FeedsNext Level selects All-Area football teams
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Inkster junior Devin Gardner was selected as the quarterback for the Next Level All-First team.Christmas came early this year for area football players.
Jason Malloy, the president, founder and director of the Next Level Football Camp, recently decided to play Santa Claus. He made a list of all the football stars in the area and checked it twice to see who was naughty and nice this season.
He found 23 players deserving enough to make the list for his Annual Next Level All-First and All-Second teams—12 of those players were from Journal World areas.
Inkster was the big winner with six players between the two teams—four on the All-First squad.
Leading the troupe on the First team was the versatile junior quarterback Devin Gardner. If he wasn’t the best quarterback in 2008, he will be in 2009. His rocket arm and ability to avoid tackles in the backfield and run for huge gains was instrumental in getting the Vikings back to Ford Field.
At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, senior wide receiver Cameron Gordon had the great hands and big-play capabilities to be Inkster’s go-to guy.
Alan Freeman might be the most athletic player in the All-First group. He is a dynamic running back, defensive back and return man for Inkster. He finished with 1,600 yards on 114 carries and 16 touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Denzel Richmond was a force to be reckoned with on the field, too. At middle he flew from sideline to sideline to make big players for the Vikes all season.
Canton didn’t win a regional championship, but had plenty of talent on the team. Senior offensive lineman Justin Sneddon helped make it happen. He was a consistent blocker on the line, helping the mighty Wing-T offense that Canton Coach Tim Baechler prefers run smoothly.
Malloy chose Inkster Coach Greg Carter as Coach of the Year.
“Carter has brought pride and joy to the Inkster football program,” Malloy said. “He will continue to make this football team a state contender.”
All-Second team includes:
John Glenn senior star quarterback Jerome Scales made the grade—and for good reason. He was quick on his feet and could thread a needle with his passes. Wayne senior running back Richard Haley was a force plowing threw the middle and bursting to the outside.
Inkster freshman offensive lineman Marquise Wallace and senior defensive lineman Sterlin Griffin were also instrumental in getting Inkster back to the state championship finale at Ford Field.
Romulus senior linebacker Dion Shepard was key in the Eagles’ turnaround in 2008.
Offensive lineman James Vazquez was a solid player for Dearborn Heights Robichaud and linebacker Gerald McCants proved that he McCould for the Bulldogs, too.
