Paris head coach Joseph Utterback thought Owen Totten was all-state caliber for years and is glad Totten has the accolade now to back that up.

The senior defensive end was recognized for being third-team all-state along with all-district in Class 1 District 6. Four other Coyotes — including sophomore defensive back Gatlin Fountain, senior defensive lineman Gunnar Fountain, senior offensive lineman Donald Jones and senior punter Alex Williams — were also named to the all-district team.

Totten had a disruptive season on Paris’ defensive line, leading the team with 97 tackles and 11 sacks. From the beginning, Totten proved to be a problem as he recorded five sacks in Paris’ season opener against Grandview.

Utterback said Totten was an easy choice for the team’s defensive player of the year and MVP and has been regarded as one of the team’s key players for years but wanted so bad for the state to see the same thing.

“I have known Owen since he was in eighth grade and have witnessed him become an exemplary student, athlete, and young man,” Utterback said. “I have known he is an all-state caliber player for a few years, and I am glad he can get this accolade under his belt as a high school athlete because he is certainly deserving. A lot of times, the teams that make those playoff runs are well represented at the all-state level, so I was a little worried because I really wanted this for him.

“From an early age, Owen understood that you have to dedicate yourself to consistently doing the right things day in and day out, not just during the season but all year long. You can't just become an all-state football player in a year. He is a good example for these young guys. I'm proud of him.”

Utterback said he wishes the best for the team’s graduating seniors and is grateful for their contributions to the program prior to its move to 8-man football starting next season. He said the team’s other all-district players served important roles.

Gatlin Fountain is one player who will return and Utterback expects to do well in the faster 8-man game.

“I have been watching Gatlin play football since he was in fifth grade, and he has been the best player on the field most of the time,” Utterback said. “He has a natural ability to find the open space when he is running the ball on offense and to track the ball and make a tackle on defense. He is just a sophomore and if he keeps consistently getting better and doing all of the right stuff, kind of like we talked about with Owen, then the sky is the limit for Gatlin.”

Gunnar Fountain worked hard in the weight room in the offseason and brought the whole package of size and quickness to the Paris line.

“Gunnar has grown into a tremendous player and a great young man over the last few years as a member of our program,” Utterback said. “Gunnar anchored the interior of our defensive line and teamed up with Totten to create the strong side of our offensive line. He is a true leader on our team and does a great job of understanding the game and communicating what is happening on the field with his teammates and coaches.”

Utterback said Jones has been a great student at Paris High School based on his recognition as an academic all-state player in the past, which is difficult since those given the honor need to be a starter on offense or defense and play in 70 percent of games and have to have at least two of the following: 25 on the ACT, 3.5 GPA and/or be in the top 10 percent in the class. Jones has also been a student on the field to the point of him acing his position.

“Donald invested a lot over the last four years and really became a key piece of our offense this year,” Utterback said. “He was such a student of the game was one of those guys who was always in the weight room and always watching film. He would grade himself after every single game and I think by watching that much film he was able to pick things up that gave him an advantage. He did a great job playing center and would rarely miss a block. I'm sure that he had more pancake blocks than missed blocks this season. He has a legacy to be proud of as a Coyote Football Player for sure.”

William’s 6-foot-7 frame brought with it a strong leg, Utterback said, as the Paris coaches noticed and eventually called on him to fill the team’s punter role.

"During summer camp, when we were trying out punters, we saw that Alex had quite the leg,” Utterback said. “As the year went on and we needed someone to step into that spot, I knew I wanted to take a look at Alex again. He said it was a little nerve-wracking at first getting used to the pressure, but he very quickly grew into a very reliable punter. He is a legit 6-foot-7 with a big leg and you can't teach that. We as coaches would be on the sidelines or at practice and would watch him bomb a punt from one side of the field to the other and just be amazed at how well he was doing after having to step in halfway through the year.”

Other Coyote Awards

Paris football had other awards to announce outside of all-conference, all-district and all-state honors. They include the following:

MFCA Academic All-State
-Brayden DeOrnellas
-Donald Jones

KMZU Dream Team
-Colton Kendrick was elected to the KMZU Dream Team as a Wide Receiver
-Owen Totten was elected to the KMZU Dream Team as a Defensive End

Northeast Media All-District Selections
Owen Totten, 1st Team Defensive Line
97 tackles (55 solo) -- 27 TFL — 11 sacks — 2 fumble recoveries

Alex Williams, 2nd Team Punter
21 punts — 565 yards — 27 yd avg — 44 long — 3 punts inside the 20

Paris Coyote Football Team Awards
-Jacob Carr Freshmen of the Year: Zach Howard
-Scout Team Player of the Year: Chase Graupman
-Most Improved: Hunter Hartgrove
-Hustle Award: Luke Ensor
-Hands Team: Leo Bounds
-Hit Man Award: Gatlin Fountain
-Linemen of the Year: Gunnar Fountain
-Defensive MVP: Owen Totten
-Offensive MVP: Colton Kendrick
-Team MVP: Owen Totten

Core Value Players of the Year
Accountability: Brady Shivers
Communication: Gunnar Fountain
Consistency: Leo Bounds
Investment: Owen Totten
Unity: Brandon Callison