Shannon, Settles named Player/Coach of the Year

Settles, in his fourth year as Lincoln coach, guided the Patriots from the sidelines and Shannon went to work on the field as the Patriots rallied from an 0-5 start to finish 5-7. Lincoln enjoyed a three-game win streak in the late season rally and finished as district runner-up to Southwestern.
“It’s a great honor. When you surround yourself with good people, good things are going to happen,” said Settles. “To be 0-5 at one point and then make the turnaround we made was awesome, and for the Kentucky Football Coaches Association to present Deon and myself with player and coach of the year is an honor.”
Shannon exploded in his senior year, rushing for 1,691 yards and 21 touchdowns and returning three kickoffs for scores. Of those yards and touchdowns, he ran for 1,436 yards and tallied 20 scores in the last seven games of the season as Lincoln rallied from the 0-5 start.
“Deon was a very explosive player for us and he really stepped up his game. Every game he was capable of creating a big play for our offense,” said Settles. “Deon was a difference-maker on special teams as well. He made it difficult for teams to game-plan against us because of his ability.”
The 5-7, 145-pound back’s best game was in a 31-30 come-from-behind victory over South Laurel on Oct. 7 when he broke Lincoln’s 18-year-old single-game rushing record. Shannon rushed for 317 yards and three touchdowns in the win to surpass the mark of 294 yards set by 1993 Mr. Football Jeremy Simpson in a playoff win over Meade County during that season.
“People were always trying to stop him but he still had such great success,” said Settles. “I feel like he was so hard to tackle because he’s elusive and quick. That’s why he stayed healthy because people didn’t have opportunity to get big hits on him.”
Settles said the Patriots will definitely miss Shannon’s speed next year but that speed is not all he takes with him.
“When people ask me about Deon and want to know what I’ll miss about him next year, I tell them I’ll miss his fun personality and his work ethic,” said Settles. “His personality, of course, made it fun to be around him and, because he always worked hard, he made the people around him better.”
Shannon and Settles, along with other district coaches and players of the year, and other award winners will be honored at this weekend’s state finals in Bowling Green.
 The District Player of the Year and Coach of the Year winners, and other award winners to be honored at the state finals are:
Class A
District 1: Jonathon Jackson and Joe Morris, Mayfield
District 2: Jesse Keen and Mike Fletcher, Holy Cross
District 3: Kaleb Leach, Frankfort; Kevin Siple, Bracken Co
District 4: Cameron Vocke and Noel Rash, Beechwood
District 5: Skyler Griffith and Jerry Herron Jr., Williamsburg
District 6: B. J. Combs and Mark Dixon, Hazard
District 7: Chris Brewer and Nathan McPeek, Fairview
District 8: Randy Maynard and Chris McNamee, Pikeville
Undefeated season: Nathan McPeek, Fairview; Joe Morris, Mayfield
100th win: Chris McNamee, Pikeville
Class 2A
District 1: Kendall Deese and Steve Duncan, Murray
District 2: Issac Hardest and John Edge, Owensboro Catholic
District 3: Hunter Bowles and Rick Wood, Glasgow
District 4: Ivan Talley and Stefan LeFors, Louisville Christian Academy
District 5: Sawyer Williams and Adam Fowler, Owen Co.
District 6: Brady Highchew, Newport Cent. Catholic; Josh Stratton, Lloyd Memorial
District 7: Tryston Ford, Danville; Ray Graham, Lex. Christian Academy
District 8: Joseph Jamerson, Prestonburg; Jonathon Parsons, Betsy Lane
Undefeated season: John Edge, Owensboro Catholic; Adam Fowler, Owen Co.; Rick Wood, Glasgow
100th win: David Barnes, Caldwell Co.
Class 3A
District 1: J. D. Harmon, Paducah Tilghman; Shawn Berner, Ft. Campbell
District 2: Jacob Tobias and Kyle Pierce, Edmonson Co.
District 3: Anthony Wales and Ty Scroggins, Louisville Central
District 4: Cory Davenport, Bell Co.; Shawn Thompson, Wayne Co.
District 5: Kentayvus Hopkins, Bourbon Co.; Mark Scenters, Garrard Co.
District 6: MacKenzie McGlone, West Carter; Josh Hughes, Lewis Co.
District 7: Richard Trent, Breathitt Co.; Brian Turner, Morgan Co.
District 8: Trey Willis and Philip Haywood, Belfry
Undefeated season: Mike Holcomb, Breathitt Co.; Kyle Pierce, Edmonson Co.
300th win: Ivan McGlone, Russell
250th win: Mike Holcomb, Breathitt Co.
100th win: Shawn Berner, Ft. Campbell
**346th win: Philip Haywood, Belfry
Class 4A
District 1: Tray Carr, Madisonville No. Hopkins; Jack Haskins, Lone Oak
District 2: Dareus Wickware, Franklin-Simpson; Ben Bruni, Warren East
District 3: Michael Brooks and Jerry Lucas, Collins
District 4: Lee Lee Hayden, Valley; LaKunta Farmer, Doss
District 5: Zach Hester, Boyle Co.; Bill Letton, Lex. Catholic
District 6: Jeff Canady, Knox Central; Scott Parkey, Rockcastle Co.
District 7: Patrick Towles and Dale Mueller, Highlands
District 8: Adam Wing, Rowan Co.; Leon Hart, Ashland Blazer
Undefeated season: Dale Mueller, Highlands
200th win: Jim Matney, Johnson Central
100th win: Tim Schlosser, Franklin Simpson
250th win: Larry French, Boyle Co.
Class 5A
District 1: Cody Murphy and Todd Huston, Ohio Co.
District 2: Eric Brown and Mike Rogers, Warren Central
District 3: Jeremy Harness and Mark Brown, John Hardin
District 4: Todd Asbury and Brett Newton, North Bullitt
District 5: Tyler Morris and Randy Borchers, Cooper
District 6: Ryan Timmons and Chris Tracy, Franklin Co.
District 7: Deon Shannon and Mike Settles, Lincoln Co.
District 8: Marcus McMillian and Tom Larkey, Harlan Co.
Undefeated season: Chris Tracy, Franklin Co.; Kevin Wallace, Bowling Green; Mark Brown, John Hardin
250th win: Mark Brown, John Hardin
150th win: Danny Leasor, Bullitt Central
Class 6A
District 1: Avery Pitt, Henderson Co.; Ron Barnard, Marshall Co.
District 2: Thomas Wilson, Meade Co.; Mark Perry, Central Hardin
District 3: Kiante Northington, Butler; Corey Crume, Southern
District 4: James Quick and Bob Beatty, Trinity
District 5: Tanner Evans, Eastern; Matt Brown, Oldham Co.
District 6: Tyler Durham and Steve Lickert, Campbell Co.
District 7: Ben Lawler and Jim McKee, Scott Co.
District 8: Pokey Harris, Geo. Rogers Clark; Bert Brown, Madison Central
Undefeated season: Jim McKee, Scott Co.; Bob Beatty, Trinity