VALEDICTORIAN (Player of the Year): Alex Gilchrist, Senior, Fairmont — Robeson County’s most feared two-way player each of the last two years saved his most impressive performance for his final season. Fairmont’s Alex Gilchrist, The Robesonian’s 2011 Robeson County Player of the Year, led the Golden Tornadoes to their best season in 61 years, compiling 28 touchdowns and 1,228 yards rushing. Gilchrist fought through a wrist injury midway through the season and helped Fairmont clinch its third consecutive conference title with an 11-0 record heading into the state playoffs. As the team’s hardest hitter on defense from his free safety position, Gilchrist accumulated 44 tackles and made four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

SALUTATORIAN (Offensive Player of the Year): Blake Greene, Sophomore, Red Springs — It may not have ended the way he would have liked on a cold night with four interceptions in the third round of the state playoffs, but sophomore quarterback Blake Greene certainly put his handprint on county football this season with eye-popping numbers.Greene had one of the best statistical seasons in Robeson County football history in 2011 for the Red Devils (10-3) and for his efforts, he’s The Robesonian’s Offensive Player of the Year. Greene totaled 42 touchdowns — 21 passing and 21 rushing — for 3,146 yards from scrimmage. This is Greene’s second appearance on the all-county squad after his made the team as a defensive back in 2010. With nine returning starters on an offense that averaged 35.3 points per game this season, Greene’s numbers could be even better in 2012. Scary.

BEST DRESSED (Defensive Player of the Year): Juwan Jones, Senior, Purnell Swett — Opposing coaches knew him simply as “that little No. 4.” His teammates called him Juan. After a standout senior season for Mark Heil at Purnell Swett, Juwan Jones is now known as The Robesonian’s 2011 Robeson County Defensive Player of the Year. Jones picked off a team-high six passes and scored a county-high three defensive touchdowns, all coming on interception returns. His pick-six in the final minute at Durham Hillside in the first round of the playoffs provided the Rams with a brief 26-20 lead. Teams rarely threw to Jones’ side of the field, but when they did, he made them pay. Jones notched 53 tackles and recovered two fumbles despite playing nearly every snap this season on both sides of the ball. Jones returned two punts for touchdowns and took a kickoff back to tally 14 all-purpose scores for the Rams (5-6).

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (Coach of the Year): George Coltharp, first season, Red Springs — George Coltharp knew better. From what he saw this summer on the practice field at Red Springs High School, he projected his football team as a force to be reckoned with in the Three Rivers Conference. His analysis was spot on. Picked to finish fifth in the conference before the season, Coltharp led the Red Devils to their best record since 1987 earning him The Robesonian’s 2011 Coach of the Year award. Red Springs (10-3) hadn’t won a playoff game in six years prior to Coltharp’s arrival and had lost 23 of its last 28 football games. The Red Devils nearly tripled their offensive production this season with a new spread philosophy and snapped a five-game losing skid against county rival St. Pauls. Red Springs also protected its home turf, winning all six games at The Inferno.