WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsArea trio claims TSSAA Mr. Football awards

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WRCB) -- If championship week in Tennessee ends as well as it began for Baylor and South Pittsburg, the Chattanooga area will boast two state football champions for a second straight year.

Baylor's Barrett Gouger and Henrique Ribeiro and South Pittsburg's Coltin Blevins all claimed the state's top individual honor at the annual TSSAA Tennessee Titan Mr. Football Award Banquet in Murfreesboro on Monday afternoon.

Gouger, a senior offensive tackle, was named the Division II-AA Lineman of the Year, while Ribeiro claimed Kicker of the Year honors.

Blevins, a senior linebacker, earned the Lineman of the Year nod in Class 1A. South Pittsburg sophomore running back Jajuan Lankford was also a finalist for the 1A Back of the Year, but was beaten out by Perry County's Jacob Tucker.

"It was a big surprise. I wanted to win, but I didn't think I would win," said Blevins, whose Pirates will play Wayne County for the Class 1A state title later this week. "It means a lot. I'm speechless, really."

"Of course, it would mean a lot more if we could top it off with a state championship on Friday."

Gouger and Ribeiro feel the same way as the Red Raiders get ready for a rematch with Ensworth in the Division II-AA state final.

Gouger is a three-year starter for the Red Raiders and has verbally committed to Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder graded out at 90-percent blocking and finished the regular season with 24 pancake blocks.

"I was shocked when they called my name. I had to glance down and keep looking at it to make sure it was really my name on it. I worked really hard for it, and it's a real honor to follow in the footsteps of some great players who have won it at Baylor," said Gouger, who is the third Baylor lineman to win a Mr. Football award, and first since University of Tennessee signee Jacque McClendon in 2005.

Ribeiro is the school's first-ever Kicker of the Year. The native of Brazil has only played organized football for two seasons after coming to Baylor to play soccer. He was used solely on kickoffs in 2010, but added placekicking duties in 2011 with great success.

"It's really big. I had no idea at the beginning of the season that I could be up here getting this award," Ribeiro said. "This journey just keeps going, and I hope it keeps going farther."

Ribeiro, a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder, made 8-of-11 field goal attempts with a long of 57 yards. Three of his eight makes were from 50 yards or more, and all three of his misses were from that distance. In addition, 49 of his 53 kickoffs were touchbacks.

"I really have plans to go and kick in college now, and I hope this helps get some more attention since I've been under the radar before this season."

Blevins, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior captain, was a three-year starter for the Pirates at both linebacker and offensive guard. An all-state selection the defensive MVP of the state title game in 2010, Blevins didn't miss a beat in his final season in 2011.

"Sometimes it's not easy to live up to expectations and hype, especially after the season he had last year," said South Pittsburg head coach Vic Grider. "A lot was on him this year, but a credit to him, he lived up to everything that was asked and needed of him this year."

He finished the 2011 regular season with 124 total tackles (71 solo) and five tackles for a loss. He added one sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

"He was our bell cow," Grider said. "He was the guy we could count on to be out there each and every week. I don't know that we've had a winner more deserving than Coltin."

Blevins is just the second lineman of the year winner for South Pittsburg, joining Aaron Chambers, who won the honor in 1999. He's the fourth Pirate to earn a Mr. Football award, and first since quarterback Terrell Robinson in 2009.

2011 TENNESSEE TITANS MR. FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

Division I, Class A Lineman
Coltin Blevins, South Pittsburg

Division I, Class A Back
Jacob Tucker, Perry County

Division I, Class AA Lineman 
Terrell Rollins, Greeneville

Division I, Class AA Back
Charlie High, CAK

Division I, Class AAA Lineman 
Jay Guillermo, Maryville

Division I, Class AAA Back
I'Tavius Mathers, Blackman

Division II-A Lineman
Brewer Congleton, Knoxville Webb

Division II-A Back
Caleb Blance, Knoxville Webb

Division II-AA Lineman
Barrett Gouger, Baylor

Division II-AA Back
Cornelius Elder, Ensworth

Kicker of the Year
Henrique Ribeiro, Baylor