Accolades keep piling up for the back-to-back eight-man football state championship-winning Academy at the Lakes Wildcats.
Team members were well-represented on the 2018 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) all-state, all-conference and miscellaneous award selections, which were recently announced.
A total of eight Academy players were recognized, including sophomore quarterback Jalen Brown, who won the FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner award, and senior linebacker Dylan Price, who was named FCAPPS Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brown completed nearly 58 percent of his throws for 1,105 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries.
Brown marks the Wildcats’ second FCAPPS Heisman Trophy winner in as many years. He follows former Wildcats running back/linebacker Dylan Gonzalez, who won the 2017 Heisman award, after putting up big numbers on offense (1,125 yards, 28 total touchdowns) and defense (138 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception) during his senior year.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Price, meanwhile, registered 99 total tackles, 17 sacks and four forced fumbles. (Also a running back, Price rushed for 566 yards and six touchdowns on 73 carries.)
Other Academy players receiving honors included: sophomore lineman Dwight Downing, junior defensive end Elijah Freedman, senior defensive back Jullian Jennings, sophomore lineman Andrew Kilfoyl, junior lineman Matthew Martin and senior tight end/defensive end Tioma Stepanets.
Additionally, Wildcats head coach Shawn Brown was named FCAPPS Coach of the Year, for the second straight year.
The 2018 Wildcats wrapped up a perfect 10-0 campaign after defeating Miami Citi Christian 36018 in the FCAPPS eight-man state championship game at Southeastern University in Lakeland; they also won the 2017 state title after beating Jacksonville Old Plank Christian Academy.
The team will enter the 2019 season on a 20-game win streak.
Academy at the Lakes will be formally recognized at the FCAPPS Players’ Awards banquet on April 14 at noon, at Hillsborough Baptist School, 6021 Williams Road in Seffner.
Academy at the Lakes football FCAPPS honorees:
• Head Coach Shawn Brown — FCAPPS Coach of the Year
- Jalen Brown, sophomore — FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner/All-State Quarterback
- Dwight Downing, sophomore – All-Conference Center
- Elijah Freedman, junior – All-Conference Defensive End
- Jullian Jennings, senior — All-State Defensive Back
- Andrew Kilfoyl, sophomore — All-State Offensive Lineman
- Matthew Martin, junior — FCAPPS Sportsmanship Award
- Dylan Price, senior — FCAPPS Defensive Player of the Year/All-State Defensive End
- Tioma Stepanets, senior — FCAPPS Spiritual Inspirational Award
Published January 30, 2019
