Even when he was battered and bruised, Josiah “JoJo” Davis didn’t hesitate to put the South Hagerstown football team on his back when the Rebels needed him the most.
The 5-foot-8, 160-pound running back willed his team to do things that most outside of the South Hagerstown locker room didn’t think possible. He guided the Rebels, who had won just two of eight games up to that point, to an improbable 20-14 victory over North Hagerstown in the Hub City Gridiron Classic. With Davis blazing the path, South went on to win a Class 4A/3A West Region I playoff game by a 14-7 score over Wootton, before eventually bowing out in the second round with a 20-6 loss to No. 1-seeded Urbana.
Davis not only finished his season with 1,097 rushing yards and 12 TDs, but also a whole pile of All-Star awards to sort through.
Two All-Star squads — chosen by the Washington County Athletic Association and the coaches of Washington County Public Schools — were released last weekend and Davis earned top honors on both lists. He was chosen as the WCAA’s Offensive Player of the Year, Most Improved, and Top Running Back. He was also selected as the All-WCPS Offensive Player of the Year.
Davis wasn’t the only area All-Star.
We’ll start with the WCAA picks, which included 18 local First Team selections and several major awards. The aforementioned Gridiron Classic was named as the WCAA’s Game of the Year, while North Hagerstown’s Bryant Noubissie was picked as the Top Senior Defensive Player and Top OLB. Other top honors were garnered by South Hagerstown’s Tavon Harris (Top First Year Varsity Player) and Jeremiah Welch (Top DB), Smithsburg’s Nicolas Roncone (Top Offensive Underclassman) and Dakota Sowers (Top KR), and North Hagerstown’s Darius Geaman (Top Kicker) and Garett Forrest (Top Punter).
The WCAA’s First Team Offense included South Hagerstown’s Davis, Smithsburg’s Sowers and Gabe Stevens, and North Hagerstown’s Ty’Qwell Fauntleroy and Gary Fisher. Local members of the First Team Defense were South Hagerstown’s Logan Hammond, Harris, and Welch, North Hagerstown’s Ben Distefano, Toni Abonge, Blake Custer, Noubissie, and Damean Thomas, and Smithsburg’s Luke Scott and Marquis Weakfall.
The Hubs’ Geaman and Forrest were First Team Special Teams selections, as was Smithsburg’s Sowers.
The All-WCPS squad was highlighted by 10 First Team picks from North Hagerstown, including offensive selections Fauntleroy, Forrest, and Fisher, defensive choices Abonge, Distefano, Custer, Thomas, and Noubissie, and special teams picks Geaman and Forrest.
Smithsburg had four All-WCPS First Teamers in Sowers, Gabe Stevens, Scott, and Weakfall, while South Hagerstown landed four picks of its own: Davis, Hammond, Harris, and Welch.
Below is a complete look at the WCAA and All-WCPS selections:
Washington County Athletic Association All-Star Football Team
Team of the Year: Boonsboro Warriors
Game of the Year: South Hagerstown 20, North Hagerstown 14
Carroll Reid Award (Coach of the Year): Mark Wadel, Boonsboro
Cianelli Award (MVP): Jordan Yates (Sr., QB, Saint James)
Phil Petry Award (Offensive Player of the Year): Josiah “JoJo” Davis (Sr., RB, South Hagerstown)
Todd Staley Award (Defensive Player of the Year): Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport)
Mike Russ Award (Most Improved): Josiah “JoJo” Davis (Sr. RB, South Hagerstown)
John Metchie Award (Most Versatile): Parker DeBaugh (Sr., RB/LB/KR/PR, Boonsboro)
Tanner Cross Award (All-Purpose): David Grayton (Sr., WR/KR/PR, Williamsport)
Buck Earley Award (Top First Year Varsity Player): Tavon Harris (Sr., LB, South Hagerstown)
Freeman Award (Top Offensive Underclassman): Nicolas Roncone (So., RB, Smithsburg)
Williams Award (Top Defensive Underclassman): Jack O’Neal (So., DL, Saint James)
Pat Henry Award (Top Junior Offensive Player): Jadon King Jr. (Jr., RB, Boonsboro)
Johnson Award (Top Junior Defensive Player): Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport)
McDonald Award (Top Senior Offensive Player): Jayden Yates (Sr., QB, Saint James)
Pheabus Award (Top Senior Defensive Player): Bryant Noubissie (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown)
Johnny Farra Award (Top QB): Jayden Yates (Sr., QB, Saint James)
Isiaha Smith Award (Top RB): Josiah “JoJo” Davis (Sr., RB, South Hagerstown)
Joey Himes Award (Top WR): David Grayton (Sr., WR, Williamsport)
Michael Hull Award (Top TE): Xavier Colbert (Sr., TE, Saint James)
Barry Beers Award (Top OL): Max Viver (Sr., OL, Saint James)
Dan Yellott Award (Top DL): Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport)
Bigelow Award (Top LB): Tyson Cleary (Jr., LB, Williamsport)
Jon Craver Award (Top OLB): Bryant Noubissie (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown)
Andy Reid Award (Top DB): Jayden Paugh (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Jeremiah Welch (Sr., DB, South Hagerstown)
Rick Toms Award (Top Kicker): Darius Geaman (Sr., K, North Hagerstown)
Jon Henson Award (Top Punter): Garett Forrest (Sr., P, North Hagerstown)
Mike Corbett Award (Top KR): Dakota Sowers (Jr., KR/PR, Smithsburg)
Daughtridge Award (Top Special Teams Player): David Grayton (Sr., KR/PR, Williamsport)
Offense
First Team: Blake Main (Jr., QB, Boonsboro), Jayden Yates (Sr., QB, Saint James), Josiah Davis (Sr., RB, South Hagerstown), Ty’Qwell Fauntleroy (Sr., RB, North Hagerstown), Jadon King (Jr., RB, Boonsboro), Marcello Anderson (Jr., ATH, Saint James), Parker DeBaugh (Sr., All-Purpose, Boonsboro), David Grayton (Sr., WR, Williamsport), Will Bennett (Sr., WR, Clear Spring), Dakota Sowers (Jr., WR, Smithsburg), Jordan Wigfall (Sr., WR, Williamsport), Xavier Colbert (Sr., TE, Saint James), Austin Dinsmore (Sr., OL, Boonsboro), Max Viver (Sr., OL, Saint James), Gary Fisher (Sr., OL, North Hagerstown), Steve Lapole (Sr., OL, Boonsboro), Gabe Stevens (Sr., OL, Smithsburg), Xavier Bowie (Jr., OL, Williamsport).
Second Team: Gabriel Parker (Sr., QB, Williamsport), Michael Stewart (Jr., RB, North Hagerstown), Tae’Myj Boyce-Brown (Jr., RB, Williamsport), Nick Roncone (So., RB, Smithsburg), Joshua Davies (Jr., RB, Saint James), Alex Matthews (Sr., ATH, Clear Spring), James Jackson (Sr., All-Purpose, North Hagerstown), Arvid Ryberg (Sr., WR, Saint James), Jameir Simms (Sr., WR, South Hagerstown), Jayden Paugh (Jr., WR, Boonsboro), Calvin Moss (Jr., WR, Saint James), Garrett Forrest (Sr., TE, North Hagerstown), Brooks Myers (Sr., OL, Clear Spring), JT Griffith (Jr., OL, Boonsboro), Lee Jasper (Jr., OL, Saint James), Ernest Stewart (So., OL, South Hagerstown), Chase Grove (So., OL, Williamsport), Logan Cohn (Sr., OL, Saint James).
Third Team: Luke Scott (Jr., QB, Smithsburg), Colt Butts (Jr., QB, North Hagerstown), Zach Linn (Jr., RB, Smithsburg), Camden Whittington (Sr., RB, Clear Spring), Logan Durham (Jr., RB, Saint James), Tai Gilliam (Sr., All-Purpose, North Hagerstown), Kemiko Herron (Jr., WR, Williamsport), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., WR, Smithsburg), Nathan McDonald (Jr., WR, Clear Spring), Donell Jeffries (So., WR, Williamsport), Eli Weddle (Sr., TE, Boonsboro), Aiden Carter (Sr., OL, Saint James), Raymond Pike (Jr., OL, Clear Spring), Eligh Zimmerman (Jr., OL, North Hagerstown), Ean Boyer (Jr., OL, Williamsport), Anthony Villalobos (Jr., OL, Smithsburg), Scott Craig (Sr., OL, Clear Spring), Bryce Hillegas (So., OL, North Hagerstown).
Honorable Mention: Brady Fogle (Sr., QB, Clear Spring), Lucas Semler (Jr., All-Purpose, South Hagerstown), Edward Boakye (Sr., RB, Boonsboro), Liam Hall (Sr., RB, Saint James), Noah Doyle (Jr., RB, Clear Spring), Riley Carr (So., RB, Smithsburg), Grant Beall (Sr., WR, South Hagerstown), Cayden Nesbitt (Jr., WR, Smithsburg), Kennen Braylock (Jr., WR, Saint James), Blake Souders (Sr., WR, Smithsburg), Ronnie Savage (Jr., WR, North Hagerstown), Logan Hammond (Sr., TE, South Hagerstown), Tyson Cleary (Jr., OL, Williamsport), Kash Kuzmiak (So., OL, Saint James), Jackson Hanser (Jr., OL, Boonsboro), Wyatt Huntzberry (Jr., OL, Clear Spring), Jack Dufek (Jr., OL, Smithsburg), Mason Mauriello (Sr., OL, North Hagerstown).
Defense
First Team: Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport), Logan Hammond (Sr., DL, South Hagerstown), Ben Distefano (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Jack O’Neal (So., DL, Saint James), Toni Abonge (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Aiden Carter (Jr., DL, Saint James), Tyson Cleary (Jr., LB, Williamsport), Blake Custer (Sr., LB, North Hagerstown), Tavon Harris (Sr., LB, South Hagerstown), Jayten McCarty (Jr., LB, Hancock), Bryant Noubissie (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown), Damean Thomas (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown), Luke Scott (Jr., OLB, Smithsburg), Logan Atkinson (Sr., OLB, Boonsboro), David Grayton (Sr., DB, Williamsport), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., DB, Smithsburg), Jayden Paugh (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Jeremiah Welch (Jr., DB, South Hagerstown)
Second Team: Max Vivier (Sr., DL, Saint James), Evan Tall (Jr., DL, Boonsboro), Brooks Myers (Sr., DL, Clear Spring), Hunter Drill (Sr., DL, Smithsburg), Kayden Selby (Sr., DL, Clear Spring), Austin Dinsmore (Sr., DL, Boonsboro), Liam Hall (Sr., LB, Saint James), Riley Carr (So., LB, Smithsburg), Logan Burcker (Sr., LB, Williamsport), Aiden Owens (So., LB, Saint James), Noah Doyle (Jr., LB, Clear Springs), Nygil Jeffries (Jr., OLB, South Hagerstown), Landen McAllister (Jr., OLB, Williamsport), Will Taffe (Jr., OLB, Saint James), Alex Matthews (Sr., DB, Clear Spring), Michael Stewart (Jr., DB, North Hagerstown), Blake Main (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Jordan Wigfall (Sr., DB, Williamsport).
Third Team: Dylan Serdula (Jr., DL, Williamsport), Marquis Dutton (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Ryan Bentley (Fr., DL, South Hagerstown), Gabe Stevens (Sr., DL, Smithsburg), Avery Cosley (Jr., DL, South Hagerstown), Alex Miltimore (So., LB, Saint James), Eli Weddle (Sr., LB, Boonsboro), Ryan Ragland (Sr., LB, South Hagerstown), Brody Honeycutt (Jr., LB, Boonsboro), John Dahler (So., LB, South Hagerstown), Chris Torres (Jr., OLB, Clear Springs), Jameir Simms (Sr., OLB, South Hagerstown), Xavier Colbert (Jr., OLB, Saint James), Ronnie Savage (Jr., DB, North Hagerstown), Marcello Anderson (Jr., DB, Saint James), Landon Sallerson (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Julius Rowe (Sr., DB, South Hagerstown), Keenen Braylock (Jr., DB, Saint James).
Honorable Mention: Jamarie Bannis (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Ian Rhea (So., DL, Williamsport), Raymond Pike (Jr., DL, Clear Spring), Sam Elliott (So., LB, Boonsboro), Xsavior Dawson (Jr., LB, Smithsburg), James Jackson (Jr., LB, North Hagerstown), Jayden Parkman (Sr., LB, Clear Spring), Aiden Murphy (So., LB, Saint James), Logan Durham (Jr., LB, Williamsport), Zach Linn (Jr., LB, Smithsburg), Chris Benford (Sr., LB, North Hagerstown), Sergio Funes (Jr., OLB, Smithsburg), Khari Yates (So., OLB, Saint James), Blake Souders (Sr., DB, Smithsburg), Nathan McDonald (Jr., DB, Clear Spring), Marky McCall (Sr., DB, North Hagerstown), Jaxon Dodson (Jr., DB, Smithsburg), Colten Hahn (Jr., DB, Williamsport).
Special Teams
First Team: Darius Geaman (Sr., K, North Hagerstown), Garett Forrest (Sr., P, North Hagerstown), Dakota Sowers (Jr., KR, Smithsburg), David Grayton (Sr., PR, Williamsport).
Second Team: Colton Grossnickle (Sr., K, Clear Spring), Edward Boakye (Sr., P, Boonsboro), David Grayton (Sr., KR, Williamsport), Michael Stewart (Jr., PR, North Hagerstown).
Third Team: Wyatt Younker (Jr., K, Williamsport), Jayden Yates (Sr., P, Saint James), Will Bennett (Sr., KR, Clear Spring), Jayden Paugh (Jr., PR, Boonsboro).
Honorable Mention: Justin Paxos (Sr.,, K, Boonsboro), Peter Zaccack (Sr., K, Saint James), Arvid Ryberg (Sr., K, Saint James), Parcell Clay (Jr., P, South Hagerstown), Luke Scott (Jr., P, Smithsburg), Jadon King (Jr., KR, Boonsboro), Marcello Anderson (Jr., PR, Saint James).
All-Washington County Football Public School Coaches Teams
Coach of the Year: Mark Wadel, Boonsboro
Offensive Player of the Year: Josiah “JoJo” Davis (Sr., RB, South Hagerstown)
Defensive Player of the Year: Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport)
Offense
First Team: Blake Main (Sr., QB, Boonsboro), Josiah “JoJo” Davis (Sr., RB, South Hagerstown), Ty’Qwell Fauntleroy (Jr., RB, North Hagerstown), Parker DeBaugh (Sr., RB, Boonsboro), David Grayton (Sr., WR, Williamsport), Will Bennett (Sr., WR, Clear Spring), Dakota Sowers (Jr., WR, Smithsburg), Garett Forrest (Sr., TE, North Hagerstown), Austin Dinsmore (Sr., OL, Boonsboro), Gary Fisher (Sr., TE, North Hagerstown), Steve Lapole (Sr., OL, Boonsboro), Brooks Myers (Sr., OL, Clear Spring), Gabe Stevens (Sr., OL, Smithsburg), Xavier Bowie (Jr., OL, Williamsport), Jadon King (Jr., ATH, Boonsboro).
Second Team: Gabe Parker (Sr., QB, Williamsport), Michael Stewart (Jr., RB, North Hagerstown), Taemyji Boyce-Brown (Jr., RB, Williamsport), Nicolas Roncone (So., RB, Smithsburg), Jordan Wigfall (Sr., WR, Williamsport), Jameir Simms (Sr., WR, South Hagerstown), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., WR, Smithsburg), Eli Weddle (Sr., TE, Boonsboro), Ernest Stewart (So., OL, South Hagerstown), JT Griffith (Jr., OL, Boonsboro), Raymond Pike (Jr., OL, Clear Spring), Scott Craig (Sr., OL, Clear Spring), Anthony Villalobos (Sr., OL, Smithsburg), Chase Grove (So., OL, Williamsport), Alex Matthews (Sr., ATH, Clear Spring).
Honorable Mention: Colt Butts (Jr., QB, North Hagerstown), Camden Whittington (Sr., RB, Clear Spring), Zach Linn (Jr., RB, Smithsburg), Logan Durham (Jr., RB, Williamsport), Jayden Paugh (Jr., RB, Boonsboro), Nathan McDonald (Jr., WR, Clear Spring), Kemiko Herron (Jr., WR, Williamsport), Kayden Selby (Sr., TE, Clear Spring), Jackson Hanser (Jr., OL, Boonsboro), Wyatt Huntzberry (Jr., OL, Clear Spring), Eligh Zimmerman (Jr., OL, North Hagerstown), Jack Dufek (Jr., OL, Smithsburg), Ean Boyer (Jr., OL, Williamsport), Tyson Cleary (Jr., OL, Williamsport), Tai Gilliam (Sr., ATH, North Hagerstown).
Defense
First Team: Xavier Bowie (Jr., DL, Williamsport), Toni Abonge (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Ben Distefano (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Logan Hammond (Sr., DL, South Hagerstown), Blake Custer (Sr., LB, North Hagerstown), Jayten McCarty (Jr., LB, Hancock), Tavon Harris (Sr., LB, South Hagerstown), Tyson Cleary (Jr., LB, Williamsport), Damean Thomas (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown), Bryant Noubissie (Sr., OLB, North Hagerstown), Luke Scott (Jr., OLB, Smithsburg), Jayden Paugh (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., DB, Smithsburg), Jeremiah Welch (Sr., DB, South Hagerstown), David Grayton (Sr., DB, Williamsport), Jordan Wigfall (Jr., DB, Williamsport).
Second Team: Hunter Drill (Sr., DL, Smithsburg), Brooks Myers (Sr., DL, Clear Spring), Kaden Selby (Sr., DL, Clear Spring), Evan Tall (Jr., DL, Boonsboro), Noah Doyle (Jr., LB, Clear Spring), Eli Weddle (Sr., LB, Boonsboro), Riley Carr (So., LB, Smithsburg), Logan Burcker (Sr., LB, Williamsport), Logan Atkinson (Sr., OLB, Boonsboro), Nygil Jeffries (Jr., OLB, South Hagerstown), Landen McAllister (Jr., OLB, Williamsport), Michael Stewart (Jr., DB, North Hagerstown), Alex Matthews (Sr., DB, Clear Spring), Blake Main (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Jordan Wigfall (Sr., DB, Williamsport).
Honorable Mention: Austin Dinsmoore (Sr., DL, Boonsboro), Marquise Dutton (Sr., DL, North Hagerstown), Dylan Serdula (Jr., DL, Williamsport), Ryan Bentley (Fr., DL, South Hagerstown), Brody Honeycutt (Jr., LB, Boonsboro), John Dahler (Jr., LB, South Hagerstown), Xsavior Dawson (Jr., LB, Smithsburg), Ryan Ragland (Sr., LB, South Hagerstown), Chris Torres (Jr., OLB, Clear Spring), Sergio Funes (Jr., OLB, Smithsburg), Jameir Simms (Sr., OLB, South Hagerstown), Ronnie Savage (Jr., DB, North Hagerstown), Blake Souders (Sr., DB, Smithsburg), Landen Sallerson (Jr., DB, Boonsboro), Julius Rowe (Sr., DB, South Hagerstown), Colten Hahn (Jr., DB, Williamsport).
Special Teams
First Team: Darius Geaman (Sr., K, North Hagerstown), Garett Forrest (Sr., P, North Hagerstown).
Second Team: Colton Grossnickle (Sr., K, Clear Spring), Wyatt Younker (Jr., K, Williamsport), Eddie Boakye (Sr., P, Boonsboro).
Honorable Mention: Justin Pazos (Sr., K, Boonsboro).
