The Central High School varsity football team was represented by 11 All-Conference 42 first team selections this year, led by senior Raymond Alexander, who was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“That’s pretty good,” Chargers Head Coach Will Thomas said. “Out of our conference, we had the best record as far as anybody, but most of them we haven’t played, except for Cumberland (High School). But it’s always nice to get those postseason awards.”

Making the first team for Central was senior Kester Long, as both an offensive and defensive lineman, senior defensive lineman Dion Graham, senior running back Malik Foster, senior linebacker Chris Fowler, senior kicker Ben Atkins, junior defensive back Keenan Anunay, junior offensive lineman Jackson Parsons and junior all-purpose defender Ben Spencer.

Alexander made the first team as both a defensive end and a tight end. It was his first time receiving the conference’s top defensive honor.

“It means a lot,” he said of the honor. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates.”

Thomas said the honor could not have gone to a more deserving person, praising Alexander’s character, in addition to his talent. He said Alexander is one of the first players in Central football — if not the first — to be a team captain as a junior as well as a senior.

“We’re going to miss him,” Thomas said. “That’s a huge loss for us. We don’t get people like Raymond much.”

Defensively, he recorded more than 90 tackles, including more than 20 tackles for loss, and four blocked kicks.

“Raymond does a lot, not just tackles and things like that, but batting down passes and blocking extra points and field goals and things like that,” Thomas said.

The Chargers also had representation on the all-conference second team, which included senior defensive back Tylik Thomas and Anunay, as an offensive all-purpose player.