By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

The Troup Tigers weren’t lacking for star power last season.

The Tigers went 9-3 and reached the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs, and they had some outstanding, game-changing type players on both sides of the ball.

Last week, the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s all-state team was released, and three of Troup’s players were recognized.

While junior wide receiver Jamari Thrash and defensive lineman King Mwikuta were both first-team all-state players, and senior quarterback Crowe was an honorable-mention selection.

Also, Recruit Georgia put out an all-state team, and Thrash made that team as well.

Thrash had a remarkable season with Crowe throwing him the ball.

No wide receiver in Class AAAA had more receiving yards or touchdowns than Thrash.

Thrash had 1,410 receiving yards in 12 games, and he had 18 touchdowns.

Thrash had six games where he had 100 or more receiving yards, and that included two games with more than 200 yards.

In his final game, a loss to St. Pius X in the second round of the playoffs, Thrash caught 12 balls for 230 yards.

Trash had 223 yards on just seven catches against Lamar County, and he went over 100 yards against Hardaway, Chapel Hill, Cedartown and Heritage.

The man getting the ball to Thrash had a spectacular season of his own.

Crowe was brilliant from week one, and he completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,984 yards with 40 touchdowns.

Crowe averaged 332 yards per game, and he averaged nearly 20 yards per completion.

In his final game, Crowe was sensational in the playoff loss to St. Pius.

Crowe completed 27-of-32 passes for 415 yards with two touchdowns.

Crowe threw at least two touchdown passes in every game last season, and that included a memorable effort against Sandy Creek.

In the 71-16 win, Crowe threw for 525 yards with eight touchdowns.

One of the leaders of Troup’s defense was Mwikuta, a junior who thrived from his defensive-end position.

Mwikuta was among Troup’s leading tacklers, and last week he verbally committed to play football at the University of Alabama where he’ll be a linebacker.