The season’s final edition of The Starting 11: Which team had the most selections in 2017?

By J. Mike Blake

Updated November 30, 2017 4:17 PM

South Central's Emannuel Lewis (1) pushes D.H. Conley's David Lien (20) toward the ground as he runs out of bounds to stop the clock. The D.H. Conley Vikings visited the South Central Falcons in a high school football game on Nov. 3, 2017 Carl Copeland newobserver.com

This is the last 2017 edition of The Starting 11, a weekly football feature that honors the top 11 high school football performances from around our 20-county coverage area, which spans the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina.

In its third year, The Starting 11 honored 95 athletes from 54 schools across 19 counties.

D.H. Conley quarterback Holton Ahlers, an East Carolina recruit, broke the previous record of most Starting 11 selections in a season, with 10. Ahlers made the list five times last year, giving him the second-most in a career behind former Cleveland quarterback Caiden Norman (16).

Heritage running back recruit Ricky Person, an N.C. State recruit, made the list eight times. Goldsboro running back Xzavior Bowden and D.H. Conley wide receiver C.J. Johnson each made it five times. Southern Nash running back Zonovan Knight, Cleveland running back Tyson Dew and South Granville running back/linebacker Allajah Mitchell each made four appearances.

There were eight three-time picks, 21 two-time selections and 52 one-time-only honorees.

For the second straight year, Wake Forest led the way with five players making the list. Clayton and South Central had four each.

The Starting 11: round 3

Number in parentheses notes how many times the player has made The Starting 11 this year.

Kendrick Bell, Southern Nash (3): Ran 23 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

Tucker Brown, South Granville (2): Completed 6 of 12 passes for 122 yards; ran 25 times for 155 yards and one touchdown; made seven tackles and recovered one fumble on defense.

Tucker Brown, left, of South Granville throws a pass against Jaquan Brandon, right, of J.F. Webb. The J.F. Webb Warriors visited the South Granville Vikings in a high school football game on Nov. 3, 2017. Fabian Radulescu newsobserver.com

Austin Cagle, Clayton (1): Completed 19 of 30 passes for 445 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions; ran two times for minus-8 yards.

Daiveon Carrington, Garner (1): Ran 11 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns; caught one pass for 6 yards; made five tackles with 2.5 sacks.

Devin Carter, Clayton (2): N.C. State recruit caught 11 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Clayton's Devin Carter (88) looks for the call during the football game with the Clayton Comets high school and the Garner Trojans high school in Clayton N.C. on August 18, 2017. won the game Clayton won the game 35-14. Johnny Johnson newsobserver.com

Jaquez Edge, Tarboro (1): Ran 11 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

Tarboro's Jaquez Edge drags three Northern Nash players along during the football game with the Tarboro Vikings and the Northern Nash Knights high school in Tarboro N.C. on August 31, 2017. Johnny Johnson newsobserver.com

Lex Goodwin, Wake Forest (1): Caught four passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris James, Wake Forest (2): Completed 9 of 15 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns with one interception; ran twice for minus-7 yards.

Zonovan Knight, Southern Nash (4): Ran 24 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns.

Jeremy Lewis, South Central (2): Caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Willie Taylor, Green Hope (2): Completed 12 of 28 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns and two interceptions; ran nine times for minus-5 yards.

The Starting 11 week-by-week

▪ Week 1

▪ Week 2

▪ Week 3

▪ Week 4

▪ Week 5

▪ Week 6

▪ Week 7

▪ Week 8

▪ Week 9

▪ Week 10

▪ Week 11