To say the 2020 high school football season was played under adverse conditions would be an understatement, but there were plenty of good things that came out of it to make it a memorable one, particularly for the Spring Garden Panthers.

In their first year of Class 2A competition, the Panthers continued making history, picking up where they left off in Class 1A. Spring Garden posted a school-best record of 12-2 and reached the state semifinals for the first time. They fell to eventual state champion Mars Hill Bible.

The Panthers had plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball, and the Alabama Sports Writers Association took notice of them when it came time to choose this year’s all-state teams. Spring Garden earned six all-state selections, including two on the first team. The Panthers also had two honorable mention players.

Junior wide receiver Cooper Austin took one of the first-team wide receiver spots, and senior Luke Welsh was a first-team choice at linebacker.

Junior defensive back Chaz Pope picked up a second-team spot at defensive back, while senior Weston Kirk collected a second-team athlete honor.

Panther senior quarterback Ryley Kirk and junior punter Landon Gowens gained honor mentions.

In all, 23 area football players received all-state recognition.

Austin caught 31 pass for 638 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had a pair of punt return touchdowns.

Welsh, who led Spring Garden in rushing with 1,368 yards and 13 touchdowns at fullback, was equally effective at linebacker. He posted 117 total tackles (98 solo, 19 assists), including 13 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.

Pope posted 54 tackles and five interceptions.

Weston Kirk, who lined up at running back and linebacker for the Panthers, collected 714 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98 carries. On defense, he registered 70 total tackles, including 13 for a loss, with 11 sacks and an interception.

Ryley Kirk compiled 1,624 yards passing with 18 touchdowns. He also ran for another 331 yards on 93 carries with 12 scores.

Gowens punted 29 times for a 40.8 yard average last season.

In Class 3A, the Piedmont Bulldogs (12-2) earned five first-team selections, a second teamer, and an honorable mention. Bulldogs chosen to the first team are sophomore quarterback Jack Hayes, senior wide receiver Jadon Calhoun, senior defensive lineman Sean Smith, junior linebacker Landon Smart and senior defensive back Jakari Foster.

Piedmont senior running back Elijah Johnson was a second-team selection. Junior wide receiver Austin Estes earned an honorable mention.

Hayes, who was a 3A Back of the Year finalist in 2019, completed 157 passes in 244 attempts for 2,408 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also rushed for 577 yards and eight more scores on 134 carries last season.

Calhoun collected 770 receiving yards on 45 receptions with a single-season school record of 14 touchdown catches.

Smith, a two-time finalist for 3A Lineman of the Year in 2018 and 2019, registered 127 total tackles, including 30 for loss, with 13 sacks, blocked two punts, broke up four passes, caused a fumble and had a fumble recovery.

Smart made 117 total tackles, including 10 for loss, with four sacks. He also recovered a fumble.

Foster finished the season with 45 stops, including eight for loss, with nine pass breakups and a pair of interceptions.

Johnson ran for 1008 yards on 157 carries with 10 touchdowns. He also added another 108 yards receiving and two more scores.

Estes led the Bulldogs with 58 receptions for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Collinsville Panthers (6-4) also had a pair of players selected to the Class 3A Second Team in senior linebacker Blake Sparks and senior defensive back Dalton Hughes.

Sparks posted 124 total tackles with three sacks and a fumble recovery. Hughes had 83 total tackles with five fumble recoveries and a sack.

In Class 4A, the Cherokee County Warriors (7-4) secured four second-team selections in junior running back Damien Ramsey, junior offensive lineman Jay Watts, senior linebacker Nas Diamond and junior wide receiver/defensive back Whit Johnson. Johnson was chosen as a second-team athlete.

Ramsey ran for 1,217 yards and 14 touchdowns on 192 carries. He also had a receiving touchdown.

Watts was one of Ramsey’s top blockers. He graded 85 percent along the offensive line with 18 knockdowns.

Diamond delivered 40 solo tackles with 86 assists, including 16 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Johnson caught 60 passes for 505 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had a punt return for a score and 13 kickoff returns for 300 yards. On defense, Johnson had 46 total tackles with three interceptions.

In Class 1A, the Cedar Bluff Tigers (6-5) and Gaylesville Trojans (4-5) both had a pair of all-state selections. Cedar Bluff senior offensive lineman Corey Teague and Gaylesville sophomore offensive lineman Briley Mitchell both made the first team.

Gaylesville also had another first-team selection at defensive back in senior DJ Lee.

Cedar Bluff senior Anbre Leek was a second-team choice at defensive back.

Teague graded out at 98 percent with no sacks allowed, 32 pancake blocks, and had just one penalty for the year.

Mitchell graded out at 90 percent with 47 pancake blocks.

Lee did a little bit of everything for the Trojans, but his six interceptions and four sacks as a defensive back stood out the most to the ASWA selection committee. Lee finished the season with 56 total tackles (45 solos, 11 assists) including nine for lost yards.

Like Lee, Leek also did a little bit of everything for the Tigers. On defense, he posted 80 total tackles, including three for lost yards with two fumble recoveries.

The complete list of ASWA All-State Football Teams can be found on the WEIS Radio website.