All-County Football 2023: All-County Defense
Published 10:30 am Monday, December 25, 2023
1 of 16
Warren Central linebacker Julien Demby (5) is the 2023 Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year in Warren County. Demby led the Vikings with 117 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, three sacks and five interceptions. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)
RONNIE BLOSSOM, DL,
JR., WARREN CENTRAL -
MHSAA Class 6A All-State selection totaled 88 tackles and 23 tackles for loss ... had two sacks ... batted down eight passes at the line
TYLER CARTER, DL,
SR., VICKSBURG -
Mississippi All-Star totaled 51 tackles and 6.5 sacks ... first-team MHSAA All-Region 2-6A selection ... had two forced fumbles
DEMARCUS JOHNSON, DL,
SR., VICKSBURG -
MHSAA Region 2-6A Defensive MVP and Mississippi All-Star totaled a team-high 100 tackles and 21 tackles for loss ... had seven sacks ... blocked two punts
LARRY REYNOLDS, DL,
JR., WARREN CENTRAL -
Another outstanding defensive end for the Vikings, he had 79 tackles ... led the team with 29 tackles for loss and three sacks
TEKARIUS QUALLS, DL,
JR., WARREN CENTRAL -
Defensive tackle registered 74 tackles and 18 tackles for loss ... had five forced fumbles
THOMAS AZLIN, LB,
SR., PORTER’S CHAPEL -
All-MAIS Class 2A selection led the Eagles with 98 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 14 sacks ... also played tight end and set PCA’s single-season record with 16 touchdown receptions ... caught 28 passes for 668 yards
DENNIS BATTLE, LB
JR., VICKSBURG -
Three-year starter totaled 75 tackles ... had 12 tackles for loss and five sacks ... had three forced fumbles
GAVIN DAVENPORT, LB,
JR., WARREN CENTRAL -
Vikings’ top linebacker finished with 88 tackles and seven tackles for loss ... had a 75-yard interception return for a TD ... MHSAA All-Region 2-6A selection
THOMPSON FORTENBERRY, LB,
JR., ST. ALOYSIUS -
Led the Flashes with 87 tackles ... had 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions ... on offense, had a team-high 523 rushing yards and two touchdowns
HUNTER SIMMS, LB,
JR., PORTER’S CHAPEL -
All-MAIS Class 2A linebacker totaled 76 tackles and six tackles for loss ... also started every game on PCA’s offensive line
JADARIUS HENDERSON, DB,
SO., VICKSBURG -
First-team MHSAA All-Region 2-6A selection had two interceptions and returned one for a 93-yard TD ... had 37 total tackles ... had four pass defenses
TAYLOR LABARRE, DB,
SR, PORTER’S CHAPEL -
MAIS All-Star led Warren County with six interceptions ... had 52 tackles ... on offense, caught 30 passes for 383 yards and seven touchdowns ... had 197 rushing yards and two TDs
GARRETT ORGAS, DB,
SR., WARREN CENTRAL -
Mississippi All-Star and first-team MHSAA Class 6A All-State selection ... amassed 89 tackles and 12 tackles for loss ... had four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown
GAVIN PUGH, DB,
SR., PORTER’S CHAPEL -
Playmaking defensive back returned three of his five interceptions for touchdowns ... recovered two fumbles ... had 68 tackles
KOURY VAMPLE, DB,
SR., VICKSBURG -
MHSAA Region 2-6A Defensive Back of the Year had 20 total tackles and six pass defenses
The 2023 high school football season was an outstanding one for Warren County’s teams. Warren Central and Porter’s Chapel Academy both won district championships, and Vicksburg High also reached the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
Individually, more than a dozen players were named to all-state teams, MHSAA or MAIS all-star teams, or both. A number of them also set school and county records or reached career statistical milestones.
Today we celebrate all of their accomplishments by unveiling the 2023 Vicksburg Post All-County defensive team for Warren County. The 15-man squad is led by Defensive Player of the Year Julien Demby. The linebacker from Warren Central led the county with 117 tackles, to go along with 28 tackles for loss and five interceptions. He was a first-team MHSAA Class 6A All-State selection and played in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.
The 14 other members of the All-County defense, as well as the 16 chosen for the All-County offense, all had excellent seasons. Scroll through the photo gallery above to see who made the team and their achievements. Congratulations to all!
About Ernest Bowker
Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.
More by Ernest