alli, Hazelwood Central, 6-1 200 Sr.
LB - Jayron Robinson, Staley, 6-2 230 Sr.
DB - Dexter McDonald, Rockhurst, 6-1 180 Sr.
DB - Tyler Funk, Kearney, 6-4 170 Sr.
DB - Don Shumpert, Hazelwood East, 6-1 175 Sr.
DB - Spencer Davis, Hazelwood Central, 5-7 160 Sr.
Punter - Steven Clark, Park Hill, 6-5 230 Sr.
2nd Team Offense
End - Kamryn Tillmon, Fort Osage, 5-10 170 Sr.
End - Dorial Green, Springfield Hillcrest, 6-5 200 So.
End - Grant Wallace, John Burroughs, 6-0 174 Jr.
Offensive Line - Darrius Brandy, Hazelwood Central, 6-4 265 Sr.
Offensive Line - Anthony Gatti, Parkway North, 6-6 280 Sr.
Offensive Line - Joe Burgess, McCluer North, 6-6 300 Sr.
Offensive Line - Donovan Gordon, Raytown South, 6-2 280 Sr.
Offensive Line - Aaron Arnold, Webster Groves, 6-2 265 Sr.
QB - Cameron Coffman, Raymore-Peculiar, 6-3 185 Jr.
RB - Anthony Pierson, Gateway Tech, 6-0 175 Jr.
RB - Markus Golden, Affton, 6-2 225 Sr.
RB - Braxton Baker, Webb City, 5-11 185 Sr.
Kicker - Nick Aussieker, Lafayette (Wildwood), 5-11 175 Sr.
2nd Team Defense
Defensive Line - Jordan Chrisman, Blue Springs, 6-4 265 Sr.
Defensive Line - Andrew Kolb, Webb City, 5-11 210 Sr.
Defensive Line - Ryan Isom, DeSmet Jesuit, 6-1 280 Sr.
Defensive Line - Bryan Dale, Park Hill, 6-2 240 Sr.
LB - Josh Williams, Columbia Hickman, 6-1 225 Sr.
LB - Jason Meehan, Webster Groves, 6-4 240 Jr.
LB - Conner White, Jefferson City-Helias, 5-11 195 Sr.
LB - Stephen Juergens, Kearney, 6-0 190 Sr.
DB - Ross Sharp, Staley, 6-2 200 Sr.
DB - Reece Roedel, Jefferson City, 5-8 175 Sr.
DB - Marquis Clemons, Webster Groves, 6-2 220 Jr.
DB - Josh Padley, Blue Springs, 5-9 170 Sr.
Punter - Christian Brinser, Liberty, 6-0 175 Sr.
3rd Team Offense
End - Nic Ford, Centralia, 6-1 180 Sr.
End - Devonte Majors, Fort Zumwalt West, 6-2 215 Jr.
End - Devin Buford, Miller Career Academy, 5-10 190 So.
Offensive Line - Kevin Redmond, McCluer North, 6-4 320 Sr.
Offensive Line - Jordan Rainey, Joplin, 6-3 310 Sr.
Offensive Line - Skyler Hinton, Columbia-Rock Bridge, 6-4 307 Sr.
Offensive Line - Corey Boemer, Lindbergh, 6-4 1/2 290 Sr.
Offensive Line - Evan Boehm, Lee's Summit West, 6-4 285 So.
QB - Jared Lanpher, Blue Springs, 6-1 185 Sr.
RB - Brandon Bourbon, Potosi, 6-1 205 Sr.
RB - Caleb Schaffitzel, Fair Grove, 6-0 205 Sr.
RB - Brian Poston, Carthage, 5-11 185 Jr.
Kicker - Mason Hutson, Chaminade, 5-10 200 Sr.
3rd Team Defense
Defensive Line - Zach Fetter, Christian Brothers College, 6-0 205 Sr.
Defensive Line - Jake Peterson, Raymore-Peculiar, 6-4 255 Sr.
Defensive Line - Beau Bounous, Monett, 6-4 215 Sr.
Defensive Line - Tony Robinson, Lindbergh, 6-3 245 Jr.
LB - Lee Ward, Parkway Central, 6-0 234 Sr.
LB - Alex Stockam, Raymore-Peculiar, 6-0 185 Sr.
LB - Andrew Jordan, Nixa, 6-2 205 Sr.
LB - A. J. Chappelle, Hazelwood Central, 6-0 195 Jr.
DB - Nathan Hancock, Fort Osage, 6-0 180 Sr.
DB - Evan Schnicker, Smith-Cotton, 6-1 175 Sr.
DB - Bryce Young, Chillicothe, 5-10 160 Sr.
DB - Christian Cummings, Jefferson City, 5-10 185 Sr.
Punter - Jacob Lamp, Kirksville, 6-2 180 Sr.
Honorable Mention: Kody Walker, Jefferson City; Trey Millard, Columbia-Rock Bridge; Jonny Canhos, Rolla; Darrell Jobe, Winnetonka; Darrien Bruster, Raytown South; Dalton Hewitt, Vianney; Dennis Tanner, Raytown South; TJ Randall, Lee's Summit West; Roy Wolfrum, Holt; Zach Hanson, Parkway North; Dylan Abbett, Parkway North; Nabeel Mumtaz, Chaminade; Rasheid Wiley, Parkway North; Tyran Carey, McCluer North; Cody Long, Fox; Jermaine Hill, Timberland; Walter Powell, Hazelwood East; Matt Grimes, Vianney; Jason Baker, Pattonville; Cameron Berra, Parkway Central; Steve Kaiser, DeSmet Jesuit; Josiah Stanfield, Christian Brothers; Dominique Wright, Blue Springs South; B.J. Dunbar, Lee's Summit North; Marc Harrison, Raymore-Peculiar; Devonte Bausby, Hogan Prep; Tony Tanumai, Fort Osage; Christian Kirksey, Hazelwood East; Kawnn Parrish, Northeast; Jordan Jones, Park Hill South; Andrew Byrd, Smith-Cotton.
