VALDOSTA — Winning a state championship is an easy way to jump into the Coach of the Year conversation.

It was impossible to deny Alan Rodemaker the Class 6A award for bringing a state title back to Valdosta for the first time since 1998 in his first year as head coach.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution released its All-State teams Thursday for each classification of the GHSA, and including Rodemaker, the ‘Cats had four members of its championship team recognized.

Wildcat defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell and defensive back Antwon Kincade were each voted First Team All-State, and defensive back Jayce Rogers received honorable mention.

Maxwell made 69 tackles,10 for a loss, and 5.5 sacks and Kincade recorded nine tackles for a loss among his 90 stops and an interception for a defense that held opponents to fewer than 15 points and 278 yards per game. 

Rogers picked off a pair of passes, returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and averaged more than 33 yards on 14 kickoff returns and more than 13 yards on 30 punt returns with three return touchdowns for 14-1 Valdosta. 

Lowndes finished the season 10-3 with a quarterfinal appearance, and the AJC recognized the contributions from quarterback Michael Barrett, offensive lineman Tucker Barnes and defensive lineman Devon Holmes with Class 7A All-State honorable mentions.

Led by Barrett, who completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,759 yards and 27 touchdowns to go along with 1,203 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground, the Vikings set school records in scoring (594) and total offense (5,924).

Barnes was a key cog in an offensive line that paved the way for Lowndes to rush for 3,029 yards, and Holmes, the Region 1-7A Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 9.5 tackles for loss with two sacks as part of 63 tackles, 45 solo.

In Class 3A, Cook running back Brandon Doe led the state in rushing through the regular season, finishing with 2,157 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games to earn a spot on the First Team All-State.

Clinch County fell a game short of reaching the state championship game in consecutive seasons, but defensive linemen Duane Moore and Octavius Morris were both selected for the First Team All-State.

Panther quarterback Charles McClelland received honorable mention for rushing for 1,574 yards and 20 touchdowns while passing for 167 yards and five more scores.

Derrick Davis is a sports reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times.