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Award recipients were recently announced for the 2023 football season in Region 5-5A with 14 members of the Franklin County Rebels being recognized.

Senior running back and linebacker Eric Jones was named the Athlete Player of the Year for the region after totaling 688 rushing yards, 467 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns on offense as well as 65 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and two fumble recoveries on defense.

Seniors Lane Pearson, Ethan Farris, Kai Baker, Zaelyn Smith and Willie Cobb, junior Dawson Sowers and sophomore Loui Arellano were each named first-team all-region.

Pearson was named to the all-region team for his play on the offensive line as a tackle as he was one of the leaders for the Rebels in the trenches throughout the year.

Farris recorded 471 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns as a running back after stepping into a starting role to help the Rebels on their push to the playoffs.

Baker garnered his recognition as a wide receiver after hauling in 47 passes for 597 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith caused problems for opposing offenses as a defensive lineman throughout the year with 47 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

Cobb made his presence felt as a defensive back for the year as he recorded 24 total tackles, two tackles for loss and two interceptions.

As a linebacker, Sowers led the Rebels in total tackles for the season with 70, including five tackles for loss, and contributed a team-leading three sacks as well.

Loui Arellano had an accurate season as a kicker for the Rebels as he successfully converted on six of his seven field goal attempts for the year with a top distance of 47 yards. Arellano also hit 20 of his 22 point-after attempts for the season.

Receiving second-team all-region selections were seniors CJ Seals, Joseph Taylor, DaShuan Reynolds and Jaden Dority.

Seals led the Rebels offense at quarterback as he finished his campaign with 1,702 passing yards and 12 total touchdowns.

Taylor was another veteran leader on the offensive line for the Rebels as he worked on the interior as a guard.

Reynolds made an impact on the defensive line for the Rebels with 13 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery for the season.

Dority was a utility player for the Rebels who put in work on offense, defense and special teams with 30 receiving yards, nine total tackles and one fumble recovery.

Rounding out the awards for the Rebels were seniors Garrison Cain and Zach Hill who were named to the Region 5-5A all-academic team.