In typical Freeport fashion, McCormick just gets it done (ALL-AREA TEAM, VIDEO)

FREEPORT – A quick glance at the helmet of Freeport’s Caleb McCormick tells the story of a hardnosed, gritty football player.

The royal blue paint on the crown of the helmet is chipped and scratched, each with a story or highlight of its own to go with it.

The senior two-way standout put that helmet through the ringer this year, playing – and excelling – at tight end and safety for the Bulldogs.

McCormick led Freeport in receiving with 445 yards on 25 catches and five touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per catch was equally impressive considering the attention he received from opposing defenses throughout the year.

He made his most significant impact, however, on defense, where he finished with 94 tackles (55 solo), three interceptions, three deflected passes, forced four fumbles and blocked a field goal.

For his dominance on both sides of the ball and helping the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record and trip to the Region 1-A finals, McCormick was named the All Sports Association/Daily News small school Player of the Year.

Freeport quarterback Gabe Moore finished runner-up to McCormick for the player of the year award. Moore’s numbers were impressive to say the least, as he passed for 1,351 yards, ran for 703 yards and scored a combined 28 touchdowns.

“It feels good,” McCormick said. “I didn’t expect it, I just tried to work as hard as I possibly could and it worked out.”

On the defensive end, McCormick earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. At 6-2, 205-pounds McCormick possesses prototypical size to go with great ability at safety, and – most importantly – the instincts to make the big play.

“You get to sit back and see everything unfold and you can make plays,” McCormick said. “It’s the best spot to make a play at I think.”

Perhaps more than anything, McCormick is the poster boy for Freeport, a team that has found success by demanding a ton from its players and making no one man bigger than the team.

“We have a great community and everyone comes together for football,” McCormick said. “It’s a small town and everyone loves football. It’s all you do from when you’re a little kid is play football.”

Like many Bulldogs players, McCormick’s versatility has helped make him the football player he is today. Playing offense made him better at defense and vice versa.

“Playing safety I can read the tight end,” McCormick said. “I know if he down blocks it’s going to be an outside kick out or something like that. Knowing both sides always helps on the other side.”

While singing McCormick’s praises for his stellar senior campaign, Freeport coach Jim Anderson stated an interesting fact.

“He’s started on more winning teams here than any player in the history of Freeport High School.”

In years’ past, McCormick found himself playing for the upperclassmen. This year was about sitting back and enjoying the ride and soaking it all in one last time.

“It’s been different,” McCormick said. “My underclassmen years I played to the expectations of the upperclassmen. I wanted to do it for them. This year I sat back more and just enjoyed it, because this could be my last year. So I just kept it in perspective.”

McCormick has garnered the interest of Southern Mississippi and “some smaller D-II and D-III schools,” so his football future is still very much up in the air.

McCormick’s key to success is not profound, but simply blue collar. The kind that will take him places, football or otherwise.

“It’s the willingness to stay with coaches and work on the little things until you get them right, because if you don’t take care of the little things then nothing is going to work out.”

Offensive Player of the Year: Gabe Moore, Freeport: The sophomore quarterback helped lead the Bulldogs to the Region 1-A Finals. Moore completed 81 of 152 passes for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. He got it done with his legs as well, rushing for 703 yards on 92 carries and 11 scores.

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Dillon Cotton, Baker: The 6-4, 285-pound offensive lineman paved the way up front for an offense that averaged 30 points and 311 rushing yards per game. Cotton was selected to the Pensacola Sports Association’s Subway High School All-Star game.

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Dalvon Stuckey, Walton: Interior defensive lineman faced double and sometimes triple teams all season long, but managed to come away with 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. The 6-4, 305-pound senior has been verbally committed to Florida State for over a year.

Daily News small schools All-Area Football Team

Player of the Year: Caleb McCormick, Freeport

Offensive Player of the Year: Gabe Moore, Freeport

Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb McCormick, Freeport

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Dillon Cotton, Baker

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Dalvon Stuckey, Walton

Coach of the Year: Jim Anderson, Freeport

Offense

QB: Gabe Moore, Freeport

QB: Vada Moore, Baker

RB: Cory Harper, Baker

RB: Owen Cole, Freeport

WR: Ivory Smith, Baker

WR: Ken Randolph, Walton

WR: Nathan McCullough, Rocky Bayou

WR: Jordan Varner, Freeport

TE: Caleb McCormick, Freeport

OL: Dillon Cotton, Baker

OL: Colton Parsons, Freeport

OL: Nick Manzanares, South Walton

OL: Hunter Lang, Walton

OL: Josh Stubblefield, Rocky Bayou

OL: Logan Nixon, Baker

K: Jonathan O’Hara, South Walton

Defense

DL: Dalvon Stuckey, Walton

DL: John Bogucki, South Walton

DL: Josh Lawson, Baker

DL: Cooper Eaves, Rocky Bayou

DL: Matt Winkler, South Walton

LB: Cory Harper, Baker

LB: Colton Bouchard, Baker

LB: Josh Seilhan, South Walton

LB: Nick Russell, Freeport

LB: Adam Downing, Rocky Bayou

DB: Caleb McCormick, Freeport

DB: Owen Cole, Freeport

DB: Ivory Smith, Baker

DB: Nathan McCullough, Rocky Bayou

P: Gabe Moore, Freeport

All-purpose

Caleb McCullough, Rocky Bayou

Chris Nixon, Baker

James Leogrande, Freeport

Brandon Head, Freeport

Honorable Mention

Baker: Taylor Brown, Cody Chunn, Brian Benoit, Kody Nixon, Steven Grant, D.J. Thomas, Joe Lee.

Freeport: Morgan Hardee, David Bartlett.

Rocky Bayou Christian: Eddie Owens, Joey Halus, Dale Linder, Tyler Paskell.

South Walton: Malik Washington, Brandon Whalen, Jacob Parker, Drew Pfeiffer, Joey Gagliano.

Walton: Tray Williams, Charlie Stevenson, Alex Brack, Bobby Pugh, Chris Kelly, Raheem Phillips, Issiac Morrison, Justin Roy, Derek Glenn.

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