Nine Tazewell football student-athletes have earned nods on the All-Southwest District postseason team, including five named to the first-team.
The awards are voted on by the coaching staffs in the Southwest District.
First-Teamers include junior wide receiver Cassius Harris, senior tight end Ethan Mills, and senior defensive back Jared Mullins. The other Bulldogs named first-team were freshman quarterback Carter Creasy and sophomore linebacker Kaizon Taylor. Creasy was named first team Offensive All-Purpose and Taylor was named first team Defensive All-Purpose.
Second-Team awards were bestowed upon freshman wide receiver Logan McDonald, senior wide receiver Jared Mullins, junior defensive back Cassius Harris, senior defensive back Ethan Mills, sophomore linebacker Brock Alley, senior defensive linemen Octavius Pridgen, and senior defensive end Jacob Witt.
Harris ended the regular season with 1,423 receiving yards, 104 receptions, and 11 touchdown receptions. Harris’ yardage total, catches and his touchdowns are all Tazewell High School single-season records. He also tied the single-game record with three TD receptions against Marion. Harris set the VHSL single-season receptions record and tied the VHSL single-game receptions record with 20 on September 25th against Riverheads. He had nine 100-yard receiving performances in 11 games, including his 238-yard, three touchdown game against Marion. He was named the New People’s Bank Player of the Week twice. For his career, Harris has compiled 2,002 yards, 16 receiving touchdowns, and 145 receptions. At defensive back, he had 40 total tackles including 29 solo stops.
Mills led all Southwest District tight ends with 33 receptions for 697 yards. He also finished the season with 8 touchdowns. He recorded a touchdown reception in five straight games this season. Mills also tied the single-game record with three TD receptions against Fort Chiswell. He had three 100-yard receiving performances, including his 122-yard, three touchdown performance against Fort Chiswell. After the Fort Chiswell game, he was named the New People’s Bank Player of the Week. Mills led the team with a 21.1 yards per reception average this season. From his defensive back position, Mills also led the team with three interceptions.
Carter Creasy ranked first in the district in passing with 2,982 yards, which ranked as the best single-season total in school history. Creasy also connected on 29 touchdowns, also ranked No. 1 on the Tazewell single-season TD chart now. He was named New People’s Bank Player of the Week after leading Tazewell to a 22-18 comeback win over Mount View in week three. He compiled five games with 300+ passing yards and five with at least three passing TDs. He set the single-game school record with six passing TDs against Grundy. His 234 completions this season ranked ninth on the VHSL All-time single-season record list. Creasy also rushed for 650 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mullins led Tazewell in total tackles this season with 102 stops. He finished with 48 solo tackles, to go along with 5 tackles for loss. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery. Mullins concluded his Tazewell career with 228 tackles. On offense this season, he caught 60 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Taylor finished his sophomore season with 83 total tackles. He also had 11 tackles for loss. He compiled three games with at least 11+ tackles. Against Richlands, he had 11.5 tackles including 4 tackles for loss. Against Bluefield, he had 11 tackles including 1 tackle for loss. Against Fort Chiswell, he had 14 tackles including 4 tackles for loss.
McDonald finished his freshman season with 28 receptions for 314 yards and five touchdowns. He had a 100-yard receiving performance and also tied the single-game record with three TD receptions against Grundy.
Witt made 48 total tackles in 2021 and also had 9 tackles for loss . In his last two seasons as a Bulldog, Witt had 14 sacks.
Pridgen finished sixth on the squad with 47 total stops in 2021 and also had six tackles for loss, and he had three sacks this season.
Alley, a sophomore, ranked second on the team with 88 total tackles. He also had 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. During the season, he recorded 3 games with 8+ tackles, including a season high 12.5 tackles against Fort Chiswell.
