AREA PULLS IN 1A-3A ALL-STATE HONORS; CHARLESTON'S COLEMAN REPEATS ON FIRST TEAM

Southeast Missouri football was represented well in the three smaller classifications this season, with three clubs placing among the top teams in their respective classifications.

Those three teams -- along with other area squads -- were represented well on the Missouri All-State Football Teams released today for Classes 1A-3A. The 4A and 5A teams will be released Thursday.

New Madrid (Class 3A), Portageville (2A) and St. Vincent (1A) all completed successful seasons with top 10 rankings in their respective classifications. Three players from New Madrid and two each Portageville and St. Vincent earned all-state recognition as selected by the Missouri sports writers and sportscasters.

Charleston senior Larico Coleman was a repeat 3A first-team selection at running back and Malden earned two first team selections with offensive lineman Jeff Spence and defensive back Aaron Asher.

New Madrid, after losing 17-8 to 3A runner-up MICDS in the quarterfinals, finished ninth in the poll with a 9-3 record. The Eagles were represented on the first team by senior offensive lineman Jon Brown and on the second team by senior linebacker Sylvester Tate and senior defensive end Anthony Nelson.

Brown, a 6-foot-3, 285-pounder, was a four-year starter for the Eagles and played on both the offensive and defensive lines. The big senior helped open holes for the Eagles' backfield that had four runners over 400 yards rushing.

Tate (6-0, 215) was one of New Madrid's top rushers with over 800 yards and 12 TDs, but he was most important to the Eagles as their defensive captain.

Despite missing two games with a foot injury -- which required him to play the final three games with a surgically-placed pin in his foot -- Tate was one of the Eagles top tacklers with 65 solos. He also intercepted three passes.

Nelson (5-11, 205) was a three-year starter that excelled as a defensive specialist. He led the Eagles with 11 quarterback sacks and had nearly 100 tackles.

Despite losing several talented teammates from an 11-1 playoff team in 1996, Coleman led Charleston to a respectable 5-5 mark with another remarkable season. Coleman (5-9, 150) scored five touchdowns in a game twice this season in accumulating 1,456 yards and 19 TDs on only 144 attempts.

Fredericktown senior Andy Clark earned first-team status as a punter for the 3-7 Black Cats. Clark (6-0 185) averaged a booming 42.1 yards per punt.

Kennett sophomore Anton McKinney (6-0, 155) picked-off an area-leading seven passes to earn second-team placement at defensive back.

Portageville, which lost to 2A runner-up Monroe City in the semifinals, placed seventh in the final poll with a 10-3 mark. Two Bulldogs -- linebacker Gerald Pickering and defensive back Chris Robinson -- were named to the second team.

Pickering (6-0, 180) was an all-around talent for the Bulldogs as their top offensive and defensive player. He totaled 139 tackles with 91 solos and was a 1,000-yard runner with 18 total TDs.

Robinson (5-10, 175) took care of Portageville's secondary with four interceptions and 84 tackles (52 solos). He defensed 10 passes and caused three fumbles.

Malden teammates Spence and Asher might be surprise first-team selections considering the Green Wave's 6-4 record, but two of the setbacks were forfeit losses to Chaffee and Hayti.

Spence (5-10, 255) was one of the top offensive lineman on an explosive offense and Asher (6-0, 175) put up some outstanding numbers on both sides of the ball. Asher, as a defensive back, led the Green Wave in tackles with 85 and tied for the area lead with seven interceptions. He was also Malden's leading receiver with 35 catches for 571 yards and eight TDs.

St. Vincent (8-3) was shut out by 1A runner-up Marionville 21-0 in its opening-round playoff game, but still managed the No. 9 ranking in the final poll.

Senior offensive lineman Corey Robinson and senior linebacker Chad Winkler took second-team honors for the Indians.

Winkler (5-9, 170) "never left the field" according to St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer and was the leading rusher and tackler for the Indians. Winkler recorded 118 tackles with 81 solos.

Robinson (6-0, 188) provided leadership on an inexperienced line and was the second-leading tackler with 116 stops. He missed the playoff loss to Marionville with a knee injury.

AREA ALL-STATE FOOTBALL

Class 3A

First Team

RB - Larico Coleman, Charleston

OL - Jon Brown, New Madrid

P - Andy Clark, Fredericktown

Second Team

LB - Sylvester Tate, New Madrid

DL - Anthony Nelson, New Madrid

DB - Anton McKinney, Kennett

Class 2A

First Team

OL - Jeff Spence, Malden

DB - Aaron Asher, Malden

Second Team

LB - Gerald Pickering, Portageville

DB - Chris Robinson, Portageville

Class 1A

Second Team

OL - Corey Robinson, St. Vincent

LB - Chad Winkler, St. Vincent