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NMCC's Sutton named all-state
NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central linebacker L.T. Sutton was named a first-team member of the Missouri Class 3 All-State Football team selected by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
"I can't say enough about him, how he's been for me this year as much as I can say how he's been for me the last four years," NMCC head coach Arlen Pixley said. "He entered the program as a freshmen and my first year as head football coach. He along with a few other senior teammates were throw into the fire and started as freshmen, particularly last five ball games of the season."
Sutton, a 5-11, 225 pound senior linebacker, tallied 99 tackles for the Eagles, helping them to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the Class 3 quarterfinals.
"He's a great defensive player," Pixley said. "We've had some great defensive players at New Madrid in the past. You know, everyone wants to talk offense and everything but I think more importantly amongst coaches in the coaching world you really like to have those great defenses. It lets you rack up the win total a lot more."
Sutton thrived in the Eagles aggressive-style of play recording 22.5 sacks on the season.
"We ran a system the last couple of years that allowed him to do what he's best at and that is rushing the passer," Pixley said. "He's a great guy coming off the edge and obviously knows how to finish the play on a quarterback
"He really studied film particularly well and picked up tendencies quarterbacks had with their footwork and their release points. He really targeted that throughout the course of the week and executed it well on Friday night."
Pixley said that Sutton was a team-oriented player all through his high school career, including moving from fullback to the offensive line when it was asked.
"He understands the whole picture," Pixley said. "He just doesn't see it as 55 putting on a jersey and going out and playing for himself. He played great for his teammates and played outstanding for coaches and his fans and everybody else that was involved in this program."
Pixley said Sutton has gotten a few offers to play in college, even though his size isn't ideal.
"He's not the 6-3, 250 pound defensive end that the 3-4 people are looking for," Pixley said. "Some people project him as an inside linebacker. He's got some time here and recruiting has really started to pick up. It's one of those things that he may decide to go to a smaller school and prove himself to the larger ones. But I would line him up against anybody in the state and I think he would have great success."
A list of the all-state team can be found in today's scoreboard.
Sutton was also named to the first team as a defensive end on the coaches all-state team and was named the Class 3 defensive player of the year.
Teammates Sedrick Hemphill and Corey Rowe were each named to the first team as well as a linebacker and free safety respectively.
Bryan Waters was named to the second team as a slot back while Lennies McFerren was named to the third team as a running back and Dijuan Waters was named as a third team linebacker.
The Standard Democrat has not received a list of the coaches all-state team.