Warren Central and St. Aloysius spent most of the season at the top of the polls in their respective classes, and raked in the rewards to prove it at the end.

The two Warren County schools combined to put nine of their players on the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-State teams.

Warren Central had a pair of first-teamers, linebacker DeArius Christmas and cornerback Chris Stamps.

Christmas was a first-team selection for the second consecutive season. He had 128 total tackles, 4 ½ sacks, a team-leading five interceptions and three fumble recoveries while helping the Vikings become the best scoring defense in Class 6A for the second year in a row.

Christmas also served as Warren Central’s short-yardage back on offense. Despite carrying the ball only 20 times for 91 yards, he tied for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns.

“We were able to do so much defensively because of him,” WC coach Josh Morgan said. “We leaned on him a lot, and he always answered.”

While Christmas created havoc all over the field, Stamps often cut it in half. The cornerback finished his career with 13 interceptions. He was also the team’s leading receiver this season, with 32 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns. It was the work on defense that earned him a spot in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game and a scholarship offer from Mississippi State, however.

Stamps said he took a lot of pride in what the defense accomplished in his three seasons as a starter.

“You got 11 guys playing for each other and running to the ball with reckless abandon. The Red Death is what it’s all about,” Stamps said.

If Warren Central was the Red Death, St. Aloysius might have been Yellow Fever.

The Flashes reached the Class 1A championship game on the backs of not only one of the most prolific offenses in the state, but also one of the top defenses. The team scored 593 points this season and collected 48 takeaways. It put seven players on the all-state team, including five first-teamers.

Offensive tackle Drake Dorbeck, running back DeMichael Harris and kicker Casey Griffith were first-team picks on the offensive side of the ball, while linebacker Taedrin Warnsley and defensive lineman Josh Price were selected from the defense.

Quarterback Connor Smith and center Bash Brown were second-team selections.

Dorbeck, who has verbally committed to Southern Miss, was a four-year starter alongside Brown. Together, they cleared holes for five players who rushed for at least 100 yards.

Harris, a junior, set school records with 2,102 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Smith rushed for 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns and threw for 1,188 yards and 10 TDs.

Smith, a three-year starter at quarterback, finished his high school career with 5,472 total yards from scrimmage, 23 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns. His 2,736 rushing yards are the most ever for a Warren County player who spent his entire career at quarterback.

Smith also played safety and intercepted nine passes this season, and saveraged 34.1 yards per kick as the team’s punter.

Griffith was the most accurate kicker in the state, connecting on 77 consecutive extra points after having his first attempt of the season blocked. He also was 3-of-6 on field goal attempts.

Warnsley transferred to St. Al after Hinds AHS closed in May and finished second on the team with 91 total tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Price, who played both defensive tackle and offensive guard, had 72 tackles, a team-high seven sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

All-State players

Warren Central

• DeArius Christmas, LB, Sr.

• Chris Stamps, DB, Sr.

St. Aloysius

• Drake Dorbeck, OL, Sr.

• DeMichael Harris, RB, Jr.

• Casey Griffith, PK, Jr.

• Josh Price, DE, Jr.

• Taedrin Warnsley, CB, Sr.

• Bash Brown, C, Sr.

• Connor Smith, QB, Sr.