Hales on first-team All-MPSA|[12/12/06]
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 12, 2006
After a season in which he did almost everything for the Porters Chapel Eagles, Hayden Hales earned one of the state’s biggest honors right where he started.
Hales was picked to the All-MPSA first team as the quarterback Monday, capping a season in which he shattered records and led PCA to the state semifinals for the second straight season.
Hales threw for 2,449 yards, tied a Warren County record with 28 touchdown passes, and ran for 968 yards and nine touchdowns to become the first county quarterback to lead his team in rushing in 33 years.
Hales also amassed 105 tackles at linebacker, returned kickoffs for the Eagles, and finished with 3,652 all-purpose yards. He played in the MPSA All-Star Game last week and was the Offensive MVP for District 4-AA.
“It’s great,” Hales said of the All-MPSA honor. “I wasn’t expecting to get it. It’s just an honor, that’s all I can say.”
Porters Chapel players littered the All-MPSA team, with two of Hales’ teammates earning second-team honors.
Cole Smith was selected to the second team as a wide receiver after hauling in 42 passes for a Warren County-record 1,206 yards and 15 touchdowns. Smith also set county records for career receiving yardage, with 1,665, and touchdowns with 24. He also played defensive back, where he finished this season with 115 tackles and five interceptions.
Michael Busby was a do-it-all player for the Eagles. The senior played wide receiver and defensive back, but was selected second-team All-MPSA for his punting ability. He averaged 41.5 yards on 35 kicks.
Busby also caught 42 passes for 856 yards and 10 touchdowns, had 103 tackles and a team-high seven interceptions, and converted 47 of 53 PAT attempts and 7 of 18 field goal tries.
Briarfield Academy junior linebacker Jon Jon Taylor earned second-team honors after a season in which he made more than 100 tackles, as well as catching 16 passes for 299 yards on offense.
Briarfield offensive lineman Luke Clement, another junior, was picked to the second-team offensive unit. He helped lead an explosive offense that gained nearly 4,000 yards this season.