Keisler, Sparks garner 1st-team All-Centennial League honors
By Michael Ashford
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Emporia High senior safety Robert Keisler and senior defensive lineman James Sparks each were named to the first-team All-Centennial League football squad this past week, leading the way for seven other Spartans that picked up all-league honors.
In helping the Spartans to a 6-3 record in 2006, the school’s best record since 1999, Keisler and Sparks wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season long.
Keisler, a hard-hitting safety with a nose for the ball, finished his season with 66 tackles — good for third on the team — and intercepted a whopping seven passes, which ranked as the best total in the state of Kansas.
Sparks was a force in the trenches for the Spartans, as he recorded a team-high four sacks to go along with 47 total tackles.
Picking up second-team defensive honors were senior linebacker Dillon Cox and senior defensive lineman Eric Dorsey, who also picked up second-team honors as an offensive guard.
Cox was credited with a team-high 107 tackles this season from his middle linebacker spot, a total that put him 40 tackles ahead of his next closest teammate. Dorsey was in on 21 tackles as a defensive lineman.
Defensive back Brandon Childs, who picked off three passes this season and made 17 tackles, was an honorable mention selection.
Offensively, the Spartans picked up three other all-league honors in addition to Dorsey’s offensive line selection.
Senior center Jared Johnson, in his first season as the Spartans’ snapper, started every game and handled the pressure of the position well enough to garner second-team all-league honors. Johnson and Dorsey were part of an Emporia High line that paved the way for a Spartan rushing attack that gained 1,875 yards during the 2006 season.
Junior running back Edd Noonan also was named a second-teamer thanks to his 1,001 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Noonan averaged 5.16 yards per carry on his way to topping the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time in his career.
Senior punter Eric Wells rounded out the Spartans’ second-team selections, averaging 32.9 yards per punt with a long of 41.
Senior wide receiver Billy Malone was chosen as an honorable mention offensive player thanks to his 11-catch, 152-yard season. Five of his 11 catches went for touchdowns, giving him all but two of Emporia’s seven passing touchdowns this season.
Seaman and Manhattan led the Centennial League with seven first-team selections apiece, while Hayden had six first-teamers. Hayden coach Tom Stringer was named the league’s coach of the year.