Running roughshod through NCMC earns Pirates plethora of all-conference honors

HANNIBAL, Mo. — An offense that finished the regular season on a record-setting scoring pace deserves all the accolades the Hannibal football team is receiving.

The Pirates had six players land on the All-North Central Missouri Conference offensive first team and four others on the second team after winning the league title with an undefeated record and averaging 49.6 points per game. Hannibal is averaging 430 yards per game with 59 offensive touchdowns.

Making the All-NCMC first team were senior quarterback Courtland Watson, senior running back AJ Thomas, senior tight end Kaiser Greenwell, senior linemen Caden Selle and Kanye Washington and sophomore at-large pick Aneyas Williams.

Watson has completed 72 of 113 passes for 1,221 yards with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has run for 491 yards and five scores. Thomas has 174 carries for 833 yards and eight touchdowns. Greenwell has caught 13 passes for 241 yards and six scores.

Williams, who missed one game to rest a tender ankle, finished the regular season with 68 carries for 690 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also catching 37 passes for 683 yards and 11 scores. Selle and Washington have helped the Pirates average 6.5 yards per rush and 7.4 yards per play overall.

Second-team selections were senior running back Tyler Hardy, junior offensive lineman Austin Wilhoit, sophomore lineman Ryan Ross and senior wide receiver DaeQuan Powell.

Defensively, the Pirates placed seven players on the first team, including Greenwell, Williams and senior Markahl Humphrey in the secondary, Hardy and junior Ashton Watts at linebacker and seniors Brady Zimmerman and Rommel Pinner along the defensive line.

Sophomore lineman Kane Wilson and junior defensive back Jack Parker were second-team picks.

The Pirates allowed 15.7 points and 243.7 yards per game in the regular season, while forcing 18 turnovers and shutting out two NCMC opponents. Overall, Hannibal outscored its NCMC foes 254-47.