By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Briarwood Christian School junior quarterback Ben Craft didn’t simply rely on his arm during the Lions’ 2010 season.

Craft was eager to use his feet as well to lead the Briarwood offensive attack.

Craft came up with crafty ways to help the Lions move the ball on his way to Shelby County Reporter Player of the Year honors.

Craft led Shelby County quarterbacks as he passed for 2,433 yards and 20 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Craft completed 182-of-315 passes, good for a clip of 57.8 percent.

Craft was also one of the leading rushers, as he racked up 495 yards and additional 17 touchdowns on the ground on 147 attempts. Craft averaged 3.4 yards per carry with a long run of 54 yards.

Craft, who was also effective at punter in spot duty, finished with 2,928 yards in total offense, which amounted to nearly 200 yards per game.

Craft, who carried Briarwood to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A championship game, leads the 2010 Shelby County Reporter All-County team.

2010 All-County Team

OFFENSE

QB: Ben Craft, Briarwood Christian, Jr., 6-2, 205

RB: R.J. Scaife, Montevallo, Jr., 5-4, 130

RB: Denzel Williams, Shelby County, Jr., 5-9, 180

WR: Reed Bright, Pelham, Sr., 6-0, 165

WR: Zak Michael, Spain Park, Sr., 6-11, 175

TE: Canon Smith, Briarwood Christian, Jr., 6-4, 240

OL: Mike Pate, Shelby  County, Jr., 6-1, 235

OL: Skylar Wachs, Calera, Sr., 6-2, 215

OL: Kyle Kreuser, Thompson, Sr., 6-3, 230

OL: Nick Maxey, Briarwood Christian, Jr., 6-4, 240

OL: Tim Crenshaw, Briarwood Christian, Jr., 6-5, 260

ATH: John Bullen, Coosa Valley, Sr., 5-9, 160

DEFENSE

DL: Caleb Ward, Briarwood Christian, Sr., 6-2, 220

DL: Emmanuel Cooper, Spain Park, Sr., 6-2, 230

DL: Najuwaun Nash, Thompson, Sr., 6-4, 330

DL: Joey Mock, Chelsea, Jr., 6-4, 240

LB: A.J. Nixon, Calera, Sr., 5-8, 190

LB: Derek Slaughter, Pelham, Sr., 5-11, 195

LB: Alex Payne, Spain Park, Sr., 5-11, 205

DB: Chad Davis, Briarwood Christian, Jr., 6-3, 200

DB: Justin Carter, Spain Park, Jr., 5-11, 185

DB: Ben McKinney, Vincent, Sr., 6-1, 210

DB: Chris Humes, Spain Park, Jr., 5-11, 190

K/P: Wilson Whorton, Briarwood Christian, Sr., 6-0, 170

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ben Craft, QB, Briarwood Christian, Jr.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Ben Berguson, Spain Park

HONORABLE MENTION

OAK MOUNTAIN: Jakaryus Redwine, Bradley Bostick and Andy Whitcomb; PELHAM: Gray Cato, Dominique Harris and Tom Williams; SPAIN

PARK: Reid Reinagel, Destin Challenger and Jacob Chaffin; THOMPSON: Demarcus Threatt, Brandon King and Adam McKenzie; BRIARWOOD

CHRISTIAN: Sam Whitaker, Matthew Furuto, Tanner Cunningham, Roy GIlbert and Devin Bowman; CHELSEA: Jake Ganus, Jake Campbell, Jay

Chisholm and Blake McLaughlin; SHELBY COUNTY: Evan McNeal, Brent Wooley and Marterious McGregor; CALERA: Brandon Wells, Jeremy

Hyde, Sheldon Nixon and Ronnie Clark; MONTEVALLO: Garrius Chappell, Trey Colley and Brett Gray; VINCENT: Demauntey Johnson, Shacorry

Lilly and Ryan Brasher; KINGWOOD CHRISTIAN: Tyrone Pope and Kevin Woody; CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN: Josh Anderson and Clayton

Halbert; COOSA VALLEY ACADEMY: Sam Bullard, Tanner Wood, Bryce Cook and Hunter Roe; HOPE CHRISTIAN: Zac Hughes, Terrence Moore,

Caleb Douglas and Caleb Rettig; EVANGEL CHRISTIAN: Hayden Brown and Josh Flanders