by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
The Northern Neck District’s Essex High placed four players on the 2021 Class 1 all-state football team recently released by the Virginia High School League.
Senior offensive lineman Jamarre Veney and junior receiver Kamren Robinson were named to the offensive first team and junior punt returner Dorian Harris and senior lineman Damondre’ Roane were named to the defensive first team. The Trojans also placed two more players on the second-team in Robinson as a defensive lineman and senior TreVaughn Ball as quarterback.
Riverheads High School sophomore running back Cayden Cook-Cash was named the Class 1 offensive player of the year and Riverheads senior defensive end Noah Smiley was chosen as the defensive player of the year. Riverheads head coach Robert Casto is the coach of the year after leading the Gladiators to a 13-0 record and a VHSL record sixth straight state title with a 45-14 win over Galax in the finals. The Gladiators’ 50th straight win is currently the nation’s longest winning streak.
Riverheads beat Essex, 56-12, in the state semifinal….
