January 15, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Senior Colby Barnes was named the 2022 DCHS Tiger Football Team Most Valuable Player during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile, Hannah Trapp, a senior, received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader Award.
The trophies, sponsored by Liberty State Bank, were presented to Barnes and Trapp by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller respectively.
Barnes, who set a new season rushing record at DCHS, along with his defensive prowess was a key factor in the Tigers’ success in 2022, as the team finished a 6-5 season and an appearance of state playoff at East Hamilton in Ooltewah. where the Tigers were defeated 21 to 14 on November 4, 2022. The Tigers finished in 4th place in Class 4A Region 4 at 2-3. It marked the 12th consecutive State Football Play-Off appearance for DeKalb County, the most in school history.
For the season, Barnes had 287 carries for 2,073 yards and 19 touchdowns with 9 receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said Barnes is one of the best football players at DCHS.
“This year he broke records for DCHS Football. He probably had the most rushes in a season with 287. He definitely had the most yards in a season with 2,073. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry that we put the ball in his belly. He had probably the most touchdowns by a running back or rushing touchdowns in a season ever with 19. He averaged 189 yards per game. In the state playoffs he had 55 carries for 327 yards. Fifty-five carries in one game is number 2 in the state of Tennessee all time. The record is 56. For a career, He had 518 rushes for 3,689 yards. I don’t think anyone has surpassed that. For his career, He averaged 7.1 yards per carry. He had 41 rushing touchdowns. I don’t think anybody has that. He averaged 100 yards a game for his career rushing. He also had some receptions through the l He had 16 total receptions for 114 yards or 7.1 yards per catch and had the two receiving touchdowns at 3.1 yards per catch. Colby was a very productive player for us. He was a load on both sides of the football and is an excellent young man. That’s what makes this even better. Colby is not only a good football player, but he has a blue collar work ethic and we will miss him desperately. With honor, I am proud to announce that Colby Barnes is our Most Valuable Player of the Year,” said Coach Trapp.
During his career at DCHS, Barnes earned the following awards and honors: 2022 Team Captain; 2022 Region 4-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player; 2022 Tennessee Football Coaches Association All State; 2022 Mainstreet Preps All State Honorable Mention; 2022 Farm Bureau Player of the Month in August; 2022 DTC Player of the Year; 2022 DTC All Star; 2022-23 Mr. DCHS; DCHS 2021 Offensive Player of the Year; 2021 Region 4-4A Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman; DCHS 2020 Back of the Year; 2020 All Region 3-4A 2nd Team Member.
Meanwhile, senior Ean Jones was announced as the winner of the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award. Edwards’ family members presented the award to Jones including son Abram Edwards and Abram’s mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs.
In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller spoke of Trapp’s determination and the example she set for her fellow cheerleaders.
“Hannah is a person that her fellow cheerleaders look up to. She is a person that they appreciate and with the characteristics that they want to have. Hannah is reliable, helpful, funny, friendly, humble, reliable, kind and loyal. There is a quote from Maya Angelou “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think Hannah made her team feel appreciated. and she’s her friend. She gave 100% of herself in practices and games and it made it obvious that cheerleading was very important to her. She’s been a cheerleader for me since I was in seventh grade and she started competing of competition before. She battled through back injury and disorders and continued to be an excellent flyer and gymnast for our team for four years. She does it all with a sweet personality and a great smile,” said Cheer Coach Fuller.
Other individual awards for football players are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year – Malachi Trapp
Offensive Lineman – Ean Jones
Offensive Back – Jordan Parker
Receiver – Holden Trapp
Defensive Player of the Year – Tyler Estes
Defensive Lineman – Wil Farris
